girls and boys; and a goat

Every summer my best friends and I from high school make a point to get together for a girls weekend. This year our backdrop was Brooklyn, with the gracious long time city dweller, Amanda. Here are some highlights from the weekend:

we laughed 

(and cried a little too) :

we ate 

(ice cream, Caribbean take out, brunch in Brooklyn, mimosas, for some) :

we walked

(and sat, and talked, around Central Park, Chelsea, the Met, the High Line) :

we talked about having babies, and boys

(too much) :

Oh, how about my mom's amazing vintage maternity top!! She saved a few other items that are now hanging in my closet. I love the funky bright colors of this one. By the way, did you know I'm pregnant?!!!

we just hung out

(really, I love being with these girls, whatever the background!) :

Not to be left out, Laurence has started his own man weekend of sorts whilst I'm away for some much needed girl time. Usually this involves camping and fishing, eating canned meat, not showering and the like. This year, someone decided a goat roast should be added to the manly endeavors of the weekend. I wonder how much sitting and talking the boys did? Do you think they talked about babies? They seemed to stay pretty busy by the looks of these photos:

scheming for the 4th of July goat roasting festivities:

a little garlic, herbs, and lemon for the rub for the goat:

the goat:

 I got back in time for the celebration, but didn't mind at all that I missed all the prep of the whole raw animal. I love the expressions and body language off all the girls in this photo. Meanwhile, the boys are surrounding the goat with cameras and intrigue while the carving commences:

Hope you all are enjoying some cookouts and travel this summer too!

Thanks to Kathryn and Brian for the great photos!

Micanopy's Canopies

In April I got to visit Grandmother down south and accompany my mom on the two day road trip back to Tennessee. We took our time and decided to stop late one afternoon in Micanopy, FL. Ever since I can remember I've heard references to Micanopy and Cross Creek. It's a recurring topic for my mom, grandmother, and aunt, sitting around a kitchen table, somewhere. With eager eyes and animated hands, this old Florida is spoken of with reverence, longing, and an appreciation that must result from something soul-resonating. Cross Creek, "crackers," the orange groves, the cookery, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the ice cream shop, etc. I've listened to and appreciated their enthusiasm but never been able to fully enter into the transient world they seem so obsessed with. Maybe it's an age thing, maybe I had to see it for myself, but that afternoon the soft light and live oaks draped in spanish moss whispered a knowing welcome to my soul. Maybe it's in our blood. I sure love the women in my family and that this bonding experience in nature is so much more appropriate than a debutante ball, a first roasted chicken, or new home ever could be. 

So, as I approach thirty this year (wow!), having now visited Cross Creek and the home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, I feel I've made a significant step into adulthood. And, after reading her book, Cross Creek, I know I'll find myself one of the women the next time we're at Grandmother's kitchen table and the conversation inevitably leads to Micanopy. 

I didn't have my camera with me but had fun playing with the settings on our point and shoot. My mom and I took a nice walk around what's now an overgrown orange grove and enjoyed the trail around this picturesque playground, adjacent to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' home.

on the summer reading list:

"Who owns Cross Creek? The red-birds, I think, more than I, for they will have their nests even in the face of delinquent mortgages... It seems to me that the earth may be borrowed, but not bought. It may be used, but not owned. It gives itself in response to love and tending, offers its seasonal flowering and fruiting. But we are tenants and not possessors, lovers and not masters. Cross Creek belongs to the wind and the rain, to the sun and the seasons, to the cosmic secrecy of seed, and beyond all, to time..."

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Cross Creek

a sweet shop

Some pics from one of our happy finds in Phoenix, Smeeks Sweet Shop. Love the bright colors, love the candy, obviously, love the robin's egg blue with red and orange, love the big glass jars filled with treats, love the orange crush poster, love the gnome home. Love a holiday embracing highly saturated reds and pinks, candy (chocolate candy), and flowers! and some cupcakes...

Feliz Navidad!

If authentic Mexican food doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit... well, at least you can enjoy the pretty rojo and verde! A couples of weeks ago Laurence and I got to visit Phoenix, sunny and perfect every day. After arriving I made a list of things we wanted to do while in Arizona- I know, shocking. Of course there were several "must visit" restaurant recommendations, but at the top of our list was finding the local "hole in the wall" type of restaurant were we could get some authentic tacos and Mexican Coca-Colas. I knew we were getting close when I saw the laundry mat and dollar store. And, I knew we were very close when all of the Hispanic construction type workers stared us down as we made our way to a table, pretending our best to be familiar with the restaurant's protocol.

Mmm, tacos. I tried a few different types on our first visit, but when we returned I knew I just wanted the chicken tacos. Perfection piled with cilantro and seasoned with lime, served with a side of rice and some cucumber slices- simple, fresh, and non-greasy authentic Mexican food! That's right, we stopped back by on our way to the airport our last day in Phoenix. This time we entered as veterans, however I think we got some laughs when I pulled out the camera:) Our waitress was happy to see us again and even gave us some lamb soup on the house, also served with lime and cilantro, two staple worthy ingredients I think.

I have lots more to post about from our wonderful sunny vacation in December, but until then... Feliz Navidad!

orange you going to give me a bite?

Just one last blog post inspired by our trip to Florida... not about wildlife, nature, or sunshine, but simple sustenance. We camped the first few days of our trip, and because we couldn't travel with our camp stove our morning adventures usually began in search of coffee. It just so happens that there are Dunkin' Donuts are all over Florida. There's something about the pink and the orange logo that's hard to resist. Warm, bright, round, and sugary... it's as if the logo itself could be the sprinkles on top of a donut. I may not have thought this through thoroughly, but I'm willing to bet I'd like any product that can use orange and pink for it's logo. The coffee's alright, and the donuts aren't my favorite, but their bright and welcoming logo's sold me. (maybe the caffeine and sugar a little bit too)

Another product I buy purely because I like the logo and packaging, which also makes great use of these warm happy colors...

And, some Florida wildflowers that use the same striking color combinations...

Corkscrew Swamp

Tolkien Trees... Happy Arbor Day!

Here is the gathering of trees that we happened upon close to our campsite in Valrico, FL. The photos just don't come close to portraying the ethereal quality of the grouping. We climbed these small rocky hills enveloped by large oak trees draped in spanish moss with their roots creeping out like octopus legs. Some of these legs are heavy and rooted while others appear to be freely dancing. It's like the old trees got together and decided to create a space for children to run and jump and play underneath a canopy of gray and green, with bright fern leaves popping up all around.

I couldn't help but imagine Frodo and Sam sinking in between the roots of these trees in some sort of sleepy trance. It seemed like Tom Bombadil would come bounding in at any moment singing his merry song. I love Tolkien's trees and Tom Bombadil. Maybe it's best that he was left out of the movie so that my image of him is still from the first time we met. Anyway, it's fitting that this post is on April 30th, National Arbor Day. We planted a crepe myrtle in our back yard not long ago, and hopefully this fall we can add some fruit trees to celebrate again! We don't have the climate for spanish moss, but that makes it all the more beautiful when we get to head south to visit these places!

"The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more." Ralph Waldo Emerson