the perfect day

good morning my sweet blog friends.

thanks for popping by today. 

you are in for a lovely surprise..

i mentioned yesterday i was going to have a special guest over for a 'visit'.

but i didn't tell you who it would be.....

well let me tell you now...

insert 'smile'

sweet Gigi from the magpie's  fancy is here.

i'm sure lots of you know and love her already.....

but if not, you are in for a fabulous surprise.

Gigi's blog is so inspiring and thoughtful. 

she's super encouraging..  i mean truly such a kind soul.

every visit to her blog is like a little piece of pick me up.....

i love this post she wrote a few weeks ago. 

'what my heart knew'

it's completely inspired....really good stuff!

  but enough of my rambling...

let's get on with the 'show'...

.....

I have been greedy. For the past couple of weeks since my friend Kim invited me to share my idea of the perfect day here on her beautiful blog, I’ve dreamed up many, many perfect days, each more delicious than the next. I couldn’t stop myself. As soon as one magical day took shape, another equally lovely confection of a day popped up and demanded my attention. The result: at least a couple of weeks’ worth of perfect days--maybe a whole month--clamoring for the number one spot. Most of them involved travel, meeting people, trying new foods, exploring new places, learning (or teaching) new ideas. Venice appeared in more than a few; writing showed up in several; and food was a main feature of each and every one.

But the more I thought and doodled and daydreamed, the more I realized that I am, at heart, a simple girl. My idea of a perfect day boils down to a few key things:

• time spent by myself thinking, reading, writing, and tinkering;

• time spent outside, preferably with my hands in the dirt/sand/water/grass and my knees wet from photographing tree roots and wild flowers;

• time spent cooking with whatever ingredients are local, fresh, and organic;

• time spent with my husband and other folks I love.

I think in truth I have already lived a pocketful of perfect days, against which all future perfect-day candidates will be measured. A couple of those days occurred just last fall when I had the great joy of living for four months in a tiny cottage on an island off the coast of my home state of Maine. I watched the sun rise there nearly every morning and then watched it set again in the evening, listening to the sound of the ocean waves that crashed just a few yards from my front stoop. I made rose-hip syrup from the hips of the wild rugosas in my yard, and I pedaled my bike down an ocean road each day, waving to neighbors and stopping to visit with island cats and dogs along the way. I took rides on the island ferry even when I didn’t need to go to the mainland, just for the fun of it. I collected enough sea glass to fill several mason jars.

And I wrote. I wrote every day, and often long into the night, sometimes with the sound of a storm hammering at our window frames, other times with a calm sea and the moon’s reflection to keep me company.

One late-autumn night I brewed a strong pot of Earl Grey, then my husband and I wrapped ourselves in quilts and headed outside to watch the Leonids meteor shower. We stood on our deck in the dark and cold, warming our hands with the mugs of tea, and watched the sky streaming stars all around us. How small we felt, and yet how much a part of it all. I’d catch a golden streak shooting past the corner of my eye, and I’d point and call out. Then he’d spot one and do the same. The whole night filled to brimming with wonder and possibility. It opened up, the sky did, like a question I couldn’t answer, but one that I knew I would never stop asking.

Albert Einstein once said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.” And that is my perfect day exactly, it’s one spent asking questions, one that’s laced with small joys; it’s a day that smells like salt and tastes like wild roses, a day when hours pass without my knowing as I photograph chickadees and catbirds in the crabapple tree; it’s a day when I write a good sentence, and when my love and best friend is just a room or a sandy stretch of beach away, ready and willing to hear each word.

Oh, and a nap. My perfect day would definitely include an afternoon nap with my cats.

Thank you, beautiful Kim, for your talent, inspiration, and generous spirit. It is a pure joy to visit here with you.

.....

Gigi, i can't thank you enough for sharing this.

gosh i would love to slip away to that beautiful cottage 'sigh'....
what a 'dreamy' opportunity.

i truly enjoyed...every morsel.

much love,

Comments

[mise]

What wonderful photos - the sun through the door, in particular, and the flowers vying with a double rainbow for colour. And the written images as well - I'm drawn into Gigi's perfect day, though, knowing her, I'm sure she'll share it.

