***
The bliss of an autumn Sunday,
in one of the most authentic flea markets in Paris.
Blessed by a golden light announcing the winter months ahead
and the unique, inimitable, smell of a time long gone.
blessed by
Catégorie : Random Delights
there ain’t much to say
***
When there ain’t much to say, except there is a whole lot to feel.
but first and foremost
***
Is it the endless shades of color, the wide range of shapes, the never-ending discoveries or the beauty to behold?
All of this, yes.
But first and foremost, the underlying but so powerful urge to live and grow of every living being.
As a silent river that runs deep deep down, who sometimes whispers and sometimes roars, forever carrying its morse code message from cell to cell.
with curious eyes
***
If travelling is about discovery in the first place, there’s no need to go far. You only need to see the world around you with curious eyes, don’t you?
october
« Si tu fais des images, ne parle pas, n’écris pas, ne t’analyse pas, ne réponds à aucun questionnaire. Ne piétine pas les jardins secrets. Suggérer c’est créer : décrire c’est détruire. »
Robert Doisneau
green
***
There are days when the hectic city life is just not enough.
And all you long for is closing your eyes and opening them upon silence and green, all around you.
It does happen to you too right?
getting lost
Tiny citydweller happiness recipe
A sunny Sunday where spring is calling you, jump in your car or onto your bike with a mission to escape the city life. Of course you’ll need finding the right place, the one where greenery is still allowed, on purpose or by chance, to thrive on its own. It may take a while, so be patient. It may be that big parc on the other side of the city. Or that tiny patch of grass just around your corner which you had never noticed before. Trust your instinct and you’ll find it.
Once you’re on the right track, you must seek the most offbeat paths and make yourself tiny, almost invisible. If you have small children, ask for their guidance and they’ll be thrilled to introduce you to this secret world to which they belong. Then you’ll enter a parallel reality bursting with life that blossoms, sprouts, weaves and silently chews away while people rush by unaware, so busy with their very important tasks. They will not see that spring is slowly coming over. Nor be surprised to spot green leaves on a dry branch or a couple tiny flowers making their way out of dead leaves or seeds answering who knows what secret morse code and starting to sprout on the paveway. They might pass just a few inches away and not marvel at this miracle, but you will. And it needn’t be Thailand or Peru or the Arizona desert. You don’t need to go far to get lost and find yourself all of a sudden feeling connected to a bigger dimension that breathes in and out and creates a thousand forms of life out of death, in a relentless, constant transformation. It »s no big deal really, still it will make you feel alive. Maybe you’ll feel like putting words on it or you’ll keep silent – ’cause there isn’t much to say anyway – and just smile, like people who’ve just shared a tiny big secret and a moment of pure happiness.
Wishing you many of these moments, friends!
simple
***
A Sunday afternoon in the kitchen.
A heart-shaped chocolate cake.
A cloud of confectioners’ sugar,
a couple of flowers,
a homemade apron and chef’s hat
and her lovely smile.
Life is indeed good and simple sometimes!
the best day of my life
« Mommy…? It would be nice if we went to Guadeloupe right? There are plenty of coconuts there. Coconut is yummy… Well, one must be careful when walking down the beach because if a coconut falls on your head…OUCH! Ha ha…Mommy, mommy!! Look, there are coconuts there, can we buy one, please please?? yes? Thank you mama, you’re the best mommy in the world! Oh, it’s beautiful, I wanna carry it, can you give it to me? Yes, I can carry my bag but I’ve got one spare hand because I must carry the coconut…Mommy? can we open it when we get home? I can’t wait to taste it, it must be sooo good…And I’m gonna drink in it with a straw, ha ha ha…it’s gonna be so fun…! Oh..you can’t open it?…we must wait for papa, he’s stronger. Mommy…? When does he arrive?…late? ohh…Mommy!! Mommy!!! Look, we’ve opened the coconut, look! We can drink the milk with a straw, do you want some? Ahhh…it’s the best day of my life! …Then we can also eat the coconut, with a knife, like in the organic store, it’s good right? Uhmm…you’re right, it doesn’t taste as good…ohh it’s a pity…mayve we have chosen a bad one? Well yes, we’re not coconut experts…Anyhow it’s beautiful right? Never mind, we can clean it and I’ll put my things in it….Mommy!!! Look what Gema has done!! She’s cleaned the coconut, isn’t it great?! Oh, it was easy, she took a knife and hop hop…she knows well coconuts, Gema. We can ask her to choose a good one next time ».
Chiara, 6 yo, and her first coconut…
hello 2015
Nous voilà de retour après nos vacances en Italie. Deux semaines de congé au milieu de l’année pour la première fois depuis des lustres. C’était bien, les amis, oh que oui! Mais, les jours ont passé et le temps de partir, avec son pincement au cœur, est arrivé. Les enfants étaient ravis de retrouver leur maison à Paris, pour moi c’est toujours un peu plus difficile, ça demande quelques jours d’acclimatation…
En regardant l’année qui vient de se clore, je suis reconnaissante:
pour mes deux enfants magnifiques, sains, sensibles et drôles, qui s’épanouissent sous mes yeux jours après jour
de m’être rapprochée encore un peu plus de la personne que j’ai envie d’être et d’avoir appris à m’accorder plus de temps pour moi
d’avoir, dans des moments difficiles, trouvé la sérénité au fond de mon cœur
d’avoir beaucoup plus souvent ressenti de la gratitude pour ce que j’ai plutôt que le regret pour ce que je n’ai pas
d’avoir trouvé le temps et le courage d’accomplir Ce (petit grand) pas sur la lune!
Je n’ai pas de résolutions particulières pour cette nouvelle Année, sinon de continuer à chercher la sérénité, la gratitude, la joie et confiance en ce que j’ai.
Et vous, les amis?
Je vous souhaite une année pleine de joie et de beaux moments à partager,
bon 2015!
*En photo, quelques-uns des petits cadeaux fait main qui ont rempli notre calendrier de l’Avent arc-en-ciel. Ils ne sont pas beaux? Je les aime d’amour…
And so we’re back from our holidays in Italy. A two week break as I hadn’t done in a long time and it was good, oh so good. The days have flown by and the time to leave, with its bittersweat taste, finally arrived. The kids were happy to find their home back while for me it’s a bit more difficult, it takes me a few days to settle down.
Looking back upon the year that has just come to an end, I am grateful for:
my two beautiful, sweet and smart kids whom I have the chance to see evolving each day
having come a few steps closer to the person I want to be and having learned to grant myself more me-time
having found peace and strenght in my heart in this year’s difficult times
having felt gratitude for what I have rather than regret for what I don’t have
having found the time (and courage) to do this Step on the moon!
I don’t have any special resolutions for 2015 apart from walking further on this path of finding peace, joy, strenght and gratitude in what I have.
And you, dear friends?
I wish you a bright New Year, full of joy and of many tiny happy moments to cherish,
happy 2015!
*Pictured above are some of the handmade gifts that have filled our origami Advent calendar. I love them so!
CRISTINA PORZIO 