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.