in the mid-morning hours of a brisk and blissful sunday, in the glory of a charming and colourful mid-october, in a pleasant little nook of north carolina, i took myself {and my camera} on a spontaneous date with nature…
… and we both needed it.
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{nyc – through the eye of my camera phone}
17 Juli am working on a new volume of “memories in manhattan” and will post one next week… in the meantime, here’s a post about new york to keep the theme going 🙂
i took a trip new york in june… i had been wanting to go back for a visit for quite some time, as it had been about 5 years since i had been there. often times, i think part of me wants to live there again, so i was eager to experience the city once more to see how i felt about being there.
i had a wonderful trip, as i figured i would. the weather was a little ridiculous – as in sweltering hot. but outside of that, it was nice to feel the energy of that amazing city, again. new york has a way of making you feel on top of the world; as if the whole place belongs to you. as an introvert, it’s strange to me that i can be surrounded by people but still feel like i’m in my own little bubble. the “hum” that is always in the background doesn’t feel distracting to me… it’s a strange dichotomy that i have always appreciated.
all that said, i think i realized that i do not wish to live in a place like new york again. i long for a country life – on a farm somewhere, growing food and having lots of animals. of course, that may change – after all, we are human and our desires come and go as we move through life.
it was wonderful to be in new york once more and to walk around and take the subway and just feel the energy… i immediately settled back in to the “way of life” there and even had people asking me for directions – and i knew them! that’s also a good ego boost.
i didn’t pick up my camera too much… i guess because since i lived there for so long, i took so many pictures already and this time i just wanted to kind of experience it in a different way. of course, i did have my camera phone with me – so i captured a lot of snapshots with it.
here is a gallery of fotos from my trip – i hope you enjoy! :
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- my travel buddy
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- i love a train ride!
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- over the plains of VA
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- i seriously love being on a train!
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- blowing kisses to my old neighbourhood
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- back in new york!
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- doors!
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- hey, new jersey!
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- went to see a volleyball tournament
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- ate delicious lunch here!
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- lobster roll!!! so good!!!
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- would love to eat here some day!
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- entrance to a cool sculpture park my friend took me through…
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- my friend knows where all the public restrooms are – so handy!
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- a randomly long slide in a random part of lower manhattan…
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- WTC fountain
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- WTC fountain
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- my old ‘hood…
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- street fair!
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- brunch!
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- glass of champagne with brunch…
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- who doesn’t love bottomless mimosas! 😉
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- best. pizza. ever. too bad that car is taking over the foto – haha
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- so many likes, so little love
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- st. marks…
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- union square farmers market!
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- gorgeous garlic!
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- radical radishes!
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- beautiful bok choy!
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- cool kohlrabi!
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- was delicious!
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- photobombed!
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- “so many likes… so little love…”
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- i’ve fotographed this door many times…
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- poetry…
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- paint night!
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- before…
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- during…
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- after…
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- ta-da!
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- last day in the city…
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- the closest i got to the ESB…
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- i will always miss the street art, the most…
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- elevator selfie…
until next time…
{1500 followers!}
10 Jul
i am so humbled to have recently welcomed my 1500th{+} follower on this cherished little blog of mine!!
thank you to all of those who have stuck around all this time. and thank you to the newcomers – i want to extend a warm welcome to all of you who chose to hit that ‘follow’ button and come play along as we talk about yummy food and pretty things, whilst taking pictures of it all!
as a reminder, if you don’t already – please follow me on instagram for the most recent updates on all things food&foto related. {you can also find me on facebook and pinterest.}
i appreciate all the love and support i’ve received over these last 6 years of blogging. i look forward to more adventures to come!
the most sincere appreciation to all of you, from the bottom of my heart.
—–
{saturdays in the garden : volume seven}
8 Juljust a little update on the garden… my posts are not in “real time,” as it were… i’m several weeks behind in keeping up with what’s going on, currently.
for example, most of what you see in the following fotos, has been pulled from my plot. we are straight up in the heat of summer here in NC, and my tomatoes are just about all that remain. i pulled up all my broccoli, because i didn’t get it in the ground soon enough and it never formed a head. i harvested one beautiful cabbage that i’m currently making sauerkraut with. my cilantro is done… as is my dill and basil, but i planted more of both. i pulled my kale and planted arugula in its place. and my cucumbers are on their last limb, but i must’ve harvested around 200 of them this season. i have pickles for days! 😉
july will be focused on tomatoes. then in mid august, i will plant more cabbage and cucumbers and perhaps try again for more peas later in the month or toward september. i really enjoy making {and eating} sauerkraut, so i intend to plant a lot more cabbage for fall.
meanwhile, here are some pics of what late may/june were like in my plot :
so pretty and ALIVE!
