You may recall what our garden looked like two years ago. And last year. Wow - we've come a long way!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Lilies!
After two years of hard work (and patience), our cute little patio is beginning to look pretty fabulous. There are a few dozen lilies blooming in our tiny garden. And I have to say, the concentration of color is quite lovely.
You may recall what our garden looked like two years ago. And last year. Wow - we've come a long way!
You may recall what our garden looked like two years ago. And last year. Wow - we've come a long way!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Dear God,
Make me a bird.
So I can fly far.
Far, far away from here.
Everyone feels that way sometimes.
But lately, that "I need to get the hell out of Dodge" feeling has been more and more frequent. Truth be told – everything is wearing me out.
So I can fly far.
Far, far away from here.
Everyone feels that way sometimes.
But lately, that "I need to get the hell out of Dodge" feeling has been more and more frequent. Truth be told – everything is wearing me out.
I need a break.
A change of scenery.
A vacation.
A change of scenery.
A vacation.
Luckily, our highly anticipated trip to FABULOUS Las Vegas is right around the corner.
Photo Credit
I cannot wait!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Friday Favorites: Blogs (again)
Since I didn't have time to write an actual "Friday Favorites" post this week (major slacker), I am amending my very first Friday Favorites post from a few weeks ago when I wrote all about my favorite blogs. I just discovered How About Orange, and I think I am in love.
The author of this cute little blog is a Chicago-based graphic designer who posts about anything and everything creative. From design projects to easy how-to tutorials, this lady INSPIRES! I am already sifting through the archives, looking for fun do-it-yourself projects.
And I'm beginning to think that I need a craft room in my house. Perhaps it's time to transform the office.
Happy Friday, friends!
The author of this cute little blog is a Chicago-based graphic designer who posts about anything and everything creative. From design projects to easy how-to tutorials, this lady INSPIRES! I am already sifting through the archives, looking for fun do-it-yourself projects.
And I'm beginning to think that I need a craft room in my house. Perhaps it's time to transform the office.
Happy Friday, friends!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Friday Favorites: Stuff
This week, so many Middle Tennesseans lost everything. Their homes. Their cars. Their furniture. Their clothes. All of their stuff.
Of course, none of it really matters. It's stuff. And for the most part, it can all be replaced.
Nonetheless, I can't help but hope that these families were able to save their most precious tangibles from the rising waters. I hope they all had time to grab a suitcase and fill it with wedding albums, baby books and family heirlooms before leaving everything else behind. I hope they walked away with more than memories of their lives before the flood. But the reality is most were probably unable to salvage the stuff that accompanies their memories.
It makes me wonder...
If I had to leave my home right now, without warning, knowing I may never return, what would I take with me?
There's the practical list:
Forget the cars, furniture and clothes. None of that matters.
But we all have items in our homes that are important because they reminds us of a time, a place, a person or a cherished memory.
So, what stuff matters most to you?
Related side note: Last night, I asked Jonathan what items would be on his practical items list. He responded, "Well it depends on the situation. If we're running from the Russians, we should definitely consider taking items we can barter or trade like liquor, guns and other valuables."
It made me laugh. And, let's face it, at a time like this you have to laugh, otherwise you'll cry.
Of course, none of it really matters. It's stuff. And for the most part, it can all be replaced.
Nonetheless, I can't help but hope that these families were able to save their most precious tangibles from the rising waters. I hope they all had time to grab a suitcase and fill it with wedding albums, baby books and family heirlooms before leaving everything else behind. I hope they walked away with more than memories of their lives before the flood. But the reality is most were probably unable to salvage the stuff that accompanies their memories.
It makes me wonder...
If I had to leave my home right now, without warning, knowing I may never return, what would I take with me?
There's the practical list:
- Purse and all its contents (wallet, cell phone, etc.)
- Computer and all external hard drives
- Camera
- Social Security cards, passports and as many mortgage, insurance and credit card files I could pull from the filing cabinet
- Basically, all things expensive (televisions, GPS, digital frame, pots, pans, fancy knives, etc.)
And there's the list driven by emotion. This is the stuff that links my past to my present... The stuff that is so precious... and absolutely irreplaceable.
- The letters Jonathan and I wrote to each other when we were teenagers
- My wedding album
- Old photos, basically anything pre-digital camera (these boxes include all the pictures I have of my brother)
- The silk corsage my grandmother wore on her wedding day
- The silver pendant in my jewelry box engraved "Sister I love you"
- The baby blankets my great grandmother made
- Boxes of greeting cards and letters sent from family and friends
- Journals I kept when I was young
- The artwork we bought on our honeymoon (though very inexpensive, it brings back memories of one of the best times in my life)
- The pearl necklace Jonathan bought me in college
Forget the cars, furniture and clothes. None of that matters.
