required reading: romance

i'll be the first to admit that this is not the most imaginative list ever, but when it comes to romance in poetry, i tend to turn to the poems and poets i've spent the most time with.  perhaps it's because i was falling in love with my husband as i immersed myself in their lyric lines, but creeley, cummings and neruda occupy a large space in my heart.

creeley in 1983 via nyt

before we began dating, joel and i spent evenings together memorizing robert creeley. so poems like our oft-quoted, "the rain" and "the warning" seeped into our dreams.  little did we know that each poem ingested would multiply until we were overwhelmed by love.  

"The Warning"

For love -- I would

split open your head and put

a candle in

behind the eyes.

Love is dead in us

if we forget the virtues of an amulet

and quick surprise

love that tie and vest

and always e. e. cummings. a little racy ("i like my body"), a little precious ("to be thy lips is a sweet thing/and small") , a little raw ("it may not always be so"). and sweet - "i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)"

get neruda's sonnets here

joel practiced his spanish while reading 100 love sonnets to me.  i later gave him a mixed media piece i'd made based off XXIX for valentine's day. this is how i feel now, missing joel each day, from XLV

Don't go far off, not even for a day, because -- 

because -- I don't know how to say it: a day is long

and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station

when the trains are pared off somewhere else, asleep. 

our poets (t.s.) eliot and ezra (pound)

i would be remiss if i didn't add my favorite romantic poet, joel ("and writing/ the poem/ for you/ in which/ love's hard measure/ is won").  over the past twelve years i've been lucky enough to have quite a few poems written for me. and of course eliot and ezra - the little poets of my heart .  love: j

an etsy lover's valentine

in love with this print

a little valentine's inspiration from etsy for today.  i'd love to go on a shopping spree this v-day to fill my home with many little objects of love. of course, that's not in the budget so i'll settle for a quick round-up of the handmade goods i'm lusting after in this season of romance.

love, from ashley g

gorgeous salt&pepper cellars by pigeon toe

smitten with this rug for little toes to play on

all love: j

V is for Valentine

Victory Bar: A great happy hour and flattering lighting makes this an ideal date spot.

They sell these great mid-century modern vases -  Heath Ceramics - at the cute Portland boutique Canoe, an awesome spot for finding gifts you'll want for yourself and other various modern minimalist items to update your pad.

I'm loving vests right now.  I was looking for some work clothes ideas for a gift and came across these great pics on the sartorialist website.

Vetiver vinyl is great to have for an awesome, mellow (potentially romantic) hangout.  Fitting that an ex-boyfriend introduced me to them.  Things of the Past is another great album of theirs.  

The scent of vetiver is one of my favorites, and Illume combines it with vanilla, mandarin, tobacco leaves and cedar wood - in its scented monogram candle collection - to excellent effect.  I discovered this collection when one of my friends gave me the "C" candle for Christmas.  Makes me wish I had reason to light candles more often...then again, maybe I don't need a reason!  

Well, that's all I got for now!  I figured February will most likely sneak up on us...and who said themes aren't cool, anyway?! Luv, luvs to my ladies...

work in progress

k + c: well ladies, i took the plunge. three trips to home depot, two coats of paint and one weekend later i have a chalkboard covered breakfast nook.  i love it! the process was actually fairly easy: step one) put the kids to bed; step two) paint. the walls have to dry for three days before you can start using chalk on it, but i broke down after maybe a day and a half and hung a couple of pictures, then went ahead and started writing. 

a little poetry, a little romance  

i met up with joel for our first date at st. jack last night (i'm still thinking about that escargot) and i thought it would be fun to surprise joel with the quote from william carlos williams' the ivy crown that graced our wedding cake.

i bought this light for only $3!

  

next up? i plan to paint the ceiling white and probably hang a white pendant lamp over the table. this septim lamp from ikea has been in my basement just waiting for a cozy corner to brighten. 

so, what do you think? love: j

Perfect Place

Love the nook! I think it is just exactly what that lovely kitchen of yours wanted to become. Can't wait to see the final product, J. Your posts have been such candy to my eyes.

Well, we've moved out of our place and are spending our last week in Oamaru with our dear friends, the Holdings (post on their amazing abode to come, i think). I've been growing a bit nostalgic as our time here comes to an end so I thought I'd do share this perfect place on the other side of the world with you both. Hopefully you'll find some inspiration in the quirky victorian style of this town.

Local cyclist shop

Some puppets

I really couldn't tell you what she is.

One of my favorite bookstores, Slightly Foxed

Slightly Foxed has such great Alice in Wonderland illustrations all over the store.

The Loan & Merc has become one of my favorite restaurants in the world. Once a landmark Loan & Mercantile building, formerly occupied by a Whisky distillery and store, one of NZ's famous restauranteurs has started this amazing Whisky bar & restaurant. The whisky they carry is actually the last NZ made whisky in the world, Once sold out, it's gone for good.

Good food.

Good ambience.

Good whisky.

Xx,

-K.

the nook

my inspiation via sfgirlbybay

k & c: the first thing we did when we bought our home almost six(!) years ago was to paint the kitchen.  we knew that we could not live with the old and awful shade of turquise that coated the cabinets walls and ceiling, and we settled on a lovely blue/gray shade.  six years later i've become somewhat obsessed with the idea of giving the kitchen a little make over.  Q: how can i get a clean, modern, child-friendly look? A: chalkboard walls!

via apartmenttherapy

i have also always wanted to turn the awkward back corner of the kitchen into a little breakfast nook, and after a post-christmas splurge, i finally possess the round table i've had my eye on. i love it! we can all fit around the table, and we have already begun sitting down to a hasty breakfast before joel runs off to the lovely st. jack.  i'm one step closer to creating my often dreamed of nook, and i'm really looking forward to many a cozy family meal there.

i love shanna murray's chalkboard wall decals

i think that today is the day.  i'm off to home depot for a gallon of paint.  i'm still torn between painting all of the kitchen walls white apart from the chalkboard nook, or going dramatic with dark walls everywhere.  the kitchen does get a fair amount of natural light, and with the white cabinets and light floor to balance... but i'm nervous about the potential time/money it would take to cover up a dark-wall disaster.  hmm. i'll probably be back to post some in progress shots and solicit some feedback. 

love: j

the birthday report

birthday hash browns

k: we rang in the new year and celebrated a very special birthday with gifts and a big breakfast at our new and much loved kitchen table.  after a week of long hours at the restaurant, we were thrilled to have joel home for the day, so coffee, naps and daddy time were the perfect way to welcome 2011.

 

crystal and i spent a girl's night in on new year's eve with a little slumber party, and it was a blast to have her help with everything from peeling potatoes to decorating the table and (my favorite) entertaining the kids.

construction paper and ginger flowers

though we missed joel's fabulous cooking, it was definitely the cheapest and easiest dinner party we've ever thrown. the chinese take-out was fantastic, the wine was divine and a mellow dinner with family was just what the doctor ordered. c and i decided to go minimal for the table dressing with a construction paper table runner dressed up by gold-leafed 60's bar wear and dramatic ginger flowers. 

birthday success the morning after

joel's birthday was lovely, but we are already looking forward to a fabulous new year's day fete next year. of course you and mr. t will be required to attend. love: j

ps- crystal is going to join our little correspondence with her fabulous gal about town vision - i can't wait to see what she comes up with!