The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen.

It is true that people who shop by telephone or as it stands now, by internet miss the communication that shopping in person allows.

When buying fabric one touches and feels the textures. When buying food, one smells the sweetness, the sourness or sees the freshness of a melon or a peach.

The actual act of choosing and putting back a purchase is in itself a satisfying action of the soul. It gives the buyer the right to pick and choose what they buy, making it  satisfying to their senses.

A persimmon in a picture is beautiful. But, it will not be the same persimmon delivered to your door if you are not there to pick it. Children and adults go to pumpkin farms to pick their own pumpkin right out of the ground. The pumpkins are there on the dirt they grew out of and get chosen to be taken home by a child. There is almost an act of love in that choice.

The actual interaction between buyer and seller is lost in the telephone and internet shopping venture. There is direct human contact with the act of giving and receiving, in buying and selling. Money has to be exchanged. Trust has to be built. Smiles are exchanged. A feeling of wholeness and well being as you walk away with your purchases having been satisfied by the interaction.

Money seems removed from people who are wealthy. In that, they do not use actual currency. Very few carry cash. In this day and age of computers and automation, it makes no sense. Everything is delivered, from merchant to laborer. Even money in the form of credit cards, is delivered from the bank to the credit card company without involvement of the buyer.

Things are moving forward and that is good and wonderful. We have to progress and move along with the times. Yet, just a reminder, be careful how much you automate your life, be careful how much you separate yourself and be aware of the consequences of isolation.

In 1986, Lucio Dalla wrote the words and music for this amazing song. The song relays the pain and longing of a man about to die while spending time with the woman he loves.

Luciano Pavarotti took it a step further with his emotional and amazing voice. Pavarotti expressed the agony and pain Dalla expressed in his song.

Enjoy Caruso, sung by Pavarotti and created by Lucio Dalla, God rest their souls.

Having read then left his stories on a shelf for a long time, in the last few days, I ran across them when downloading books to listen to. Taking O Henry with me on my evening walk, he again inspired me. The stories he wove are simple and the characters interesting and attractive. His surprise endings remain appealing and sometimes even jarring.

The next day, I sat at my work table and drew out book covers for two of his short stories. Yes, I know we do not “publish” on paper much these days but what can I say, I was inspired. I share with you two of his stories and include places where you can get them absolutely free to read and enjoy.

The Last Leaf

The Gift of the Magi

Aldous Huxley

Book Cover: Crome Yellow

I kept waiting for things to happen in this story but you could say my mind is marred by the fast pace of the present. At a lazy and wonderful pace of the country home, things do happen.

A true 20s piece of literature, Crome Yellow describes the descent of several people on a country estate to mooch off the owner. A collection of individuals different and lost as it were in their time spend all their time eating, drinking and doing silly activities even to the extent of hurting themselves. Set in post WWI, morality clashed with life and everyone looked for the truth and reality in their life and what they learned from the horrors of the war.

Huxley satirized the home he frequented with other authors and artists. An image of Garsington Manor, Crome Yellow represented the same refuge and home of Lady Ottoline Morrell.

In the mix is our hero Daniel, a lost poet looking for the next few words. An artist, a young woman, another woman just a bit older, a woman who gambles and lives for the stars, an astrologer and author and so on. These people gather, discuss and ponder the morality of their time. In the mix is a minister who kept a sermon around for so long, it ill-fit the time he repeated it to his congregation.

A historian who is hell bent on writing about Crome Yellow reads to the group from his writings which he finished. Going back and forth between the past and the present showed morality in its best and worst. Nothing changes much as far as that goes. You either have the morals or you do not and it is personal not national.

Well worth the read, Crome Yellow left me a little dazed and much saddened.

A Little Princess: Book cover

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Refuse to allow the hardships of life to stop you from the joys it holds. In this charming story, through the character of the heroine, we find grace, kindness and generosity in the face of ugliness and cruelty.

With simplicity and succinct clarity Burnett wrote, drawing the reader, involving them emotionally to her characters.

Our heroine, Sara is a lovely girl of seven with dark hair and green grey eyes. At first we meet a pampered Sara, loved by her dear father who lavishes on his daughter all he could afford. In the hands of a school mistress, he places Sara, trusting the woman to care for his treasured daughter. The child demonstrates generosity of spirit and befriends those who have no one, making friends of the less fortunate and less popular.

