Morning Glory.

Due to the company I used to keep, in the past I found myself being a creature of the night, often involuntarily. It did not bother me though and I enjoyed late morning sleep ins; however on regular bases they failed to make me feel refreshed and invigorated.

As much as the stillness of the night can be soothing and tranquil, it seems also to carry a certain feel of distress with it. A sensation of being late, or being behind. As if one is trying to catch up with the world that seems to move a few hours ahead of oneself. Besides, it has been suggested that sleep initiated on the other side of midnight never fully restores the body and mind.

Early morning however carries a different kind of tranquility. The one that instigates a feel of being ahead, being the first one to experience an enchanting moment, way before anyone even knows it is there. The privilege of facing a new day, with all its pristine glory and unblemished beauty, while the rest of the population is still sound asleep, unaware of the natural wonder that is taking place just outside their windows.

As of lately, my body naturally prefers rising early and I have never felt more energetic. This past weekend, as I was up just after the day break, watching a late autumn sunrise, offered views filled with colours and nuances that contrast the ones surrounding our sunsets. Gone is the saturated golden, red and orange. Instead, the air is light and misty, defined by transparent colours; pale yellow, turquoise and baby blue, with a touch of pink, which can turn violet as the winter nears ever so close.

There is a certain magic hidden within the morning glory, which carries with it hope and sense of renewal, as well as promises of fresh beginnings. Anything has the potential to yet occur. It is infused with a sensation of momentarily stillness, almost an anticipation of something grand - it is as if time lingers for an instant, belonging to no one else but me...

Watching the sun rise slowly, as its subtle rays embrace the landscape, melting gently away the frosty blanket while the golden disc barely leaves the horizon, is a source of endless enchantment. To relish in the gentle tranquility of a newborn day, as my house becomes saturated with the scent of fresh coffee and baked bread has become one of my new found simple pleasures.


(Below a selection of recent images, depicting late autumn - early mornings, as viewed from my grand windows; please click the images for a better view)

Passion In A Cup.

Considering my recent post about Chocolate, I thought I would dedicate one to a another wonderful addiction of mine.

Coffee.

This rich and bitter, yet so smooth, aromatic and almost seductive drink is is my drug. I used to drink coffee with cream, but after I have became the owner of a new, wonderful appliance; the Senseo; I take it black only.

With Senseo, I have finally left the coffee cave of the primitive human and joined the modern coffee drinking world. In fact, it was a Christmas gift from very good friends and although I had my doubts at first, I am now a true believer in this technology. Making a cup is the easiest thing each morning and it never tasted this good.
Drinking coffee has become not just luxurious, almost clandestine pleasure, but being very cost effective, the most guilt free one as well.

Late August Saturday.

The weather has turned very unstable, making it feel more like April than August. It rains heavily one minute, while the sun shines the next, making the air hot and cold, in a fast, alternate manner.
This is the first Saturday for a while that I am spending entirely inside. I am back to my "Lazy Saturday Afternoon" with a good cup of coffee, Batcat relaxing languidly at my feet and a couple of good magazines, which I have not had time to read yet. As I am reading, once in while I lean back to watch the rain pounding at the window pane, followed by the sun shining through the drops.

I love reading magazines and still today have two subscriptions; one is a fashion magazine and one is an interior decoration/culinary magazine. Both excellent and very inspiring. A perfect company for a rainy day.

A Garden And A Movie.

Today, for the first time in ages, or what felt like EVER, I got to see sun once again. I awoke to blue skies and bright sunshine and was immediately in a good mood. The day also felt brighter. As the sun keeps moving higher up in the sky, the intensity of light changes as well. Already now we have one hour more light and the light quality is different as well.

I enjoyed my lazy Sunday morning with freshly baked bread roles and a cup of steamy hot coffee and watched "What happens in Vegas" with Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher. I was positively surprised, as the movie was really entertaining. It made me both laugh and cry, which is for me an indication of my kind of movie.

Later in the day I did my first gardening of the season. I have two clematis plants, which are a type of a climbing plant, growing attached to a fence around my terrace. They grow amazingly fast comes April - May and in July - August flower with the most amazing flowers. In order for the plant to indeed flower, it is necessary to trim it in February. The plant is cut down to about 30cm above ground and the old dried out stalks and leaves are removed. Even tough the clematis looks dead, already now there are many buds sprouting from the dry stalks; a clear sign that it needs to be trimmed.

It felt really good to be out in the fresh, crisp air and feel the sunshine on my face. Every time I cut down my clematis, I know we are getting closer to spring. And that is a very good feeling.;)

Saturday Shopping.

I like to shop. No, let me rephrase that, I LOVE to shop. I think all, or at least most girls, do. And women as well. They say, it comes from our past. The cave men were hunters and the cave women were gatherers. We gathered things. And that is exactly what we do today. I have female friends who enjoy walking around stores, not actually buying anything. Just looking. Turning everything around, trying things out. Walking from shop to shop comparing prices. This of course highly annoys their male companions and husbands. Men do not understand this kind of shopping. Well, we women do take their time. At least most of us do.

There is also the other kind of female shoppers, a category where I belong. I know what I want and when I see it, I buy it. My problem is that I tend to like A LOT of items. Clothes, perfumes, makeup, shoes, candle holders, small ornaments, decorations, you name it.;) I always seem to need more.
In recent years, I do no longer enjoy visiting stores and malls. They are overcrowded and I find the items too expensive. Furthermore, I rarely have the time or energy to be wandering for hours around the stores, like I used to when I was younger. No, today the best is to sit comfortably in front of my computer visiting online stores. I have a few favorite ones; anything from fashion to cosmetics, even decorations. I love browsing through their merchandise, sometimes for hours, while deciding what to purchase. And I love the feelings of expectation during the days while waiting for my packages to arrive.

The online stores have made my shopping so much easier and enjoyable. Last week I received all the new catalogs with the spring and summer fashions. It is so tempting to order new clothes around this time. Especially as the weather outside is so dark and gloomy. Today was therefore a perfect day to stroll around my favourite cyberspace shops. I really do enjoy sitting in front of my computer, in the comfort of my own home, with a cup of coffee while I shop-til-I-drop.;))
I do not think I have developed an addiction yet, but I do try to think things over a few times before I click the “buy” button .;)

Coffee and Chocolate.

And YES, I ate ALL
the chocolate on my own.