• coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  writing/reading

    Something new…

    February 27, 2024

    Ultimately, the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is.

    William Zinsser

    I added this Pilot Custom 823 pen to my stable of pens a week ago. It is larger pen than my Pelikan M200 and M205 pens or the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 or Custom 74 pens, especially the nib. It is also a vacuum filler and holds more ink. It is also more expensive!! So, I imagine this will be the only one I ever own. I do like the transparent smoke color and gold trim. Since I enjoy using brown inks it suits my writing style. My sister has one and considers it her favorite. Not sure if its my favorite, yet, but the writing experience is wonderful. I’ve found that when I enjoy a fine pen, or a favorite, I will pick it up more often. It has been windy all day. We had cloudy skies with a rain/mix early this morning. It’s about 1:47 pm, is partly cloudy and the cold wind still blows. Stay warm and hold on to your hat.

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  journaling,  quotes

    Maybe a blankie

    February 16, 2024

    Writing by hand is thinking on paper. Thoughts grow into words, sentences and pictures. Memories become stories. Ideas are transformed into projects. Notes inspire insight. We write and understand, learn, see and think – with the hand.

    The above quote is from the packaging in my newest Leuchtturn1917 journal, which I have been using for several years. It seems that the first sentence can be attributed to a writer and teacher, named William Zinsser. Not sure where the rest of the quote comes from. I relate to his idea that writing by hand is thinking. And, writing by hand also has a way of slowing my mind down. I’m posting this image because it goes along with the quote and I began a new journal today. It’s also a new color of journal for me as I have exclusively used black. It is hardbound, has two ribbons, and 251 lined pages. I average around 6-9 months of journaling in a book. In one strange period of time, where I had a lot on my mind, I filled one journal in three months. I find having a quality journal with 80 gsm fountain pen friendly paper and a quality fountain pen will inspire me to pick them up more often and use them.

    As some of you know my dad now lives in the warmer climate of Arizona, so I sent him the following message this morning: “Good morning! It is cloudy, 23 degrees, 84% humidity and expected to snow later today. It seems like a wise choice for me to stay inside, making it a day to read and journal.” And he responded: “That is what I would do with maybe a blankie.” Stay warm!!!

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  writing/reading

    It has me thinking…

    February 8, 2024
    Accepting time for coffee and journaling

    Somewhere in the past I read where we do not make images but receive them. That has resonated with me every since. And, I often reference that idea in some of my blog posts. I’ve personally heard myself give thanks when I have finished a photo session of a sunrise because I do feel I’ve received some kind of gift. Could be the romantic in me. Anyway, I also just read where someone suggests our transition from an agricultural society to an industrial society has shifted our vocabulary and thinking so that we talk about making rather than growing.1Let Your Life Speak by Parker J Palmer, page 97 Something else for me ponder. Just listen to how we speak: we make time, make love, make memories, make a photo, make money, make a living. I have caught myself saying I need to make time when in reality I can’t make time but I can set aside time for coffee and journaling. Anyway, it has me thinking/pondering about how I use the word make. When I think about it, it would make a great conversation over coffee. Gotta make time for that!!! 😂

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  • coffee life,  journal,  journaling

    Coffee Life

    January 3, 2024

    “Religion isn’t about believing things. It’s ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.”

    Karen Armstrong

    It’s cold or at least I’m cold. Have been all day. It was 20 degrees this morning when I headed for the coffee shop and I haven’t really warmed up since. However, walking into a warm coffee shop then having this work of art presented to me made it worth bearing the cold. Found a place upstairs and settled in for about an hour of journaling time before meeting Mark for breakfast. Had a pleasant surprise today as my youngest daughter had an electric throw blanket sent to me. I am enjoying it now. I wonder if the mocha latte is a form of alchemy? And, I’m assuming it’s ethical. Stay warm as it looks like much of the US is going to be cool the next few days and behave in a way that changes you!!!

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  quotes

    … alive to everything

    December 23, 2023

    For any writer who wants to keep a journal, be alive to everything, not just to what you’re feeling, but also to your pets, to flowers, to what you’re reading.

    Mary Sarton

    In all honesty I enjoy my efforts of journaling my thoughts, my feelings, as well as what I see around me. The practice helps me learn more about both. Interestingly, just taking the journal and pen out of my backpack helps me to really look at the gift of the world around me. Same thing happens when I take my camera out. So, as with photography, my attempts at putting in words how I see the world around me has helped me to see the world around me, with new perspectives. And lastly, I have a desire to be alive to everything and not just glance at the world around me, taking it for granted. Hoping you have a wonderful day!

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  • journaling,  quotes,  Self-portraits,  writing/reading

    Give it now…

    December 20, 2023

    One of the things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. These things fill from behind, from beneath, like well water. Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.

    Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

    As I was journaling at Mugs yesterday morning i noticed the lighting was perfect for a photo that symbolizes my journaling. So I asked one my barista, to take this image. Jess volunteered and this what she gave me. I like it.

    I’ve journaled for years and feel that the past five years have been the most productive. I don’t mean that in quantity but in the quality of my writing. Every time I put pen to paper I find unexpected words. I’ve uncovered truths and lies I’ve told myself for years. My journals have help me dig deeper into my soul helpsing me to know myself more while hopefully being a better human being. I am learning to put into words how I see the gift of this natural world I live in. I also am learning to put into words the gift of this inner landscape of myself.

    Finishing up laundry then some reading, walking and photography. It is overcast but warm.

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journaling,  quotes,  writing/reading

    A Grateful Heart

    December 12, 2023

    “Union with God is not something that needs acquired but realized.”

    Martin Laird

    It has been overcast and cold all day. After quiet time and a bowl of cereal I took the bus and walked to Mugs for my mocha which helps me get in my steps and exercise. I was greeted with a big smile from my barista, Jess. Met with high school classmates for our monthly lunch today then met with a friend at 1:45 pm at my place. Had a wonderful phone call with Duane after that. And, maybe snow later tonight.

    I have been reading from a few new authors, and enjoying them, as well as rereading some books. I’ve found it true that we never read the same book twice. And, now that the colder weather is here I will probably be reading more. I have a couple more books coming from new authors which I really am excited to read.

    As I look at this image I realize that it depicts how I’m living my life now. It includes my coffee life, my journaling, my reading and in the background, my camera. The coffee life provides a social outlet for me, time with friends and making new friends. It is not just about the mocha latte, although that’s an important part of it. Journaling is my way of documenting what is unfolding in my day, to continue to ask deep questions, and enjoy the pleasure of writing with fountain pens. It is also a letter to myself and the union with the Divine within me, what Meister Eckhart calls the Ground of my Being. And, I see books as seeds of discovery that hopefully take root and bring transformation within me so that I can become all that I was created to be. The hidden part of my life that is not seen in this image is my camera. It is through photography that I have come to see the world with the photographer’s eye, while accepting all the gifts of living this life. And, finally the essence of this image depicts some of the tools I use on this Spiritual Path I’m walking. Yes, I have a grateful heart this evening. Stay warm!

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