// and me //

i want a place of my own

a place where peace hangs in the air like incense

and my books are lined up on the shelf

a cat on one windowsill

a row of plants on another

sunlight coming through

or raindrops coming down

A little fridge and some plastic tumblers

all this

and more

and me

i'm sorry i've been absentee- i just haven't had a ton of thinking capacity. i will be back, eventually. 

// liebster tag //

 greetings and salutations everyone! I really do apologize for my absence here- I've been so busy and will continue to be for a while but I am going to try to post more. keyword try. Anyways, Anna tagged me for the Liebster Award(does anyone know why it is called that?) so here we are! She had very fun questions:)


The Rules of the Game:
1.) Link back to the person who tagged you. http://somethingsplendidstudios.blogspot.com/2016/07/tag-youre-it.html
2.) Answer the eleven questions.
3.) Tag 11 bloggers, and let them know you tagged them. 
4.) Ask your tagged bloggers eleven questions.

1.) Tell us four names (if you don't know the answer to any, just tell the ones you do know): one that your parents would have given you if you were the opposite gender, one they considered once they knew your gender, one you would choose if you got to choose your own name, and one you would NOT like to have.
I don't remember- I knew once :O Maybe Aaron? After my uncle? That sounds potentially correct haha. I know they considered Allison- and I think Fanny. Like, what? Fanny? I think it was a great-aunt or something idek. Um I actually like Nina(although Hannah I don't really care for just because it's so mainstream- seriously I think every other Christian girl from ages 15-20 is named Hannah.) Something foreign would be pretty though. I wouldn't want to be named Courtney or Taylor or anything like that. They sound too high school locker, makeup, 'hanging with bae' aeropostale shopping, high ponytail, kind of girl which  is NOT ME lol.

2.) If you were to adapt one of your favorite stories, what story would it be and how would you tell it? (movie, musical, webseries, play, book, etc?)
This is a stinky question how am I supposed to answer this?! So many. But 'The Rope Trick' comes right to mind. Maybe if there was a film more people would READ IT ahem.

3.) Tell us four of your favorite words.
hm... anguish. melancholy. glisten. phosphoresce. 

4.) What is a life lesson you have learned in the past year?
That God's will is not a mystery- just trust Him and do your thing. He'll work it out or put an end to it if it's right/not right- so why waste time worrying when you could be trying to move forward? Still learning this but it's important.

5.) Who is your favorite secondary character in a book you've read recently?
Um the most recent book I've read was actually the three in Lewis' space trilogy. I loved all the characters(or hated them, whichever). Mr. Bultitude in 'That Hideous Strength' kind of won my heart I must say!


6.) What are five of the books on your TBR list right now?
Ho-hum. Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children,  Shogun, The Far Pavilions, Katia and The Great Gatsby.

7.) Tell us one talent/skill you have, and one you'd like to develop.
Um singing? I guess?? I want to try and develop all my talents, my musical and philosophical bents are my main focus though I think.

8.) What's the best joke you've heard recently? (Awful puns are highly acceptable!) 



IDEK. It's just really funny ok. I'm sorry. I couldn't think of a joke and this was the only actually funny thing on my Pinterest humor board. Everything else was either evil and bitterly sarcastic or deeply ironic truths.

9.) Share a quote from the book you're currently reading.
I've only just begun Clive James' translation of 'The Divine Comedy' by Dante. Had to skim and when my eyes hit this bit I remembered it striking me so here it is.
'...'Your soul is crumbling from the needless blight
Of misplaced modesty, which is false pride
Reversed, and many men by this are swayed
From honorable enterprise...'

