Quote

"If there is magic in the world, surely this is it: the descendants of tiny creatures in leaves, capable of ingesting the sun." 

-Rob Dunn, "The Glory of Leaves," National Geographic, October 2012.

Silence

My thoughts were with New Orleans this week, but now that I can let out a sigh of relief, I'm so jealous of the power outage.  More than anything I wonder how spectacular the night sky would be right now without the city lights, or just how loud it would sound without the constant hum of electricity.  

Anatomy of a Mushroom

On my walk this morning I came across this tiny umbrella of a mushroom.  I tried to bend it over so I could look at the underside, forgetting that fungi don't bend the way plants do.  The stem snapped, and I decided that since I had already doomed it, I might as well take it home to photograph.  I have always been fascinated with mushrooms, and getting to study the tiny details of this one was so fun.  

I love the structure of the gills underneath the cap.  It seems so perfect, so engineered.  

For size.

Scuppernongs

A late summer staple.

Patsy

One of those songs everyone should know to brighten your Tuesday morning.

Storm

There's nothing quite like the odd, greenish light that precedes a good storm - muted and diffused, but full of energy.  You can just feel the storm in the air.  I love it.  Can you think of a better way to pass a lazy summer evening than sitting on your porch watching a good storm?  I think not.  

 

Storm hovering over the harbor this afternoon.  

Sundrops

Sundrops - a summertime staple.  Best eaten straight from the vine when they're still warm from the sun.  

Maritime

My arms are aching from the gloriousness of yesterday.  I am so in love with the maritime culture here in Charleston.  I met some friends for lunch on the creek, changed into my bathing suit in the bathroom, and hopped on their boat.  We dropped the anchor and went swimming in the vast openness of the Wando River, then took the Intracoastal back to her house.  

After a brief pause we came back to my side of town to go kayaking.  We left the dock prepared for a nice little evening ride, but ended up using the rest of the daylight.  One thing we mused over was how exciting dolphins are.  It doesn't matter that we grew up with them and see them every single time we go boating, we still get excited about seeing them.  We also saw two sea turtles!  I've never seen one in Charleston, so that was an exciting moment.  A dinner and impromptu chocolate chip cookies enjoyed in the company of old friends was the perfect ending to a perfect day.  Ah, if only I could do this every day...

Beetles by the Pool

Yesterday afternoon was reserved for the finest of summer pursuits: sunbathing, swimming, finishing a book, painting toes, margaritas.  Really its hard to think of a better way to pass the time.  

Our backyard has always retained a little more wildness than the typical backyard.  At least I like to think so.  The highlight of one memorable July 4th party was a snake that fell out of a palm tree eating a rat.  It was truly fascinating.  So while I was talking on the phone and walking across the pool deck yesterday this little frog managed to cling onto my instep while my foot was midair.  I have no idea why he decided that was a safe place to be.  It was kind of a funny feeling to have this moist little thing clinging to the bottom of your foot, but he was so cute!  And he wouldn't let go until I scooped him up.  

Later, I was interrupted from my reading by a very loud whirring.  It was a big bug that I assumed to be a grasshopper.  He didn't really know where he was going, but kept bumbling around before finally deciding that the middle of the pool seemed to be the perfect place for him.  I promptly rescued him and was amazed to find that it wasn't a grasshopper but this beautiful beetle!  The colors were just stunning. I've always been amazed at the vibrance of the animal kingdom, and this guy is no exception.  The picture truly doesn't do him justice.  (For scale, his body was about 1- 1 ½ inches, and his antennae the same. )

Declaration of Summer

In spite of the 90º spring days that seemed to foreshadow a sizzling summer, June has come in like a breath of fresh air.  As I write this my bare arms are delightfully chilly in the salty breeze.  If I had a hammock, a siesta would be in order.  I do love a good overcast day spent watching the harbor.

This is a rather personal post in that I'm making a declaration to myself.  If I put it up here on the crazy internet for anyone to see instead of just repeating it to myself, I like to think that I'll hold myself accountable.  It's worth a shot right?  I've spent the last few months trying to keep myself productively busy.  Trying to find things to improve my work experience or potential job skills, but I have done very little that makes me happy.  No music, no photography, no biking, no ocean.  Here goes nothin'...This will change this summer.  I will find a balance of work, play and self-improvement.

Now let's go find a margarita to celebrate...

Quote

"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars."

-Walt Whitman

Happiness

"Happiness is only real when shared." 
- Christopher McCandless

Childhood

Today at the farmer's market I saw the absolute cutest boy on this earth.  He had that ultimate childish combination of innocence and unselfconsciousness,  which is just so awesome to watch.  Look at him!  My heart literally ached to be a kid again when I saw him.  In addition to his superb outfit he had changed his name for the day.  If I did that now people would probably send me to a psychiatrist, but when you're 5 you can do whatever you want and everyone loves you for it.  

