SITTING IN BOOTHS

observations on a move...

2012-01-31T13:08:00.000-08:00

D. and I moved into our current apartment just days before I had to start my new job in August 2010. It was a last minute scramble to find something that would suit us, in our budget, close to my work. Thus far, its been a great fit. It's not that we don't love our place, we do, its just that we've decided its time to move on. We've really enjoyed our time here, but ever since we've moved in D. has longed for some open space to cultivate and I've longed for an outdoor area to drink my coffee and read books. We made the most of visiting all our nearby parks, but as you know, its not the same as having your own little patch of dirt.

Needless to say since our lease expired we've looked for anything with promise. Our area is a nice one and therefore good places are rented up fast. We checked craigslist frequently and call when we see signs--usually the prices are ridiculous or we get beat out. Recently however, we were taking a little drive and stumbled upon a really cute little cottage not too far from our place now. We put in a call about it, but didn't get our hopes up, assuming it was over our budget since its a whole house with a yard.

We were happy to learn its slightly under budget, because its tiny and quite modest. After taking a look inside it had everything we were looking for... a screen door, itsy bitsy front porch & a cute little yard with an enormous live oak tree. After weighing our options pretty seriously, and some encouragement from this article (thanks Chelsea!) we decided although smaller than our current apartment its perfect for us. The article actually made me realize that being small was a good thing, and got me excited about an opportunity to downsize & conserve.

Can't wait to share more details!!!

on turning 30....

2012-01-23T14:05:00.000-08:00

For my 30th birthday D. and I visited St. Augustine... a place we've both mythologized, but had failed to visit. My 30th birthday which arrived on December 28th seemed the quintessential moment.

D. could not resist fresh oranges....

the historic fort was a nice place to showcase my most favorite

"Maggie O'Connell" sweater of the winter season....

staying at a b&b was a real treat for us

D. enjoys his coffee best on a front porch

Turning thirty was much less scary than I had imagined it in my mind when I was in my twenties... for the first year in a long time I'm really embracing my age. For me, aging has been a wonderful process. I've enjoyed the gaining of wisdom, maturity and insight that only can come with each new year. Not to mention the feeling that while I've enjoyed the last decades, there are some moments that you don't want to relive. I kind of like some of the perks that come with my new age... like more respect from young & old, greater camaraderie with women over shared experience, and the general feeling that things are coming together.

new year, new resolutions

2012-01-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

I think I've put it off long enough... the new year post! Admittedly, I am cautious about putting my resolutions down on "paper" (for fear that I may not follow through). 2011 brought some serious challenges for me. We lost our beloved Henry, I had my first hospital surgery (awesome!), and I still have not submitted a final draft of my dissertation (although there is a complete draft-- woot!). With all of the bad from 2011, came a whole lot of good and growth. I learned a lot about myself and what it most important to me. So, it is with great confidence in the year to come that I commit to:

1. play with my niece + nephew more

2. graduate!

3. consume less, make more

4. keep in better touch with friends

5. ~~get a haircut~~

One down, four to work on.

Happy New Year/New Beginnings everyone!

outfit posts

2012-01-10T09:26:00.000-08:00

(dress: oldie but goodie, shoes- new, back/blazer- thrifted)

I wore stuff over the break, but only shot a few of them.

Here are two favorites.

(jeans- thrifted, blouse & cardi-exchanged, boots & scarf- oldies but goodies)

handmade holiday

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

Over the recent holiday D. and I spent a lot of time pruning grapes, visiting family and eating way too much delicious food! For this reason, I spent little time online, and as a result did not get a chance to share some of my handmade gifts and decorations I worked on this year... here are a few of my success stories :)

a grapevine wreath... complete with our own vines + locally foraged pine cones & Brazilian pepper

some of my first projects using "real" patterns

my nephew loved his stegosaurus hat!

eat what you can!

2012-01-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

It all started with my first batch of muscadine grape jelly...

There were also olives, but that was probably the most complicated thing I canned and I failed to take any pictures. Sorry :(

More recently I went "escabeche" crazy... at first you might not recognize escabeche by name, but if you've ever eaten at a taco truck you've probably taken some home with you. Escabeche really comes from Spain, and literally means "marinade," but for us Americans its pickling. In Spain, you will find all sorts of things preserved in this fashion and most mediterreanean countries do some form of delicious pickling that is served on sandwiches.

In Mexico, "escabeche" usually refers to a common combination of pickled hot peppers with carrots and onions. It's truly delicious, trust me. I decided it would be fun to try a tutorial to teach anyone interested the art of making this. It's so easy and well worth it.

First, you want to chop your veggies. For one recipe you'll need 2 large onions, 6-10 carrots (I like more), & 10-15 jalapeno peppers. Carrots & onions are usually sliced thick.

To prepare the jalapenos, you must "cruzar" them at the tips. This will ensure that the nice heat from the jalapenos will marinade into the mixture.

Saute the onions in 1 cup of olive oil for about 2-3 minutes over medium heat.

Add the carrots & jalapenos as well as 8 cloves of garlic. Cook for five minutes.

You will then add 3 cups of apple cider vinegar, 10 peppercorns, 4 bay leaves, 1 T oregano and 1-2 T of celtic sea salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.

Put in cans, make sure you cover sufficiently with liquid. If you find that you have more veggies than liquid, its okay to add a little water to fill up the jars. Boil bath for 10 minutes or pressure can. This recipe will make 5-6 one pint jars.

Enjoy! Escabeche can be eaten with pretty much everything. Typically it is used on top of tacos, but they are also eaten on eggs, sandwiches, or any meat/fish dish.

fruits of our labor

2011-12-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

A post long overdue...

My job at most holiday parties is to make the dessert. Baking is a very dear passion of mine. Whenever I thought I'd quick grad school (as one usually does at least 100 times during the process, usually when writing term papers or studying for comp exams) I always said I'd become a "natural" baker. I think my interest comes from my desire to eat all things sweet. When you want to eat it, I think you're more motivated to make it well.

These goodies were made with love and locally foraged pecans and rough lemons. Just another bonus of living under the Florida sun :)

Lemon Curd Bars
1 c organic sugar
2 T unbleached all purpose flour
3 T cornstarch
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 c water
2 lemons, juiced & zested
2 T butter
4 egg yolks, beaten
2 packages graham crackers
1/4 c melted butter

1. For the lemon curd, whisk together sugar , flour, cornstarch & salt. Stir in water, lemon juice & zest. Cook over medium heat in pot, stirring frequently until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Add 1/2 c hot sugar mixture to beaten eggs and then whisk the egg mixture back into the pan. Bring to a boil until thickened. Remove from heat.
2. Whiz crackers in a blender until a fine flour. Pour melted butter over crackers. Press into a 9x9 brownie pan (or any similar size dish).
3. Pour curd mixture on top and refrigerate until cold!

Pecan Pie (with Sucanat)
1 c sucanat
1/4 c organic sugar
1/2 c melted butter
2 eggs
1 T unbleached all purpose flour
1 T milk
1 t vanilla
1 c chopped pecans
Recipe for 1 pie crust (9 inch)

1. Beat eggs until frothy. Stir in butter, sucanat, sugar & flour. Mix well. Add milk & vanilla.
2. Pour mixture into pie shell. Top with pecans (or hickory nuts).
3. Bake 350 for 40 minutes, or until center is not liquidy.

paring down, and the lady-like quality of the bow blouse

2011-12-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

My, has it been a long time since I've posted, let alone an outfit post! In part, I've been extremely busy teaching a new course, and that has caused me to lose some of the interest I once had in being creative with my clothing . Don't get me wrong, I've worn clothes (i promise-- sometimes even cute ones) all semester, i just haven't spent much time thinking about what I wear. Lately, i tend to fall back on favored blouses and my trusty pair of blue jeans (hemmed to the shortest length humanly possible for an adult female).

I've also always wanted to be the kind of person who has a few treasured articles of clothing. The kind of girl with an uncluttered closet, so that clothing choices are easy and more creative out of necessity.

As I get older (and my apartments get smaller) I'm beginning to work on that goal. I have found myself getting out of the habit of thrifting (at least as much as I used to). I've pared down my closet significantly since we moved back South. In place of thrifting I began "swapping/recycling" at a local place which accepts vintage and cutesy items (sort of a Plato's Closet for older women and people who like vintage). They also trade household items and books, which makes it all that much more awesome.

Whether I will ever be the kind of person who can own only three pairs of shoes I do not yet know, but I am working on it :) I secretly still want to hoard some goodies for my daughter in a box somewhere in the closet that will read "cool clothes"... for all the times I saw pictures of my Mom and thought, "man, I really wish she still had that!"

This outfit post tonight sort of got me thinking and browsing the old "flickr" vault. I used to wear bow blouses a lot, and I truly did wear some of my favorites over and over again. I've always loved their lady-like quality. So when I recently saw this cute gray one at said local swap store, I scooped it up real fast.

This was my first ever bow blouse.. it had little psychedelic florals on it and I distinctly remember a friend trying to talk me out of it

Then ofcourse, my little white one which I wore with pretty much everything...

The awesome purple one, which sadly did not get as much action as it should have...

these ones still get pretty frequent usage...

(little man Henry sure did enjoy himself and outfit post :)

stuff i saw (late summer edition)

2011-10-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

things to see of late round' these parts and parts we've visited....

"cows in water"

(seriously, i've never had a cow stare me down the way the blonde one did )

"signs of fall"

(a girl can dream....)

"stalagmite- stalagtite"

(a visit to the Florida Caverns-- pit-stop on our olive picking trip)

more glorious springs... i love them so.

there is nothing more beautiful or refreshing on a 90+ degree day

what i've been wearin'

2011-09-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

I highly recommend tevas for all road-trips involving hugging large trees :)

t-shirt, shorts, purse, leather feather necklace- thrifted

cardi-old

tevas- priceless

I like to call this, "what to wear to grade papers at the library" attire.

100% thrifted (down to my shoesies)

An appropriate teaching outfit (for me atleast).

Blouse, skirt & shoes (thrifted)

Brooch (Etsy)

Keepin' it classy (or) why are my pictures always so damn blurry?

Dress & blazer cardi- (recycled)

Bracelets- (thrifted)

Shoes- (Mexico)

what i've been pickin'

2011-09-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

If you have not yet noticed D. and I like to pick things. There is something so lovely and peaceful about being below vines or among branches and picking ripe fruit that will be a part of your pantry for times to come.

Sadly it is the end of muscadine grape season, and this weekend's harvest was just for eating. We picked near 40lbs a weekend ago with the intention to make wine, but after some research and discussion with a nice old man at the vineyard, decided it seemed too complex and required too much technical knowledge and material. So, we ditched that idea and opted instead to juice & then freeze a good number which I plan to make grape jelly with one of these days. If anyone has a good and simple wine recipe please do let me know. I'd love to hear your experiences.

