two saturdays ago Lilian and i got in the car and drove four hours south to folly beach south carolina for an overnight visit to the ocean
it was a short 24 hours away but much needed
something we need to do more often because it had been since august
we caught the sunset at our favorite spot
i caught the sunrise
the best view to wake to
the ocean…. my oldest friend and a constant reset
it was a Lilian and pod free week
one that i tried to fill with dog walks, errands and home tasks
i think the most important thing about this week is that after many years, i finally started therapy
i am curious and hopeful of how it will help me grow
happy friday friends
an overnight visit to the ocean
much welcomed sunshine this week
i changed the living room around this week. the tv had been on top of the mantel. it was way too high and it was uncomfortable watching tv that way
i turned this white tunic into a blush pink one by naturally dyeing it with avocado pits and skins
sunny dog walks in 64 degree weather
signs that spring is not that far away
lots of emotional highs and lows this week
life these days is much harder than it ever was before
even on a good day, emotionally it’s harder
Lilian was with me this week and i decided to call off pod because i felt like i needed some alone time with her
we had a great week and in just a couple of hours we will get in the car and drive four hours to folly beach for an overnight stay
a much needed visit to the ocean
for both of us
happy weekend friends
a snowy view from the kitchen window
the weather was all over the place this past week. suiting to my emotions
valentine’s day by myself in a long, long, long time
blending in
mounted on wallpaper and framed
remote learning fashion
i’m tired of winter
on thursday morning, as i was opening my living room curtains which face the busy street we live on, i saw a man trying to open the gate to get into our yard
i knocked on the glass window and motioned “NO” to him to not open the gate and come in but he continued to do so
he came into our front yard and walked right up to the window i was standing by and smiled at me freakishly
he was wearing no shoes
i could see right away that he was heavily drugged
he then walked onto the front porch, knocked on the door and wiggled the door knob trying to get into the house
at this point, foxy who thankfully is with me was barking his head off and i had called the police
he continued to stand on my front porch until the police came five minutes after i called
they talked to him, walked him outside of the yard and eventually an EMS truck came and took him to mission hospital to get the proper medical care
since moving to this house in august, this is the fourth homeless/drug situation i have had to deal with and the second time i had to call the police
not feeling safe where i am is an understatement
yesterday i spent the whole day on the phone and on the nextdoor app learning what is happening in asheville and trying to find out how we as a community can help and make a change
i learned that before he came to our house, he tried to get into another neighbor’s house while holding a knife
i learned that asheville has the highest crime rates in this country
i learned that this guy went to the hospital and then was released even though he has a file with the police department because due to covid, jails are not wanting to keep anyone in
i learned that since last may due to covid and funding, our police department is down 53 officers
i learned that even if he was tried in court, he would most likely go free because he was under the influence of drugs while committing a crime
i also learned that this is literally happening ALL over this country mostly in larger cities
it is a failed system all the way around and things need to change
and most likely i will need to move
again
thankful he is here with me
been trying to eat better
but sometimes there are cookies and rainbows for breakfast
and speaking of rainbows, so many of them in the SHOP
and necklaces too
received the greatest late birthday present from my talented friend Justin and i love it so much!
found the perfect frame and spot for it
a snowy sunday moment
but also many sunny ones
zoom ballet audition. proud of her and always miss her when not with her
it’s been the coldest and windiest winter week yet
19 degrees for most of wednesday
i do believe this has been the snowiest and coldest winter i have had here since we moved to asheville five years ago
regardless of the cold, we had a good week
the pod was here
and most importantly, Lilian was here (and Foxy too!)
