oh geez.

Last week was pretty crappy. I just wasn't feeling well with low energy, and consuming thoughts. I was all on track mentally to juice up this here blog and continue posting because I do love it when I do. But, I just couldn't pull it together. I couldn't pull much together. I know, cry me river....

image source

Luckily, tomorrow is a new month and I always get this feeling of freshness and new chances to do all the things I wanted to do last month. It's just the way I roll. Daily lists that carry on to the next day...the next week...the next month. But! I will get it done. Procrastination really should be my middle name.

August, here I come!!

favorite lunch of summer...so far.

It's so self-explanatory that I'll just use pictures to show you the deliciousness.

I can't even tell you how good I feel eating this. All of the ingredients are fresh, local, and organically grown by friends and family. All it consists of is a couple of beets, carrots, potatoes, green scallions, and our farm-raised lard sautéed in a black iron skillet for at least 30-45 minutes. By the first bite, I already feel like a walking vitamin.

I actually planted a small garden this year. And by small, I mean just tomatoes, squash, banana peppers, and green peppers in a couple of raised, square beds and basil in a window box. Except some pesky little rabbit came through and pretty much annihilated my green pepper plants. Anyway, I'm quite proud of what I'm growing and look forward to those 'maters!

july goals.

Make homemade pesto: I have 3 basil plants in a planter outside of my kitchen sink window that I water and check on everyday in hopes of snipping some leaves for pesto without leaving it looking naked  & ashamed on the roots. After visiting the local farmer's market on Saturday, I left with 4 small bunches a grower friend gave me so she wouldn't have to take them back home. (My own basil plants thanked me immediately for giving them a little extra time to "bush out.")  On Sunday, I made my first batch of homemade pesto using this recipe (substituting almonds for pine nuts), and it is SO delicious with the perfect amount of garlic kick.

Blog at least 3 times a week: realizing that it is the middle of July...better late than never!! I'm well on my way this week....

Write a letter a week: it's not a matter of not having the right stationary (good gosh, I have a whole suitcase full), and making the time in JUST ONE day to sit down. I really don't know what my problem is with this particular goal. WAIT!! I wrote 2 letters last week that went out with a little package...wouldn't that count for two weeks worth?!?

Read two books that are not reference books: I am happy to report that I am halfway there having just completed Gone Girl (thanks to the power outage) and I'm actively searching for my second one. Any suggestions?

Worry less about the things I cannot change: this one goes without saying...TOUGH. But, I am doing better. I know that's it's best for me and my health to realize that I can't control things that I see my family and friends do that I know are totally bad for them, but it's only affecting ME to worry. People are going to do what they're going to do. I know I do, but sometimes ya can't help but be concerned when you see so clearly the negative effects of their bad choices. I just want to decrease the amount of worry and sort of pick my battles, so to speak.


Do you have any goals for this month that you are working on?

the time the winds came.

the downed tree my brother pushed out of the road with his bumper.

As most of you know, parts of the east coast got SLAMMED with a peculiar wind storm about two weeks ago (already ??). We happened to be right in the thick of it here in the heart of Virginia, and I had never seen anything like it. We've had our share of high winds and trees going down, but this was something else. We were down at our creek picnic area celebrating my niece's 4th birthday-eve, when all of a sudden out of nowhere I noticed a black curtain being pulled across the sky to which I said, "Is it supposed to storm tonight?" As soon as that last word came out, the first gush of wind came and we were in for it. Being the closeted thrill-seekers that we are (and because we may have had a little beer buzz), we got up and started running around in the wind, doing circles with our fists in the air & towels out like Superman capes telling Mother Nature to bring it...we were ready for whatever she was wanting to give us!!

And then we lost power for 10 days.

And it was scheduled to be one of the hottest weeks of the summer.

Oh boy.

Obviously, I made it. I almost had a total conniption one afternoon, but I made it. I actually enjoyed it. It taught me a few things about myself and my habits, and I appreciate it for that. I made some notes one evening on what this semi-test of survival taught me:

• I spent waaaaaaay less money than I would have had the internet been working.
• I was eating fresher and I was eating less (thanks to the heat).
• I realized that I don't NEED what I think I need in and around my home. 
• What I truly NEED is water to use or cool off in, family, friends, food, and sleep.
• It's okay to miss a shower for a couple of days...as long as I got in the creek or pool.
• I never thought that I should be doing something else because all I could do was what I was doing at that time. Being on overload was not an option in the heat.
• I have a new respect for real, tangible books which saved my days and nights. Thank you Mr. Head Lamp.
• Car chargers are the bomb-diggity.
• I need more candles.

 Fern was "helping" to clear sticks from the creek.

I tooted my own horn for making it with a positive attitude while others were complaining and getting in fights at the gas station. Yes, that really happened.

It seemed so quiet while the power was off...not just because a/c units and water pumps weren't humming, but there was a sense of stillness and peace in the air. 

I was a little sad to see that go.

currently.

time: 6:39 pm.

location: my craft room.

drinking: a HUGE glass of water.

listening: to the fans blowing because it is hot as balls up here...and some birds chirping in the trees outside.

feeling: so at ease, but yet a small pull of anxiety in the pit of my stomach.

loving: all of the ideas that are circulating in my head and excited about (actually) making them tangible. I feel like I’ve had this burst of creative energy that I’m looking forward to working on AND completing!

enjoying: cleaning out spaces in my house. I worked on my craft room yesterday, and hope to continue taking it room by room. Sometimes I feel so cluttered in my mind, and I know that if physical spaces are cluttered too they tend to trickle into the mind, and I definitely don’t need anymore clutter in either place.

wanting: to get hopeful results tomorrow. I’m not even looking for better...I’m just looking for hope to wake up to every day. This is pretty vague, but that’s the way it has to be for now...or until I feel comfortable enough to share on here.

dreaming: about getting caught up on my PL album, finally being satisfied with the state of my house, and wishes coming true.

thinking: What else can I get rid of? Dammit, I need to finish those invitations! What can I make for the August 4th event? That laundry pile....

creating: new mixed paper books, doily flower paintings, PL spreads, new embellished journals...the list is endless sometimes.

// illustration by Alyssa Nassner (which I will finally have in my possession soon thanks to Fab.com!! //

* I don't know what is going on with the font, but I'm thinking it had something to do with this post being imported. Please pardon the inconsistencies, I'll get it all figured out at some point.