[beth]

you summed up a "perfect day" perfectly....even though i know how hard that was to do....and yes, a nap, always a nap :)

[Lynda]

oh yes! a perfect day indeed!

thanks so much for sharing your day with us!

[Angie Muresan]

Oh Gigi, what a charmed life you lead! I love this post and bookmarked it so I can read it over and over.

[Pamela Terry and Edward]

Just lovely.
But then, all of Gigi's posts are!

[Len♥reNeverM♥re]

Gigi,
That's so lovely & inspiring...your photographs captured your essence~
xo

[Cathi]

Beautiful words and photos, Gigi...you know how to do a perfect day! Keeping the curiosity in one's life is truly essential...Thanks for sharing your beautiful thoughts! xxoo :)

[followingsplendor]

I thought I was there. I had the perfect day right there with her. I'll have to pop over to visit GiGi...I like her words...thanks Kim!

[Char]

i love that you included one of the shots that initially drew me to you (the sea glass and mason jars).

and yes...a nap

[Bossy Betty]

Ah! Perfect indeed! Thank you!

[Karen]

The photograph of the ocean with the rainbow is fantastic. Thanks I needed that today.

[kelly@thebluemuse]

A wonderful wonderful perfect day, or a whole stretch of them, it reminded me of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's A Gift from the Sea...all the photos are just wonderful, thank you for sharing this with us.

[ELK]

hi kim . hi gigi ..I am right there with you...each word and image a journey towards a special day!

[Prairie Girl Studio]

first off, dear kim ~ this is a most delightful idea ...
actually ~ a perfect idea!

and you, dear gigi ~ thank you for sharing so eloquently and yet so simply, a perfect day for you ...

a day reflecting on two beautiful people who share so freely and creatively ...

we are all blessed beyond belief ... :)
prairiegirl
xoxo

[Ange]

Now - I too have bookmarked the post and was just wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing one of your perfect days. We seem to have the same definition exactly ...
Lovely post Gigi
Great idea Kim!

[andrea400]

Sure sounds like a perfect day, and such lovely pics. Love that cottage :)

[Denise | Chez Danisse]

Gigi,
Your time in the cottage, what a special experience. You described it beautifully.
Denise

[Gigi]

Thanks, everyone, for the lovely comments! What fun it was to be over here today! Kim, you never cease to inspire us with your ideas. I'm looking forward to reading other folks' perfect days!!!

xoxo Gigi

[Simply Mel]

Whenever I read anything written by the lovely Gigi, my day seems to be just a bit more perfect! She inspires me with every single word she shares, and the world is a better place with her in it.

Beautiful post!

[Relyn]

Hello, Kim. It's so nice to meet you. Gigi is the loveliest of friends. It's so nice to meet a friend of hers. I love the idea of a perfect day, too.

Gigi, you are wonderful and talented, as always.

[margie]

thank you for this. dreaming of a perfect day can bring a moment of perfect in a busy day.

[Christina]

now this is a perfect day... i love the photos and lovely words to match.
love to you both.
: )

[Sam]

Sounds like a perfect day to me! What a beautiful post. I love the part about the nap!

[Tina]

oh! What a perfect day. With such wonderful photos.

[Dustjacket Attic]

Oh that was just heaven to slip back to the cottage with you Gigi. The time you spent there was so magical and we were so lucky to share it with you. I'll always remember it.

xxx DJ

[laurie l. goodman]

thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt post! bring tears to your eyes happy kinda vision... how lovely!

[Jaime]

Oh, I am so glad I came over here...to read beautiful Gigi's perfect day (which oddly comes very close to my perfect day ;)

...and to meet you, Kim! As I was reading this sweet little post, my eyes kept wandering over to the right where your textures are..they look so alluring. I will come back and wander some more and get to know you! It's nice to meet you. :)