It's a Beautiful Day

Doesn't this look like a fantastic place to take a nap??

I finished up my training today, and spent the last three hours of my shift making drinks on the hot bar. Would you like a venti, soy, extra hot, caramel machiatto? Done. Or how about a tall, non-fat, extra sweet tea latte? You got it.

But now I'm tired, and take a nap with my book is what I will do.

Photography Project: Yellow

I'll admit, this one was a little more difficult for me. I naturally lean toward people when taking pictures, so I really had to think about this one. Yellow-- like the sun, like lemons, like how you feel when you listen to Jonsi or swim in the ocean. Happiness.

Diffused light.

Night.

Sunday morning.

Stars in the trees.

This last one is special to me-- I've always wanted to do this, and today I finally did it. Hopefully it will make some people on the road smile tomorrow morning on their way to work. More pictures later. Ryan has the pick for this next week's theme, I can't wait. 

I've included links to all of the participating blogs in the right side panel. For more, Laurel.

Plain Silliness

After my shower this morning I mosied out to the kitchen for a cup of much needed coffee. I reached into the cupboard, grabbed a mug and started the water. Filter, grounds, hot water, wait--you know the drill. I toss the filter and walk back to my mug with a spoon and sugar, and look down to see...

 A little friend peeping up at me!

So I put in some milk, grabbed my book and cozied up in a chair. My little friend sat and watched me read. After a bit the dog jumped up in my lap and made himself comfortable--it was a little party. 

Currently reading and loving: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer. 

Work, work, work, work.

Well, it has begun. Today I learned how to make almost every drink they have to offer. Latte's, capacinos, carmel macchiatos, the works. Currently I feel completely overwhelmed by the names and numbers and all of the randomest combinations of things people order right down to the temperature. Can you really tell if it's 130 degrees instead of 145?? With your tongue?

I love learning though, and so each step of the process and why it is a certain way and how the slightest change in the process makes a whole different taste is so interesting.

I'm excited for the day when it feels like second nature and I can actually hold a conversation while steaming milk and pouring espresso shots.

Sign up here to get your free pound of coffee.

Photography Project: Human Touch

Bethany and I were chatting on Skype the other day, as she was preparing to leave India, and randomly an idea came into our conversation. We decided to start a photography project. The great thing about it is that it keeps us, often thousands of miles apart, working on something together.

Here's the goal-- 2-5 pictures per week, each week has a different theme.

This week's theme was Human Touch.

So simple.

Juice box. 

James and Levi-- There was a craft with lots of little pieces and scissors on the table, James was keeping him safe. 

Reading together.

Rafa-- My friend is going back to Juarez, Mexico to start a business. We prayed for him at church on Saturday. 

For more, Laurel's blog.

Messes

I was awake around 2am last night, thinking. I found myself thinking this--

I miss messes. The beautiful, and not so beautiful kind alike. I miss stepping over an explosion of papers, cords, books plus a computer on the floor. Piles of shoes by the front door. I miss hundreds of cups, glasses, soda cans and bottles after 10 people stayed the weekend, or the night after a dinner party. I miss boxes full of buttons, paints, glue, paper, ribbon, magazines and feathers spread out over the living room. A frumpled stack of blankets and pillows on the couch in the morning after anyone decided to spend the night. Beth crawling into her bed with her life's work and laundry still on top. Ants--thousands of ants--I don't miss them. Ashes all over the patio and in my flowers after a bonfire on the porch under the stars. Perpetual sand in the shower from the ocean. Piles of undone laundry to rifle though to find a missing shirt. Rows of wet bathing suits hanging, dripping. A sink that couldn't be more full of dirty dishes. I miss frames and paints spread out on the porch. I miss Sam's bed. I miss always seeing guitars randomly taking up residence in different corners.

But mostly I miss the girls those messes belong to.

Welcome Home Friend

Last night I arrived at 208 Autumn Fall and who was here to greet me but none other than Mr. Peter Rabbit, or one of his friends at least. 

River Walk

About a year ago, on our way to sushi, my then very pregnant friend Amanda exclaimed to me, "Are you kidding me? Who wouldn't want to live in San Antonio?? They have the River Walk! Do you know how gorgeous it is down there?"

At the time I didn't, but now I do. Now I'm here.

Last Thursday night James and I went downtown to the River Walk with our friend Nate, who has been in town for a couple weeks from So-Cal. I had never been and it really was gorgeous. We walked from his hotel about a mile down to where most of the restaurants are, and ate at a British pub-like place. It was great to get out and walk around, the night was warm and we had a lot of fun. It was also wonderful to see Nate, a little piece of home. There were lots of people around and what I loved most was the way the lights glittered off the water.

Thanks Amanda, you can say "I told you so".

Dear blog,

Why oh why won't you let me upload my photos??

Please fix this asap.

Ashley

Scenes from the Weekend

The weekend started out slow. Saturday morning James had to work so after we went on a few errands. World Market being one of them. Love that place. Saturday night we had church here, and it was truly wonderful. After we played a couple games of Blokus, where a few of us got a little competitive. Sunday was our Valentines lunch in the park, with bread and cheese. So great to soak up a little sun. For dinner we went over to the Petrack's apartment and enjoyed a delicious Croatian dish; stuffed peppers, asparagus, and quinoa. I learned how to play Settlers of Catan after we were done with our icecream bars, and before we had ice cream and strawberries for desert.

Sunday in the Sun

James and I went to Landa Park this afternoon after a quick stop at our favorite little locally-owned cheese and sandwich shop. Smoked gouda, something deliciously close to brie, and cheese with blueberries in it were the sort we picked up with a fresh baked baguette and headed off to the park. We spread out my quilt near the river and enjoyed our perfect lunch with the sounds of the water and laughter floating by us.

