no. 9, no. 68, no. 69, no. 74, oh my!

Wowza.  I hit a home run a few weekends ago, Project Renovate wise.  And it was so very very lovely.

Pat and I took off toward California and out of nowhere we were in the midst of a windmill farm.  I've never seen anything quite like it... I barely got a photo in because I was in such awe.  Really, I can't express to you how many of these windmills there were.  Thousands!

no. 9

We stopped for a pretty awesome picnic in Joshua Tree National Park.  Hilariously, both Pat and I were picturing a forest (probably due to the "tree" in the name), but this park is about as far from a forest as you can get.  But it was incredible - rock formations like nothing I had ever seen.  People repelling off some of the highest points.  It really felt like a desert, and I liked that.  Our picnic was simple but perfect, sandwiches, carrots, strawberries, melon, and oatmeal raisin cookies.  We will be doing it again soon :)

no. 68

We certainly "hiked", but I wasn't really planning on it... in fact, I was wearing a sundress and flip flops.  So it may be a stretch to say that it fulfills a goal, but I enjoyed it so much because it was such a surprise, so I'll take it. 

no. 74

And then we wonderfully, magically ended up at the beach in Oceanside.  We saw a beautiful sunset, watched a man catch a stingray from the boardwalk (which drew quite the crowd!), ate a progressive dinner which included appetizers and drinks at a very fancy local restaurant and some amazing fish tacos at a complete dive mexican restaurant(/night club after 9pm).  It was such a quirky fun place.

Tempe needs an ocean

Then came the shining, wonderful, most perfect morning I've had in a long time.  My husband got me a really great kite as a wedding gift, knowing that I was dying to put it to use.  So on Sunday morning we got up early to attempt to fly it.  I must say a few things: 

1.  Thank goodness it was overcast, its so much easier to fly a kite when you are not squinting into the sun
2.  This kite is incredible
3.  Pat stopped at one point and said "holy cow, where did you learn to do this so well?" to which I responded "I'm a natural."

no. 74

no.74

inspiration

via Audrey Hepburn Complex (as usual)

...comes in so many forms.  Why is it, then, that I find it so hard to be motivated lately?

Here are some inspirations for today in various forms:

1.  This awesome post at Abby Goes Design Scouting.  These articles are all insane!
2.  This beautiful plate.

i love postcards.  i love plates.  i love postcard plates.

3.  This hilarious photo of my neice, Naomi

i love naomi.  i love tongs.  i love naomi in tongs.

the malady of homesickness

my favorite tree on my walk home on w fairmount

I'm not sure if its the heat.  Or the let down of so many happy and emotional things.  Or a combination of both.

...but

I miss State College so much this week. 

In some ways its actually really bizzare, because its the first time I've been homesick for a place that wasn't North Lima/Greenford, OH.  Maybe it means I'm growing up.

Things I miss about State College (in no particular order):

my beautiful walk to work
the giant tree house on said walk
the gorgeous trees
my cozy home
my little porch
the weather (i know, i'll eat those words later)
college ave
access - best store ever
websters
india pavillion
bill pickles pitchers of blue moon
rotelli's $5 martinis


....... the wonderful people that i shared those things with.