still fascinated by pea tendrils… and i made lots of pesto with my basil!
oh kale, yeah!
harvest!
my beautiful cabbage! Continue reading
{my new camera!}
26 Jun
i bought a new camera!
i have to admit, i felt slightly guilty about it at first, but i also don’t treat myself enough. and although this is a “treat,” it is also an investment.
my other camera is about 10 years old at this point. it is still reliable and does the trick, but it is definitely slower and much heavier than this new one. photography is a funny field in that you can invest as much or as little as you want into it. these days, our smart phones have just as many megapixels as some “professional” cameras. however, it is my belief that no amount of equipment or money can truly substitute for a good eye.
i recently read an article that had a quote that resonated with me :
“walker evans once said, ‘people always ask me what kind of camera i use. it’s not the camera, it’s –‘ and he tapped his temple with his index finger.'”
i can’t help but subscribe to walker evans’ approach to photography. it is my belief that no matter what kind of camera or equipment one uses to capture an image – if it is uninspired, that will be evident, and ultimately translate to the viewer. Continue reading
{a make-up blog : saturdays in the garden – volume six}
29 Maythings are moving along quickly in the garden!! i actually harvested lots of kale this week and my dill is turning into a forrest! cilantro will only be here for a little while longer, and my peas are producing but will also begin to dwindle as the heat increases. i should be able to harvest some cucumbers next week. which means next month, i’ll be making some delicious pickles!! so so so excited about that!
on a community level, we have been donating over 15 pounds of collard greens each week and lots of radishes are going to donation, as well. our beans are starting to blossom, and the blueberries are coming in nicely. we also have tons of healthy tomato plants growing. june and july are the exciting months for gardening, as everything really starts to produce… i just love it.
and since i have fallen behind a little bit on updating on the garden, i am putting these fotos in gallery form, so i can squeeze them all into this post 🙂
{click on any photo to enlarge and scroll through gallery}
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- my basil cluster…
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- my peas…
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- my {donated} san marzano tomato
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- my other {donated} tomato – tasmanian chocolate!
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- my {transplanted} celery…
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- my cabbage…
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- my dill…
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- my cucumbers…
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- my cucumbers… a week later…
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- i love my garden!
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- i love my garden!
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- harvesting some of my cilantro…
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- community radishes!
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- setting up the drip system…
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- we thought this looked cool…
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- we got a ton of rain one night and this happened…
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- red clover in the community section…
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- a labyrinth sits not far from the garden… i like to walk in it from time to time.
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- honeycomb from our lovely bees!
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- cool mushroom…
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- hoein’ 😉
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- gettin’ dirty…
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- happy farmer…
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- one of the other volunteers made these with some kiddos…
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- they used some of the seashells i donated from beach-combing… so cute!
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- community blueberries!
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- basil going strong!
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- peas climbing the trellis…
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- i’m fascinated by the way peas grow…
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- so intricate…
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- pea blossoms!
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- lacinato kale…
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- celery…
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- a tomato i started from seed in the ground!
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- red kale…
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- mmm, cilantro…
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- second row of cilantro… i love the little sprouts!
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- aerial view of my san marzano…
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- cabbage going strong!!
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- pulling back cucumbers for vertical growing…
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- cucumbers taking over the trellis!
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- my first cucumber starting!
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- tons of dill!
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- from the outside, looking in…
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- my 4 x 8 plot!
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- my plot!
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- 🙂
a {sort of} pano of my plot…
from left to right, counter-clockwise-ish :
jalapeños {hidden, back row} basil {back row}, peas {along left trellis}, lacinato kale, tomatoes {middle}, cilantro, celery, more tomatoes {middle}, cabbage, more kale {middle}, romanesco, more tomatoes, {middle}, cucumbers {along right trellis}, and dill.
i kind of planted in a zig-zag pattern…
i also squeezed in a few spinach plants throughout, but i’m not sure how they’ll fare.
thanks for following along!
how is your garden looking??! 🙂
{memories in manhattan – volume 5}
15 Mayeven though i don’t miss the winters in the northeast, or winter in general for that matter, i did enjoy the variety of weather that seems to roll in and out of new york. particularly, the evening rain. there’s something about a late night drizzle… it seems calming to me.
as i was looking through old fotos of my days living in new york, i came across a fun memory of a time when some visitors came to town and i helped them squeeze in as many “tourist attractions” as possible, since they were only there for two days. it made me feel pretty cool when they asked for suggestions. maybe because it made me realize that i had been in the city long enough to not only know my way around, but to be somewhat of a tour-guide.
one of my favourite places to visit and view the city was the empire state building. being able to experience the city from that perspective is something to behold. i only visited the empire state building twice during my time living in nyc, and both times were memorable and exciting. this particular night was memorable because it was very cold, and very wet. it was one of those kinds of rain that was almost like a mist, making the visibility low and the mood high.
