we are almost half way through the cycle… and now mercury has left the sign of cancer and entered his home sign of gemini…
so what does this mean? — well, the last week or so may have presented you with issues to deal with, revisit, resolve, etc. in the following themes : home, roommates, intuition, nostalgia, mother/mother figure, childhood, emotions, security needs… these are some key themes of the sign of cancer. perhaps you made the decision to move or make renovations in your home? perhaps a past project came up that needed tweaking or you had an “epiphany” regarding something from your past. you may have learned to trust your intuition more, or to learn to come to terms with some emotions you are feeling… MR in cancer offers an opportunity to revisit, rework, and release in these areas of our lives… and with the full moon energy last week, this period has had amplified energy to support it, as well…
now mercury is continuing his backward travel through the sign of gemini – which is where his “home” is. for the next couple weeks we can expect to see our thoughts shift into the themes that gemini represents. these include talks, short trips, local activities, brothers/sisters, electronics, vehicles, writing, the internet, and anything else that involves connecting or communicating. mercury LONGS to connect, and when he is in the sign of gemini, he has the most success in doing so. however, since he is retrograding in this sign, we can expect to see our thoughts become more introspective. we may want to get other people’s advice or opinions on the current relevant matters in our lives. we may revisit a writing project or rework a trip we had planned. any vehicle or electronic issues may arise to be addressed {sorry, that IS one of the bummers about this period – i hope you backed up your computer recently!} and/or we may find people from the past showing up again to rework, reclaim, or revise a situation. there is great opportunity during MR periods… it’s like taking a mulligan 😉
mercury retrograde periods get a bad rap – but i believe it’s because we don’t generally UNDERSTAND what they are for… and we don’t properly harness the energy presented during these times, so many of us are left feeling frustrated and wondering what happened. which is ironic because that is precisely what mercury retrograde longs to be – UNDERSTOOD! i can’t tell you how many times a day i catch myself thinking or saying “i just wish {that person} understood how i felt.” you may catch yourself using some of my catchphrases lately – like, “did that make sense?” or “i just want to explain it so you can understand…” or “that came out the wrong way, let me rephrase that…” or “wait, i didn’t mean to say that…”
astrology doesn’t MAKE stuff happen… it can’t cause events. but time and time again i find validity in the movements and study of the planets and their behaviour. being natal mercury retrograde, i have a unique and tremendously accurate understanding of how this planet’s movements effect our lives in a major way. perception is EVERYTHING in life – and it can be to our benefit or to our detriment. this has been my biggest lesson during this current MR period. i guess it all goes back to being true to who you are. we are not all the same – we are very uniquely different. but i believe that the ways in which we are the same can bring us together and allow us to be ourselves, as individuals… if we could just simply change the way we look at things – at life.
every puzzle piece has importance, significance, and relevance – we just don’t and CAN’T all have the same design, function, or purpose – we must each bring our own individual strengths to the group, the collective, the puzzle itself. and we should never try force a puzzle piece to change its shape… we simply can’t. and besides, then it wouldn’t fit in the puzzle, anyway – you dig?!
thank you for reading, and for your support – it means the world to me! and please let me know any thoughts you have or feelings you wish to share… i love hearing from you! and don’t forget, i also am available for hire to conduct natal astrology interpretations.
callee has recently become a lapcat… she never used to lay on my lap and let me pet her and now she’s always climbing all over me – especially when i’m sitting at my desk blogging. so – apparently my kitty callee says hello, everyone! 😉
squeezin’ in some vitamin D anywhere i can – even on my lunch-break…
speaking of vitamins, i am trying these new kickass 100% organic food-based vitamins from garden of life. and how happy was i to find my favourite quote ever inside the box?!?!!! 😀
watching sopris emerge from the clouds…
taking more shameless selfies : featuring new shades…
i was having a nice moment with this cute little bunny… until a loud truck drove by and scared her away…
yep, those are two ladybugs… *ahem* …on an asparagus stalk…
bloomin’ onion…
how do you feel about ravens?! they are always all around me… practically everywhere i go.
mercury went retrograde in cancer today… for three weeks we can expect to see our thoughts become more reflective and introspective. a few of the key themes will be home, renovations, real estate, roommates, moves, security needs, childhood, intuition, emotions, mother/mother figure, and creativity.
as you may recall from my previous rants, mercury was the messenger god in greek mythology… he “presides” over the following themes in our lives : communication, travel, electronics, writing, thought-processes, transportation, and the like. he longs to communicate and relate. he was the figure responsible for communicating messages to the “mortals” from the “gods” – what a job, huh?! try communicating with a bunch of people who don’t “speak your language” … it can be quite challenging.