Unlike grapes, the season has just begun for olive picking. Last weekend we treated ourselves to a bit of a mini-vacation to visit an olive grove. Olives are one of D's passions, some call it a border-line obsession (whatever you want to call it). In any case, we've got a 5 gallon bucket full of these little gems soaking and awaiting their brine curing.

Thankfully the chief grove security officer did not mind me taking a few photos of him on the job.

Needless to say preserves and pickled things will be on the Christmas gift list this year.

bestseller?

2011-09-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Today I opened up my copy of the book that everyone is talking about. It was this month's book club pick. While I really disliked the first few pages I tried to keep in mind the reasons why I joined our little book club... to be introduced to things I might not normally pick up myself.

I quickly found myself having a really big problem with Kathyrn Stockett.... after some searching online I found out there are a few other people who sort of agree with me.

Despite our disagreements, I think how we perceive of the past (in the present) is as important as the actual past. I plan to continue reading the book. If for anything else as a useful piece to analyze with my students.

How about you? Have you found any so called "bestsellers" alarmingly horrendous or problematic?

summer loves

2011-09-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

It appears I drifted off into space this summer :) I have to admit parting ways with the internet was really really nice. It gave me time for some new loves.

best of summer reading

shorts


grape harvesting

a budding interest in Ayurveda

While it was a lovely summer, full of personal growth, silk blouses and a new-found interest in wearing shorts, there is lots to look forward to in the coming of Fall. Like temperatures in the 80s maybe even the 70s (a nice change from the 90s), crochet season, hot drinks, cool breezes, pine cones dropping and changing leaves.

Mango Chutney Recipe

2011-08-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

If you're lucky enough to have plenty of mangoes about now... I recommend this chutney. It has a great sweet and sour balance.

Spicy Green Mango Chutney Recipe

12 cups peeled and chopped green mangoes
2 cups vinegar (slightly less if you use apple cider vinegar)
6 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 fresh grated ginger
3 cups of raisins
1/2 cup fresh hot peppers (jalpenos or red chiles are nice)
1/2 chopped onion
2 cloves chopped garlic

1. Bring vinegar and sugar to a boil in a good size pan just until sugar dissolves.
2. Add rest of ingredients and return to a full boil.
3. Reduce heat to low and cook for additional 10-20 minutes until the mixture thickens to a thin syrupy consistency.
4. Fill sterilized jars with mixture and do a boil bath for 15 minutes.

Makes about 6 pints.

advice for writers; or, pleasure in the pathless woods

2011-07-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes unplugging yourself from the internet is absolutely necessary.... the last month or so I have limited my access to about an hour or so a week (including email checking). I miss reading up on blogs as I often find them to provide much needed inspiration and general girl talk, but I have found in the past that detachment is the ONLY way to get into a good writing habit. On my plate this summer is the much dreaded last chapter of the dissertation, followed by trying to make sense of what the heck I wrote about a year ago and editing it. I know, I know, I broke rule number one for writers. But, so far, so good.

Along with the break-up of the internet, I've also found I need a consistent routine. So as to avoid going stir crazy I take my morning walk first. I then get dressed (because I was naked the first time) and leave the house. Where I spend most of my days lately is the public library, where I have encountered the "quiet room." For this reason it is the BEST library ever, more pleasing than any university or college library I have ever visited. As you know most libraries are no longer truly quiet spaces. Here in the safety of the last existing library quiet room on earth are other writers typing, reading or daydreaming away. The energy in the room is palpable and I am motivated to produce.

The best part of the day is lunch, when I get to check out books for evening reading. Lately it has consisted of some classics, lots of cookbooks and Ayurveda, as well as the occasional disappointing bestseller (more on that in a future post). I think that anyone who writes, and especially those of us who have other full-time pursuits, goes through serious ups and downs in their level of commitment and ability to persevere. I know I constantly struggle with finding the balance between life and work because I take a lot of work home with me. When you're a teacher its difficult not to, and if you love what you do then its not necessarily something you want to always shut off.

This brings me to my last bit of advice for writers. In giving up the internet I have found spare hours to enjoy the outdoors and not let summer pass me by just because I have to write most of the week. Even though some writers will tell you that you MUST write every single day, I fudge on weekends. D. and I reserve these days for exploring new places and treasured old ones... time to revel in the "pathless woods"

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

 There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

 There is society, where none intrudes,

 By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

 I love not man the less, but Nature more,

 From these our interviews, in which I steal

 From all I may be, or have been before,

 To mingle with the Universe, and feel

 What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.

-- George Gordon, Lord Byron

absence; the state of being away

2011-05-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's pretty surreal how much can happen in five weeks, eh?

I want to thank everyone for the lovely words, comments and lines of sympathy since my last post. Sadly, Henry passed shortly after that post. I must say, however, that I found great solace in Heather's and many of your comments on letting loved pets go. It was a difficult passing for me, and for poor little Henry. We buried him in a place near to our hearts. A place where we can always visit him in our hometown. Its in a nature preserve that intersects one of the only black bear preserves in the state. It seemed only fitting.

This post would have been much sadder had I written it five weeks ago. It was truly one of the most difficult times for D. and I. Henry was apart of us. D. very eloquently said it best when he said that we three were something better when we were together. Okay... I know I said I wouldn't go there. But, to tell you the truth I was very surprised with how much grief I felt. Of course I loved Henry, but I knew he would not be here forever given all his health problems and his age. I tried to prepare myself. I thought of all the horrible situations and circumstances that millions of people around the world faced each day in comparison to the loss of a dog. No preparation or rational reasoning really worked though. We had to let him go and it was truly very very difficult and sad.

The hardest part was adjusting to life without him. Not hearing his little pitter patter on the wood floor. Not having him greet me by the bed in the morning ready for his walk.

To mourn his loss, I did what any sane woman would do... I scoured my hard drive for every single photo and video I ever snapped of him :) I made photo collages. I bought sad books written from the perspective of golden retrievers (although I did not watch Marley and Me). I told D. every wonderful story about him that I could remember, interspersing tears with laughter.

Whether from stress, bad luck, or a little of both.... less than a week later I was in an emergency room being rushed off to emergency surgery. Luckily just for appendicitis, and thankfully on the last day of the semester.

Needless to say emergency surgery (as anyone else who has had it can relate) is a total blast! You get to eat jello for two days and have IVs stuck in you by people you've just met.

If the last five weeks have taught me anything its that I'm alive, truly and utterly alive. There are times in our lives we will never get back. There are events that change us. Even though we all know it there are moments when we need to be shaken into the here and now.

I'll borrow a line from Ava Bigtree.... "Faith is a power that arises from inside you, and doubt is exogenous, a speck in your eye. A black mote from the sad world of adults." (Swamplandia!)

So... to make a long story short that is what I've been up to the last five weeks. I hope this post finds you all well and taking time to enjoy the summer sunshine and a roll in the hay. I know that is what Henry would have recommended this time of year :)

henry browncoat

2011-04-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Henry is not doing well, and while I hoped it would pass like it did last summer ... things are not looking well. I'm sad beyond belief, because although I knew this day would come, I never fully understood how hard it would be.

In Henry's case, I had tried to start preparing myself well in advance, because Henry has never been a very healthy dog. I told myself over and over again, when the time came I would know. The time seems to be fast approaching, but I don't know.

Seemingly euthanasia for animals is an accepted practice, if not expected. If you don't do it, you're a bad person, making your poor friend suffer. To have him here one minute and gone the next is too much to bare, let alone being the one responsible.

Henry is a dog. A small one at that. Sometimes when I look at him these days I think it was a miracle to have had him as long as we have (six years). Those little patellas holding up that little body, little chest, little set of lungs, little heart. He has been a special part of our family together, D. and I. I think this is making it all the more difficult for us both.

When you're a kid, these things happened. Your parents made the decisions. You trusted them. They knew what they were doing. They knew when and how to handle it, and how to comfort you.

Last night I had a dream about Henry. He was lost and we were trying to find him. We scrambled all over town looking for him, when I remembered his fondness for hiding underneath cars (he really does this, he is from Detroit you know?). I started looking under every parked car near the location we thought we lost him at. Sure enough we found him sleeping in a pile of oak tree leaves. He was hard to spot at first because his coat blends in with the colors of fallen oak tree leaves... brown and rust.

turning into mom

2011-04-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

Has this happened to you yet? You wake up one day to realize--you have become the spitting image of your mother? This was really going to be an "outfit" post... but as I perused some of my most recent pictures-- I realized that me and mom share and uncanny in-ability to take photos.

I should add that turning into my mother would not be the worst thing that could happen to me, she's by far the most caring, compassionate, down-to-earth, easy going, laid back, and goofiest person I know.

Take for instance a few from the digital image vault (she's going to kill me for these)

Granted it was the 1970s, and everyone pretty much looked drunk (*note* my Dad was the king of the 70s) .... then of course there was the following series in which I tried to get my mom to take a decent photo with her daughter....

awkward.

and finally... the best we could really do...

Needless to say, when i recently tried to capture my Miami dolphins cheerleading costume (what else can I wear with this sage greenish shade? Thoughts?) i couldn't quite keep it together for the camera.

All is thrifted.

Happy Weekend all!

mangrove islands and mossy trees

2011-04-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

These photos are from our most recent wanderings... I must admit we've been gleefully enjoying some gorgeous weather of late, the sort of weather that has made us look at each other on a blissful morning and say, "where to, today?" Truth be told, at first I mourned the loss of winter (what amounted to a measly two months this year) but now I've fully accepted our spring-summer season.

In honor of the sesquicentennial, we visited a nearby Civil War-era sugar plantation turned state park.

Everything is thrifted. Please note that me & this tote from Teeny have not parted ways since it landed! I love it and it gets some major compliments :)

When we got hot we snacked on loquats and found a cultivated variety that I swear tastes like a peach-green apple hybrid. If you haven't tried them you must!

We found some quiet time on some nearby mangrove islands adjacent to the Indian mounds to curl up with some good books. I decided it was necessary to read St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves BEFORE I started reading Swamplandia! (PS: Milla, so far while I liked the first, I think the novel is better :)

What I truly love about Russell's work is how personal her stories seem to be. Her intimate relationship with the Florida swamp and things like alligators is something that makes me beam with pride. Far too often these are the things that others find ugly and "scary" about us. Not too mention her gift for character development.

Take for instance, this passage from Swamplandia!,

"Cubby Wallach was complected like a bowl of oatmeal and yet carried himself as if he were wearing a top hat and spats. He had the bellicose dignity of a kid who refuses to excuse or even to acknowledge his own extreme ugliness. I admired this trait. It reminded me of the Seths (alligators), with their scarred, alien faces and their beautiful oblivion. Like a Seth, Cubby Wallach would led you stare at his face without apologizing for it."

I'll be sure to give a final report when I finish the book, but so far, it's pretty damn good :) Happy Wednesday all!

Make your own

2011-04-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

Recently, a dear friend posted about some of her eye opening revelations on many of the chemicals we sometimes unknowingly expose ourselves to... in the name of beauty! I had planned on sending some of these recipes her way, but thought others might be interested so here goes....