The other day I had the ultimate Freudian slip.  I was trying to say "when I was younger," and I ended up saying "when I was happy."  Oops!  But then I look at these photos and I know that its true.  I miss the days when nothing mattered but playing outside with the dog or the neighbors, when the world was full of magic and adventure.  

I need to get back to that state of mind.

Best buds.

Echo

I just saw this video on a tumblr that I frequent, and I am in love.  This is what happiness is.  


Frequencies: Early Echo from Timothee Verrecchia on Nowness.com.

Appreciating Beauty

Home again.

Every time I thought of coming back to Charleston my stomach just dropped.  I actually, for a brief moment, truly considered what it would be like just to not get on that plane yesterday.  And if I didn't have a job waiting for me here in Charleston I might have even acted on it.  But I didn't...

And the beauty of Charleston awaited me on my return.  Every time I drive over the bridge to my little island town and see the harbor with its cluster of boats, and the golden marshes spread to the edge of the land I feel so happy and grounded.  On my walk today along the battery where I smelled the salty air perfumed with a hint of pluff mud, I wasn't unhappy to be home. 

One thing that I decided during my trip is this: regardless of where my future takes me, I will "suck out all the marrow of life" this summer.  There are so many things that I want to do here in Charleston, and that I won't be able to do if I move back to New Orleans.  So this summer will be about exploring and enjoying everything Charleston has to offer.  Because even if I move back to New Orleans, I'll miss the salty air, the harbor, the beach, and all the water sports those have to offer.  

Recipe for Happiness

Ah to be in New Orleans again.  I saw this little scene the other day as I wandered about, and I fell in love.  I want nothing more in life than to able to live in a tiny house painted with fun colors within biking distance of work.  Throw in a little Vespa for trips to the grocery store and you've got a recipe for happiness.  Now to make this all happen...

Home Again, Home Again

Back in New Orleans for a bit, and loving it.  I felt like such a little kid the last two nights; I was so excited that I couldn't sleep!  Here's a snapshot from my walk today, isn't it so lovely?  I've only been in town for two meals so far, and already I've eaten too much.  Welcome to New Orleans!

Gardening

I spent some time in the garden this weekend.  In addition to being incredibly therapeutic (who doesn't love a good day in the sun?) it was also a workout.  Who knew that hoeing was such an ab workout?  Our oregano and thyme bushes were taking over after being left to their own devices most of the winter, so we had to do some serious pruning.  But now we're going to have some delicious dried herbs!  About half of the garden is now tomato plants, so I'm looking forward to having more tomatoes than we know what to do with this summer.  I'm already imagining the soups, salsas and sauces that we'll make and hopefully can for the winter.  

I know that farming is a hard life, but I had so much fun this weekend playing in the dirt that I was almost imagining doing it for real.  Then I went to see The Garden Summer last night and remembered why I've decided again and again that it's not for me.  The film was great, and it looks like they had a fabulous summer, but in the end they all came back to the city.  Kudos to those who can live the farming life, but I just don't think I'm cut out for it. 

Thoughts on Environmentalism

I have just finished reading a wonderful essay on environmentalism, that was incredibly thought provoking.  I generally try to keep this blog relatively free of overly emotive posts (or at least keep them short if I do indulge), but I just felt like I needed to let this one out.  (And really, who actually reads this blog other than a handful of people?)  If anyone is interested, the essay is called "Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist," by Paul Kingsnorth.  I found it via Grist, and I found the email conversation at the bottom of the article to be particularly interesting.  

So here is my response...

I would like to think that I come to the table as an “ecocentric.”  I do not intrinsically value humanity above the non-human world.  If I’m being perfectly honest (which I try to do rarely, as it can come off as radical and scare people away) I actually value the non-human world above humanity.  The thought of a world entirely devoid of humanity is not scary or startling to me.  I actually find that thought rather calming and peaceful.  It reminds me of being on a mountaintop in the Appalachians, with no tin-roofed houses marring the perfect hills, or laying on the beach at night with no light pollution blotting out the spectacular, superhuman Milky Way.  So much of what I value in life is not a product of humanity, and thus an Earth without humanity, sounds like a marvelous place to behold. 

The Greyfield Inn

I realized that I never got around to uploading photos from my trip to Cumberland Island last fall.  Here are some "still lifes" from our lunch at the Greyfield Inn.  

 

Lightning

I have been completely overwhelmed with life lately, and things have just flown by.  But things are finally looking up (particularly after my delicious caramel cupcake this afternoon).  This weekend I'm going strawberry picking for the first time this season, and I think I've finally found a great volunteer opportunity in Charleston.  

Here is the best moment of my day (aside from the cupcake, of course): watching a storm roll in from the dock.

Lonely Tree

I haven't had time to go through my beach pictures from Botany Bay, but this one is my favorite.  This week has been super busy, and I'm exhausted, so I can't wait to relax for a little bit and have breakfast for dinner tonight!

