on montague

on fasting

2011-03-02T06:32:00.006-05:00

My father's voice fills the room, the rythmic, repetitive sound of his chant is tangible, like the blanket I am wrapped up in. It envelops me in the warmth of the Words.

From the window at the back of the house I can see the sky, just now turning from pitch black to that early morning, gray blue.

The silouettes of the forest trees stretch out long, skinny and black, still bare and skeletal from winter, but ready to bring forth a new season of life.

The sun, is rising in the east.

We sit there praying, the six of us - four siblings and two parents, full from breakfast and hot, strong persian tea. Lulled by the melody.

It is the single most vivid memory of my childhood, that prayer, those moments together. Chanted every morning during this time of the year*, as we sit in the chilly living room, dawn just breaking, awake long before we usually do.

My mother and father will have waken well before us, to set the table fully, and prepare bread and cereals, fruit and yogurt. They wake us up, no matter our age, and they've managed to make 6am utterly joyous, something to look forward to as you go to bed the night before. We are all a bit sleepy, groggy, still warm from our beds.

For the first time in over a decade I am back in that room, just me with the two of them this time, but I can feel my sisters and my brother with us as we pray.

I know that in their respective corners of the world they will also rise when it's still dark, alone or with their families, to welcome back this yearly ritual.

But I also know they are here with us. That each one of them, at some point in their own early mornings, will think of my mother and father, and of my father's chanted prayer for the Fast.

And they will smile to themselves, think fondly of the blessed years we spent all together in this home, and probably like me, say a little prayer of gratitude. Thankful to have been born into a family that has taught us that what is sometimes hard and frustrating - the abstinence all day from food and drink - can somehow be the most joyous event of the year.

* as a Baha'i, this is a most precious period of the year: the nineteen day long Fast. From sunrise to sunset, Baha'is all over the world do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset, every day from March 2nd and ends on March 20th - with the celebration of Naw-Ruz, the start of the new year.

** the photos are some of my old submissions for nineteen days. the project is back again this year, for the fourth time, and there is an outstanding group of photographers participating this year, so I strongly encourage you to visit it daily!

old stomping ground

2011-02-19T18:39:00.005-05:00

Sometimes you forget how much you loved living somewhere until you leave it, and then go back to visit. I knew I loved living in London, and I knew it was beautiful, but I forgot how glorious it can be, when the weather cooperates.

evening walk

2011-02-17T16:47:00.003-05:00

It is so, so quiet. All I can hear are the birds, already excitedly waiting for spring.
And us, walking.

And that light - beautiful, beautiful blue.

It is just light enough to take a few photos, but teetering on the verge of darkness. And you look forward to making it home again, shake off the chill, and sit down by the fire with a warm cup of tea.

oh la la.

2011-02-12T16:05:00.003-05:00

a very short break. with long walks (love the woman shaking out her tablecloth).

where we could find some warm weather, in February.

coffee and people watching. a perfect combination (hello stripey socks).

naps in the sun.

and not.

a few more here.

more china

2010-09-29T12:15:00.002-04:00

The growth of my belly is to blame for my absence from this space. Forgive me - it might be wishful thinking but I hope things will pick up again around here sometime soon!
A few ~~weeks~~ months ago, my friend Chessa asked me to guest post on her blog while she took some time off to enjoy the newest addition to her family.

I shared more photos from our recent trip to China - and I wanted to make sure you saw there here, too.
Young visitors in Tienanmen Square.

Signs of spring, on the Great Wall.

The glorious vistas of Yangshuo county. Day long bike rides in the rain didn't make this place any less awe inspiring.

Freshly picked oranges on the side of the street.

Good luck wishes on front doors.

Friendly, sweet faces. Everywhere.

east

2010-06-03T14:06:00.003-04:00

China was fascinating. In all the obvious ways.

And in thousands of small, unexpected ways.

There is a lot more where this came from. I promise I will post them... soon.

blog it forward - what inspires me...

2010-03-18T14:08:00.004-04:00

This month is incredibly precious to me. March coincides with a nineteen days long fast for members of the Baha'i Faith. All over the world, Baha'is are abstaining from food and drink, from sunrise to sunset, from March 2nd to march 20th. Why, you ask?

"It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent within his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character."
-- Shoghi Effendi

In conjunction with this special time, a group of Baha'i photographers decided to collaborate in a worldwide project: each day of the Fast, two photographers would take photos at dawn and dusk, to mark the beginning and the end of every fasting day. And so was born nineteen days, which has provided me with daily doses of visual and spiritual inspiration this month.
Here are some of my most favorite photographs...

Layli - Rapid City, USA

Shirin - Beijing, China

Negeen - Haifa, Israel

Omid - Santa Monica, USA

Ryan - Vancouver, Canada

Elliott - Ross Creek, Australia

Leili - Boston, USA

Shahriar - Quito, Ecuador

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This post is a part of blog it forward, a wonderful initiative by victoria, to collect and share inspiration from all over the world. I am so happy to be a part of this and encourage you to check out all the other blogs involved, and especially our.city.lights who is posting tomorrow!