Making your own vs. purchasing is something I find such joy in, as I know many of you do as well. You can insert lots of other really good reasons why its important too (reducing and reusing for the environment, eliminating toxic chemicals, living more simply etc). When it comes to food I must admit its much easier, I've found not purchasing other household things can be tricky. Recently I took part in a natural care workshop given by a chemist (so we know it works). I learned a lot and even made some new favorite things. Here are (in my opinion) the best recipes...

Basic Cream/Lotion Recipe (My new favorite!)
1 c oil (sunflower, almond, olive or coconut are nice)
3/4 oz (about 3 T) grated beeswax
1 c water
30-50 drops essential oil
2 Large glass jar to use as a double boiler
Blender
Popsicle sticks or chop sticks
Small containers for lotion (I used empty baby food jars)

1. Add shaved beeswax to oil in a glass jar or pyrex measuring cup. Set in a small pan of simmering water (just enough so that the water reaches halfway up the glass). Heat just until beeswax melts and remove the jar from the water. Cool just until slight wax ring forms around the jar (5 minutes or so).
2. While the wax cools, place 1 c water in a separate jar in the simmering water. Let sit for the length of time that your wax is cooling. Your water mixture should be slightly warmer than the oil/wax mixture.
3. Once both reach the right temperture pour the water into the blender, turn the blender on high speed, slowly pour in your oil mixture through the center insert of the blender in a steady thin stream. The mixture will turn white and thicken, after you've poured in about 3/4 of the oil mixture stir it slightly with a wooden stick, then add rest of the oil slowly.
4. If there is any water at the top wick it off with paper towel or pour out. Add your essential oil now--give it a quick blend (don't over mix). You can also add oils separately if you wish to each of your baby food jars for separate scents.
5. Before it cools pour into your containers.

*Has about a 3 month shelf life. This recipe filled a salsa jar full of cream so you may want to half it.

Photo courtesy of Heather

Lip Balm
1 part beeswax
3 parts oil
1 drop essential oil per teaspoon of ingredient

Melt beeswax & oil in glass measuring cup or old jar in a pot of simmering water just until melted. Cool to desired hardness. If too hard add more oil etc. Re-melt and remove from heat, stir in essential oils, pour into containers. Let sit 20 minutes to set.

Toothpaste
1 T. baking soda
1/4 t sea salt
1-2 drops honey
Coconut oil, add slowly to above until you reach consistency you like
5 drops essential oil (spearmint, peppermint, clove, ginger etc)

Mix all together in a baby food jar with lid. Use a popsicle stick or your finger to scoop onto your toothbrush.
.

in the time of corinthian columns

2011-04-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

This is a story about me, D., Greek archeology & t-shirts.....

Before D. became an out of work philosopher/organic farmer without a farm, he was an archeologist. Being the hot blooded, overly passionate, bread eating southern Mediterranean that I am, I could never quite relate to the greats of ancient western "civilization." The idea of spending years digging up pottery shards or writing a dissertation about 15th century Venetian wallpaper didn't really tickle my fancy.

But I respected D.'s fascinations with the ancient world and his sense of connection to it (being Greek- do all Greeks at some point study the ancient world?). I also have really fond memories of a much younger D. at his little architects desk doing his Ancient Greek & Latin homework until the wee hours of the morning while I cheerfully went to bed.

What can I say-- we were young-- life seemed so full of possibility, and those fascinations got me a few trips to Italy and Greece.

So a few weeks ago when I passed a woman on the street wearing a Greek bronze age red painted pottery t-shirt (yes!) my little heart skipped a beat. It brought back a flood of old memories... of a different time.

Of D. telling me stories about mythology, red glass, figs, numismatics, and some of the details of ancient architecture. The sort of stuff I thought I was only half paying attention to seems to have carved a little space out inside me. I distinctly remember one conversation in which we discussed columns... its inspiration being the tree. I had to admit that did make it pretty cool.

So you pretty much know what happened next don't you? Oh yes, I hunted for my very own ancient Greek Bronze Age red painted pottery shirt. Given that she probably purchased this t-shirt in a museum gift shop in Athens... I knew my chances were slim.

I didn't quite find it... but I did some impressive work hunting at the thrift store and lo and behold found one with all the right ancient Greek architectural inspiration I could handle...

I wish I had gotten a better close up, but if you look really carefully you can see some of the Corinthian columns and their flourishes.

I can honestly tell you I have no past lives...or at least none as exciting as D. What I studied in college I now do for a living. Although at one point I did consider becoming a librarian.

How about you? Do you have any past lives?

Melancholy book review....

2011-03-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

It seems the blues are making their way around. If its not the political climate then its our endless desire to destroy our planet and make it uninhabitable. I feel so much sorrow these days.

Like other friends out there I've taken solace in my books... devouring three in the last week. Weirdly enough I picked up a book I've been have avoiding... mostly because the story line did not appeal to me.... a ninety year old man finding love with a fourteen year old girl. Lolita much?

As I've discovered with most books, they are never what they seem. Memories of My Melancholy Whores is actually a book not about pedophilia, but about growing old (and of course unrequited love in true Garcia Marquez fashion). In the story, the main character (the pervy old man) never actually sleeps with the young girl. Instead he spends his evenings with her to just sleep by her side--its through these encounters that he find himself to be fully alive.

Many people don't see the beauty in his writing... focusing too much on the story and not enough on the eloquence in which he tells it and the small pearls of wisdom built into them.

For sadness:

"The adolescents of my generation, greedy for life, forgot in body and soul about their hopes for the future until reality taught them that tomorrow was not what they had dreamed, and they discovered nostalgia."

and for sheer pleasure:

"I never had intimate friends, the few who came close are in New York. By which I mean they're dead, because that's where I suppose condemned souls go in order not to endure the truth of their past lives."

How are you doing these days?

Raw Kale Salad Recipe

2011-03-01T13:09:00.000-08:00

This time of year many garden folks have a substantial number of fabulous greens. Here is a favorite recipe of ours. I can literally sit down and eat 2 entire bunches of greens by myself thanks to this recipe.

Raw Kale or Collard Salad

First, wash and trim your greens removing any large stems from the center of the leaves. Chop into smaller pieces. I have tried this recipe with other greens like Chard & Beet Greens, but have found that Kale & Collard work the best.
Massage in 2-3 T of olive oil (per bunch). Use your hands and massage the oil into the greens until they begin to looked wilted or "cooked"
Add equal amounts 2-3 T per bunch of fresh lemon juice and soy sauce (I prefer Bragg's or Namashoyu).
Toss in desired veggies or nuts. My favorite with this salad is raw sunflower seeds or walnuts and dried fruit like raisins, cranberry or cherry.
Eat, enjoy and chew slowly!

swamplandia

2011-02-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

For much of my life I thought that Florida was a sort of abyss. Full of people from somewhere else without its own soul. A hot sticky mess full of people who came here looking for something they wished to extract from it temporarily (warmth, sunshine, beaches, Disneyworld, retirement etc.), but a group who had largely left their roots elsewhere.

To be honest, when I left college I said I did not want to come back here. Lo and behold, here we find ourselves.

Slowly but surely as I get to know this place on its own terms, the more I both see and understand it.

Like many others before me, I'm coming to realize that it is not the place I thought it was, nor is it the place that it seems to tell you it is. It has a rich and beautiful history all its own.

This weekend we ventured not far from our house... and encountered something wonderful we didn't even know existed. Who knew we had rapids among our swamps?

And suspension bridges?

And we've got big trees too... the majestic cypress whose roots extend outward rather than downward is a great analogy for those of us who do not necessarily have roots here, but eventually are drawn into this place.

the day in pictures

2011-02-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

Saturday, D. and I celebrated our 12 year "going steady" anniversary... I can't really tell you the day we were married. It was in June sometime 6 years later, but it was less eventful for us than the day D. came over and really shyly asked if "I wanted to make it official?" Young love is so much more innocent and carefree-so we've always celebrated it instead.

It was a few weeks late but it was our first chance to actually have the weekend to ourselves. The plan was no plan. We decided to let the day unfold and take us where it wanted to. It ended up taking us near my campus-- to explore the area as tourists and less as the worker bee that I usually am.

My other plan was to try to capture the entire day in pictures... I got about half way there.

9:00 a.m.


10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:30 Jose Marti Memorial... it's technically Cuban soil and only open for about 3 hours on weekdays.

The first cigar factory in Tampa

12:00 p.m. Working here makes me seriously want to start smoking cigars.


12:30 p.m. Best Tacos in Tampa.


1:30 p.m.


2:00 p.m. Dogwoods in full bloom tell me its spring!

The Italian Club.

3:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

Care packages and the deep blue sea.

2011-02-21T10:32:00.000-08:00

A while back the lovely Heather of Moonshine Junkyard and I exchanged emails about care packages. I had set aside a western calico skirt that screamed her name! She mentioned wanting to put some themed items together and mail them... an homage to the classical elements... earth, water, air & fire.

Of course, it took me months (as I promise it will always take me months) to get my package to her. I was delighted to see her donning the lovely skirt for her romps about the west. Heather and I share several fascinations.... and I always look forward to reading about her wanderings through mountains, deserts and cool peaceful rivers that make you want to migrate westward :)

Shortly after a lovely parcel arrived filled to the brim with delicate fabrics in all shades of blues! I was water.

Isn't the beaver coaster awesome?! There were even a few pieces I did not get a chance to photograph. What was so thoughtful about it was that Heather even thought of my dressing dilemma when assembling it. She found some items that I had been trying really hard to find while thrifting (like several knee length a-line skirts) and a gorgeous teal dress-- that I don't plan to take off anytime soon.

To Reads, 2011.

2011-02-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

My Life in France, by Julia Child (Reading now...)

The rest of the to reads...

Swamplandia, by Karen Russell

Ines of My Soul, Isabel Allende

The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd

Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier

Dust Tracks on a Road, Zora Neale Hurston

Travels with Charlie, John Steinbeck

The Innocence Abroad, Mark Twain (one of my favorite author)

Five.

2011-02-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

I thought this was fun over on Chelsea's blog... so here are my five daily essentials.


Coffee. I've tried to stop, but I can't. I love it and the ritual of drinking it too much.


It's the first thing I do in the morning and the last at night. I'm perpetually dry. I like Burt's Bees in the tin best (although I recently found a great recipe to make that mimics the formula perfectly).


Making lists. If its not on the list I WILL forget to do it.


I hate the idea of drinking your breakfast, but I can go for hours on the energy boost I get from my Green Smoothie. Not to mention I get 2 servings of veggies before 9 am.


I'm a firm believer in the fact that a good walk can solve anything. I like to take time out of each day to be outside, take a walk, and think about absolutely nothing.

How about you all?

industrialization leads to urbanization....

2011-02-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

More photos to add to the downtown series....

And, the big balls series...

The Foodie Files

2011-02-06T16:42:00.000-08:00

In the process of organizing my many photo files into neat little folders... I realized I take quite a few shots of food. Am I a foodie? I think I might be.The effort is usually to post a recipe I never get around to.

