the power of a cookie

Do you know the part in Stranger Than Fiction where Ana {Maggie Gyllenhaal} is telling Harold {Will Ferrell} why she became a baker? She said she dropped out of law school because she believed she could make the world a better place with cookies. Ever since I first saw that movie I have loved the idea, actually, even before the movie I loved it.

I think it's true, don't you? I mean, whose spirits aren't lifted when their eyes catch glimpse of a plate full or even a couple homemade cookies? {I can think of two specific events in my life that resulted quite fortuitously because of, I believe, the cookies.} And I don't think it's just a sugar attraction, {because I always cut back on the sweetness}.  I think it's more than that.  Could a cookie remind one of home, warmth, of comfort?  Could biting into a warm cookie bring the feeling that everything's going to be ok?  That it is a good day after all?  Nevermind the fact that your truck has been in the shop for an entire week because they keep finding something wrong with it.  Who cares?  You've got a cookie.  I know my mom makes the world better with cookies.  And I believe I like making things from scratch because she always did for us. 

I also firmly believe with every morsel of my being that art makes the world a better place and that is what I try to do. One drawing at a time. One painting at a time. One pinhole at a time. Hopefully, touching one person at a time.

Ok, thanks for reading! I hope your weekend has a cookie or plate full in it, :)
H

Quiet and still

Last night we got home around 8 and at the end of a long day, when you've not yet had dinner, and you're near the end of your groceries, what do you fix? Breakfast. So I mixed up some waffle batter, adding rolled oats and a mashed ripe banana for good measure, while M. sliced our last pear and washed some grapes. We set the table, turned off the radio, and lit a candle. Sitting quietly, eating, looking at each other and sighing the heavy sigh one has when tired and recalling all the events of the day and week. At 9 we retired to watch episodes of Northern Exposure checked out from the library and drift off to sleep. It's good to be quiet and still.

Inspired

Good morning,

Today I'm sharing Jen's response to my October Inspired piece. I believe this may be one of my favorite pairs, and we've made a lot of pairs! {This project began in February of last year.} Later in the week we'll post her photograph for November, in which I will make a drawing inspired by her piece.

Have a good day,
H

ps. If you click the image, I think you'll be able to see it in my flickr, & view it larger.

Passage

Hello. Here we are in the middle of Monday already and I am still thinking of our weekend and the good and simple moments that filled it. The temperatures were warm, the sky was bright blue and more yellow and red leaves were carried to the ground by autumn breezes.

We celebrated my birthday, a birthday in which for a long while I had been anticipating with some anxiousness because there are certain expectations one feels upon reaching this age. But now I am standing here looking at this new age and not {totally} panicking and I realize I am ok. That's a good feeling.

So we celebrated by having dinner with friends, a latte from the coffee shop, chocolate torte with fresh creme, taking bike rides in the sun {my husband surprised me with a bike from the Lawrence ReCyclery!}, homemade biscuits for Saturday breakfast, mushroom risotto, salad greens from the autumn garden, and making starburst rolls while enjoying the sun pouring in the kitchen window Sunday afternoon. We had a wonderful end to October and quite a nice passage into November. I hope your new month is beginning with a little sun and something delightful in your days,

H

Regarding Autumn

Last night before dark I stood out on the balcony looking at the black wet trees and the remaining color. We've had a beautiful autumn. Wednesday during my walk to school, I passed by a young gingko tree in the park with a small cluster of leaves in it's lower branches. On my return home, there was one leaf remaining. The rest had fallen in the wind. I find myself noticing these changes with a sigh as autumn slips into the "w" season. {I can't bring myself to say it yet.}

Do you have any weekend or Halloween plans? I am looking forward to some homemade chocolate torte tonight.

Have a great weekend, and enjoy the extra hour of sleep!
H