10.) What song is stuck in your head right now? (Or just share one that's been bouncing around recently if you don't have one right now.)
My head is like a haywire radio on some weird shuffle setting. Which is to say I have no idea what song has been stuck in my head. My sister (and I)just wrote a song to perform at our ladies conference and since we literally got it ready in three days that's been floating about quite a bit 😂 

11.) What do you want your life to be like when you're a little old lady?
Aw. There are so many versions of that, I'll see if I can do three
1. A wise, experienced old singer who can look back and be contented in the lives she's touched for God and now can help others.
2. A respected author who's philosophical work has impacted intellectualism and been able to fight for the Truth on it's own ground- to clear the spring's origin, so to speak.
3. And because I am actually a great lover of angst- 
a sad, shrunken recluse with plants, a cat and many books. A weedy, lovely wild garden, an empty mailbox under a hazy, cloud-brushed sky. A wistful gaze at a past that never had a future, and unshed tears for feelings she never felt. Klimt's 'The Kiss' hanging, postcard size, on the wall and a worn Bible beside the bed. And a late resolve to do something, anything, to touch the world somehow. 
lol Old me, I love your pathetic life. Anyways. (we aren't going to talk about the crazy route. I would never end up a crazy old lady, never. You believe me, right?)

I tag Shandi, Olivia, Ava, Abbie,  Abby, Melody and IDK whoever.

Oh wait I need to think of questions. Hm.

1. If you could see a cloud shape, and then have it come to life as a cloud thing, what object/being would it be? (I'm now struck with an intense longing for a cloud beast. ugh. Imagine how misty and cool it would be to touch.)
2. Which- library or museum. haha.
3. coffee or tea?
4. Favorite old/classic author
5.Favorite modern author
6. What kid's movie do you loathe and why?
7. My sister is watching me and she said 'what do you do before you go to sleep because nobody counts sheep' so yeah answer that. (bonus points if you do count sheep haha)
8. Do you like bumble bees? Or are you scared of them, since you know, they sting and all. 
9. If you have a calendar, what is its theme? (i.e. Cute Puppies, Vegetables, Tractors, Landscapes, etc.)
10. Do you think tall dark and handsome is overrated? 
11. Your feelings on hipsterism as a trend (like, oxymoron or oxymoron?)

// how can it be? //

For Kathryn's birthday, we were able to go to an open mic night at a cafe near where we live. We had a few songs prepared and did them(you can see clips on Instagram if you follow either of us there) then later on were able to each do another song.  And, since I had a track on our iPod, I chose this one.

'How Can it Be?' is just one of those songs, you know? The first time I heard it was kind of a fluke- I never listen to the radio, and if I do it's NPR for morning classical or Saturday opera. But for whatever reason I was waiting in the car and just turned to K-Love(I think) and heard this husky powerhouse voice belting this song. This was a while back so younger, music snobbier me was inclined not to like it- but it had something. The words just sort of pushed at me, and I jotted them down to look it up later. Since that day, I've come to absolutely love this song, and Lauren's voice for that matter. The words are so powerful, so personal and so true. However, in the original key I can't sing it. Recently I came across this high karaoke track and I was so thrilled!

One of my (and my sisters) dreams is to be able to perform and record CCM songs in popera style. There are so many out there that have such incredible messages, and recorded in a different style they could potentially reach even more people. Plus this is just how I was made to sing. Getting to perform this live and sort of off the bat was exhilarating, I have to say. I don't know what God has planned for me with a music career, if anything, but I was so blessed to be able to sing this amazing song, and I hope you enjoy it too!! Sorry about the poor audio quality- iPod camera, karaoke track and background noise can only be fixed so much :) Feel free to download if you should happen to want to.

So, what do you think of the popera/CCM idea? Do you know any CCM (or other songs) that you think could be covered classically? I'd love to take a listen, I love finding new music! Please let me know in the comments!!

(p.s. If they were Christians(praying- does anyone else pray for their favorite singers etc?? curious) Il Volo could cover this song and literally blow up the planet, just saying.)

// hebrew poetry //

 I will sing to the sky
send my voice on the four winds

I will take flight
on wings of gold, wheel in the sun

And  I will come down to earth again 
return to rest and fly once more

I'm taking a hermeneutics class online now, and we were learning about Hebrew poetry. They use parallelism(corresponding ideas) in different forms- this is the form called synonymous parallelism (similar thoughts expressed together).

Why should my head hang down?
I am blessed with the warmth of the sun
I am surrounded by a world full of flowers
and the smile of God has looked upon me by grace.
Thus will I hold my head high
like a sunflower, looking to the light

This is synthetic parallelism, where an original thought is built on to a climax.

In a clash of many colors without form, there is chaos
but where there is simplicity and expression, there is beauty.