Here is a heaping helping of some favorites from 2010.


Artichokes prepared with olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper. Simple yet delicious!

Tostadas. A layer of sprouts topped with avocado, tomato, black beans, shredded cheese & sour cream!

Breakfast Tostadas, what can I say, we were pretty into tostadas that month. A layer of refried black beans prepared with olive oil & a bit of garlic, sauted spinach & onions, shredded cheese, a fried egg & fresh tomato.

Lebanese Red Lentil Soup- a simple soup of red lentil, carmelized onions, garlic & salt. Side of rosemary baked potatoes and raw kale salad.

pen pals!

2011-02-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

I think one of the most wonderful and least expected aspects of blogging has been the friendships I have made with fellow blogistas around the world. Getting to know so many of you on a personal level, both my old in living color and new 2-D friends, is the interesting and positive side of the interwebs that I would not have imagined possible.

Finding a group of like-minded, crafty, and inspiring women has provided a source of support and motivation in times of trial. Some of you I know personally-- and its nice being able to be part of your lives still even though we are parted by distances. Others, I've never met and your virtual friendships and posts on randomness mean quite a lot. So you can imagine that when we get the opportunity to extend our friendships beyond blogging... it's pretty frickin' cool!

Since beginning the blog I've had the most fun exchange parcels & words (in physical form) across the planet--creating long-distance pen pals. Being a dorky historian I'm into tangible things. The sort of material traces left behind that become part of history, the stuff of archives, if you will.

So you can imagine my excitement when a package arrived from a favorite fellow blogger, whom I feel I share much in common with, from half way across the world from Teeny.

Teeny, makes some of the coolest stuff out of things she thrifts. Like this beautiful (pink gingham lined) tote she made from an old pillow case! Embellished with a thrifted button and some lace.

Needless to say this tote is my new favorite purse! Inside were other goodies too... a travel book on Samoa (a place we discuss often given her heritage and my obsession), some new goodies, handmade goodies, and a vintage children's book that I think will make its way into my class when we discuss the 1950's archetypal family.

So... thank you Teeny and Happy Weekend!

book in review

2011-01-31T12:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have been away.

I've been deeply engrossed in something wonderful that I only picked up because of book club.

I almost skipped this month because of a review on the back by Stephen King.

Being that I fancy mostly female authors (which I realized looking at my bookshelf the other day), I thought it might be too dark and too "adventurous" for my delicate constitution. Needless to say I highly recommend this to many of my dear friends out there whom I consider fellow antiquarian-bibliophiles. It works better if you are both.

From page 8,

"...few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in our memory to which sooner or later--no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget--we will return."

Needless to say, I can't wait to finish work this afternoon so I can cozy up with tea and read some more. Are you reading anything inspiring? Do share...

You have the black eyes...

2011-01-19T14:44:00.001-08:00

It's official. I'm obsessed with this band.

This song in particular reminds me so much of that feeling you have between winter and spring. That feeling of thaw that is going on all around you and the longing feeling you have for warmth that just makes you a little bit sad.

It's easy to have nostalgia for Michigan from my very comfortable and warm place in Florida these days. At the time I sometimes hated the consistency of grayness that poured out of the winter sky, the dampness, the frigid air, and the death that is winter. But, there is nothing like the sense of rebirth going on both around you and inside of you when Spring hits. I miss that, a little bit.

When it comes to music, I'm not very musical. It's usually the lyricism that gets me, hence my love affair with singer/songwriter legends . . . Joanna Newsom, Bob Dylan, Conor Oberst, Elliott Smith... I could go on. Then they had to go throwing in a banjo and saw and lyrics that evoke so much imagery like "you have the black eyes, just holes filled with night sky." Yes.

a week in my clothes...

2011-01-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

I'm embarrassed to admit that one of the major challenges I faced at the new job last semester was my attire. I have always prided myself on not judging people based on appearances. That appearances matter little in life (and still fundamentally agree with that statement). However, I found myself realizing that in order to convey confidence both to myself, my colleagues and my students... clothing really started to matter. At a community college I have a wide array of students of diverse backgrounds. I did not want to come across as a white, know-nothing, late twenty something-- fresh out of grad school (even if its kind of true). I felt that they needed to feel confident that I knew what I was doing.

At the same time I was new to the campus, the town and the very inner-city environment from which many of my students derive. I honestly did not know how they would react to my typical quirky, colorful & mostly thrifted garb. Most of all, I did not want to seem like I could not relate to them or their backgrounds.

Lastly, I came to realize that half of what counts in giving a good lecture was feeling confident--both physically and intellectually. If I was the least bit uncomfortable in something that was a bit too tight or revealing, or linty, or faded, or holy-- it made me really self-conscious. Here I now was standing in a much smaller room (classes here are much smaller) in front of a group of 28 sets of eyes.

Needless to say, given that much of my wardrobe is thrifted-- there are lots of paint splatters, fades, holes, snug seams and loose ones. I found myself wearing outfits that were "practical," dare I say "functional" for the task at hand. My most challenging days were faculty meetings! How did I convey to my colleagues that I'm not too young and no I'm not a student here :) Combine this challenge with very little time to thrift or shop. Some days I felt myself, other days I felt like I was losing a bit of myself in dressing for this new role in my life. I had many stressful mornings trying on a million things--as D. patiently watched and gave quiet advice (so as not to upset me).

But.... lets not get overly dramatic. Clothing is still only clothing, right? I'm still me. This long post is to tell you that one of my goals in the new year is to slowly uncover me, or should I say dress me better. The me that is now a professor. I don't feel like I should have to become more "practical" or boring, and I certainly don't have to purchase brand new clothing to do that. Since I also have more time for myself this semester, and I feel more and more comfortable each day at my campus-- I'm making more of an effort to dress the way I like. To keep me on my toes-- the goal is to make myself take more outfit photos.

Here are a few from the last week.


Monday (Thrifted dress, belt)

Tuesday (Thrifted dress, blazer)

Wednesday (Thrifted skirt, blouse, belt, & shoes!)
Scarf-- crocheted by me!
Flowers- lovingly arranged by D. from the throw-away pile (the perks of having a hubby who works at the coop)

a beach without condos....

2011-01-11T16:38:00.000-08:00

This weekend D. and I shared a most perfect Saturday afternoon. We packed up the car with blankets, books, fruit for a picnic and Henry and headed a bit south to Fort Desoto State Park. The park is a naturally preserved bit of coastline. This close to the city its hard to find undeveloped beachfront areas.

A Great Blue Heron

Most beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, if allowed to be left to their own devices, would have lush mangrove forests hugging their coastline. Mangroves are incredibly important for fish spawning as well as protection in hurricanes. I am amazed that they can grow in such sandy and salty conditions.

Fruits of the Florida winter sun

After our most perfect day of reading, picnicking and fussing over Henry, we found a little local smoked fish house and had ourselves some good eating. Although its been here for over 50 years, it was our first time. A really relaxed, un-pretentious, old Florida Southern style restaurant, it serves locally and responsibly caught mullet and Spanish mackerel. You can't get much more local, not only is the fish itself local but smoking is historically very important in the Southeastern part of the U.S. The process of smoking these varieties of fish was introduced to the Spanish by the indigenous inhabitants of this region, as a way to preserve a large catch.

Besides that, the place itself feels like your at your uncle's fishing cabin! We had cold draft beer for $2 and a big heaping plate of smoked fish, cole slaw, and potato salad served on big wooden benches in the "dining room," where we sat nice and toasty by a wood burning fireplace (I'm kicking myself for not getting any pictures).

Truly, a perfect weekend. Hope yours was full of local adventure and good eatin'.

A hermit in the city.

2011-01-05T10:09:00.000-08:00

I never thought of myself as much of a wanderer. In reality, I'd always pictured myself one of those people that never strays too far from home, that is until I met D. In the last five years we've moved 7 times. Sometimes only to a new part of town, sometimes to new cities, new states, and new countries. Now that I've got a job I really like, I think our ship has landed. It helps that we are now back where we started our lives together (in Florida) and nearer to family. Needless to say I did want to share some pictures taken a while back of this (our) new little corner of the world.

Here's the big bad city!


D. and I like to take morning walks or bike rides around the campus of UT, formerly the Tampa Bay Hotel. The campus runs just along the edge of the Hillsborough River which dumps out into the Tampa Bay (hence the name) which eventually makes it way to the Gulf of Mexico.


I was never much into tropicals, but palm trees have been creeping their way into my little tree-loving heart. It helps that some produce delicious coconuts & dates.

I thought it might be fun to blow this picture up, laminate it and hang it over my dining table.

And for my northern friends a lesson in horticulture. Did you know that when the fruit of a banana tree are ripe that big beautiful flower at the end of the bunch blooms! Isn't food amazing?

Long overdue

2011-01-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

This post is several months in the making. Back in October, Gina of Tender Letters offered to send me a custom banner. I was thrilled as I'd been admiring her lovely banners from afar for quite some time! The new apartment really needed some warmth. I basically rambled on in an email about wanting to really make our new little apartment a nice nest for Doug, Henry and I to cozy down in. I mentioned something about liking every color in the rainbow... and that was about all I gave her to work with. Shortly after this little package arrived at my doorstep all the way from Singapore!

Gina's work is absolutely beautiful! The special touches are my favorite, and the combination of textures is divine. She was nice enough to also include this little joyful "Good Morning" one. It found a home just over our bed to remind us that mornings are awesome.

Anyone for some crochet?

2011-01-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

I've tried to teach myself on and off the last few years how to crochet... I would learn the basic stitches, attempt a scarf, put it away and return again months later to realize I'd forgotten how to do everything. This Christmas I made a concerted effort to re-teach myself, and much to my surprise actually completed several pieces (which became Christmas gifts).

To keep the ball rolling I'm toying with some of these lovely free patterns I found online....

Bow Headband Courtesy of Cornflower Blue

Slouchy Beret Courtesy of Creative Yarn

Chunky Neckwarmer by Sewshesews

I was born today...

2010-12-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

For my birthday I decided I'd like to do nothing but lay low, drink tea, crochet and do some light reading under a big comfy blanket warm and cozy. Winter has finally has come to Florida (although its leaving in a day or so).

The past few weeks we've been spending time with family near the coast. Lazy beach days are contributing to my lack of posts. Needless to say the bagillion blog posts I have planned must keep waiting as said camera and cord are far away.

I did want to pop my head in to say that I hope you all had joyous holidays! See you soon...

recycled christmas

2010-11-26T14:12:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving has traditionally always been the day that me and my mom decorated for Christmas, it was our thing, our special thing. I remember back then people thought we were crazy--but the two of us had a shared love for all things Christmas season. My mother had some of the most beautiful decorations I'd ever seen--many of them passed down through the family from great uncles and aunts and my Nana. We'd sing and decorate all day long!

