During the course of this epic summer, I also interviewed for jobs. My next official "grown-up" job starts at the end of September. So, I needed to get an official "grown-up" place to live for this momentous occasion.
I found a darling little cottage near my work that suits me just fine.
It isn't glamorous at all. Five rooms total, including one that can only be accessed through the garage. No dishwasher. No deck. A non-working fireplace that still looks cute.
Why did I choose this? I loved my little house in Flagstaff that is actually bigger than this one and had loads of lovely amenities, like said dishwasher.
Really, it boiled down to priorities. I wanted to pay as little rent as possible so I can spend more on travel. My godchild and I are planning to walk the Camino de Santiago in 2016 as my graduation gift to her. That takes cash, baby. Also, paying rent is something I don't enjoy.
One thing this summer underscored for me: I am not a "stuff" person. I am a travel person.
Now that the decision is made, however, I'm daydreaming about rugs to put on the gleaming hard wood floors, curtains to shade the enormous picture windows, where to place some mums and fall decorations.
So easy to become a "stuff" person if you aren't paying attention.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Gypsy Heart Cloistered Soul
Darkness is not dark for you and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.
Psalm 139:12
A friend has an expression, "The Grace has gone," to mean a situation has turned badly and there is nothing to do but walk away.
The events of the past year have given me much opportunity to reflect on that apt saying.
The Grace has gone.
I do not believe in hopeless situations, but I do believe that sometimes my purpose in a particular situation is complete. I've done all I can. And then God moves me along.
I used to batter my gypsy heart for its wanderlust and its desire to see over the next horizon. Even when it agrees to settle somewhere (it does try, really!) soon it begins its restless pacing until the singing of the wind becomes too strong. The words we use for this are not flattering: "Distracted" "Noncommittal" "Unreliable."
Grown-ups pick a place and stick to it, right?
Except, no. Not always. Sometimes Home isn't a place on a map.
My God, whose HEART is my home, leads where He wills, through darkness and light, through deserts and hurricanes. When my soul stays safely cloistered in Him, my gypsy heart can wander freely, sheltered from the storms and hate of this broken world. Even when my feet feel frozen and my fists rage toward heaven, no lamp to my feet, no understanding of the swirling insanity surrounding me, He sees clearly and asks me to simply and painfully take a step toward Him.
In the single step is a lifetime of confusion, pain, fear, hope, healing, joy, peace. Then Grace infuses it all.
Darkness is not dark for you and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.
Psalm 139:12
Psalm 139:12
A friend has an expression, "The Grace has gone," to mean a situation has turned badly and there is nothing to do but walk away.
The events of the past year have given me much opportunity to reflect on that apt saying.
The Grace has gone.
I do not believe in hopeless situations, but I do believe that sometimes my purpose in a particular situation is complete. I've done all I can. And then God moves me along.
I used to batter my gypsy heart for its wanderlust and its desire to see over the next horizon. Even when it agrees to settle somewhere (it does try, really!) soon it begins its restless pacing until the singing of the wind becomes too strong. The words we use for this are not flattering: "Distracted" "Noncommittal" "Unreliable."
Grown-ups pick a place and stick to it, right?
Except, no. Not always. Sometimes Home isn't a place on a map.
My God, whose HEART is my home, leads where He wills, through darkness and light, through deserts and hurricanes. When my soul stays safely cloistered in Him, my gypsy heart can wander freely, sheltered from the storms and hate of this broken world. Even when my feet feel frozen and my fists rage toward heaven, no lamp to my feet, no understanding of the swirling insanity surrounding me, He sees clearly and asks me to simply and painfully take a step toward Him.
In the single step is a lifetime of confusion, pain, fear, hope, healing, joy, peace. Then Grace infuses it all.
Darkness is not dark for you and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.
Psalm 139:12
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Summer 2015 In Pictures
Miss Maggie to the Rescue!
I LOVE YOU, LORI!!!
Chilled with the jellies in Monterey.
Chillin and actually chilly in Monterey.
NOLA LOVE!
BESTIES ON BOURBON!
Who hasn't felt this way?
Dee is a secret Southern belle!
Jacqueline got my memo... on Fridays we wear pink!
Maria!! Paul!! LOVE!!
I just think I look adorable here.
One of many, many hotel rooms this summer. Roxy is a trooper!
UNCLE MIKE!! (NOT Willie Nelson!)
O, Hammie, my Hammie...
Angela, still looking like she is 17! (Witchcraft, I tell you.)
Denise let me pop by even though Sammie was still so new to the world!
Cutest EVER!
Adorable children must be admired!!
Summer camp as a grown-up!
Roxy did not love camp.
GARDENS!
Busy day at camp!
20 lbs lost in two weeks... don't worry. I found it.
this perfectly summarizes July 10-15.
I have great expectations.
Roxy embracing her inner kitty.
Well balanced life.
the zoo DID let us leave, eventually.
BEST night of the whole summer.
Happy Birthday, Dad!
Notice how Mike has to grip the ladies to keep them from running!
over 30 years since we saw each other, and it was like yesterday.
Back to the scene of the crime.
The whole summer, summed up.
Food Desert
I was excited to return to So IN because, hello, farmer's markets!!
After a couple of weeks, I noticed something... the produce sections in the grocery stores are horrible. I mentioned to my dad that I was shocked that Arizona-the-desert had grocery stores brimming with gorgeous fruits and vegetables, and here in the Heartland, spinach is twice as expensive, and the produce section at my Schnucks is half the size of the produce section at the small Safeway in Flagstaff.
He said, "Honey, all those little family farms just aren't here any more. Everyone here is growing corn or soybeans. Those are all the giant farms. You have a few one-off places producing for local consumption, but those roadside stand you used to see everywhere are few and far between. That's why we have a garden. If you are around next year, we'll plant spinach for you."
Aside from the kind gesture, that simple conversation made me think.
1. I need to pay more attention to when the farmer's markets are going.
2. I need to check out the Asian market which everyone says has the best produce.
3. I am so used to getting what I want when I want it that I am put out by the price of spinach that is apparently imported or something..
4. I heard about the family farms going away, but I didn't really believe it until now.
Meanwhile, it is exponentially cheaper to eat processed pseudo-food than the real thing.
Damn. That ain't right.
After a couple of weeks, I noticed something... the produce sections in the grocery stores are horrible. I mentioned to my dad that I was shocked that Arizona-the-desert had grocery stores brimming with gorgeous fruits and vegetables, and here in the Heartland, spinach is twice as expensive, and the produce section at my Schnucks is half the size of the produce section at the small Safeway in Flagstaff.
He said, "Honey, all those little family farms just aren't here any more. Everyone here is growing corn or soybeans. Those are all the giant farms. You have a few one-off places producing for local consumption, but those roadside stand you used to see everywhere are few and far between. That's why we have a garden. If you are around next year, we'll plant spinach for you."
Aside from the kind gesture, that simple conversation made me think.
1. I need to pay more attention to when the farmer's markets are going.
2. I need to check out the Asian market which everyone says has the best produce.
3. I am so used to getting what I want when I want it that I am put out by the price of spinach that is apparently imported or something..
4. I heard about the family farms going away, but I didn't really believe it until now.
Meanwhile, it is exponentially cheaper to eat processed pseudo-food than the real thing.
Damn. That ain't right.
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