i need coffee

{recent cup of joe}

After five nights of working 3rd shift I realized something:

I am not a night person.

The truth hit home was when a guy (who usually sees me during the day when I am ms. upbeat and perky!) popped his head into my office at 8am, burst out laughing, and exclaimed: "You look like death warmed over!" What?!?! A rotting corpse? Me? Nawww...can't be. Then I looked in the bathroom mirror: hair sticking up, face pale, eyeliner smudged.

Yup. Death warmed over.

Oh well. It is not a beauty contest. It's a job. That I really like.

Besides..

...it gives me an excuse to drink obscene amounts of coffee.

vintage memories: the farm

{view from the farm I grew up on in Minnesota}

Life was simple

There was always a breeze,

One you could actually hear.

Mom was there when you needed her,

Not thousands of miles a way

But present with a hug and

A glass of lemonade.

There was a chance to get bored

Go outside and explore

Fireflies buzzed and were

Kept in jars like fancy lamps.

No buildings or smog, just

Wide open skies that

Seemed to never end.

poor black-eyed susan, poor tired me!

I am working third shifts now. Well not right now.

Though I am tired. Right now.

Not too tired to share this photo of beautiful Susan, though. Black-Eyed Susan. Not a huge fan of this particular flower moniker, at least the "black-eyed" part. I guess that they can't all have sweet names like Jane Magnolia or exotic like Azalea. Anyway, Susan seems like she is everywhere lately, always planted en masse creating all kinds of gorgeous garden drama.

Susan, though battered, is beautiful.

And I, though exhausted, am awake.

It seems unnatural to be sleeping when the sun is shining, and there is so much I could be doing! Hanging picture ledges in my office, painting an accent wall in my bedroom...

Shopping...

Laundry...or not.

Guess I'll go drink some warm vanilla soy milk, snuggle in bed with my book, and hope my mind will slow enough to find some zzzz's.

Happy Monday to you -- good "night"! :o)

front steps of my 'hood

I tend to get up obnoxiously early.

Even on the weekends.

So this morning at 6am I took Colbie for a stroll and I couldn't help notice the lovely things people place on their front steps. Like these little guys...not sure what they are. Not roses...more like maybe a cactus? Either way, it lured me in for a shot.

Then I saw these pots and was inspired by the colorful simplicity of the look. Even the mismatched pots seems to flow together to create a cute, homey look. I am terrible at container gardening, so I am always in awe of those who make it seem effortless.

Nothing says "Welcome!" like a red front door. Unless you put pots of plants in front of it. Then it says, "Do not come in!" But in a nice way. Or at least a pretty way.

Yes. Those are Crocs. Used as planters. Not my favorite look, but these folks get points for thinking outside the box. About Crocs.

Nothing incredibly extraordinary about this one, but I do like the flow and the differentiation of leaf color and pot size. Sort of guides your eye along the ascent to the porch. Or something like that.

Pretty sure I was Asian in another life. I LOVE asian-inspired decor, and these Buddha statues guarding the front door make my heart pitter-patter. Or want to drink tea and meditate. Either way, a good feeling.

That's it for that 'journey through my 'hood.' There will be many more of these to come, as I have a pretty darn inspiring 'hood.

And I walk a lot.

Hope your Sunday is peaceful and inspiring as well!

local sweet spot: findlay market

I fell a little bit more in love with Cincinnati after a recent trip to the much heard about farmer's market downtown -- Findlay Market.

Despite being located smack in the middle of an area of town even my ever-confident husband seemed nervous about leaving his Honda parked in, this mecca of fresh, delicious, and creative wares evoked various memories in my head. Good, wholesome travel memories of places like Pike Place Public Market in Seattle and Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, albeit on a much smaller scale.

So much fresh produce, but not only that: beer garden, bakeries, flowers, crafts...my little blogger head was spinning!

I couldn't resist indulging in an amazing freshly baked belgium waffle piled high with mouthwatering strawberries and whipped cream and a cup of gelato had me drooling before the poor guy served it to me. That good.

No counting calories on the weekend!

We even bought Colbie some organic dog treats. Spoiled hound.

Here are a few of the other things I couldn't resist purchasing...

Blackberries! This photo does not even begin to capture the plump deliciousness of these blackberries. YUM.

The colors were unlike what you find at your local grocer. Prices were better, too!

Had to snag a few ears of bicolor corn to throw in a pot that night.

Wherever it is you live in this world, I assure that somewhere near you is a farmer's market you will fall in love with. Find it. Buy local! :o)

pretty little books

{adairjones}

My living room has fabulous floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that drove me wild when I first looked at the house. It was previously owned by a female English professor, who installed said shelves. That fact in itself had me thinking Fate had guided me to this house.

We have lived here one year now, and still, the shelves remain barren. Collecting dust.

Between my husband and I we own lots and lots of books. Not many which I can in good conscience (style) put on these shelves. They are ratty paperbacks in a crazy assortment of colors and sizes, many of which have the telltale yellow USED sticker.

Since we are no longer in a college dorm room, but a grown-up house, I'd like our books to scream "stylish" and not "undergrad."

So I am on quest for pretty books, hardcover books. They should be art!

Sort of like these lovelies --

{anthropologie}

Right now (besides dust) my barren bookshelves have some pretty things on them, but not many books...

There are just so many shelves to fill!

This may give me a mild complex...

...but at least I have an excuse to buy more books. :D

love the rain

Sometimes after it rains you get the perfect light for taking photographs. Especially for flowers. The rain perks them up, and they are much more photogenic!

It rained last night, and afterward, since I still had some light, I rushed out to snap a few shots. I managed to capture the coneflowers (above) looking especially inquisitive.

If you look closely at these green hydrangea blooms you can see the rain drops - love!

Yeah, I am a complete flower geek. Guilty.

What are you growing in your garden? I'd love to see... :o)

Happy Wednesday!