Since I've lived away from home and been married, D. and I typically do not do a Christmas tree for various reasons (wasteful, expensive, commercialized etc.) But, I'm no scrooge I promise, I'd just love to slowly amass some of my own Christmas treasures to decorate the house. Today was spent browsing the internet for resourceful homemade decoration ideas that could just as easily be made from easy to find or recycled materials.

1. a pine cone wreath

2. newspaper snowflakes

3. cloved citrus delights

4. bits and bobs

5. old Christmas card luminaries

Do you have any successful Christmas craft ideas?

i loves you porgy

2010-11-18T16:01:00.000-08:00

I have a million posts in waiting that I just can't seem to get around to. I have to admit this semester is sort of kicking my a*%, in a refreshing and meaningful way. I love everything about my new job, especially my students. I'm already starting to feel that I'll miss them terribly come spring. They are my first crop of kids, and I know they'll be one of my favorites when I look back on the semester. But, I'm not going to lie, as a first semester educator I've been experiencing all the usual teacher ups and downs. Sometimes you're riding on a cloud--thinking "yeah, i think I'm making progress." Other days, you feel like a total failure and wonder if you've midread your true calling? Does this sound about right fellow teachers?

A family member and fellow teacher told me at the start of the semester, remember Andrea, your students will learn in spite of you. I hold on to that hope, because lord knows some days are not my A game :) Yesterday was a particularly down day-- no real reason--just me getting into my head too much. Today, on my way to work this song came on, and there is just something about Nina Simone that makes the whole world stop and give me a hug. I needed that :)

A hug to all of you :)

departamento

2010-10-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite new places and things in the apartment....

A gift from Teeny's crafty hands had finally found its home alongside a vintage chaulkware rose & original Moncayo painting of his native Ecuador.

Another Moncayo (we found 4 of these minis)

I'm kinda into my new kitchen shelves....

I love showering with an open window. The view: giant white birds of paradise!

The apartment is one of 4 in a 1925 Classic Art Deco building. I really love the combination of Spanish tile and 1920s charm of the place :)

Finally-- yet another haircut! This time it feels much more me :)

Have a great weekend!

recently....

2010-10-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

I'm way behind on blog posts. I'd thought I'd sum up some recent moments. First of course are the local fruit & veg. Even though Florida gets a bum wrap for lots of things, it rarely gets the credit it deserves for its food potential. When we first arrived back we found our (beginning w/ top left) seminole pumpkins had grown to maturity. Add to that local sand pears, muscadine grapes, olives, persimmons and the first of mango season!

Okay, I admit mango season did get a little out of control. Doug convinced a neighbor to let him pick all their beautiful, neglected and delicious mangoes. Not only did we get to enjoy these fresh, enchilado, and have plenty to freeze for mango lassis we also discovered that Doug is allergic to mango sap! Oops!

More recently the star fruits are coming in and are amazing!!! They're just lovely to look at too.

I do plan to post more of our apartment and more stuff on our new town, but until then here are a few crappy photos of my new "more sophisticated" teaching looks. There have been better days but I keep forgetting to document the teaching outfits. You can see a little of our place, more on that soon.

I've tried to be good about thrifting and have managed to only purchase a few new things. Things I hope to wear the heck out of and get lots of use. I have to admit not having much spare time makes thrifting sometimes difficult.

(Skirt, blouse, shoes- thrifted; Cardigan- target)

(audrey hepburn jeans- new, Born sandals- new, cardigan & blouse- Urban Outfitters)

I work literally half a block from the UO, its been hard to resist the sale rack!

(100% thrifted)

This is the standard outfit.

Sorry friends for my terrible posting, hope to catch up soon.

In other news, what have you eaten & worn recently?

I'm Alive!

2010-09-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

First off I apologize for leaving my blog hanging around in no where land. I promise I'm alive & well. Lately I've had very little time for much else other than teaching and writing lectures and dealing with educational bureaucracy :) In all seriousness I'm having a blast at my new job. But in the process of selling a home, moving to an apartment, unpacking my beloved and most neglected books, and keeping my head above water I feel like I may have lost bits of myself. I'll get them back. I just need some more time and take out pizza.

One issue in particular of late... in the name of all that is vain . . . has been ofcourse my HAIR! I've been wanting to go the bob route for some time. My question to you is when is the right time? Is it when you don't want to spend more than 2 minutes either styling or washing your hair? Some people say longer hair is better in that regard. And then ofcourse there is the parting... It took me a long time to grow my long locks, so I'm hesitant to hack it off. Curly hair in particular takes time. But now I'm at a crossroads. Even though I've cut down washing to once every other day. And aside from the muggy hot weather here... the water is terrible! I have to douse my head in conditioner to tame my troll-like fro. I've had every phase of short from a cropped pixie to about as long as it is now.I'm really close to the edge, especially now.

So... pardon me while I indulge a bit in my own hair-spiration photos (and I welcome any and all suggestions or input on a final decision)

There is...

The ever so cute & the adorable Audrey Tatou - a- la Amelie.

And something that I feel suits me more is bit of asymmetrical but nothing too crazy like John & Kate or anything

And here I am, the last time I attempted one of these styles.

And a much younger Andrea making her new husband reconsider his decision.. at our wedding :)

I think I've blabbed enough about hair for one day. How are you all?

living in soundtrack mode...

2010-07-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

To keep me sane I've been enjoying my morning walks, up early while no one else is up yet and the air is still cool. I'm really going to miss sleeping with the windows open in a few weeks when we head back south.

Sorry again for my lack of posts, but more big changes are coming our way soon and there is lots to do.

Until then, enjoy a favorite Jarabe de Palo song :)

a little cheering up....

2010-07-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

I needed a little cheering up today... did I mention that selling a house sucks! Don't do it ever! Actually, reverse that, don't buy it, because then you'll never have to sell it. I know I should be thankful, I got a job and we are likely going to close on our house sometime soon, I just don't know exactly when. Me and business transactions do not do well together. I get way too stressed out about the slightest twist and turn. I should be working but instead I needed some FOTC cheering up.

I keep humming this one today...

Fruit Hunters and the women who love them....

2010-07-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

So Doug is reading this book, The Fruit Hunters: A Story of Nature, Adventure, Commerce and Obsession. I think the title accurately describes him these last two years-- minus the commerce. He's not so much a business man. Ever since he accompanied me to Mexico last year and had oh so much spare time for reading and completed this, then this, a little bit of this guy, some of this, and a brief and fleeting obsession with this photographic collection... he has really cultivated both in himself and me a desire to understand our own food culture and then radically change it! It's truly solidified his mission to be a farmer. But, that is a story for another post and blog entirely...

Lately he's been reading from The Fruit Hunters at night before we go to bed, which has left me having all sorts of weird dreams about the possibilities inherent in tasting such wonders as cloudberries, miracle fruits , mangosteens, and odoriferous durians .

The arctic Cloudberry, found only in cold climates it is said to taste like fresh tart apples and yogurt.

Miracle Fruit, which is said to make bitter & sour foods taste sweet for up to an hour after you eat one.

The lovely fleshy white quartered segments of a Mangosteen are said to resemble a combination between citrus & peach.

The stinky Durian, reactions to its odor range from heavenly to disgusting! It's banned from many hotels & public transport systems in Asia due to its odor. It's a very fatty fruit that is described as tasting somewhere between almond ice cream & custard.

Needless to say we're pretty excited about our new location in which we can experiment with some tropical fruits. Have any of you ever had these? I'd love to hear more about them. Until then I'll wish everyone far-out weird Cloudberry dreams!

in the bag...

2010-07-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

I'm in serious procrastination mode right about now. I'd rather tell you whats in my purse than work on my dissertation or think about packing.

No one really tagged me for this exercise I just kind of thought it would be fun to see its contents laid out & analyzed... so here are my earthly possessions which I carry with me on a daily basis.

1. the much dreaded cellphone- i HATE talking on the phone myself, but I hate hearing other people talk on the phone more. I use it b/c I have to but I don't think a day goes by where I wish we still lived in a landline world.

2. green wallet- b/c my favorite color is green

3. Burt's Bees Pomegranite Lip Balm

4. A 10 Mexican Peso piece coin- to remind me of my time there

5. 8GB Flash drive- it holds the contents of my brain (and my dissertation)

6. an old half melted tootsie roll that I believe was a gift....

7. a pen of a different color

So.. I'm going to dare anyone who reads this to also share their treasures!

in which i display today's thrift store wares....

2010-06-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

Sadly our time here is coming to a close. We head back South in only 2 weeks and there are lots of "last" things we want to do. Today I crossed off thrifting. I HAD to make one more trip to our favorite Salvation Army store. I never leave disappointed. It is one of those thrift stores with junk piled wall to wall and rack and racks stuffed super tightly.

I hit the floral dress jackpot today.

Found a brand new Laura Ashley floral mini for $1.50 & daisy navy romper.

Another mini & lace blouse

I realized I'm in serious need of "work" stuff... some appropriate lovelies.

And some casual pieces to get me through our soon to be 90 degree existence.

A floral silk tank & mix & match shorts. Oh, and a pair of shoes for good measure.

small bears

2010-06-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

In other news... Henry is doing much better. I did not share but he got all crazy on us. One day he was fine and the next he was all woozy, couldn't stand up and stopped eating-- truly acting like he was on shrooms or something. After a stressful trip to the Vet and some medicine he is better than ever now! We think he may have actually eaten something he shouldn't have in the yard, perhaps some magical mushrooms that sent him tripping for a few days.

For those who do not know Henry personally, he came to us as a rescue pup, found roaming around along a busy highway and we know very little about his life before that or even how old he is. This past weekend I had a dream that he was born on a farm to a loving owner, but lived most of his life outside. His owner was kind but traditional and kept his animals in a large chained link fence area. Henry was his favorite and had greater reign of the farm & nearby barn. One day he started wandering and found a small loophole in a fence and continued wandering... to the highway where he was found. (If given freedom, Henry will likely walk in a straight line & never turn around)

We think he may now be around 10 years old, but even 5 years ago when he came to us he was already blind in one eye, had a penchant for wandering, poor hearing, a bum leg, smoker's cough and mild scoliosis. Upon hearing his sad little story one might initally feel sorry for him, but knowing him you would not know any of these ailments have an impact on his daily life. He's a sweet little bear, and although in recent months his health has been failing him a bit, we are hopeful he will be around with us as long as possible.

Meet Henry, he likes keeping tabs on me...

kissing up on dad....

Sitting in the sun watching all the squirrels go by...

Chilling in the grass...

and just being plain ol' cool.

sour cherries

2010-06-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend we welcomed the summer solstice with some really great local theater performed outdoors and live jazz. It was an amazing weekend. Suffice to say I did little actual work and lots of relaxing, started a new book and drank coffee :) We did however make time for some fruit hunting... it's the beginning of wild cherry season and we found a tree outside a law office-- so naturally Sunday was a good day to sneak in and pick it when no one was there :) I'm not sure that is really wrong since many of the fruit had already fallen and it appeared that no one was really picking it, plus if you've ever seen a cherry tree they produce a TON of fruit, so there is plenty left to share.

ode to Michigan

2010-06-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Where have the last few weeks gone? I've been the worst blogger ever, but I promise I have good excuses. Doug and I have been truly taking advantage of our current snow bird status. The weather here was extremely cold (for me anyway) when we arrived, then turned to a muggy Florida like early summer, but has now returned to more peaceful 70 degree days. I have few words to share this morning, but I wanted to share some of our recent jaunts about town. Although I'm really excited about our new destination this Fall, I'm really going to miss it here.