happy weekend friends
together is always better
february
freezing snowy mornings
foxy in the blue house
with foxy in the house, i moved the rug that was in the living room upstairs into my bedroom. i think it really suits the space actually! (i hate dog hair on rugs. i hate dog hair period)
a breakfast
necklace making. check the SHOP
3-4 mile walks with him. i’m the only one who does them with him
pod robot building adventures
a thursday hang out date with her bestie
miami memories
some weeks apart go by quickly
some weeks apart feel like a month, a year, an eternity…
i just try to keep busy
so i don’t lose my mind
coffee view
a friday during pod without the pod
long sunny walks. also, the mermaid cottage. my favorite asheville house
a hover board date with her bestie
46 and sunny
last sunday we found lake julian. a new to us place which quickly became a favorite
a gloomy and rainy monday
brunch
a very productive thursday. the shop is full with all the necklaces and rainbows
what a wonderful week filled with light, hope and change
a new president and the first female vice president
so happy i had pod this week and was able to share the inauguration with the girls
it was filled with female empowerment
everything feels shifted in the best of ways
on another note, i cooked a lot of new to me recipes this week
from half baked harvest i cooked:
healthy slow cooker chipotle bean chili
indian coconut butter cauliflower
healthier slow cooker creamy tortellini vegetable soup
from skinny taste i cooked:
garlic shrimp in coconut milk, tomatoes and cilantro (over pene pasta)
all delicious and easy
so happy i finally found food bloggers that help me cook healthy delicious meals without having to be in the kitchen for hours
i’m not a natural cook nor do i like to cook necessarily
but i do like good food
Lilian’s favorites were the garlic shrimp in coconut milk and the indian coconut butter cauliflower
happy weekend friends!
tonight we order in
because it’s friday….
new bedding
breakfasts
lunch
daily ritual
i have fifty three green babies now. not counting the orchids
a surprise snowfall
colorful flowers still brightening every winter morning
selfie moods
an outing with a friend on a snowy day
a long five mile walk
pod takes. it was mostly just two of them this week
not much to say… it’s been a quiet week with Lilian at William’s and no pod
i have spent the week mostly at home
re-centering and nesting
looking forward to having Lilian back on sunday and enjoying monday as a holiday
happy weekend friends
one from last weekend when all was snowy
ballet saturday
sunday
1000 piece puzzle. i spent a lot of time working on it. was not about to give up
took many hours (and days) but i finished it and framed it
these colorful beauties have brightened my winter mornings every day
did a little repotting and turned my dumbcane into a pineapple
ended up having two separate outings with girlfriends. a dinner and a lunch
for some reason this first week of this new year felt short
which i guess is not a bad thing
the girls kept busy with school work and because the weather cooperated, we managed to go to the park just about every day for recess
it’s friday and i’m sitting in bed sipping coffee, putting this post together while i watch it snow out the window
because we knew snow was coming, my pod girls opted to stay home today and i am letting Lilian sleep in
you know i’m not a big fan of winter or snow but, today it all feels quite nice
happy weekend friends
took my time getting out of bed on the first saturday of 2021
my obsession with pomegranates continues. and while many might find the task of deseeding them tiring, i find it relaxing and meditative
new year, new art adventures
speaking of art adventures, sold and shipped this one off to her new home this week
i invested in a calendar this year to remind myself that small achievements are better than no achievements
sunday’s coffee corner
a quick burst of sunshine on a gloomy day
a quick but comforting noodle bowl
pod days
a covid safe but very cold date with her bestie
birthday paper whites for my bedside
first selfie of 2021
this morning
happy new year friends!
may 2021 be everything that 2020 was not
in the best of ways
sunny winter walks
west virginia. our holiday there was cut short due to unfortunate events that i choose to no longer talk about
a happy and sweet new year’s eve day moment before it turned into shitmas eve
we drove six hours through snow blizzards on christmas day to find asheville covered in a white blanket
on the 26th we gifted ourselves the christmas we deserved and the one we should have stayed in asheville for to begin with
William and Lilian gifted me some beautiful hanging planters
sister cousins 2020
the morning i turned 48 and had the loneliest and saddest birthday ever
10 month young me in luanda angola
celebrated my birthday the following day with a friend on her front porch with a burger and some white wine. perfect
last wednesday of 2020
took me a while to bounce back after the christmas trauma but a lot has to be said for what getting “dressed” does for the esteem
last morning of 2020
despite the many things that 2020 was (and was not), it was indeed my most creative year yet
new year’s eve. happy 2021!
first day of a new year with new art that i treated myself with for christmas/birthday
