The Eagle and Child

The Eagle and Child Pub; Oxford, England.

This is where C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and friends would meet for their weekly discussion group called 'The Inklings'. I am going to need to make a trip to Oxford sometime in the next year or two.

Pretty much in love with that dainty little skeleton bracelet.

currently reading

The Fellowship of the Ring (as drawn here by GingerHaze)

Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas

The River Cottage Cookbook (dreamy...)

And The Divine Conspiracy will probably always be on my list of current reads.

guapos

{mother, you need this}

Intimate gatherings of friends, I love.

{Doesn't this look dreamy?}

But parties? I kind of hate parties...

{this is so me at a party}

Sometimes I think I'm living in the wrong country... but actually I think I'm in the wrong age bracket. Maybe I should make friends with some older women.

August Weekends

August is hot... and a little boring because everyone leaves and everything closes.

So we make our own fun...

Our toddy maker(s) arrived!! I had my first iced coffee... a-mazing.

I thought I saw someone with a shopping bag that said "Time Lord" on it and I got really excited... It didn't really. I think they had purchased a watch.

I found out there's a place that has beginning ballet classes for adults!! I can make friends AND become a prima ballerina :)

We went to our favorite pool in Madrid, where you feel like you're at some sort of ancient Grecian baths because it's surrounded in tall trees, Ke$ha is NOT playing over the loudspeakers...and probably because Nikki and I have vivid imaginations.

((maybe don't examine this photo too closely... you never know what you might see))

I got some long-overdue new tennis shoes.

Like as in, I should have gotten new ones before we left 8 months ago.

We had delicious Indian food. And watermelon. Because only Nick can ask for watermelon in a place that doesn't *actually* have it, and they go find some for him.

And I got to talk to my whole family.

Even though the internet was being uncooperative and most of our conversation consisted of "what? I can't hear you. You're frozen" and taking screen shots.

weekend

This is my kind of to-do list.

Cercedilla, Spain

This is not my picture... but Nikki and I went here last weekend.

"I’ve got two daughters who will have to make their way in this skinny-obsessed world, and it worries me, because I don’t want them to be empty-headed, self-obsessed, emaciated clones; I’d rather they were independent, interesting, idealistic, kind, opinionated, original, funny - a thousand things, before ‘thin’. And frankly, I’d rather they didn’t give a gust of stinking chihuahua flatulence whether the woman standing next to them has fleshier knees than they do. Let my girls be Hermiones, rather than Pansy Parkinsons. Let them never be Stupid Girls." – J.K. Rowling

Desert Song

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

And I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

All of my life, in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

We haven’t lost romance in the digital age, but we may be neglecting it. In doing so, antiquated art forms are taking on new importance. The power of a hand-written letter is greater than ever. It’s personal and deliberate means more than an email or text ever will. It has a unique scent. It requires deciphering. But, most important, it’s flawed There are errors in handwriting, punctuation, grammar, and spelling that show our vulnerability. And vulnerability is the essence of romance. It’s the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, “This is me, and I’m interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more importantly, all that I am not.”

- Ashton Kutcher

Incredible.

Horsetail Falls in Yosemite National Park

http://www.todayandtomorrow.net/2010/03/11/horsetail-firefall/

the great plains

The other night we were talking about Michael Forsberg and Joel Sartore and trying to figure out something or another about them, so as we talk, Nikki pulls up their websites on my computer and before I know it, there are about a million photos saved on my desktop. :) And since they're amazing, and since I love the plains & prairie, I thought I would share. Sorry Michael and Joel, I have no idea who's photos belong to whom.

Saturday- Nice, France

Kind of short on pictures from this day. We left the hotel bright and early and caught an early train from Monterosso to somewhere, got on another train, then a third train (where, at one point in time, Jill was literally shoved by MULTIPLE Asian girls while trying to get on the train. Really the whole train experience was somewhat comical in hindsight.) We arrived in Nice, checked in our hotel and went to lunch. We wanted something very French to eat since it would probably be our only meal there. The guy at the hotel told us where to go and it was not very good advice. We ended up eating a pretty... normal lunch and we were like zombies. SO we decided to have a nap before we actually went out to see the town.

Nice was lovely, but, as Katie said, "Nice is basically like Italy... but French"

After we wandered along the sea, we found a café tucked in a cute street with amazing dessert. We ended up sitting there for a really long time laughing and talking and enjoying our last night under the twinkle lights. It was very French and a great ending to a great trip!