this time, mercury is retrograding in the sign of cancer. and cancer is ruled by the moon, by our emotions. cancer represents things like our security, home, family, and intuition. what makes this particular mercury retrograde interesting is that the moon will be housed in it’s ruling sign, cancer, during this transition, as well… that means a WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY under one roof! my advice is to expect the unexpected. trust your gut – listen to that voice inside that speaks softly to you; it’s nudging you one way or another… and sometimes we have to surrender and let go of what we feel is “safe,” in order to open up to a whole new world…
as i’ve mentioned, i was born with natal mercury retrograde in my astrological chart. these time periods {occurring about 3-4 times a year for approximately 3-4 weeks at a time} tend to make me feel extra good. for one, i feel more like my “authentic self” and less like i’m trying so hard. i feel more articulate, open, and creative. this is particularly true this morning.
i have had a weird couple of weeks over here and this morning i woke up feeling different… and i welcome good change.
now – to see where this energy takes me…
❤
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by the way, i am available for hire as an astrologer. i specialize in conducting accurate birth chart interpretation and would love to help you on your way to understanding YOU a little better… 🙂
my camera broke recently… and so i haven’t been able to really take any new fotos of anything… it’s been a real bummer… because i’m not sure i can fix it… and i’m just trying to stay positive and really focus on the things in life that make me truly feel GOOD… and i’m thankful to have a phone with a camera so i can capture moments in my life that are memorable… i mean, even if one doesn’t have a camera, i feel it’s important to stop and make a conscious memory of the things that make us feel good…
yanno, the things that make ya go “mmm” …
… like perfectly-priced happy hour 4-oz samplers of four amazing local brews… {can you guess which one was my favourite?!}
… and a sampler snack platter to compliment including savory tomato jam, perfect stone-ground mustard, multi-grain crackers, goat cheese, hard salami…
… and catching a rainbow…
… and seeing artists repurpose all kinds of amazing stuff… like bikes! …
… and other artists being silly and engaging through chalk…
… and doughnuts. mmm, DONUTS!!!!!! *homer simpson drool sound*
… and relaxation time in {mostly} solitude…
… and visiting a friend’s house… who happens to have a great sense of humour…
…and sunbathing under blue skies…. SO BLUE!…
… and random stickers/graffiti that remind me of new york…
i am so blessed. i need to keep myself in check whenever i feel that i am anything otherwise.
i live in this amazing place where i have access to amazing locally grown and produced food – including quality, pasture-raised, grass-fed, fresh beef. now – some of you may be shaking your head at that word, reading it here on this ol’ blog – food and foto. you’re probably like, “wait a second -i thought she was like, vegan or something!? doesn’t she usually do meatless mondays?!” well, yes – yes i do. and yes, for about four months once – i was vegan.
but dude, i’m not anything – i’m everything. and right now i’m really enjoying eating lots of grass-fed beef, butter, cheese, and dairy. i can’t seem to get enough of it. i feel very blessed to have regular access to grass-fed beef products. have you ever had the pleasure of enjoying grass-fed beef?! it simply doesn’t compare… it is just amazing!
while at my personal favourite market, i picked up some grass-fed beef produced from a local ranch where i live and was inspired to create these adorable mini-sliders. nothing special about them, really – other than the fact that this meal is basically farm-to-table! i just wanted to share the pictures and rave about how happy and grateful i am that i live in a place that values the ethical treatment of animals and provides availability of these great quality products to an equally-compassionate and educated foodie like myself! 😀 Continue reading →
hey gang, how are things? i hope you are enjoying the season, wherever you may be…
lately, i’ve decided to cut back on blogging a little… no particular reason; it just sometimes feels like a job to blog every day, and i’m trying to find other avenues in my life to expel creative energy… but i also am focusing more on blogging about the tiny home. it’s pretty amazing how this movement has taken off and how much i feel like a part of something pretty special and cool! my landlord recently started a new construction project – a tiny home! so, stay tuned as i document the adventure! also – i haven’t forgotten about the giveaway i promised back in march… i just need a little more time to gather my favourite images, so – stay tuned for more information on that, as well!
the last few weeks have gone by at what feels like lightning speed… and i have just been sitting here kind of spaced out, wondering what and how anything happened…
luckily, i have fotos to prove it 😉
lately…
… i am very happy to see the winter season come to a close…
… i’ve been throwing my polarizer sunglass lenses over my iPhone to snap cool fotos…
… and, i’ve been looking UP a lot more!…
… insect energy keeps making itself known to me…
… i’ve been receiving gentle reminders…
… things like this have been making me giggle and appreciate the little things…
… i’ve been getting more involved with farming/farmers/farm fresh food…
… the earth seems to be bubbling from below…? {maybe it’s the GRAND CROSS}
… mini frittatas and roasted fingerling potatoes have been the start of my day...