Far away, across many miles, he dies in India, leaving his daughter orphaned and poor.

Life takes a sharp downward turn for the delightful child who uses her imagination to overcome the meanness of her caregiver.

Through several situations during her ill use, she demonstrates once again her kindness and generosity to those in even lower positions than her own.

Using her imagination and mind, Sara keeps her flagging spirits and those around her elated as best she could. Mistreated she still finds her imagination salvation to her situation.

The story has a happy ending and I found myself unable to stop from finishing the book in one sitting. It is easy to read or wonderful to follow. A charming fairy tale even adults can enjoy.

Sonia Rumzi

http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/

http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top

Here I share with you some of the wonderful plants, edible or not. Share my wonder at the beauty.

Blue Ginger: a gorgeous flower and when the petals open, yellow insides make a delightful spectacle.

Fig Tree with Figs: May not be ripe yet. But this tree emits the strongest delicious smells as I pass by it. One can never ignore the deliciousness it promises.

Grapefruit for lack of a better word: I am never sure what it is called but it tastes like grapefruit and grows everywhere here.

Mangoes at eye level. Yep! Oahu is loaded with mango trees. Still not ripe, they make my mouth water.

Papaya Trees and fruit: Usually these grow like palm trees, high and inaccessible but in this yard they have six trees at head level.

Skunk Tree pods that open up to hearts: Nope sorry, not edible and it smells icky. But for all that, when the pods open up in the drying process, they look like hearts. Used often in flower arrangements and craft work.

Hairy Starfish or the technical name Stapelia Gigantea: A hairy succulent, not edible and also emits nasty smells but looks amazing.

Thank you for joining me on my evening walk.

Here is the progression of my work. I show you the first one to the last as I experimented and tested my skills with oil pastels on small spaces and narrow veins on the paper. I worked on detail while trying to keep my interest and love for Impressionist work.

These works are oil pastels on paper.

Please enjoy!

Dancing Iris

Iris Pirouette

Iris in Concert

The Glory of Iris

The colors change drastically almost by the minute. People line up on the edge of the water to watch the dramatic changes and the amazing combinations of colors. Only last night a man laying down on the grass, looked up and said, “What a palate of color God has to paint with!”

En pleine air, I introduce to you some of Ko-Olina’s gorgeous color in one dramatic sunset.

Enjoy!

Ko-Olina Sunset-1

Ko-Olina Sunset-2

Ko-Olina Sunset-3

Ko-Olina Sunset-4

Ko-Olina Sunset-5

As years went by, I did what she suggested and progressed. I picked up books, visited antique stores and learned. Developing a liking, I saw, bought and collected what I loved. I fell in love with fine china.

Because of my daughter, some of my stuff was saved from the trash or from second hand stores. When I started to travel for work, I got rid of most of what I collected and she saved some of it.

I share with you here some of the pieces I fell in love with over the years and collected. It is not a huge collection neither am I showing you all of it, but it is decent enough.

Limoges Candy or Jewelry Dish

Limoges Creamer and Sugar Bowl

Limoges Hot Chocolate Pot

Limoges Teapot

“You never ever get rid of anything,” says my daughter Nadya, all the time.

It is true if I can conceive of using whatever could be thrown out. I use raw shrimp for my recipes and I keep the raw peels. I double bag and freeze them for the time I need and want a seafood broth.

Here is a recipe I made this afternoon. My husband does not care for cream soups much so I devised a way to eliminate the dairy part of it and used coconut milk.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

Bel Hanna Wel Sheffa

-Shrimp Broth
- 6 cups water
- 1 large onion
- Peels of 2 lbs shrimp
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp old bay
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper

- Bisque
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 can coconut milk

.Directions:

-Broth:
1- In a large pot, boil in the 6 cups of water, the onion, shrimp peels, nutmeg, paprika, old bay, salt and pepper.

2- Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.

3- Add tomato paste and whisk. Simmer another 10 minutes then remove from heat.

4- Pour the broth through a sieve and discard the solids.

5- Makes approximately 4 cups of broth. Set broth aside.