the way way top
when my friends and i decided to go to the top of the empire state building, we didn’t realize that the very very top would be closed off due to wind and the aforementioned low-visibility. my friends didn’t care, and neither did i. by the time we decided to make our way to the destination, we had already been wandering the city for a good hour, sans umbrella… and it didn’t seem to bother any of us. besides, a huge part of the experience was being together – and for me, seeing the excitement on their faces, and living vicariously through their enjoyment. furthermore, the line was much shorter and there were fewer people on the tour… so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
because of the rain, i found myself taking less fotos and spending more time reveling in and soaking up the moment… and doing my best to keep warm!
if i close my eyes, i can whisk myself away to some of those moments, and revisit and remember the experience so richly.
i love his hoodie
i love my hat
did i mention that these friends of mine are like the empire state building… in that, they are very very tall?!{especially standing next to me – haha!} 😉
{saturdays in the garden – volumes four & five}
13 Mayi have been slightly slacking with updates on the garden. i have so many fotos to share, that i’m lumping {2} volumes together 🙂
a couple weeks ago, we had some eagle scouts come help in the garden. it was fun to see the boys get so excited about digging and planting.
as we prepped some of the community beds, we found some sweet potatoes! the boys were super excited about this part of the day! they collected probably 3 dozen or so, and i overheard one of them saying, “we are going to donate these!” – so charming. 🙂
i personally got so excited about this little frog i found under one of the tarps… i moved him away from the garden and let him go on his way…
planting beans!
planted okra in these plots…
radishes are so rewarding because they grow so fast!
we also planted some green onions and swiss chard…
i love it when someone brings coffee!
our garden leader shared some honey from last years harvest!! nom nom Continue reading
{saturdays in the garden – volume three}
15 Aprthings are moving along nicely at the community garden…
it’s so rewarding to interact with other people who are just as passionate as i am about gardening. having us all come together and work as a team to prep the beds and tend to the crops is just such a marvelous reality. it’s something i really wish that every single person on the planet could and would experience.
last week, we had some eagle scouts come and help work in the garden. it was quite fun seeing their excitement as they helped move tarps and logs and plant seeds. we uncovered some potatoes from last season and the boys were very eager to collect them all and “donate them” – which was so endearing.
i am forever grateful to be a part of this community garden and it pleases my soul so tremendously to engage in it all. my cucumbers, along with other plants, are sprouting and the peas are growing quite nicely… i can’t wait to share those fotos next week!
in the meantime, here are some fotos of recent days at the garden… i hope you enjoy.
things are growing!! radishes and lettuce…
kale and peppers…
tools!
laying mulch around the blueberry bushes…
looks so good!
transplanting raspberries…
i can’t wait to get my paws on some of those!!
fig trees! oh my, i’m excited about these, too!!!
happy bees!
side note : would you believe i got stung AGAIN!? this time – right on my nose! – i was shocked. the garden leader thinks it may have been my sunscreen, so i switched to an unscented version. let’s hope that helps! if you follow me on instagram, you saw the story. annoyingly hilarious. Continue reading
{saturdays in the garden – volume two}
8 Aprsome updates on my community garden…
my uncle helped me make repurpose some materials and make these trellises for my peas and cucumbers. last year, thanks to a good friend, i learned a lot about vertical gardening… particularly, how it helps in maximizing space. since my plot is only 4 x 8, i was adamant about making sure to get the most food i could growing in there.
in particular, peas and cucumbers. they were the most fun to grow last year, and i had quite the bounty. not to mention the taste – so fresh and delicious!
i do love my garden!
another shot of my plot and trellises…
{saturdays in the garden – volume one}
25 Mardo you love gardening as much as i do?!
i recently discovered that gardening is one of my most favourite things ever!
last summer, i participated in a community garden when i still lived in denver. unfortunately, i wasn’t able to blog about it due to crazy scheduling conflicts and lack of good computer/internet access. thankfully, that has all changed as of late.
this year, i am fortunate to again have found a community garden to participate in… and it’s right up the street from my house! my plot this year is only half the size of the one i had last year, but i am still super thankful and i can still grow a ton of food in this 4 x 8 plot. last year, i didn’t exactly know what i was doing, and i kind of over-planted. a lot of my neighbours jokingly called my plot the “cucumber farm” because i literally had to give away about half my harvest due to having such an abundance! {which was obviously a good thing, overall!}
this year, i am planting similar items, just not as much of it. i am eager to share the pictures and the experience as i go along, so i will be posting about it on saturdays.
and without further ado, here are some fotos from the journey thus far. i hope you enjoy… and please do leave comments if you wish, as i love to discuss gardening just about as much as i enjoy discussing and sharing fotography.