But we all have items in our homes that are important because they reminds us of a time, a place, a person or a cherished memory.
So, what stuff matters most to you?
Related side note: Last night, I asked Jonathan what items would be on his practical items list. He responded, "Well it depends on the situation. If we're running from the Russians, we should definitely consider taking items we can barter or trade like liquor, guns and other valuables."
It made me laugh. And, let's face it, at a time like this you have to laugh, otherwise you'll cry.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Kentucky Derby
For months, I was super excited to attend my first Kentucky Derby.
Here's why:
1. Horses are cute.
2. I like big hats.
3. Drinking is fun.
4. My friends are fun.
I attended the 2010 Kentucky Derby last weekend.
Here's what I learned:
1. When you sit in the infield you don't see horses. But you do see a lot of weirdos. Which, in retrospect, is probably more entertaining than horses anyway.
2. When it rains really hard for 24 hours straight, you don't get to wear an amazing hat (you know, the gorgeous hat you spent three hours hand stitching flowers, feathers and tulle to).
3. Drinking is fun, regardless of the weather (especially when you're drinking bloody marys and mimosas first thing in the morning).
4. My friends are fun, regardless of the weather. Rain or shine, there's nobody I'd rather have by my side.
Here are a few photos from my Kentucky Derby adventure.
Rachel and me... In the outfits we were supposed to wear.
A close up of our amazing hats.
Rachel, Adam and me...
Checking the radar... 100% chance of nasty.
Contingency plan outfit. Much more practical!
I left my hat in the car... just in case the clouds cleared. Never got to wear it though.
Our fabulous seats. Do you see the racetrack? Yea, me neither.
Will and me
Rain boots: the best $25 investment I've ever made.
Here's why:
1. Horses are cute.
2. I like big hats.
3. Drinking is fun.
4. My friends are fun.
I attended the 2010 Kentucky Derby last weekend.
Here's what I learned:
1. When you sit in the infield you don't see horses. But you do see a lot of weirdos. Which, in retrospect, is probably more entertaining than horses anyway.
2. When it rains really hard for 24 hours straight, you don't get to wear an amazing hat (you know, the gorgeous hat you spent three hours hand stitching flowers, feathers and tulle to).
3. Drinking is fun, regardless of the weather (especially when you're drinking bloody marys and mimosas first thing in the morning).
4. My friends are fun, regardless of the weather. Rain or shine, there's nobody I'd rather have by my side.
Here are a few photos from my Kentucky Derby adventure.
Rachel and me... In the outfits we were supposed to wear.
A close up of our amazing hats.
Rachel, Adam and me...
Checking the radar... 100% chance of nasty.
Contingency plan outfit. Much more practical!
I left my hat in the car... just in case the clouds cleared. Never got to wear it though.
Our fabulous seats. Do you see the racetrack? Yea, me neither.
Will and me
Rain boots: the best $25 investment I've ever made.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Floods, Fear and F-Bombs (oh my)
Someone send a life raft.
Nashville is drowning.
Literally.
I didn't sleep much Saturday night. I spent the day at Kentucky Derby (more on that later), and even though I was exhausted, I couldn't rest. I kept waking up to pouring rain and crashes of thunder. I knew that come Sunday morning I would drive directly into a monstrosity of a storm.
Anxiety set in.
I left Louisville around 8:30 a.m. CST Sunday. It's a 180 mile trek from Louisville to Nashville and should take two and a half to three hours to travel from point A to point B. This weekend, however, the drive time doubled.
It poured.
The. Entire. Drive.
It was 180 miles of hell. On wheels.
Not fun.
I prayed to God and asked that he let me survive the trip (which may seem extreme, but after checking the Nashville news coverage Sunday morning, I was convinced that death could very well be on my horizon).
When I reached the outskirts of Nashville, I was halted by bumper-to-bumper traffic.
"Grrreat," I thought (the I-24 tragedy that had happened less than 24-hours prior not far from my thoughts).
As I crept along on the interstate, I mentally prepared myself to abandon my car and run for the hills. Luckily, it never came to that.
When I reached Gallatin, Garmin instructed me to exit. I look down the exit ramp into a lake below.
"Sorry, Garmin. Not in the mood to drive in a lake today."
I keep going, passing several exits. They all looked like rivers.
By this point, I was terrified. And in tears. Not a good combo, really.
When I reached Madison, the exits were dry. I did as was told by my trusty GPS and got off the interstate near Rivergate Mall.
Big mistake.
I'd drive for a bit, run into a lake, turn around, hope to find another way home.
