Zinta Aistars's Blog, page 37
February 11, 2012
An Afternoon with Lady Dawn
by Zinta Aistars
Dawn pulls her zippy little black sports car into the driveway. With the snow starting to come down again, I would have expected her to be in her other vehicle--a bad-ass big SUV of the heft and bulk that crushes mountains into pebbly rubble. She's my son's kind of woman, and I've been enjoying spending time with her and getting to know her better and how she fits into his life.
I'm not sure I've ever known him to be ... more right in his life. And that's saying something, to b...
Dawn pulls her zippy little black sports car into the driveway. With the snow starting to come down again, I would have expected her to be in her other vehicle--a bad-ass big SUV of the heft and bulk that crushes mountains into pebbly rubble. She's my son's kind of woman, and I've been enjoying spending time with her and getting to know her better and how she fits into his life.I'm not sure I've ever known him to be ... more right in his life. And that's saying something, to b...
February 9, 2012
The Art of the Chocolatier
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Photo of Cherri Emery by Erik Holladay
The Art of the Chocolatier
by Zinta Aistars
Chocolate: it's good for you! But is it an aphrodisiac?
Studies have shown that chocolate does indeed contain antioxidants that may help prevent heart disease and cancer.
Chocolate also contains tryptophan, which has been shown to increase serotonin in the brain--and that sweetens the mood.
When it comes to being an aphrodisiac, however,...
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Photo of Cherri Emery by Erik Holladay The Art of the Chocolatier
by Zinta Aistars
Chocolate: it's good for you! But is it an aphrodisiac?
Studies have shown that chocolate does indeed contain antioxidants that may help prevent heart disease and cancer.
Chocolate also contains tryptophan, which has been shown to increase serotonin in the brain--and that sweetens the mood.
When it comes to being an aphrodisiac, however,...
February 5, 2012
"Stones with Poems" Art Exhibit
"Stones with Poems," Zinta's Art Exhibit at Transformations Spirituality CenterFebruary 2012
Zinta Aistars is a bilingual writer and editor with three books published in the Latvian language. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of an online literary magazine called, The Smoking Poet. It is her father, Viestarts Aistars, she says, that is the painter in the family. Yet Zinta grew up around her father's paintings-watercolors, oils, portraits and landscapes-and considers the highest...
February 3, 2012
Signing on the Dotted Line
by Zinta Aistars
There never was a third deer. I asked for a sign to guide me to a wise decision: three deer. Leaving the 122-year-old farmhouse on 10 acres after walking the land and watching the sun set beyond the west tree line, I'd hit the brakes hard as a deer bounded across the dirt road. She joined a second one at the other side, and both of them bounded away with breathtaking grace.
Two, not three.
If I'd seen a third, would that have decided me? I'd been circling that property since D...
There never was a third deer. I asked for a sign to guide me to a wise decision: three deer. Leaving the 122-year-old farmhouse on 10 acres after walking the land and watching the sun set beyond the west tree line, I'd hit the brakes hard as a deer bounded across the dirt road. She joined a second one at the other side, and both of them bounded away with breathtaking grace.
Two, not three.
If I'd seen a third, would that have decided me? I'd been circling that property since D...
January 30, 2012
Moment of Decision
by Zinta Aistars
I've been through this before: house hunt, house found, heart palpitation, make offer, wait, counter offer, response of counter counter offer, wait, until the counter counter counter offer arrives. The game is still on.
Just as the last time I went through this process, all went well, smoothly enough, up until the house inspection turned up nastiness. I wasn't surprised. After all, this farmhouse is seriously old. 1930s said the listing, but the inspector took a look at materia...
I've been through this before: house hunt, house found, heart palpitation, make offer, wait, counter offer, response of counter counter offer, wait, until the counter counter counter offer arrives. The game is still on.
Just as the last time I went through this process, all went well, smoothly enough, up until the house inspection turned up nastiness. I wasn't surprised. After all, this farmhouse is seriously old. 1930s said the listing, but the inspector took a look at materia...
