The Diary of Toma Clark Haines
“This is my life. I built this life. You - and only You - have that power.”
Follow the Journey
This is my Republic. My diary. I journal my life. The day-to-day. Lessons learned. I love. I laugh, mostly at myself because laughter is the best medicine. I travel in my imagination, and in reality. I cook. I share recipes for food as well as practical magic. I believe in God, and I believe God hung the Moon and Stars. I believe you have the power to create your own reality — to make your dreams come true. My diary is Eat, Pray, Love (Yourself) meets Elle Decor + a dash of Goop and a pinch of Entrepreneur.
Featured Posts
The Dome of Florence
In my creative Strategy Sessions with clients I often say it takes a village. Brunelleschi led an army of masons and stonecutters, carpenters, blacksmiths, lead beaters, barrel makers, water carriers, and other craftsmen.
A Salve for My Soul
It’s the last day. The end of the trip. It’s time for the boys to go home. A flight to Madrid then New York and finally a flight home to Dallas awaits in the morning. #nothinggoldcanstay
…Thanksgiving a casa
We couldn’t let Thanksgiving pass without a turkey. On the actual holiday we were in Florence but a few days later after we arrived home we whipped up the worlds fastest Turkey.
Thanksgiving a Firenze…
There couldn’t have been a more perfect Thanksgiving. Derrick @jetsetterderrick arrived and Thanksgiving is his birthday. What do you want to do for your birthday I asked?
How I have changed…
A lifetime ago when the pandemic started I made a decision when I was in lockdown to share my personal diary. I’ve continued to do so with some regularity
Conegliano
I’ve been here before. I said.
When I stepped out of the train station. Conegliano. If only I remembered all that I have seen or known before. I google sometimes topics in my industry and find in answer
Let’s Do This
6.30am I wake and pad to the kitchen for coffee. I return to bed with 3 blank sheets of paper for my #morningpages, my @tiffanyandco pen given to me by @decorative_collective
Aglio e Olio
Aglio e olio…comfort food. Three of the simplest ingredients- olive oil, spaghetti and garlic - and yet my mouth tastes alive.
Rocca di Angera
Rocca di Angera is layered in history. Build in the 11th century it continued to be expanded until the 17th, and remains today in the same family
Long Walks in Venice
I took myself on a long walk home across the whole of Venice after a fabulous night out with friends last night. I’ve been reading #theartistway in prep
Rookie Mistakes
Rookie Mistake. I was in Murano this morning for an appointment and when I went to get back on the vaporetto I accidentally took the wrong vaporetto
Spaghetti al pomodoro is comfort
I couldn’t write before. I ate spaghetti al pomodoro 4 hours after receiving the call. My mother was dead.
RIP. My mom
I couldn’t write but my sister @marvelousmissyhancock could. Born Alice Louise Sparks, she (our mom) lived up to her name as a spark of a girl
Signs
Signs. Robert Moss calls it Sidewalk Tarot. Signs are everywhere if we are open. Working in art & antiques I am trained in understanding symbols.
Sardines (and sage)
They melt in your mouth. Sardines and sage. I never knew I liked them. Sardines. That sounded like a torture test. Then I moved to Italy. Shopping at Rialto market
The Buck Moon
The Buck Moon 🌝 continues - It’s a special moon - they all are- but this moon reminds me of regrowth. The Buck Moon is called such because the antlers of male deer are in full
An Artist Date
One of the tenets of #theartistway is to take yourself each week on an #artistdate. I first did the book nearly 20 years ago and this tradition of taking myself on an artist date
The Artist’s Way
Did you hear the news on last nights Prosecco Power Hour? We are starting The Artist Way and inviting you to “do the book” along with us.
Returning home
Returning home after the last couple of weeks on the road in France and Italy for work with @theantiquesdiva made everything I’ve experienced feel like a dream.
Cacio e Pepe
Roma. 79 Via Madonna Del Monti. I have a lot of pictures to show you from the last few weeks. It will take me the next few weeks to catch up on all I want to share.
Busy weeks
It’s a busy week. A life changing week. A week where I meet with my @theantiquesdiva team to plan the future. We know where we’ve been - and we know where we are going