here’s what i’m planting this year…
last year, i made lots of pickles and tomato sauce with my harvest. this year, i’m planting romanesco, which i’ve never grown but as you may know, i’m in love with!
our community has an herb garden, and the mint is already coming up, and {of course} taking over!
there is also a blueberry patch, which i’m so excited about!
lots of little critters make this garden their home, as well…
we also keep bees, which makes me sooooo happy!
getting the garden ready for the season…
laying fresh compost, clay, and manure…
pulling weeds and admiring the kale…
that’s my plot! Continue reading
{social media and stuff}
7 Febhey gang.
after a nice long hiatus, i have decided to rejoin the social media world.
call me old-school, but i believe we are living in interesting times, in having these social media worlds to get lost in. and i mean just that; we can truly lose ourselves in them. both in an imaginative sense, by finding inspiration or muse in a foto or post… and also in a literal sense, by convincing ourselves that these filtered-versions of life are a substitute for an innate desire to offer and receive a genuine connection with others.
for me, nothing is more worthwhile than sitting face to face with another human being and connecting… reveling in all the energies that swirl around by being present and honest, and sharing a meaningful interaction. however, it is also enjoyable to have a medium like this in which to connect and relate to others.
i guess, for me, the most crucial thing is finding and maintaining the balance.
as a reminder, you can follow me on social media at these accounts :
instagram – @foodnfoto
facebook – @foodnfoto
pinterest – @foodnfoto
thank you to those of you who have continued to engage and inspire me. i don’t know if i can properly convey to you all how thankful i am to have this outlet to express myself and my passions in. i don’t know if i can properly convey to you all how thankful i am to have you as followers, readers, commenters, and friends. from the bottom of my heart, please know that i am thankful for each one of you… sincerely.
{happy birthday to me!}
22 Nov
looking forward to a healthy year… mind, body, and spirit.
i want to take a moment to sincerely thank you all for being a part of my life. for taking the time to read what i write, for enjoying my fotos, for your emails, your comments, your jokes, and your love. i appreciate every word and interaction and cherish each one dearly. some of you have been along for the ride since the very beginning… and it just means so much to me to have you here! ❤
{follow me on instagram!}
21 Novhey friends!
i finally signed up for instagram! {@foodnfoto}
click here to follow me and we can share even more of the nom-ing and click-ing… and hashtag-ing. 😉
{a lovely walk around the lake}
18 Feb
once upon a time in february it was 70 degrees, and I walked around a lake in a t-shirt…
along the way, i spotted lots of beautiful and interesting things… like naked trees and cracks in the earth…
like, crazy amounts of cracks… like the earth is erupting from below!..
along the way, i also spotted crazy amounts of geese… walking around, and walking on ice…
and speaking of ice, i spotted parts of the lake that were still frozen and parts that were melting…
it was a lovely site… the wind blew crazy in my face and yet the sun on my face kept me crazy warm…
the clouds were very interesting… and this picture looks like an alien ship about to land!…
cat tails… everywhere!!!
shout out to the east coast… and to interesting angles!…
…
art… is… everywhere…
once upon a time, i saw interesting patterns in the ice… and in my shadow…
and in the geese’s {is that right?!} foot prints…
and then… one of the geese flapped his wings… and a ton of birds flew by…
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j.good would appreciate this blog ❤ i hope she reads it!
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{summer lovin’}
12 Auglots to love this summer!
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eatin’ baked brie with caramelized onions, grapes, and strawberries…
watchin’ silly movies and dressin’ for random weather…
servin’ farm-to-table meals…
margaritas… and sunglasses…
seein’ randomness… and plenty of beauty…
eatin’ dessert with beer and wearin’ new hats…
catchin’ rays and devourin’ tapas at happy hour…
random sunrises and… other things…
workin’ on puzzles… and completin’ them the same night 😉
eatin’ on the patio and watchin’ sunsets…
admirin’ the flowers and wearin’ them in my hair…
tryin’ new cocktails… and appetizers…
and balancin’ that with lots of fresh summer veggies…
and these!…
takin’ selfies… and stayin’ true to me…
havin’ friends who are chefs!!!!…
for real… i have some SUPER talented friends!!!!….
keepin’ an open eye…
red lobster’s crabfest!… and the boozie drink they served me… it came with a sidecar of gran marnier… which, i was lovin’… and which also totally made me buy dessert! {key lime pie!}
cloud-watchin’….
fresh beer and BLTs… and coffee!
and i’m lovin’ the fact that my hair is finally growin’!
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what are YOU lovin’ about summer?!?!
🙂
❤
i am audrey michelle
i am a minimalist
i am a ritualist
f&f on your boards