January 28, 2012
Back Through Generations
by Zinta Aistars
My niece Erika has recently taken up an intense interest in her family history. At one point or another, I think we all get to wondering about our roots. Who came before us? Who do we carry within us? Who will our own genes travel through to future generations?
I thought I might help her put together her family tree and dug around in my own files. Before my paternal grandparents passed away, they thoughtfully wrote up their memories, as far back as they could recall, and gave m...
My niece Erika has recently taken up an intense interest in her family history. At one point or another, I think we all get to wondering about our roots. Who came before us? Who do we carry within us? Who will our own genes travel through to future generations?I thought I might help her put together her family tree and dug around in my own files. Before my paternal grandparents passed away, they thoughtfully wrote up their memories, as far back as they could recall, and gave m...
January 22, 2012
Sunday Reflections at 3:12 a.m.
by Zinta Aistars
No idea why I wake so early. Peek at the clock in the dark ... digital numbers glow a faint green in the shadows: 3:12 a.m.
Maybe I do know.
So many thoughts running through my mind. So many paths unwinding. So many spotlights swinging white arcs across the sky, signaling highlight moments in my life, drawing the thresholds of new eras. My thoughts are a wild card, wild dance, bumper cars, dizzying carousel, a race across the field.
Long lists taking shape of all that needs doing...
No idea why I wake so early. Peek at the clock in the dark ... digital numbers glow a faint green in the shadows: 3:12 a.m.
Maybe I do know.
So many thoughts running through my mind. So many paths unwinding. So many spotlights swinging white arcs across the sky, signaling highlight moments in my life, drawing the thresholds of new eras. My thoughts are a wild card, wild dance, bumper cars, dizzying carousel, a race across the field.
Long lists taking shape of all that needs doing...
January 16, 2012
I'm Going Home ....
by Zinta Aistars
It just happened. Puzzle pieces falling into place. A lifelong yearning, a childhood dream, a theme guiding all my many journeys has been my search for Home with a capital H. And now, at long last, even as my hair grows white, I have found that place. A place to call Home.Last spring, almost a year ago, I nearly bought another house. It was charming enough—a little house secluded on one acre of pine woods. And yet, somehow, my heart remained cool. When my real estate...
It just happened. Puzzle pieces falling into place. A lifelong yearning, a childhood dream, a theme guiding all my many journeys has been my search for Home with a capital H. And now, at long last, even as my hair grows white, I have found that place. A place to call Home.Last spring, almost a year ago, I nearly bought another house. It was charming enough—a little house secluded on one acre of pine woods. And yet, somehow, my heart remained cool. When my real estate...
January 14, 2012
The Smoking Poet Call for Submissions - Spring 2012
THE SMOKING POET: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – Spring 2012. We are reading submissions now.
"Words that turn the page to flame."
http://thesmokingpoet.com
THE SMOKING POET publishes flash fiction; fiction; nonfiction; poetry; author interviews; feature artist (by invitation only); travel essays; book reviews. The Smoking Poet also shares an extensive list of links and resources for writers.
Submissions open year round. Send with genre in subject line: poetry, fiction, nonfiction.
For full submission...
January 13, 2012
Winter is no time for hibernation for CSA farmers
By Zinta Aistars as published on Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
January 12, 2012 Issue
All photography on article by Erik Holladay; Amy Newday, left, and Diane Glenn, right
The two women stand at the top of the ridge and look out over the muddy field. They look into the future -- and the future is lush and green.
Amy Newday and Diane Glenn may not be the first image to come to mind when one thinks of Michigan farmers, but that is, they will both admit with a grin, part of the allure. (Acc...
January 12, 2012 Issue
All photography on article by Erik Holladay; Amy Newday, left, and Diane Glenn, rightThe two women stand at the top of the ridge and look out over the muddy field. They look into the future -- and the future is lush and green.
Amy Newday and Diane Glenn may not be the first image to come to mind when one thinks of Michigan farmers, but that is, they will both admit with a grin, part of the allure. (Acc...