Bisque:

6- In the same pot, melt butter and add olive oil and heat on medium heat.

7- Add flour and whisk vigorously to fry the flour without burning it.

8- Add 4 cups of broth while whisking to avoid lumps.

9- When thickened, add tomato paste and whisk the paste in thoroughly.

10- Simmer on low heat for ten more minutes and remove from heat.

Whatever the scent, whichever the scent, it accosted you and stayed with you for many years. Until some time in the present, it blew by you again and you stopped for that lovely moment to remember something good.

Most of the scents and smells for me are positive thoughts. The mother of my childhood friend made the most impression on me as an eight year old. She always smelled of wonder and far away gardens. I adored her.

Here are some that make up good memories and I still use them.

Cabotine de Gres

First, Van Cleef & Arpels

Parfum Rare, Jacomo

Rive Gauche, Yves Saint Laurent

Carmel Mission Doorway – Oil pastel on paper by Sonia Rumzi

Never underestimate the power of quietude. Never take quiet for granted. Always appreciate the moments of noiseless peace where even the rustle of wisteria leaves are heard. A place where our souls renewed.

Here are two places my husband and I visited. It left me with a sense of awe and wonder. After taking pictures, I went home and drew what I saw.

Cape Flattery, Washington. Pastels on oil.

The Lost Coast, California. Pastels on oil.

Me, left handed cooking.

My first grade teacher (bless her heart) hit me with a ruler because I used my left hand to write. I spent most of the year trying to use my weaker hand for the most important thing in class, writing. I did not do well in school that year or any other for that matter. She believed that being left handed came from the devil who whispered over our shoulders from the very same side, the left side.

But, here is what matters, I am still left handed, while I also use my right hand.

In her attempt to make me a “normal” right handed person, my teacher managed to make me ambidextrous. I do not remember how awful it was to be beaten with a ruler. All I know is that I use both hands now.

I stir food with my left hand and write with my right hand. I change from one hand to the other if the light is just right when I color my drawings. I write with my left hand on a blackboard but sweep the floors with my left hand. I play tennis with my left hand but crocket with my right hand. I surf the web and use a mouse with my right hand but draw with my right hand.

I am sending thanks and blessing to my teacher who made me part of who I am today, Ambidextrous and loving it. Thank you, I am grateful.

Me, right handed writing.

Red Splendor

“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”

George Bernard Shaw

Oil pastel on paper.

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
? Oscar Wilde

“Leave the problems of God to God and karma to karma. Today you’re here and nothing you do will change that. Today you are alive and here and honored and blessed with good fortune. Look at this sunset, it’s beautiful, eh? This sunset exists. Tomorrow does not exist. There is only now. Please look. It is so beautiful and it will never happen ever again, never, not this sunset, never in all infinity. Lose yourself in it, make yourself one with nature and do not worry about karma, yours, mine, or that of the village.”
? James Clavell

John Hannah born today in 1962 is gorgeous. The man is a walking idol. Whether he is the wonderful lover in sliding Doors, the tough cop in Rebus or the gay lover in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hannah is wonderful.

Handsome as handsome can be with an amazing accent. Gorgeous man!

Carina Nebula
Oil Pastel on paper

Turning Point

Oil Pastel on paper

As waves turn, sunlight hits the water just at the right angle and they reflect the most gorgeous colors.

Emerald Thrill

Oil Pastel on paper

“But a thought that has often occurred to me in selling rare editions may interest you. The customer’s willingness to part with his money is usually in inverse ration to the permanent benefit he expects to derive from what he purchases….. Folks will pay a darned sight more to be amused than to be exalted. Look at the way a man shells out five bones fo a couple of theater seats, or a spends a couple of dollars o a week on cigars without thinking of it. Yet two dollars or five dollars for a book costs him positive anguish.

“The mistake you fellows in the retail trade have made is trying to persuade your customers that books are necessities. Tell them they’re luxuries. That’ll get them! People have to work so hard in this life they’re shy of necessities. A man will go on wearing a suit until it’s threadbare, much sooner than smoke a threadbare cigar.”

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley (1919)

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4. Every sentence must do one of two things-reveal character or advance the action.

5. Start as close to the end as possible.

6. Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them-in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.