fog and fire.

it is early sunday morning and the sun begins to rise and i again wake feeling lucky but also a little fragile yet calm. i learned a few things this weekend about myself that were pieced together with thought, a listening ear and a friend speaking the same native tongue, perhaps i have known those things before but i again wanted to make them clear to myself. i believe i can change so much of  me but what i am realizing is that somehow how i have not been given the same tool box of emotions, coping and know how as others around me have and that makes some of my being feeling as if i will always be a certain way. I am not sure if  i am sad about it, i do not think i am except when i accidentally get lost in my own fog or when i set fire to my insides which i work so hard to not let that happen even though as i am writing you i hardly am thinking of it at all, while forgetting that certain things are not for me.  if i stay quiet enough i can see i have everything i want  need and that is not worth trading what is needed for what is wanted specially when i do not think i could possibly begin to articulate what that would be, although this song that i borrowed from says it perfectly.

a little of my time in switzerland

Dearest friends that i am sitting on the hill at my farm table with the sun shining through the windows is  mind boggling hence i have not been at this position for almost a full month. I have been away for so long but as i have said such a large piece of my heart and mind has been here on the hill the whole time.

I have just spent one the most rewarding weeks in a long time with my dear friend kimberly and although what i want to do more than anything is tell you about it, i think it would be best to start of with other incredible moments from my work and holiday trip to europe. after looking through only half of photographs i have taken in the last month, it has become clear i must just jump right into. i do apologize for i might end up mixing a few images from on day to the next but i will keep them from the same country at least:)

the photographs above are from my time in switzerland with my friend Juliana. I have to say that i was so drawn to the rural part of switzerland. we walked along a path around a lake and on farm land. it rained, mist and fog made me feel at home oh and the cows ( more one them soon). Juliana was so welcoming, i was spoiled by home cooked meals and when you are on your own like i am and are the only cook in the family it is very rare to sit down at a table and eat something that was made by others.  Juliana is a wonderful cook, while she cooked i highjacked her dinning table and opened so many of her cook books from her incredible collection and with pen and paper found myself writing recipes i wanted to try on the hill. Andi her husband would harvest a lettuce from their beautiful garden and prepare the most simple of salads dressed with a delicate and beautiful dressing. All of the things i ate, like the incredible lentil soup, walnut cake and tagine will be repeated here in my own kitchen and i am sure it will bring back such nice memories of my time with the lovely juliana & andy in their home.

More from switzerland soon, it is good to be back and be able to share with you moments from my travel.

a late afternoon at the lake

  lets go to the lake 

saying it seemed so natural, specially being here in vermont  and it being a few minutes from home.

 the weather that day was in the nineties, it was hot and wanting all the kids to just feel free and I craving that elusive quietness i have been seeking we went. it was late afternoon and after being at farm stands and market, little towns with aran who was shooting for her book we knew that just skipping rocks and dipping toes in the lake would make everyone feel better and i think it did just that. we enjoyed having aran, jon and miren here so much, we have lots of photographs to share and stories to tell about our time with the Lovely aran and her family but as i usually do here at la porte rouge is start from the end and work my way to the beginning. for  now i will leave you with the shpts of the lake on a summer day.

the color in the lake and a healthy glow

I spent many hours this weekend exploring the forest. It is an amazing place. arriving at the lake i could not help but stare at all the leaves that floated just below the water line...so crisp i was tempted to join them. It got me thinking about natures cycle, then from there i started to think about our skin and hair. I thought it might be fun or better yet informative if everyone commented with a a beauty ritual or must have or a secret to everlasting youth:) but seriously the fall is when the skin begins to react differently.....just like the leaves in water look crisp and healthy- what makes you glow...