a recipe for you.. (we're really enjoying this lately)

Summer Salsa

1 peach {chopped into 1in cubes}
1 mango {chopped into 1in cubes}
2 avocados {chopped into 1in cubes}
1C black beans {soaked overnight, or canned}
1C fresh corn {freshly shucked; steamed and left to cool is best}
1/2C fresh cilantro roughly chopped
1/2 medium red onion or 1 small red onion finely chopped
4 romas {deseeded and chopped into 1in cubes}

Combine all ingredients above in a large bowl; lightly toss with fingers; drizzle in a few tablespoons of your favorite frangrant extra virgin olive oil, a teaspoon or so of chili pepper sauce such as this one, juice of a lime and or lemon, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss once again lightly with your fingers and serve.

Happy sunday! xx

While I was away visiting with family this past week my niece's first dance class happened! and I was able to be there to see her shy smile and twinkling eyes as she bit her lower lip tapping her toes to the music, gazing into the mirror at the other young boys and girls trying to keep up. The whole 5 minute long routine just about melted my heart.

I began my own relationship with ballet when I was about 2 1/2ish years old (my niece's age, too.) I actually remember those classes well. We would run and jump over this large, dusty, red, velvet pillow and always ate teeny tiny colored marshmallows at the end of every class. I trained for about 3 days a week with my ballet instructor, Mrs. Atkinson for years. Mrs. Atkinson loved to partake in snacking and sucking on mints during class, and she always wore a pink velour sweatsuit and bright pink lipstick. I trained until I was about 18 years old and haven't gone to a class since, because I think I'd insist my instructor to play the same piano tunes, wear pink velour sweat suites and suck on mints -- it just wouldn't be the same!

Maybe M will love ballet as much as I had? She was so quiet in the car ride home, daydreaming about the experience she just had. An aunt can dream too..

Above is a snap of my niece dancing in her first dance class and below it, my very first pair of pointe shoes. {To my surprise, my mom had them stashed away in her hope chest for me.}

"I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realizes an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don't have complete emotions about the present, only about the past. "

— Virginia Woolf

In austin I found a mint vintage yashica electro 35 gsn rangefinder at uncommon objects on south congress. I'm so happy about that find..

while flying home i came across this passage reading dave eggers's the only meaning of the oil-wet water:

low-flying, quick moving clouds: I haven't long to live.

treetops, rounded and rough: That's probably true.

low-flying, quick moving clouds: I won't even make it to the sea. I can already see where I'll end.

treetops, rounded and rough: I don't know what to tell you.

low-flying, quick moving clouds: But the thing is, I really love moving like this, though I know I won't even make it.

treetops, rounded and rough: There are advantages to flight.

low-flying, quick moving clouds: But thought is its unfitting companion.

so fitting... isn't it? it was really wonderful watching the boys perform their latest in austin.

leeda

leeda berlin 2006 :: collection inspired by films from W. Wenders and berlin architecture. photographer M. Novotny, film director T. Lunak and graphic designer O. Benesova co-collaborators.

flew somewhere for a few days

With people I love, in familiar places. I was enamored by the sky on my way home.

warm

So nice. Spring is officially here and the warmth is wonderful. i am drawn to these muted natural tones lately... Some of my flickr favorites as of late.. 1. Peri, 2. Wonewoc mirror, 3. curtain, 4. fragile #5, 5. lines, 6. Untitled, 7. Untitled, 8. cracked, 9. antiquing

futzing

I have been anxious to get started on crafty projects, but all of this good weather keeps getting in the way, and good books that have me glued to the page. Am thinking this will get me in the mood to start futzing around rather quickly. That, and a quilting project in the works for a new duvet cover.

Really fun. Happy things... Here and here, too.

This looks really fun, too.

weekend

its nice to have calm after a busy weekend. indian summer still going strong in chicago, in fact feels like june weather.

schwinn bella..yay for yellow.

Just got a new bike! Isn't she pretty?

green grass

Just stumbled upon greener grass design's website. I'm in trouble. I will be attempting to teach myself how to sew Lotta's apron in the next weeks.. (work is keeping me pretty busy lately). Wish I could get to it sooner, but I have no excuse for my other temptations.