reprieve

unexpectedly, no work today. ahhhh. i think my heart rate just slowed to a healthy level again. i was up and about extra early so i could get other things done before heading to work... and now i'm enough ahead of the game to take some beth time. maybe i'll watch a movie! or bake a rhubarb cake! or just take a nap.

before i do that though, i'll have a chance to catch up on important things.

like reviewing this book for slow food:


packed with awesome information about food raising, sourcing, and prepping, as well as gorgeous photos and thoughtful commentary on food and just how important it is. originally written for a british audience and now expanded for us americans, this is one of the best comprehensive cookbooks i've had the pleasure to read. highly recommended.

plus i have poetry waiting for me:
neruda, ryan, cummings, and more. not to mention working on some of my own.

i can't get this kay ryan poem out of my head...


Stations

As the
veldt dries,
the great cats
range farther
to drink,
their paths
looping past
this or that
ex-oasis.
However long
the water's
been gone,
no places
are missed:
despite thirst,
every once-
deep pool
is rehearsed.
It's strange
the way our
route can't be
straightened:
how some
cruel faith
keeps the
stations.


enjoy your weekend.

take a breath, beth

it feels like i'm always at work lately. i know that it isn't true, but it feels that way. and when i work weekends and erik works weeks, it means there are few adventures happening. not to mention that every evening, one of the two of us is exhausted and the other wants to get out and do something... it isn't the smoothest arrangement for sure.

i'm going to be increasing my role at the bookstore once again... a behind-the-scenes sort of job that i think will suit me, but still worries me. last summer i worked two jobs and NEVER, NEVER had any time for myself. i refuse to do that again. but if i'm going to have control over this work schedule, i need to be brave enough to stand up for myself. wish me luck.


today, during my second work day of the day, a couple came in to the shop up at red ridge. they were visiting from l.a. and when i asked them what brought them to the dundee hills, they said "we just needed to get away." i've been feeling that way lately too. it wouldn't take much. a day at the coast. a nice hike somewhere. time to hang out with erik without other things hanging over us.

soon. it'll happen soon. in the meantime, i'm enjoying pictures of other people's escapes.

b

overzealous? maybe. overbudget? definitely.

so... i don't know about you, but recently my "plant things!! !!!" urge has been running out of control. when this happens, it also tends to mean other things get out of control. this morning i logged on to my bank accounts and i saw exactly how out of control...

turns out all of that compost, potting soil, plant start, flowers, herbs, and seed, and "what to do with all of this" book buying has made a dent. my bank also has this great little thing online that tracks and categorizes your purchases and then makes terrifying bar graphs and pie charts to show you how you've been mis-spending your money. it even has budget recommendations and says in VERY large font size if you're living within your means or not. lovely. useful. yikes. it appears that i have already managed to go over my budget for the month. oops. i blame it on the plants.

how could i pass these sorts of things up though?

lovely dianthus

spitfire climbing nasturtiums

climbing black-eyed susans

not to mention the lovage, peppermint, hot pink geranium, parsley, arugula, and much more. mmm. my balcony will be pretty (and probably groaning under the weight of everything), but i can't spend any more money on planting things this month.

b

summertime plans

hold parties like this one.

evening cocktail hour. perhaps try making some of these.

suntea.

bicycle adventures.

frisbees.

b