11/27/09

Wise Women Friday: Emily Dickenson

Dust Bunny Bokeh with Paper Crane and Canadian...Image by greendragonflygirl via Flickr

Words of wisdom from the American poet Emily Dickenson (1830-1886):

The pedigree of honey
Does not concern the bee;
A clover, anytime to him
Is aristocracy.

Sometimes, pedigrees matter, but it is also true that a determined commitment to high standards is the road to depression. You can insist on Godiva chocolate, for example, but that will really only stop you from sampling a whole lot of chocolate in life. Is it really worth the price? I don't think so. Likewise, you can insist on having a vacuumed house, but then you'll miss the natural beauty of dustbunnies as they take on dizzyingly complex and expressionistic forms. Less is sometimes more. Half-assed is not always half-cocked. A well-lived life need not be lived in Manolos, it need only a table on which to rest one's feet.

Which is all a long way of saying that you absolutely have my permission to put off until tomorrow what can be done today. Slacking off can be an art form. Go. Make art.
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27 comments:

Cafe Pasadena said...

I'm just passing thru. I thought I tasted some honey over in these parts, but I...

"Half-assed is not always half-cocked!" -Finnegan's Wisdom

Ahem, I gotta remember that one. I'll make sure I give you proper credit.

Petrea Burchard said...

There's a time and a place to hold out for the good stuff. Like, say, if I'm already going to France I might as well see Paris.

But mostly it's nice to enjoy what's available. If I'm not going to France, I'm told I can find some decent macarons in the Dena.

I could maybe make an art form of spending a day just finding and eating the different ones.

Maria said...

I am liking it! I love your comment that a consistently high standard is the road to depression!

Shell Sherree said...

I've really been missing out on something with the dust bunnies. Maybe that accounts for my current obsession with little cute felted things.

Anonymous said...

I think our Emily would have been quite the blogger.

Bellis said...

My German granny used to leave washing up the dinner dishes to the next morning - her motto was "Housework isn't a frog, it doesn't hop away." As so often happens, my mother reacted to this by becoming very houseproud. Guess whose house I preferred to be in? My granny always had time to play Ludo, chat, or look through pictures books, while my mother spent her days cleaning and making us feel uncomfortable. Anyone want a game of Ludo?

Susan C said...

I love that still life with origami photo! I have a yen coin and a miniature acorn that I can throw in with the dust bunnies for instant art.

Watson said...

Oh Margaret - Thank You!
I'm putting this one on my fridge. I feel so much better

Barbara and Daisy

Anonymous said...

People's (who lacks pedigree) mistook a pile of dust bunnies for kitty litter. It was not art

Anonymous said...

Oh, I like the German granny.

Escapologist said...

thanks for the permission! I was gonna do it anyway ... lol.

Margaret said...

Pup: You can take that one. You don't even have to give me credit.

Petrea: Where can you get decent macarons in Altadena?

Gaelikaa: I think you did need to know when to cut yourself some slack. One Martha Stewart is enough.

Shell:Oh! I like little felted things too. I even knit and felted a purse once, but it looked more like a mutant hat.

AH: That's kind of fun to think about.

Bellis: Love it! But what's Ludo?

Susan C: I have dust bunnies that may soon become sentient. I'll keep you posted.

Daisy: Tape it in on the frig and put up your feet. Relax!

PA: No. That doesn't sound like art. Sorry about the unwelcome reminder of this troubling incident.

Armyblond: Glad you have your priorities straight.

Unseen India Tours said...

Discussion on the post by all is worth reading !! Over all a nice post !!Unseen Rajasthan

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't know if there are macarons in Altadena but I aim to find out. Maybe Cafe will help me sniff them out.

Watson said...

Yah know Margaret, the more I look at it, the more that dust bunny looks familiar!

Cafe Observer said...

MF, of course we know where there are good macs in Pasadena and, where at the least, there are expensive macs in So Pasa.

Butt, I was gonna say the same thing as the P: are there even ANY macaron's in ADena? I think the ADena food blogger's should know.

Susan C said...

In Altadena you can find macaroons and macaroni, but no macarons.

Petrea Burchard said...

Since I've never had macaroons or macarons: what's the difference?

Margaret said...

Macaroons are puffy coconut cookies. They are often shaped like Hershey's kisses and can be quite large. Macarons are French cream-filled sandwich cookies, except that the sandwich cookie is a kind of wonderful, light meringue sort of thing. They come in many flavors. You can get them at Europane Bakery. Isn't that right, Pup? Susan?

Petrea Burchard said...

I've seen the macarons at Europane--green, pink, brown. I don't believe I've ever seen a macaroon. I'll start at Europane.

Margaret said...

Petrea: You are breaking my heart! I will get you a macaroon.

Cafe Observer said...

Oh, ahem, MF, now that I think of it, I, I, I don't think I've had a macaroon either. "Puffy coconut" you say??

Margaret said...

Clearly, I must make macaroons for everyone.

Petrea Burchard said...

It's okay, it's okay! I'm not sure I want a macaroon. I'm one of those coconut people.

Shell Sherree said...

If you're "one of those coconut people," Petrea, you won't want a macaroon. {Or a lamington, sad to say.} Stick with the macarons and you can't go wrong. {That said, I'm sure Margaret makes a mighty fine macaroon ~ maybe she'll turn you to the coconut side...}

pasadenapio said...

I have had a book of Emily Dickenson poetry on my desk for at least 15 years. It has inspired many who have waited patiently for me to get off the phone!

Curly said...

I loved this "you absolutely have my permission to put off until tomorrow what can be done today"... it somehow puts my bad conscience at rest! :-D