spring back: one

During spring break I took a trip out to the west coast. I started in New Mexico and went through Utah, Arizona, and ended up in Colorado before I flew back to get back into work. I only had a week, but jam packed my week with the most amazing vistas and great time with friends.

I know that I have taken a long time away from blogging, and am not quite sure where blogging fits into my life anymore, or if it does...but I do want a place to document this trip, and so over the next few days I will be uploading the photos here.

Also, to my German followers: you are so sweet to wonder where the heck I went! I am still here, and loving life, even if my online presence is dwindling.

Speaking of...I am on instagram: danielleruckus is my username. That is one place I am still updating!

xoh!
d

Self-Portrait a Day since 1999

Happy 2012.   I have been spending a lot more time focusing on my immediate world around me, as well as my artistic endeavors...thus leaving this blog silent for a bit.  I am going to be changing up a little bit what I post about, and I am not quite sure how I want to move forward...but for now, here is a link to a video I found to be incredibly inspirational. 

One Self-Portrait a Day Since 1999
xoh!d

silver lining

Yikes. 

You know how some weeks or months are just way harder than others?  Life is funny that way.  A few weeks ago I was feeling completely on top of the world, and the weeks proceeding it have been some of the hardest times of my life.  Maybe I am lucky to not have so many horrible things happen all at once to me before this whirlwind of suck....or maybe I just feel it is so awful because I am in the thick of it.  I think that saying about hindsight being 20/20 is true...you have time to distance yourself from the pain, heartache, loss, fear, and letdown in order to gain clarity.  

It has been hard to post anything even remotely uplifting on this blog, and so I took a little bit of a break as to not subject all of you to my absolute lack of joy...because, let's face it.... that's no fun!  

These are photos of some of the things that have helped me through this time...and trust me, it has been a rough ride.  It would be a shame to allow rough circumstances and events around me to completely bring me down.  As hard as it may be, finding the silver lining is what keeps us going... 

wonton soup

ivy covered house on a walk with my sister

the absolute best sister in the world

spending time in bookstores, and a tattoo to honor my Grandmother

and working in my studio


 I would also like to thank any of my friends who have been there for me letting me know how loved I really am.  I love you guys!

xoh!
d

Buy Handmade this Holiday!

Here are a few things I have been loving for the holidays, wink wink nudge nudge.  

My particular decision during the holidays is to either make each thing that I give (paint, bake, make, sew, crochet, draw, print etc)...or make sure that I buy from artisans who hand make their goods.  It feels so much better to give something that you know was made with love and care, and that the person who made your gift was treated fairly (so important!).  The only exception I make to handmade is books:  because, lets face it...books are wonderful and lovely and great, and no one is handwriting a million of their awesome books, right?  If you can: buy from your local bookstore.  The extra money spent and not saved on Amazon or other big box stores goes directly into your community...and doesn't that just feel oh so nice? 

If you don't know where to look in your area to buy local handmade, check out local museums and art centers, as well as galleries.  Many times the unique and original work there is absolutely affordable and one of a kind.  Here are some pieces that I happened upon at a local Art Center in Westchester NY. 

Happy gifting!

xoh!

d

the wind that blows from here to California

xoh
d

i'm working again

wet eyes of security lost
she runs the comb through eyelashes clumped with mascara
lights camera splashes
copper tint on her eyes, copper paint on her nails
those bitten with anxiety
those scratches on his back
how funny what ordinary things become weapons

the books and to do lists and dishes pile up
and she steps over laundry to step into the cool water
but no matter how many times
how.many.times
she scrubs
it just won't wash away

not like the photos
not like the notes
and not like the hopes and promises

this is not mine
this is just, not mine

this is not my walk
through my beautiful park

anymore





.

Harvest Feast

Thanksgiving is always a very weird time for me.  Being a School Teacher for years I have gotten increasingly more despondent over the American teaching of Columbus, the Native Americans and what Thanksgiving is all about.  Some schools have been worse than others throughout the years.  Some schools completely omit the story, which I feel sometimes is more truthful than what we did growing up.  

I remember growing up making "Indian" and "Pilgrim" costumes out of paper bags and wearing them to school for a big Thanksgiving feast.  Later, when I was enlightened by the more honest story of our Nation's beginnings, I was so distraught that my Teachers participated and had us participate in such nonsense.  In fact, I was downright hurt that these Teachers who I trusted so much would just flat out LIE to us. 

That being said, Thanksgiving is a hard time for me and I have gone back and forth as to whether I would celebrate it at all in fact...but it is hard not to take some time to eat good food and spend time with family, friends and loved ones.  

I like to see Thanksgiving as more of a celebration of the Harvest.  So my sister, her husband and our friends Marek and Kristyna did just that!  We used local, in season vegetables, and cheated with a Tofurky and made a yummy feast to enjoy with one another.   

My sister and her husband found out that their gas was out at their complex, and so we had to get a little bit inventive with the preparation of the feast!  

Honza roasting beets and celery root

highly sophisticated methods of checking food

Malomar happy to be off leash and running around.

Marek wearing his "traditional Czech winter hat" and me in the woods. 

We went on a walk before we finished making dinner and spend some time wandering through an Old Cemetery.  As depressing as this is, in Rye there was a separate African Cemetery away from the dead white folk, in a way off unkept area.  It was sort of humbling to see this and reminded me of how much a Nation can change.  (Not to say that we don't still have a lot of work to do in regards to equality).   

We also took a nice walk in the woods as the sun set.  

check out those dates!  

It is so nice to make an entire meal from scratch (okay okay, except for that processed Tofurky that we have all grown to love).  Here are some photos of our Vegan Harvest Feast! (PS...not to brag, but of course I will...my Brother-in-Law even brewed his own Pumpkin Ale for the occasion! He rules)

curried pumpkin soup with pumpkin seeds

sweet potato mash

roasted beets

tofurky with cherries made by yours truly

My beautiful harvest plate,  I love filling my plate with a variety of colors!

Fused Glass that my sister is currently working on.  She is so talented! 

vegan pumpkin ice cream

whole wheat apple pie and pumpkin ice cream. yum!

Hope you had a wonderful time with friends and family as well!

xoh!

d