My Most Inspiring Places.

Botanical gardens inspire me. I'd like to sit in one on a cool day and write. I used to do that as a child; my mom loved Cheekwood in TN. I've been to the gardens in my city two or three times. Maybe I should try going by myself.

At the Opera House in Paris, I learned that "weak-in-the-knees" was real. The place felt like one gilded and tiled masterpiece. I'd love to sit in the center of a mosaic there and write poems.

Any good library makes me want to take down coffee table books and write down my reactions to every page.

Water changes me. When I'm swimming, especially in a warm lake, my mind clears, and my body relaxes even as I tread water. I feel strong and capable as I stay afloat. But even a bath (preferably with a ring-toting bath bomb) calms me down and warms me up. Access to a hot tub would be amazing.

Our guest room changes my mood. I can feel diligent or whimsical. I have furniture I love. I write letters to my brother at my antique desk. I play with stickers in journals on my chaise. It seems quiet and somehow apart from the rest of the house.

My armchair in the living room holds me while I read or scribble.

Barnes and Noble inspires me to read wildly. Michaels nudges me to find or create beauty wherever I go.

What places inspire you?

Become What Inspires You.

I saw these words on a mermaid journal and started to think about what inspires me and how (or if) I could become them.

• Pens. The sight of a good pen drives me to writer. I can't really become a pen, but I can write until my fingers are callous and inky. Ink can figuratively move through and from me. 
• Journals. Of course, I see a beautiful blank book, and I want to fill its pages. I guess I can be more black and open to new experiences and delights. I can tell myself the whole truth.
• Mermaids. Mermaids are such fascinating enchanted creatures. I can swim, enjoy water even more, make a point to sparkle every day, and write something from the perspective of a mermaid.
• Fairies. Tiny and glimmering, fairies have been one of my favorites since I was small. They are both delicate and feisty. I can wear light clothes, make sure to welcome my wings when they arrive to lift me out of pain. And again, I'll need as much sparkle as I can find.

Of course, my list could keep going: ballerinas, Mom's crafting and ribbon embroidery, certain movies, good mail, a certain old Victoria's Secret body splash, certain writers...but this is a start.

How to Nourish Magic.

The artist Tasha Tudor said that magic is for any age, but we have to nourish it. Adult life can so easily crush it. Here are some ideas:

• Absorb art, including and maybe especially fantasy art. Amy Brown, Jessica Galbreth, Josephine Wall, and Maxine Gadd are some good starting points. Get a few books online or from the library and let the images tell their stories. This will keep fairies, mermaids, and elves on the outskirts of your mind, ready to play. Of course, fantasy can be dark (which is not necessarily evil) too, and this can offer a kind of compassion and solace when you face pain that seems completely alien. 
• Absorb theatre. Costumes, makeup, scenery, music, and effects make any good show a breathing fantasy. 
• Invest in your mind, imagination, and suspension of disbelief--three of your most magical and precious possessions. 
• And why not explore Tasha Tudor's art? My favorite pieces are her illustrations for A Little Princess and The Secret Garden.

Shimmer Clicks.

Sofia's Journal Sofia is English and almost exactly my age. Her blog, full of fascinating lists, decorating ideas, and fashion and beauty reviews, inspired me to start this blog.

The White Library Beautiful ideas for events, recipes, and decorating. I haven't read much because I've been too busy looking at the photos.

We Heart It This is a fun, inspiring, and addictive website. It's full of gorgeous images from all over the web, and you can form your "Heart," a kind of collage of images that speak to you. Josh calls it online scrapbooking. I've found many of the images you'll see here on We Heart It.

The Making of a Mrs. Sarah is another English girl who has been living in the US and is learning about what it means to be a wife. Be ready for insight and humor.


Minnie's Cakes If, like me, you've ever found yourself thinking about beautiful cakes (or if, unlike me, you've ever thought about making them), check out this gorgeous blog.

Le Re Nua Leah is getting started on a blog about love and healing. If you have Irish blood or an Irish spirit, you'll enjoy this.

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