Did you know that chipmunks abound in this state?

The trees are bigger, the forests colder the grassy are all pillowy here.

Although, some things are very familiar like little swamps & redneck shooting ranges. About 5 minutes into our walk we realized someone was doing target practice nearby.

We also took some nice pictures of campus and the Red Cedar river which runs through it.

Finally, did you also know that we have several species of squirrels here? In addition to adorable chipmunks we have black, gray & fox squirrels that live in town. Apparently, only gray squirrels are native & the others were part of some science experiment gone awry.

I thought this guy (who looks like a black & fox squirrel mix) was going to jump in my lap, when suddenly I realized he was after the bit of ham & cheese under my bench.

not your morning coffee

2010-05-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

Doug and I recently picked up this -- it's an herbal coffee, and since we're trying to elminatae some of the bad acid from our bodies we thought we'd try it. We were also excited because we had read about wild "coffee" that apparently grows in Florida and that people used to drink made from chicory. So, when I found that this was one of the central ingredients we had to try it. I picked up the Chai flavor and I'm pleasantly surprised. It's not coffee ofcourse, but it's almost like chocolate meets coffee.

I've said it before, I was never a coffee person. I think the divide is almost like cat & dog people. My dabbling in coffee culture prior to a few years ago was having one of those covered in syrup & whip cream drinks once and a while. Anything to mask the flavor of coffee, but now I'm an addict! I LOVE coffee almost as much as my teas.

Sidney Mintz has even made the argument that our addictions to caffeine based drinks like tea & coffee stem directly from the rise of capitalism (and it subsequent link to trade commodities such as sugar, tea & coffee) and the modern worker. Tea with sugar was the preferred drink of the poor working classes, requiring little time or resources to prepare, providing a nice warm meal and containing enough empty calories to get you through the day. He argues that the institution of slavery and widespread Atlantic World trade helped to make such commodities widely available and cheap. Isn't it ironic that even today we all drink these tropical leaves and berries that grow in only distinct parts of the world? And we sweeten them with sugar that only grows in a few countries on our continent?

Ever since I read Mintz's book this has troubled me. Since then I always ask people when they started drinking coffee. For me, it was at the height of my graduate program, that and I was bored with the lack of tea options most coffee houses & our library provided. Often it was available free in the student lounge, or at department functions. So... as would anyone in the very cold tundra that is the Midwest, I drank it. I drank it so much I started to actually like it and it required less and less sugar & cream.

Recently I asked my parents when they started drinking coffee. Much to my surprise, I found out that my Dad, not being born in the United States, was an avid tea drinker until he started his career. He didn't start drinking coffee until he was in his 30s! Even then he only drank it because in the worker's lounge it was also there, always hot, and always free. He even said that sometimes he drank it because then he didn't have to eat anything because it made him less hungry. The same with my Mom, who worked in an office. This shocked me, it was almost Mintz's thesis exactly.

That brings me to you. Are you a coffee or tea person? If so, when did you start drinking it?

lilly, will you go out wit me?

2010-05-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been almost a month since my last post. Where has space & time gone? My absence from the digital world has been in part due to the following;

relocation
much clean up after said relocation
primping for sale of home in said location
sick puppies (Henry's got a tooth infection which will require surgery, but before that they have to get the infection better)
new beginnings

Many of you asked about my new job. I will be a professor at a 2-year college come Fall. The nice part is that said college is in our home state of Florida and oh yeah I actually got a job, the bad part is that I need to haul a** on the dissertation. I'm not sure how much time that will leave for blogging, but I'm going to try and still keep up with ya'll's lovely blogs! Until then however, I'm in Michigan, where the trees are so tall and the grass and dirt smell cold and wet all the time. It's really refreshing to be back (especially in Summer!)

I don't have any personal photos to share at the moment... but I will share this film I recently saw. If you're a sucker for any and all "coming of age" stories (like I am) I highly recommend this film. This one is particularly dear for all of us shy people in the world, and lovers of the Violent Femmes.

Guess What?

2010-04-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

It seems like good things always happen in 3's...

1: loquat season

2: amazing postcards courtesy of Tumbleweed Woman. They are so lovely I've decided I can't write on them and they are more suited for display on my walls.

3: I got the job!

its all purple petunias

2010-04-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

It seems appropriate to discuss flowers at the moment. My favorite moments of Spring have been the little whiffs of jasmine, gardenia and honeysuckle that occasionally waft by while I walk Henry or sit outside in the evenings. At the one point I thought I even smelled fresh pine which seemed slightly displaced, but then I remembered our Christmas tree clippings are still composting in the flower beds. Oops!

Surprisingly these cheapy petunias are giving off the most lovely fragrance, which I never really noticed before. And although I'm not as gardenly as Doug, I've been quite enjoying fussing over them and my herbs. I'm also taking style tips from spring and have thrifted a few too many floral skirts. I hemmed up about 5 this past weekend. I think floral is the new black in my closet?

tangerine trees and marmelade skies.

2010-04-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

I can't express enough how much my blog (and reading the lovely blogs of others) has truly gotten me through this very isolating year that is writing your dissertation.This week in particular has slightly been a bit of hell on earth as I enter the depths that I *hope* become chapter 3. To top it all off D. and I are trying to figure out our future, at the same time that we also must compile our taxes. A process that took me three days and a few sleepless nights since I was trying to save money. I hate wasting money, especially when I know I can do something myself.

On an especially rough Monday afternoon this lovely package from Teeny arrived all the way from frickin' New Zealand!!!! First off, Teeny sent me this package sneakily! I should be very upset with her because she really shouldn't have. But, I'm also quite thrilled she did! She's a fantasticly lovely lady, who in the midst of mothering two little adorable monsters, manages to have time to make the most beauitful little trinkets... the kind you want to covet and display, rather than wear & get pizza sauce on.

Look what was inside: a thrifted butterfly print skirt, vintage decals, a lovely blue & white mug, a maori necklace, and homemade pretties from Teeny herself!!!

this embroidery hoop & handmade button buttons rock my world!

Her package which crossed oceans I've never even seen got me thinking. In my mind I pit New Zealand against Austrailia and have visions that its a million times better and funner and nicer, kind of like Ireland & Scotland vs. Britain. Although I'm sure Austrailia is just as lovely, I have all these beautiful seaside mountain village images in my mind from movies like Whale Rider. One day I'd love to visit and Teeny and I can finally meet in person and share some afternoon tea by the sea and other things that rhyme!!

Speaking of movies about New Zealand, recently I've been more than a little obsessed with this movie recommend by dearliou... Doug and I keep reciting lines back to eachother and giggling about how bad our New Zealand accents are. Hopefully Teeny does not mind being associated in my mind with it :) It's just a cute & quirky movie a la Napolean Dynamite, but the more you get into the film the more you realize its a bit different. I reccommend it for inside joking & cheering upping :)

The annals of Easter past...

2010-04-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

Did you all wear you Easter bonnets today?

I'm slowly going through old family photos & trying to back up pictures onto my computer so that in the future I will have them with me always and for my own kids. I found this one yesterday and could not help but crack up! My mom half dressed me like a rag-a-muffin/child from the 50s, which I still struggle with :)

On the right, you'll see my Easter dress, which we sort of celebrated yesterday/last night because we did Greek Easter which is at midnight. Anywho, I still can't believe I scored these Frye t-straps for $2 and they were in my size!!! I'm still recovering from that one.

Happy Sunday!

Thrifting Thematics

2010-04-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Some themes from the latest shop update...

Lady-like blouses

Nautical/Americana Dresses

And ofcourse... the florals

our little tenochtitlan

2010-03-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry about the lack of posting... the last few weeks have been a whirlwind. All I can say is that I may or may not have some good news in the coming weeks :)

As for the ol' bloggy I feel like all I have to share is my local wanderings lately... but when I have free time that is pretty much what I've been doing. I've rediscovered so many wonders and had forgotten the amazing wildlife we get to see here that I often take for granted. The robins and bluebirds have arrived, and yesterday we also saw a mantaee with her calf and a baby white tail deer!

This weekend it was our little piece of local archeology...these amazing Indian burial mounds. This one was likely a temple mound because of its size & location. Atleast that is what they tell us....

This was a good location because it had access to both fresh & ocean water. The view was amazing.

When we got closer to the water we saw a mother manatee feeding her calf.

Doug pondered a "Doug-out" canoe project

AND.... I'd also like to extend a thank you to the lovely Thalia for thinking of me in her recent giveaway of an Irene Paleologou brooch. It and various other little gems arrived all the way from GREECE! Thalia is hard at work on a "Not Shop Project" and instead does all these awesome DIY crafty recycled accessory projects. I love reading her blog for her inspiring updates. I've got the brooch now securely fastened to my favorite cardigan, never shall the two part :) Thank you very much Thalia!

Don't you just love receiving packages with stamps from far away places?

strawberry not love

2010-03-12T15:21:00.000-08:00

I have been the worst blogger ever... but I'm kicking ass and taking notes on chapter two. Today I hit 40 solid pages, that I just want to print out and caress over and over. Needless to say I've had time for much less besides sleeping, drinking tea, eating cookies, and reading Nora Neale Hurston when the day is through....

I do have some tidbits from the week though...

there was a strawberry festival

*a note on my love/hate relationship with these berries

My relationship to strawberries is ever changing. I LOVE them, who doesn’t? But, for some reason at some point in time some entrepreneurial farmer in Florida decided they’d be good to grow here to make money on early season berries in Northern markets, in exchange Florida land & water (and our region in particular) have become prostituted to this little red devil. Don’t get me wrong, I support farmers, but strawberries don’t grow wild here (like grapes,blueberries, mulberries, blackberries, huckleberries), and they aren’t perennial they way they are up North. This past winter we had one of the coldest winters on record and in an attempt to salvage profits, farms pumped billions of gallons of water from aquaphors to spray their berries continuously throughout chilly nights to avoid fatal freezes. The result of which was the most sink hole occurrences at one time in one place, swallowing up the earth. It begs the question, does growing strawberries in Florida really make sense? Probably about as much sense as buying pears from Argentina right now… rant complete

Did my politics stop me from enjoying the shortcake? No.

Doug neither...

*note my gifted thrifted dress thanks to Milla

Also, more signs of spring, like books outside, woodpeckers, trees & Henry noses

and there were some Italian wine cookies too...

I really wanted to share this recipe with you… its on loan from a sweet little old lady who gave it to me from memory. I love these sort of tried and true and passed down ones. And these are some of the tastiest little treats I’ve ever eaten and super easy. If you too love a subtle hint of anise, do try them.