… i’ve been cleaning out old files and giggling more over stuff like this…
… i’ve enjoyed having many many delicious snuggle moments with this adorable furball…
this was a christmas gift from my awesome landlord/neighbour and i’ve been super enjoying it during this winter and springlongest season ever.
it’s been so relentlessly cold here… dark, cold, snowy, damp… did i mention cold?
nothing warms my bones like a hot salt bath. we all know how much i luuuurrve himalayan pink salt, and i do sometimes throw it in my warm bath water. but since i have had these wonderful {hand-made} bath sand satchels, i have been using them to soak in lots of healing from the powerful dead sea salts and essential oils these adorable packages are filled with.
i just love salt; it has amazing healing properties in so many ways.
sometimes nothing will comfort me like a hot salt bath. to detox the skin, the body, the pores, the aches and pains… and what i love about these great little packages is how my skin feels when i leave the water… so super soft and smooth, and smelly-good, too! 😉 ❤
this week was a rollercoaster as far as emotions and happenings go. and the only rollercoasters i like are the ones i build on rollercoaster tycoon and pretend ride. and i’m actually serious about that, just ask my former roommate and still one of my best friends… he’ll tell you about my non-love of rollercoasters or things that go fast, in general… like waterslides.
nevertheless, here are a few happy highlights from my week via the shake-it app… {still my fav.}
i went pixie, again! i love it; brings out the new-yorker in me – and i just feel more like myself this way…
i happily spent a ridiculous 75 cents for this little cute bottle of club soda. i saved and reused the bottle for my liquid vitamins… i just love glass and i just love tiny things! 😉
it “sunny snowed” this week – and i am amazed my iPhone was able to capture the little flakes.
on that same day, my boss let me borrow his sunglasses ‘coz i forgot mine and he insisted they would make me cooler… i insisted that wasn’t possible. 😉
and despite the friggin mercurical weather, i planted my seeds…
and i hope to god they do not end up looking like this {clearly} genetically modified apple. i mean seriously, have you looked at conventional produce in the last couple years? it’s like that movie “cloudy with a chance of meatballs.” — the food is getting abnormally large! am i crazy or should an apple NOT be the size of two of my fists!??!?! i digress…
i had several very intense and wonderfully silent moments with my “neighbours”…
then there’s mount sopris… which just makes me happy for existing. and – i applied for a job with this view. uhm, yes please!
this is where i currently work – it’s kind of like going to heaven every day – only with more people 😉
and sometimes snow doesn’t piss me off… cuz it’s pretty…
ONE THOUSAND of you, specifically! wow – THANK YOU!
that seems like a really big number to me. it makes me feel very humble. and it makes me so grateful that THAT MANY PEOPLE find what i have to say valuable, interesting, or at least somewhat entertaining enough to make a simple gesture like click the “follow” button…
in the two years that food & foto has had life, i have found myself growing and changing right along with the blog. from refining what it is all about, to being honest and open about things, to many twists and turns – we’re almost parallel, my blog and me.
i just was blown away today when i had my 1000th follower sign up to join the fun! and it inspired me to want to do something special to honour it.
and what better to do just that – than a GIVEAWAY!!!???!!!?!!!??!?!
the big question is – what?! what do i give away? it can be anything i want, i suppose. i could find a vendor that wanted to donate something… meh. i can do that anytime. i could give away some healthy-eating coaching… meh. i kind of do that already. i could donate a portrait session… meh. been there, done that. i could give away a camera?!?! dude, that would be amazing… but i don’t have one to give away…
hmph.
would a beautiful print from my lab suffice? your choice – a personalized print from my portfolio. i have an extensive one, you know… portraits, landscapes, editorial, street photography, NYC, california, rocky mountains, macro, food, fine art… what’s your pleasure?!
and my goodness, how do i get people to get involved?
why, you already are!!! just by following my blog, you are already automatically entered in the drawing for a free fine art print of your choice! i will give away 5 prints before the end of April. I will post a blog with choices and the lucky 5 winners will win a print of their choice.
how’s that sound?!
mostly, i just wanted to do SOMETHING to show my appreciation to each of you for following my blog. as i’ve mentioned, this is my personal little playground and i love engaging and hearing from each of you. i may not always respond, but i want to take this time to tell you how much i appreciate the support! as an introvert, knowing what i have to say in print matters… matters.
saisons are some of my favourite kinds of beer. when i worked for whole foods in new york city, we had a beer room! i was going to link you, to show it off to you guys – but apparently it closed! i can’t believe it!… it’s hard to imagine what it looks like or what’s there now. life is weird like that – how stuff changes…
i digress.
when i worked at that awesome store, the beer room had a local contest for homebrewers – and the winner got to put their beer on one of our taps! the winner was a saison, farmhouse ale. it was, and maybe to this day still is, one of the BEST beers i have ever tried if not my favourite beer i’ve ever tried. and, i gotta tell ya – i’ve tried quite a few beers. this saison 88 from santa fe brewing company reminded me a lot of that delicious homebrew i had in ol’ NYC some 5 years ago now. i remember it well, though. it stayed with me… one remembers a really good beer.
food & foto 