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.
Feeding Time for the Elephants
It’s feeding time for the elephants. It’s always feeding time for the elephants. They eat 300 pounds of roots, grass, fruits, and barks per day.
Arriving Elephants Camp
Waking to the sounds of the elephants trumpets. I’ve been so busy living these last few days I haven’t had time for posting.
I am a Traveler
My sister sings & I snap my fingers - like when we were kids on a road trip. 🎵 “Istanbul. Constantinople. Istanbul. Not Constantinople”. 🎶 This is our theme song as we take the water taxi from my home
Rialto Market
Dinner Casa Mia. Hosting visitors always means a trip to Rialto to buy some sea bass and teach my guests one of the simplest recipes on earth.
I Feel Seen
The best cure for jetlag is to just keep going. My father, sister, and my brother in law arrived from Oklahoma this afternoon to visit me
Let It Linger
I took myself on a date. A few days working in France @theantiquesdiva were done. I use to push myself Pre-COVID. Normally, I would have worked
Writers Group
“Tears from different emotions have different shapes.” Amy says. I put my fork down. Mid bite. This seems revolutionary.
Caffè Florian
“I like this place.” my sister said. And I smiled. Some people dream their entire life of eating breakfast at @caffeflorian.
The Vortex
Before we arrived to Venice I began to warn her. To explain to my sister @marvelousmissyhancock
Ranunculus
And just like that we were in another country. Italia. My sister @marvelousmissyhancock & I took the train
Seaglass
It’s been a while since I posted. I’ve technically been on vacation but as my sister noted I work a little every day
Les Deux Magots
There are places that belong to me. @lesdeuxmagots is one of them. When I first moved to Europe 22 years ago
Chez Ferdinand
Dinner last night in Paris. We shut down the restaurant- the last to leave. I travel through food. Through my memories.
Traveling with Clinton Smith
“I’ve never been to Lake Como.” He said. “Let’s go!”
Fritto Misto
Sunday in Venice. I sleep in. That lazy Sunday morning that has little do with sleep & more to do with rest. Awake. Under the covers.
And then Venice Happened…
The day ended with spaghetti. An impromptu dinner at my Dutch neighbors.
More Kittens Less War
Kittens 1 month and 3 days. Because the world needs more kittens and less war.
Turning to the Light
The sunflower turns to the sun. Their face follows the sun as it moves across the sky. I find myself praying.
To Terra Firma
This morning I realized I had started to think like a Venetian. Instead of taking the Vaporetto Line 1 slowly slinking up the Grand Canal to Ferrovia
Saint Valentines in Rome
Had anyone else sent me a skull on Valentines I might have been offended.