1 c sugar

1 c red wine

1 c oil (I used olive)

4 c. flour (I used ½ whole wheat pastry & ½ all purpose)

2 T baking power

2 t anise seeds

Combine the wet ingredients. Sift the dry together. Mix. Dough will be sticky but don’t worry the oil makes it work. Roll and shape into little doughnuts. Bake 350F for 25-30 minutes on parchment paper. Let cool completely & store!

roll...

shape...

bake

eat

And don't worry, go all out, use up your best wine!

On that note, (sorry for this mondo post) and have a good weekend!

just a little english boy

2010-03-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

On Friday we took my mother-in-law out for a tea party :) In classic american fashion the tea was lukewarm and half of them were herbal... but the chocolate cake was delicious! I unconsciously (I swear) dressed somewhere between a little English boy and a student at Hogwart's.

And although I carried my camera on me like a bible, I took very few photos this weekend. There was ofcourse, the last of the carrot harvest on the farm.

And other signs of spring... like Henry finding his way out of hibernation into bits & pieces of sunshine...

and the wild plum trees in full bloom

We also started watching a really great movie, that unlike some of the other very intentional independent films I've been watching via netflix which have been a bit disappointing, has really quite captured me. Maybe I half like it because I just came from living in another country and understand the feeling you get around others who are fluent in a language that you are not quite yet fluent in, but I also like the un-romantic ways it features Paris and french people. There is also a great quality about Julie Delpy's character, a la Amelie, a photographer who sees the world through very bad vision. She comments at one point that photography takes you out of the moment and forces you to live in your own world while others move on about you. Sometimes you like to live in it, sometimes you like to live on the side of it.... i liked that and I didn't like it all at the same time :)

visions of Joanna

2010-02-24T18:45:00.000-08:00

Today I woke up with a cold. Just last week I'd been bragging how I haven't been sick since last January, when I got what was probably the swine flu in Mexico. As Doug and I settle into evening with our cups of tea, I thought I'd give my two cents on the recent news on Joanna Newsom's latest album which several other of you great bloggers have already commented on.

I remember the first time I heard Joanna Newsom, I fell in love pretty much immediately, although some say she is an aquired taste, she wasn't for me. I was in Vinyl Fever in Tallahassee and I listened through one of those headphone machines. I was first drawn to her lyricism which is the first thing I hear in music. I listen to the words because I'm not very musical, and hers were undeniably some of the most beautiful!

Like this bit of beauty from "This Side of the Blue":

And the signifieds butt heads with the signifiers,
and we all fall down slack-jawed to marvel at words!
While across the sky sheet the impossible birds,
in a steady, illiterate movement homewards.

Beyond her lyrics, she plays one of the most beautiful instruments. And on the Milk Eyed Mender, she created these most beautiful little stories, just her voice and her harp.

Nevermind how lovely she also happens to be.

So, needless to say when I heard of her impending album release I was pretty excited. Not that I didn't like "Y's" but I loved the first one best, as I do most things. "Have One on Me" rooted in the American West sounds like it could really grow on me quite quickly.

The only other band that I feel as passionately about is one that you probably have not heard of, but like Newsom this local Michigan band, Frontier Ruckus, has equal parts beautiful lyrics and instrumentation. They were introduced to me by my dear friend Micalee, who is currently living in South Africa (and this is probably going to make her very homesick).

sit still for a picture...

2010-02-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

On Friday, we visited Tarpon Springs to meet up with family. We got to see the adorable niece & nephew. Elijah will actually sit & pose for pictures, he's the cutest little ham, but little Stephi has too much to do for that sort of nonsense!

There were other birds too...

and sponges galore

and real live Dougs who contemplated what their lives could have been as a sponge diver....

And the main attraction... I'll have one of everything :)

And I busted out my new ruffly top & belt sent my Milla..

HenryBrowncoat's Spring Collection :)

2010-02-21T18:18:00.000-08:00

What I did this weekend....

The latest additions to the shop

a package! a package!

2010-02-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

This lovely package traveled from the land where the sea meets the trees,

bundled up with polka dots and bows just for me!

Passing places I've never been before,

in its journey o'er the mountains and the plains right to my door.

Packaged with care,

by Milla who married a bear!

One day she chanced upon a magical dump,

and from then on vowed to spread its wealth.

Well, that isn't exactly how the story goes, but something like it :) She's such a sweetie pie and has the most wonderful reading blog, full of lots of hippy roamings on her island and does amazing things with thrown away clothing! I was so fortunate to win her thrift giveaway and even more excited when the package arrived last night, filled with such lovelies! I can't wait to wear everything! I'm planning on hosting my own soon too!

Everything was just so cute & perfectly coordinated! And I just came into my very own hand-me-down sewing machine, so I can put that pattern to good use :) In other sewing related news... my first real sewing project was my Valentine's Day/Witchy Woman dress.

I added this cut out collar, which I cut off of a .25 cent old lady blouse I thrifted and then I hemmed up this very wrinkly old slinky dress :)

I also finally broke down and shelled out $13 on a real tripod! I've been scouting one for months at the thrift stores with no success. I found a little one at Radioshack on sale & splurged! Which brings me to some exciting things happening in the shop! I'm planning a "spring collection" which I hope to debut this weekend or early next week.

In the meantime I've been plugging away at the dissertation, reading 19th century writings on why women should not bother themselves with trying to understand the complicated world of government or politics, when they have so many important duties in the home to tend to!!! As Micalee would say, it makes my vagina hurt just thinking about trying to handle both :)

love & cruisin' winter days

2010-02-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

I have not been posting much because I've been trying to be really good about working as my first priority. In an effort to cultivate greater productivity I've limited my internets to an hour or so a day and I hooked up Doug's crapass 6 yr old laptop to the internet and relocated myself to the living room. So as not to get distracted every two minutes to look things up online.

But, this post is not about ch. 2. This past weekend Doug and I visited his sister, and there were some spectacular sunset images after the recent rainfall. Even though, part of my purpose on this blog is to show folks that Florida ain't all beaches & disney world, we do have some lovely ones with few tourists.

These pics, especially this cheesy one here, reminded me of cruises and those pictures they make you take in your "evening wear" with fake backgrounds. Have you ever been on a cruise? I've been on one, and it will probably be my last. I have the greatest in-laws who take us with them on trips and this one happened to be a family gathering to go back to my husband's grandad's hometown in Greece. Being with family was nice, but I'm a landed bird and spent the first 3 days sick as a dog, there was a motorcycle accident in Mykonos, a misunderstanding in Italian that sent us to "Capri" rather than "Napoli" almost missing our boat, and some other lowlights, but all in all it was a fun experience. Doug and I just could not take the cheesy parts seriously though :) So, we tried to "be" the cruiser, you know really get into our roles and adopt the "cruise lifestyle." We felt this lifestyle was best embodied in the 1980s, a la Love Boat, and this is precisely what we tried to re-create.

Doug shaved a mustache, twirled it, drank ouzo over ice in a highball glass, I pulled out all the gold I could find, posed for photos and we just lived it up, cruisestyle :) So, in the spirit of Valentime's, with all this crazy love going around, I wanted to impart some cruise lovin' on everybody. May you too, live it up cruise style this weekend!

procrastination is the name of the game

2010-02-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

so... I know chapter 2 won't write itself but its been difficult to get needed work done today! The morning went something like this, I read some blogs, and after reading Milla's post about the Bowerbirds, I proceeded to look them up, find their concert schedule, noticed they were doing a show in my old stomping grounds, seriously considered relocation (after such a terrible morning) went on craigslist, found a nice studio apartment in the perfectest location to move into, and tucked the idea away for a rainy day.... time waisted, yes indeed! So thanks for that stream of consciousness internets browsing. It was much needed, Milla! ha ha!

In other news, yesterday we took a little drive. Its our usual once a month trip to the city to buy seeds or other some such farm supplies for Doug. We save a lot on shipping charges since Doug buys big bags of stuff and then we make sure to do it on the same day as the farmer's market so as to check out what we're up against in the coming months.I took some time to read and write at the coffee shop. Finally getting around to finishing one of the many books I started at the beginning of LAST year :) Oh my!

I also decided I'm going to start a photo project on Doug's hands. They've always been my favorite part of him. I want to document how they change in his transformation from a paper pushing-book page turning philosopher into a hard working farmer. I've already noticed some changes and want to capture this transition in our lives in some way, and I think this would be fun. It might be a lifelong project... and will eventual *i hope* involve a new camera.

Also, in case anyone is interested I found some really good free photo editing software, called Photoscape. You actually have to download the program, but I took the risk and it seems safe and you get to do fun borders, combine photos etc. It's nice, and did I mention free?

Also, I have to give credit to Idee Geniale for this outfit idea. She's just the cutest little blogger ever, and she's got great thrifty style. I didn't think I had a "denim" shirt, but I remembered I did have this little western number, so I pulled it out yesterday morning and decided it was perfect with this newly trimmed skirt I thrifted, which I hemmed significantly shorter. I feel it speaks to my "80s Country" obsession of late... everything is thrifted, except the cardigan.

10 Things

2010-02-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

First, I'd like to also thank you for all your lovely comments regarding my dissertation yesterday. There is no telling that this task has its low moments, but knowing so many of you, even though you don't have to be, were genuinely interested helps in the motivation department. So thanks!

So.... I was awarded the Happy 101 award, by the utterly amazing Teeny . My mission: to report on 10 things that make me happy...

1. Little jars/containers that each have their own special mission, such as storing tea bags, or little acorns or other some such nonsense.

2. escabeche, on everything!

3. Tea Lattes. If you love tea and you love lattes, then you'll love tea lattes! I sort of half invented this I think, atleast in my mind :) I did not start drinking coffee until I was about 25, before that I was a purist tea drinker. Once I discovered lattes however, it was all over from there. In attempting to not abandon my dearest teas (oolong, pekoe, chai...) I made them better, by adding steamed milk or vanilla soymilk (surprisingly really good).

4. Knowing where my food comes from, especially when its from this guy's hands...

5. Old things and people, its why I study history and have better conversations with old folks than most people my age.

6. Thrifting precisely for the above reason. I love pieces that make you "feel" a certain way, not necessarily "look" a certain way? If that makes sense, almost like period pieces, but in clothing.

7. winter walks all by myself or with company- if I were still living in Michigan this would be changed to "Fall walks" though

8. "skyscapes"- be it full of clouds, treetops, sunsets, kites, pretty buildings, pointy towers... just love it and taking pictures of it

9. Henry's stinky little breath and his oh so hairy little heart. For those who don't know, our pup Henry has a number of medical ailments including congenital blindness that leaves him bumping into walls and waiting at windows mistaking them for doors, a bad patella that gives him a little limp, and a tracheal problems that gives him a hacking cough and make him snore like a drunken sailor! Despite having all these problems since the day we adopted him, you'd never think any of them affect his daily life. He's a trooper and such a good natured little man that you can't help but love him! Did I mention he has stinky breath?