Roasted

Yesterday I roasted my first chicken!  There was room for improvement (the thighs were underdone) but overall it was a success!  Before I started, I was convinced that the whole bird would be a disgusting mess by the time I was finished, but it was surprisingly easy (hence the recipe name "Simplest Roasted Chicken").  My mamma threatened to leave all of Thanksgiving to me this year, but I don't think I'm quite ready for that kind of pressure.  

Botany Bay

Pine straw from a recent burn.  It shimmered iridescently in the sunlight; it was almost purple.

Crumbling tabby foundation.

There's just something about a good whitewashed country building that gets to me.  So classic and so beautiful.

Quote of the Day

"Hope is the lesson Nature keeps teaching me.  She keeps producing.  She recovers.  She creates beauty out of loss.  She forgives us our impatience and frustration and insistence that things turn out the way we planned.  They don't.  They turn out the way she planned.  We need to be willing to sacrifice control to learn adaptation."  

-Joan Gussow, Growing, Older: A Chronicle of Death, Life, and Vegetables.  

Beach Time

It's finally beach season again, and it makes me so happy.  Here are some pictures from the beach lately.

Detroit

I came across this website over the weekend that documents abandoned houses in Detroit.  As I scrolled through the photos, it really got me thinking.  One thing that struck me was not the slow slide into dereliction, but the fact that most of these houses aren't anomalies. They aren't lone examples of neglect.  In fact, many of these houses are the last ones standing.

All the images got me thinking about the oddity of our abandoned settlements.  You can see in some of these houses, the grand city that Detroit once was.  Did you know that the now abandoned Michigan Central Station was designed by the same firms (Warren & Wetmore and Reed & Stem) that designed Grand Central Station in New York City?  Add to that the fact that it was the tallest rail station in the world at the time of it's construction, and you begin to understand the grandeur that once was Detroit.

I know there are many reasons for the decline of Detroit, but it's just so hard for me to imagine that such a vibrant, thriving community never managed to save itself from such utter decline.  What happened?  Did they wait until it was too late?  Does Detroit show us what happens if we follow one path, one side of human nature?  Is this one possible future for humanity?

Maybe I read too much into this, but my mind works in leaps and bounds, and I've always been fascinated by abandoned structures.  They remind me that history repeats itself, that nothing physical is eternal.  The world is constantly in motion even though we don't see it because we're in motion too.  I'm also reminded that houses are simply skeletons, and that we are what make them unique and welcoming.  Without a human hand, they fade from homes to skeletons again.  

It's strange how quickly Detroit rose to fame with one brilliant individual, and it's strange how quickly that glory faded.  Now it almost seems like it's a ghost town.  

*Let me add that I've never been to Detroit, and that I'm not trying to put this city down too much.  In fact, Detroit is pretty much ground zero for urban farming in the US, and I think the urban farming future there holds a lot of promise for renewal.  It will be exciting to watch the transition, because the reality is that the population just won't ever be what it once was.

Man's Greatest Invention

Today I reaffirmed my love for bicycling.  (Not that it's that hard to do.)  Today my Mamma and I went to the grocery store on ours!  I was proud of us because even though it's not that far, the suburban road doesn't exactly have ideal conditions.  But we did it!  And it was fun, especially on a beautiful day like today.  My conviction for living in a bikable city is official.  I love that running to the grocery store became an adventure, not a chore, which I think it should always be.  Life is more fun on a bicycle.  

This picture made me laugh.  What I wouldn't give to have that kind of talent and balance!

(photos: red bike, funny bike)

Goodbye Again

Tonight I got sucked into watching "Goodbye Again" on TCM.  I'm always amazed by the power of a good film to remain relevant and moving 50 years later.  A good story never gets old, it just goes to show that life is the same no matter when you were born.  New clothes, new gadgets, the same trials and tribulations.

My favorite line (so well delivered - comical and at the same time maddeningly on point and unanswerable):
"I just...I don't know what I'm doing."
"You're studying French law."
"No, what I'm doing to live."

Forever Young

The weather has been so fabulous lately; I can't wait for summer.  And for the first time since graduation I'm really starting to miss school.  I no longer have spring break and summer to look forward to.  Just a lifetime of responsibility and a big girl life.  Sometimes I get excited by this prospect, but mostly I just want to turn back the clock and live in moments like this photo forever.  

Driftwood

the traveling blues + my love of the water + the simplicity of a small structure = this picture

Wouldn't you so love to spend the night here lulled to sleep by the waves?  I can't think of anywhere better to be.

Is this not the coolest fort you've ever seen?  When I was little, one of my favorite things to do was to pull things out of the marsh.  For my tenth birthday party that's what we did.  We went into the marsh, salvaged some stuff (some driftwood, a bucket, a piece of gutter), came back and built a sculpture.  At the time it seemed brilliant, but in reality it was a wonky thing that listed more than a little to the side, so that it had to be propped up.  When I look at this picture above, I know that this is what we always wanted to build.  It's the grown up version of my childhood dream.  It's beautiful.

Why is Cabin Porn so freaking amazing?