'nineteen days' book - and a giveaway!

2010-03-07T11:19:00.002-05:00

Leila, Anjali and I spent the past two months working on collecting the images and the words of our 'nineteen days' project from last year. The result? A lovely book - filled with over eighty full-color pictures, from a cup of tea in America to a blazing sunset over an African capital... it is a truly precious thing to us and I hope it will be to you too!

We're have three copies of the book to giveaway - as a special thank you to friends that purchase the book and help spread the word about it. Here is what you need to do to be eligible for the giveaway:

(1) Do one of the following: join our facebook group, follow us on twitter at @nineteendays, post the cover of “nineteen days” to your flickr account and link to the “nineteen days” shopping site, or blog about this giveaway.

(2) Buy at least one copy of “nineteen days“: the more copies you buy, the more times you are entered to win one of the three giveaway copies.

(3) Let us know that you’re in to win by contacting us. You can do one or more of the following:

tweet this message: “Hey, @nineteendays, count me in for your book giveaway!”
leave a comment on this blog
contact us on flickr, letting us know you’ve posted the cover (Amy, Anjali, or Leila).
post something relevant on your facebook status (and then let us know on our facebook group’s wall).

(4) Winner(s) of the three giveaway copies of “nineteen days” will be chosen by random selection.

(5) On Tuesday, 9 March 2010, at 5pm MST we will announce the winner(s) of the three giveaway copies of “nineteen days“!

This is a beautiful book, a five-star book, a book you know you need.

Good luck!

nineteen days - year three

2010-03-01T14:05:00.003-05:00

I can hardly believe it is March once again. And that this year marks the third year that my dearest friend leila and I will be working on nineteen days.
Leila and I are both members of the Bahá'í Faith and we started this project back in 2008 as a way to mark the annual occurrence of the Bahá'í Fast.

It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. –Shoghi Effendi —

Then last year, we cast our net a bit wider and invited 19 additional photographers to join us.
This year we because incredibly ambitious and have thirty-eight people contributing from all over the world.

Every day a different pairing of photographers will share images, words and thoughts of their fasting experience.
On one of those days, leila and I will share our own.

We hope you can join us over at nineteen days.

dinner time

2010-02-27T16:05:00.002-05:00

It's cold and dark in the evenings still. So we cook food that is warm, and comforting. Pasta with zucchini, or tomatoes, broccoli, even butternut squash once so far. Polenta. Ratatouille. A variety of persian stews. Soups with big chunks of bread to go with them. What is your winter comfort food?

Some perch themselves on the windowsill, curiously smelling the air, intrigued by what we are making...

i ♥ new york - snow day

2010-02-11T13:06:00.004-05:00

Snow in New York comes with a special glow. As soon as I wake up, I can tell from the light streaming in through the window that the ground is covered with it, that big fat flakes are coming down, that the sky is heavy and full with more snow -- big clouds blocking out, filtering the sunlight.

I love that view out of our window. Rooftops and red brick. On good days you can see all the way to Staten Island. Though I seem to take that photograph every year when it snows, and then you can only see as far as a few blocks away.

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Today's Soundtrack
The Lovemakers - Love is Dead

elsewhere...

2010-02-09T15:38:00.002-05:00

As New Yorkers prepare for a big snowfall overnight, here are some snippets of spring, hoping they will entice it here, with its bright colors and warm air, sooner.
These were taken in March of last year, as we visited my parents back in Italy. The last photo is the view from our home's garden. I have a Polaroid of that same view at my desk, and I look at it everyday. It makes me so happy.

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Today's Soundtrack
Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin'

i ♥ new york - blue & gold

2010-02-04T13:25:00.003-05:00

New York is blue and gold in the early evenings. From my first days here, I noticed and loved the contrast between the cool blue skies shortly after sunset and the warm, yellow gold tones of the indoors. I imagine New Yorkers tucked in tight at home, preparing dinner, laughing, radio playing. Or huddled around tables at restaurants and cafe's, catching up, reaching out, finding warmth with friends and loved ones.

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Today's Soundtrack
Dave Matthews Band - Funny The Way It Is

february 3rd

2010-02-03T16:32:00.003-05:00

Lazise, Italy.

Santa Elena, Costa Rica.

South Woodstock, Vermont.
Three completely different places, at different times, in different seasons. Yet they somehow feel right together.
How is your week going? It has been busy over here... it's good to catch a break, pop in and say hello.

headed home

2010-01-31T14:01:00.005-05:00

My commute has been the same for three years now. But I can still find beauty in it... right? What ordinary, daily things do you find unexpected beauty in?

PS: I just got a new camera, so I am selling my Nikon D80, body only. I'd love to pass on this sweet treasure of mine to good hands that will handle her with love and put her to good use. She's been a wonderful and trusted companion! Email me if you are interested!

woodstock, vt

2010-01-28T07:31:00.004-05:00

Woodstock, VT is full of exactly all the things you would expect to find in Vermont: snow, maple syrup and lovely shop signs (huh?).

Other stuff:
- it's snowing.
- what i made for dinner last night.
- brian's lovely vision, of nightfall in london.
- i'd like to hang out in Sandra's studio.