10. lazy sundays- spent on the couch with Doug, aformentioned stink man, a good movie and a blanket!

I'm easily excitable however, so this list could be a whole lot longer than 10... but now I want to hear your favorite things :)

And in addition I'm tagging Holly, Jaime, Micalee, Milla, Thalia, and Marissa!

Mug Enthusiasts: Cup Collage 1

2010-02-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

This weekend was a bit of a lazy one. It rained lots on Saturday, and Doug and I worked the rummage sale and we picked up a few more goodies that were going to go into the donate pile, couple of gauzy grecian dresses, a floral two piece that I'm sure I can resurrect from monotony, and some other little goodies. Among my purchased items, I found this great tree mug!!! Since we don't have a whole lot of houseware items in our place now as we're betwen locations, I've added items here and there that I find when thrifting. Coffee & tea cups are things I've added slowly because I don't like matchy matchy sets of dishes, and I don't like cups that are boring. So, as I find pretty ones that please me I pick them up. I'm proud to display some I've collected over the last few months... in the first installment of what I'd like to call "Cup Collage!"

This is the great tree mug of 2010, cost: 25 cents, value: immeasurable!

The rise and shine biscuits one is Doug's. We both love those 80s brown mugs you usually get at diner breakfast joints. That particular one is a Hardee's mug from 1986. We felt it had that same great quality:)

In other news, on Friday night at about 10pm I finally finished drafting chapter one! Some of you have asked what my dissertation is about... in a nutshell, its a study of single and widowed women in 19th century urban Mexico-- I'm looking at ways in which women who were not married survived it what was an economically difficult time. I think that's as boring as I let that one get. I was so happy and exhausted. I woke up nice and early Saturday morning and put on one of my best dresses (another thrifted piece I've yet to wear). I was really proud to be 100% thrifted too :)

a good morning snake

2010-01-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

This morning when I went to open up my windows, I found this lovely guy peeking through to say hello! I freaked out a little at first thinking it was a baby rattle snake, but Doug confirmed it was just a red rat snake :) no harm done. Most likely he woke from hibernation early, since we had a few days of nice warm weather, and got really cold last night, so he tucked himself into our nice warm window frames.

Yesterday I spent my morning at my mother-in-law's church helping the Ladies's Philopticos set up for a rummage sale. I scored a few cute items for myself which i will post soon. I spent the rest of my day writing, as usual, and then went to a great cajun place for good music, beer & a fried green tomato sandwich that was awesome!

Happy Thursday! May your day be snake-free :)

winter hikes with Julia Child

2010-01-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

Doug and I had a relaxing weekend... took a leisurely hike at a nature center in Brooksville & hoping to catch a glimpse of the Whooping Cranes. In recent years, groups have organized the yearly migration of these endangered birds from Canada to Florida. It is believed that their numbers were as low as 15 at one point. Today efforts are focused on breeding and re-teaching the birds how to migrate.We're pretty lucky to have the only two species of cranes here in Florida, so we took a walk to look see...

I came upon these pretty gnarly looking fungi?

We actually were able to catch a glimpse of them from the viewing blind with our binoculars.

We also finished watching Julie & Julia, which I can't explain enough how much I LOVED! I have such a girl crush on Meryl Streep... she was amazing. As a child I used to LOVE watching Julia Childs on PBS. I would re-enact her show in the kitchen and make up my little measuring cups, pretending I was being filmed. We were in Mexico when the film came out here, and I had never heard of the book actually, so I was delighted to find out it was part Julia Child biography. Can you believe Julia Child lived to be 94?

I shall eat more butter, and drink more wine...

Etsy Clearance!

2010-01-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

As a way to clean out some of my older etsy items to make way for new, I'm doing a BIG clearance sale most everything has been marked down to $9!!

artisan am i

2010-01-21T10:51:00.000-08:00

I've been a bad blogger. I'm really trying my best to write each day and try to churn out a chapter 1 draft by the end of the month. That has kept me busy, and so far so good!

I'm no workhorse though, and there have been the occasional lapses of pure joy that can only come from fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning, homemade baked goods, coffee breaks, and Henry ofcourse!

warmer days ahead & giveaway winner!

2010-01-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

I'm suppose to be writing right now, instead I've spent some time updating my etsy shop, which I really enjoy. I started the shop as a way to earn money while we go through a bit of a rough patch, but it turns out its been really cathartic and I reward myself at the end of a writing session by getting to go thrifting, or setting aside little moments to work on the shop.

Yesterday I found some really cute shoes.

And this really sweet coat that I could never justify keeping for myself.

And this is the disasterous state that you'll often find the shop room in! I definitely need to get some shelves. The room is the cutest though. We are currently renting my in-laws first home. They kept it all these years, and this was their nursery. My mother-in-law had this very cute mural painted and its just the cutest!

That panda just cracks me up!

As a last note, I signed up for Netflix. I totally caved. I said I wouldn't do it, but I did. So our first movie came, one I had been dying to see for a while. 500 Days of Summer. It was cute I have to admit, and the cinematography was good. It made me realize however that I am old, as I understood all of the generational references *sigh*. It really elaborated on many of "our" generation's social problems, and I really like Zooey Deschanel, but you are kind of suppose to not like her in this film. That was the most round about way of saying that this outift was a bit inspired by some of her cute moddish looks in the film, and the general and overwhelming desire I have to wear these boots for as long as this fickle Florida weather will let me : )

And finally, as promised, the winner of the giveawy selected by www.random.org is..... Missa! I hope you'll be happy to have our junk, and I still have just a few more items I want to add to the package :)

oh so cold!

2010-01-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

It's been kind of cold here, not just cold for Floridians, but damn cold!We've been having Michigan like temps in a part of the country where people don't own winter coats or warm thick socks and sweaters. So, that is why no one here has been leaving there house. When I walk Henry in the evenings, our town looks like a ghost town and all you hear is the hum of overworked electric heaters.

I think we're the only people that braved the winter temps to go outside this weekend. It was nice in the sense that I got some great isolated shots around town. Doug wanted to check out some old pecan trees he discovered on an abandoned lot on the road that goes to our old high school. I've mentioned this before, but one thing that sets Florida apart from the rest of the country is how wild and untamed nature is here. Its something both under appreciated by residents and tourists alike. Mistaken as unkempt or too "swampy," I've come to really appreciate its majestic quality

This ones actually a very old gnarly oak.

Doug's passion, fruiting trees.

He estimates this Pecan to be over 100 years.

After our pecan adventures, we took a drive down to the coast. We decided to drive down a road we had never been down to the little sleepy village of Ozello.

sunshine and sawgrass

the "nukaler" power plant dots the landscape

Another somewhat exciting event in our town is that because we have so many natural springs in our rivers, the West Indian manatee flocks to our springs for warmth every winter. Being mammals, manatees can not survive in cold water, therefore they migrate thousands of miles to our springs, which maintain a constant 72 degrees all year round.We hate that most people annoy the manatees by swimming right near them or riding around in their kayaks as close as possible to them when they are all huddled in a spring to stay warm.

We stopped over in nearby Chassahowitzka to take in the susent over the springs and maybe catch a glimpse of a manatee from afar.

You can see the steam coming off the warmer water in the spring.

turkey vultures

my muse

These Heron were all huddled together like big white flowers in this tree to stay warm.

Etsy Update

2010-01-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

Just now getting around to posting some of last week's shop items!

A few ladylike pieces

Some blackened essentials...

and some winter ones...

Hippy Sweater Love

2010-01-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

Can we just talk for a moment about hippy sweaters. When I was little I used to go up to my aunt & uncles cabin in New Hampshire. My uncle used to have this hideous brown & orange hippy wrap cardigan, complete with big ol' bell sleeves and a tie belted waist. You can imagine the horror and embarassment my cousin and I felt when he would actually wear this thing out. I mean come on, this was the height of 90s, grunge was in, and man hippy cardigans were not. We retired the sweater to the cabin in NH, only to be worn indoors or for brief outside walks/respites.

When these sweaters made a resurgence last year, I was not totally into them, but lately I'm kind of obsessed (along with cowboy boots)...I found this fabulous one last week, but it was super huge so I had to put it in the shop.

So you can imagine how happy I was when the very next day, I stumbled upon this beauty for only $1!

Here's another great rendition of the hippy sweater that I love!

Milla

Or, perhaps its all about the wrapping skills

Caroline

Hello 2010, Goodbye 2009: A Review

2010-01-06T10:20:00.000-08:00

Its the New Year, and I want to welcome it right. Today I vow to start a fresh with some New Year's Goals:

1. get motivated
2. get cracking and write already
3. keep a daily schedule & stick to it (starting in the next half hour)
4. enjoy it!
5. don't stress out

And... I wish to bid all the good & bad of 2009 a fond farewell! Here's the year in review.

It's was a particular year for me. In January of last year we moved from the midwest to Mexico. I'm a grad student and had the good fortune to procure some funds to do my dissertation research in Guadalajara.

This was the view from our apartment in Tlaquepaque. I loved that little horse buggy :)

Our town was little, but very close to the big city, with the most amazing streetscapes.

By February we had got into our daily rythym of life in the archives. I spent most of my days doing research.... and Doug as my loyal assistant, read books all day. Murals abounded for his viewing pleasure.

In March, we visited the city of Morelia with one of my dearest friends, Claudia.

The city itself was a beautiful and fascinatingly still colonial town.

Around the same time Doug began what has now become a lifelong love affair with olive trees. So... we set out to see some of the oldest olive trees in the new world in the town of Tzintzuntan.

In April, we traveled to Mexico City with our friends Claudia, Juan Manuel, their twin boys Francisco and Santiago, their dog Frodo and grandmother. All of us in tow in a big ol' van full of spicy peanuts, flaming doritos, gatorade and no air conditioning, embarked on our 6 hour journey. We stayed with Juan Manuel's sister Glafira and her husband Hector. Glafira became my second Mom :) They were so welcoming and kind with us, that I was so sad when we had to leave. It truly was one of the best trips of my life!

Doug was really sick the day we went to Popocatepetl and we now think he may had the swine flu. He got over it pretty quick, but things worsened in Mexico. So in May, We decided it best to come home for a bit and wait things out until the smoke cleared. We arrived just in time for the magnolias to bloom...

...and Doug got a chance to procure and tend to some baby olive trees.

When the smoke cleared we returned to Mexico.

It felt like we never left when we arrived back at our apartment. Our tomato seeds had grown into nice plump tomatoes, and Sybila the roof dog was happy we were back.

The best part of July and August were the rains that brought shade and cool weather to the hot summer days.

By October we were back in the states. I was again very fortunate to receive funds, this time for writing. It's the only thing that now stands between me and the dissertation. Doug was excited because he began his transition into farming this Fall. Rather than head back to the midwest we managed to figure out a way to migrate south for a bit back to our homestate of Florida.

First we bought a truck.

Then we planted our fields....

So that is the year that was. Looking forward to the year that is.

Happy New Year !