I finally made significant progress, making it all the way to Old Hickory Boulevard.
I was on my way!!!
About five miles from the Dirty Herm., I ran into another lake.
U turn. Back to Madison.
Once I reached Rivergate Mall again, I hopped on I-65 and hoped for the best (at this point there were numerous reports of interstate closures, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into).
I-65 to Briley Parkway.
"Please, God, don't let Briley Parkway be flooded. Please, please, please!"
As I entered Briley Parkway, the rain pelted harder harder and harder.
"Seriously, God? Is this a joke?"
I made all kinds of deals with myself and the good Lord. No more f-bombs. Become a better person. Appreciate the small things. All I wanted in return was to continue living.
I passed Opryland and Opry Mills, then Lebanon Pike (based on my experience in Madison, I quickly decided not to take that exit).
I reached I-40 east and GloryGloryGlory, I was almost home.
I have never been happier to see the exit for the Dirty Herm.
When I made it to my neighborhood, I was faced with one final obstacle: getting into my neighborhood.
One side of the entrance: a river.
The other side of the entrance: blocked by giant fallen tree.
The bad news: I had to park across the street and wade through about three feet of water to get home.
The good news: I made it home safely. My husband and dog were happy to see me. And I didn't drop a single f-bomb.
In an attempt to document what could have been my final moments, I snapped a couple of photos on I-65 near Gallatin. Notice the water is splashing onto the interstate. It looked like an ocean tide... no joke!
I've never been more thankful for my safety, my sweet little family and my warm, dry home.
Nashville is drowning.
Literally.
I didn't sleep much Saturday night. I spent the day at Kentucky Derby (more on that later), and even though I was exhausted, I couldn't rest. I kept waking up to pouring rain and crashes of thunder. I knew that come Sunday morning I would drive directly into a monstrosity of a storm.
Anxiety set in.
I left Louisville around 8:30 a.m. CST Sunday. It's a 180 mile trek from Louisville to Nashville and should take two and a half to three hours to travel from point A to point B. This weekend, however, the drive time doubled.
It poured.
The. Entire. Drive.
It was 180 miles of hell. On wheels.
Not fun.
I prayed to God and asked that he let me survive the trip (which may seem extreme, but after checking the Nashville news coverage Sunday morning, I was convinced that death could very well be on my horizon).
When I reached the outskirts of Nashville, I was halted by bumper-to-bumper traffic.
"Grrreat," I thought (the I-24 tragedy that had happened less than 24-hours prior not far from my thoughts).
As I crept along on the interstate, I mentally prepared myself to abandon my car and run for the hills. Luckily, it never came to that.
When I reached Gallatin, Garmin instructed me to exit. I look down the exit ramp into a lake below.
"Sorry, Garmin. Not in the mood to drive in a lake today."
I keep going, passing several exits. They all looked like rivers.
By this point, I was terrified. And in tears. Not a good combo, really.
When I reached Madison, the exits were dry. I did as was told by my trusty GPS and got off the interstate near Rivergate Mall.
Big mistake.
I'd drive for a bit, run into a lake, turn around, hope to find another way home.
I finally made significant progress, making it all the way to Old Hickory Boulevard.
I was on my way!!!
About five miles from the Dirty Herm., I ran into another lake.
U turn. Back to Madison.
Once I reached Rivergate Mall again, I hopped on I-65 and hoped for the best (at this point there were numerous reports of interstate closures, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into).
I-65 to Briley Parkway.
"Please, God, don't let Briley Parkway be flooded. Please, please, please!"
As I entered Briley Parkway, the rain pelted harder harder and harder.
"Seriously, God? Is this a joke?"
I made all kinds of deals with myself and the good Lord. No more f-bombs. Become a better person. Appreciate the small things. All I wanted in return was to continue living.
I passed Opryland and Opry Mills, then Lebanon Pike (based on my experience in Madison, I quickly decided not to take that exit).
I reached I-40 east and GloryGloryGlory, I was almost home.
I have never been happier to see the exit for the Dirty Herm.
When I made it to my neighborhood, I was faced with one final obstacle: getting into my neighborhood.
One side of the entrance: a river.
The other side of the entrance: blocked by giant fallen tree.
The bad news: I had to park across the street and wade through about three feet of water to get home.
The good news: I made it home safely. My husband and dog were happy to see me. And I didn't drop a single f-bomb.
In an attempt to document what could have been my final moments, I snapped a couple of photos on I-65 near Gallatin. Notice the water is splashing onto the interstate. It looked like an ocean tide... no joke!
I've never been more thankful for my safety, my sweet little family and my warm, dry home.
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