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Today's Soundtrack
The Weepies - Not Your Year

i ♥ new york - even when it rains

2010-01-26T16:38:00.002-05:00

Yes, I complained just yesterday about the rain, but I might need to eat my words. It's not that bad, is it?

I hope you are staying warm and dry, wherever you are. But I also hope you are getting out there and taking a walk, even in the rain.

vistas

2010-01-25T08:02:00.002-05:00

It is rainy and cold and generally gray in nyc. Can you blame me for dipping into photos of sunnier, warmer places, places that look - for lack of a more poetic expression - like paradise on earth?

We spent most of our days in Costa Rica by the Pacific Ocean, surfing, beaching, relaxing... but our short stint in the mountains was truly unforgettable. It was a long and incredibly bumpy trek up to the top, but well worth the view.

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Today's Soundtrack
Kate Earl - Melody

iris cafe'

2010-01-23T14:15:00.003-05:00

A new cafe' opened up in our area, and in the somewhat culinary challenged Brooklyn Heights, this is indeed news to celebrate. Especially when the place is so adorable, the food tasty and the owner and staff so utterly pleasant. I am glad Elizabeth suggested we try it out this morning. Gush much?

The menu is terribly simple, with a few egg dishes and some very well executed sandwiches. I loved the roughly-wrapped-in-waxy-brown-paper presentation. Apparently their ham and cheddar biscuits are great too, so we'll need to try one next time we go.

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Today's Soundtrack
Anya Marina - Satellite Heart

leftovers

2010-01-21T11:45:00.003-05:00

Table tops -- after dinner -- are heartwarming. They make me think of good times, with good people. Food, chatter, forks on plates, glasses clinking together. The opportunity to linger, pleasantly full.

back home... and a winner!

2009-12-07T12:45:00.002-05:00

Well we're back. And as much as it is nice and comfy to at home, I'm not quite sure it's fair to say that I am glad to be back is fair, frankly. We had an outstanding time soaking in some beautifully hot and humid weather. I embraced the frizzy hair and the impossibility of make-up to its fullest, and have returned with a renewed appreciation for nature and outstanding friendships.

Thank you all for your kind comments about the calendar! I must say, I was excited to open the box and take a look at it when I got home. And I am even more excited to be able to send it along to dear Nadia, as she is the winner! Nadia - please drop me an email with your address (see link in the side bar).

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Today's Soundtrack
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

a giveaway for the new year

2009-11-23T14:04:00.003-05:00

As the new year creeps up on us and I figure out ways to have some of my own photos around the house, I decided to pick some of my favorites and put them together in a little calendar.

You can get a copy of the calendar yourself over here, if you would like, but I also have one extra copy to give away to one of you! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post by December 5th and I will pick one winner out of all the comments.

If you feel inspired to tell others about this giveaway on your blog or on Twitter (you can follow me over here), you'll get an extra entry. Just make sure you let me know!

In the meantime, I'm checking out of this space for a short little while to lounge out on a beach.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

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Today's Soundtrack
Susan Boyle - Wild Horses

fall hiking

2009-11-22T13:34:00.003-05:00

We headed out of town for two short days, just a few hours upstate. Our hopes for a fall-foliage-frolicking-filled weekend were initially dashed by copious amounts of rain on Saturday which left us stuck in front of the fire place, watching movies, for hours. I know, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

But Sunday was glorious. Gloriously foggy and misty, sure. And severely lacking of leaves on the trees, but the ones on the grounds were still bright and cheery and crunchy enough for our city dwelling feet to stomp on.

photo by elizabeth.

this is elizabeth! look at that cute camera!

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Today's soundtrack
Glee cast - Defying Gravity

ps: come back early this coming week for a special giveaway!

my home

2009-11-17T08:18:00.005-05:00

I sometimes forget how lucky I was to grow up where I did, in a gorgeous town in Northern Italy, nestled deep in that foggy, stunning valley called Pianura Padana. I took cobble stone streets and friendly faces for granted, and when I visit now, I am so much more aware of how utterly stunning 'home' really is for me.
I was back there a few cloudy, moody days last March. Winter was just about to loosen its grip, but Spring was not yet quite visible. You could notice it if you looked carefully for small buds on the trees, or smelled the subtle change in the air.
The light was sad, but beautiful to me. We crossed the river on Ponte Pietra, the bridge I walked across nearly every day on the way back from school.

We walked up the shallow steps towards the old Castel San Pietro, up above the old roman theater, looking longingly at the homes tucked away on the side of the hill.

The view from the top was as breathtaking as it ever was on the countless afternoons I spent there in the past, despite, or maybe because of, the clouds.

I know I was luckier than most, growing up here. But I think we all look back to the places we grew up in with the eyes of the children we were. And whether it was Verona, Italy or Verona, New Jersey, they deserve a second, closer look. I bet you'd be surprised by what you might find.

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Today's Soundtrack
Nick Drake - Pink Moon

finally...

2009-10-27T21:39:00.003-04:00

My sister's amazing work is for sale in her shop! Here are a few more of the photos I took for her...