Sort of weird poem, but this is known as antithetic parallelism, where one idea is contrasted with another. It's often used in Proverbs.

One last element, used in scriptural poetry and prose, is chiasm.

1.You are more wild than a thunderstorm
    2.More bright than a flash of lightning
        3.and yet quiet as the hush before dawn
        3.and yet I fear the quiet, as I fear a crouching tiger
     2.At least the brightness is visible
1.and the wildness beautiful though furious

Chiastic poetry  is a little harder to explain. Its name comes from the greek letter chi, which looks like an X. If the formatting is right, the poem should have a margin that resembles half of an X. This form uses a number of points/ideas, that build to a middle section. This middle section(in my example, the idea of quietude) is the main point of the piece. Then the ideas are repeated in reverse(as shown by the numbers). More than three ideas can be used, in the same form.

Anyways, hope this is a little interesting! I'm really learning about it, and am excited about using these structures in my own writing!!  Would you use them? Have you used them? Is there anything that needs clarity in my article? Let me know in the comments!

// fashion files: button down and denim //

So I thought today I'd do a fashion post!! I've gone through a long process of figuring out exactly what I want my style to be, but I think I've finally figured out a general base that is classic and hip all at once. Time will tell if I stick with it, but at the moment I think I'm probably at a point/age where my style shouldn't change too much more. Hopefully.

I like to look hipster- but not too coffee shop hanging, mega-bearded boyfriend hipster. (I hate those beards).

I want to look aesthetic- but not totally 'I just spent all my money at a thrift shop buying 90s clothes and am now trying too hard while reading a book about Van Gogh. Or at least taking a picture of it.' 

I want to look vaguely bohemian - but not like a hippy or gypsy or something.

Basically I've sifted down through this variety of related but different looks to find a starting point that I think general consensus would deem timeless- the French girl. (Told you- I'm becoming a Francophile!  Their style, and music...).

 They are artistic, and the original hipsters, all while managing to remain classic.

I look to classic icons from the 60s and 70s- such as Francoise Hardy, Jane Birkin(selectively) etc. for inspiration, as well as modern ones like Jeanne Damas and others. 

Granted I'm neither tall nor particularly thin- but who cares.Todays' look is very basic- white button-down and denim.

A staple of any wardrobe should probably be a good white button down. Mine isn't ideal, but it works for now. 

 
And an A-line button-up denim skirt, fresh from Old Navy. I'm quite happy with it, it fits well, was on sale and is long enough for general wear.

And, of course, the bangs. I cut them myself so they can be a little messy, but isn't that the point of french bangs?


I'd like to do more posts like this, going forward. Sort of a fashion files ongoing series, with posts on both my outfits and on different inspirations, as well as some makeup stuff.  If anyone who already has tackled any fashion blogging has tips for me- PLEASE, I'd love to hear them.
Thankfully my sister is a great photographer. It really helps. 

// wings //

via pinterest

I feel it, I feel it...

The quickening, the tightening, the stirring

The rush of blood, the beat of heart

Growing, growing...

I hear it, I hear it...

The rustling, the blowing, the shuddering

The taking off, the soar of wind

Going, going...

I see it, I see it...

The dizzying, the widening, the realizing

The stretch of sight, the broad of world

Flying, flying...

// on a street in paris //

via pinterest

‘If there was any hope she could love me, she would have looked my way, given some sign…’ He mentally moaned behind his paper, watching over it’s edge as she slowly moved along the street. In fact, every movement she’d made since noticing him had been choreographed for his benefit.

But of course, he didn’t know that.

‘Why doesn’t he look up, say hello, anything? Instead of just staying stuck inside that stupid newspaper?’ She fumed silently, as she sauntered down the street, glancing in the shop windows and fixing her bangs with careless movements. In fact, he hadn’t noted a word of that paper since the first step she’d taken onto Rue Amour.

But of course, she didn’t know that.

The little old lady across the street, selling red geraniums in terra-cotta pots, smiled. She didn’t say anything about the way of young love she’d been observing for years, the same thing in different people.

But of course, she knew.

xx sappy. i've turned into a vague francophile lately. i'll hopefully be posting something more productive soon xx