I'm so, incredibly, happy.

To Do List

~Burn cds for my car.
~Make cd case so they don't end up scratched on the floor.
~Go to Hobby Lobby and find containers for loose-leaf tea.
~Draw in my new journal.
~Drink lots of tea.
~Continue reading The Man Who was Thursday by Mr. G. K. Chesterton.
~Relish in the fact that I am now employed.

Create

I was talking with Samantha May on Skype a few days ago, on Skype because she currently resides in South Africa, and--she being a person who has inspired me so much in the last five years--our conversation was wonderful. I was venting some frustrations and she said,

it's all perspective.

Sam is a person who sees potential in things. She pulls articles of clothing off racks that I would never touch, and yet she puts them on with something fabulous and I find myself calculating when it will be clean again so I can wear it. She sees beauty in people that I skip over, whilst looking for something I'm expecting. She captures things in her art that have begged to be in a picture for centuries. She sticks with things, even if they are four years in the making. And thus she has filled her life with beauty-- in furniture, art, and people.

Photo by Sam May. 

Me too.

A Little About the Rodeo

Thursdays are usually interesting.

Today, Wednesdays were.

I went to the San Antonio rodeo last night with some friends. I think my favorite part was when the kids rode the sheep, or when one man came out steering six horses with reigns and standing bareback on the last two. The barrel races were also really cool to watch. I really felt the Texas culture all around me.

We got home about midnight and I went to get my keys from my purse and realized I had left them in my room. So I went and slept at the Pingel's house and borrowed some of Ana's pajamas to sleep in their spare bed. We got up this morning and worked out--by the way, I've been working out lately, strange, I know--to the P90x videos they have.

I got home around 10:00 this morning and Dorothy said, "Why didn't you use the spare key??"

Oh, right.

Happy Birthday Dad

Just for the record, my mom caught this fish. 

Today is his birthday, one more special than the rest. My dad rocks in so many ways. He can do the most awesome things like, cut down trees, drive tractors, fix broken engines, catch fish, set up camping sites, and find cool things at the ocean. He also rocks at encouraging me, shooting off fireworks, making great chili, BBQ, and fantastic hugs. 

Love you dad. 

Things I Love About California

1. The sunshine, and how it is always warm when it hits your back.
2. The ocean; listening to it while falling asleep, the smell of it through your window, next to it by a fire, and the way it feels in September.
3. Laventina's Big Cheese Pizza.
4. Driving down the PCH, whether in Dana Point or south of San Francisco, day or night.
5. Lizz Hopkins, and our obsession with chai tea.
6. That everyone drives at least 15 miles over the speed limit on the freeway in so-cal.
7. Fresh sushi.
8. Mass availability of Boba and people who love it.
9. People ride bikes in California.
10. California has San Francisco in it.
11. Spending time with my roommates out on the porch, with a bonfire, twinkle lights, music and a warm summer breeze.
12. Pizza nights at the Robeck's house.
13. Fresh strawberries by the side of the road for $1.00 all summer long.
14. The grass is literally almost always green.
15. Mountains.
16. Artsy downtowns and the way whole cities shut down for art walks on Thursday nights.
17. Taking Wilson to Victoria and turning down Superior to completely bypass any traffic going down Newport Blvd.
18. People at Saddleback Covenant Church.

                         Ode to enchanted light

                          Under the trees light

                          has dropped fro the top of the sky,

                          light

                          like a green

                          latticework of branches, 

                          shining 

                          on every leaf, 

                          drifting down like clean

                          white sand.

                          A cicada sends

                          its sawing song

                          high into the empty air.

                          The world is 

                          a glass overflowing

                          with water.

Then it Melted

The First and Last

This morning I woke up to squealing outside, "No school!!!"

I can't believe it snowed in San Antonio. A pitiful, measly amount but I think of two southern California kids who would be just as delighted with this dusting. The roads are shut down, schools are canceled, work is called off. Last night my friend Z. Caleb, who is six, was telling me all about how in the morning I have to wake up really early and make snowmen and throw snowballs and make snow angels. I'm sure he's elated this morning. The kids in our neighborhood have been out since 7:30, sliding down the street on their bikes or scooters, so excited for the day.

I wish I was eight again.

National Public Radio

Two things.

Firstly, I want to thank NPR for keeping me connected to the world. Bethany and I used to stream it in our room while getting ready in the morning and those mornings were always so sweet to me. We would listen and talk and listen and debate and listen. It's the only thing I listen to in the car anymore especially since the road trip here. James and I started following the events in Tunisia and now I've been listening to Egypt since it began. It is incredible to me that these two stories are so similar, and the more I listen I really feel like these last few days have been moments of history. This 5000 year old country is the same I learned of in middle school social studies and the threat of losing control over the Nile, the actual Nile river, is real. I think about women and children there, families, new babies, that need supplies or maybe don't feel safe in their homes. I pray for their safety through these events.

A little news from San Antonio; freezing rain here tonight, which I have never seen before. It isn't snow, but rain that freezes on the first thing it touches. The roads were covered in a sheet of ice and I saw three accidents tonight on my way home-- I traveled about one exit down the highway. Our friend Thomas had warned me about unprepared Texas drivers before we left, so I stayed on the access road instead of risking the highway, good thing. It's only supposed to get colder and there is actually snow in the forecast for the morning. Oh, but 75 again on Sunday.

Guess I'll job hunt from home tomorrow.

Book Lovers

Dorothy--of Bill and Dorothy Leal, the couple I live with--has a children's book collection. All of the Caldecott and Newbery prize winning books since, well, they began giving out the awards. It is a fantastic collection and my friend Olivia and I got to help her cover the 2010 award winners (top). I could sit and look for hours, and I may.