Scenes From the Weekend: Youds

The boys ran and ran on the grass.

Ryan was telling a story, love his facial expressions. 

Tom Sawyer.

James and I ran into Shelley back in January, and it was then we started planning to see these guys when they came for vacation this last week. You know the feeling when old friends come around and you can pick right up again and have a great time like nothing had changed? These are those kinds of friends. I loved hanging out with Ryan and laughing with him again. Eli has gotten so big and I can almost not believe how much he says. After dinner and some time at the river Shelley, Geoff, James and I went and played cards. Lovely to catch up and laugh together. 

Photography Project: Serene

I've started to meet more people connected with our community lately. Serene is one of them. She and her husband Nate lived in Costa Rica recently, and have two beautiful sons named Levi and Judah. There is nothing surface about the way she talks with people, immediately she asks the interesting, tough, and deep questions. Spunky, with a huge smile, and a great listener. 

*Great news: were restarting our photography project! A little more organized this time, the others involved are on the right. If you would like to do it with us let me know and I'll email you the schedule. 

Anti-Insomnia

I've been opening lately. Opening means waking up at 3:15am in order to arrive at work before 4:00am.

I'm tired.

Opening also means naps at 1:00 and James calling to wake me up, and rescue me from my bed that tends to hold me hostage, around 3:00. It means bleary eyed and yawning in the evening.

Espresso is the best before 6:00am.

I feel like my time to stay connected with family and friends has gone out the window. My time to write, take pictures, and finish important things has disappeared like the cold from San Antonio. I've had a list of things to accomplish for a week and try as I do I can't seem to get a single one done. I wake up and I'm sleepy, I get home and I'm tired, wake up again and I'm groggy and then around 8 I'm yawning again.

At least opening means money too.

Fiesta Art Festival

Wonderful to wander around and absorb the beauty downtown last week. I loved that each artist was present with their work-- I asked a bunch of questions. Ollie and I sipped aguas frescas and took everything in. I got to meet Greg Davis, who has pictures in National Geographic's collection and ask him about his journey as a photographer as well. So inspired.

Here are some artists I loved.

Greg Davis, Photography

Melanie Fain, Watercolor

Lorrie Honeycutt, Photographer

Beatriz Fedele, Watercolors

Soak and enjoy.

Sitting on the floor at Target tonight, deciding on which Benedryl and which cookies for dessert, I realized something important-- I'm glad I'm here in Texas, right next to you. 

This Afternoon

Quiet here today. The clouds hang cozy in the sky, content. Cool breeze makes for a perfect coffee-and-quilt with-a-book afternoon. I've found myself a little retreat place complete with brownies and a friend.

Monday Comes After Sunday

A little girl came in with her mother this afternoon. First mom ordered a couple frappaccino blended coffees (typical for the time of day), then the little girl looked up at her mom with pleading eyes until mom said "Okay I guess you can have tea". The little girl's eyes lit up when I asked what kind she'd like. 

"Oh Earl Grey please!" she exclaimed. 

"She loves hot tea" mom looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. 

I smiled, asked the little girl how she likes it, and turned around to make the cup just for her. I caught a few of the ingredients on the label before turning around again. 

"Did you know that Earl Grey has lavender in it?" I asked "It's like having beautiful flowers in your cup!" 

She peered inside with wide eyes and smiled big as she went to put some sugar in. 

. . . . . . . . . . .

Working the front register means I make the coffee. If you got a cup of coffee in my store this afternoon it was fresh, hot, and wonderful. Some wonderful conversations happened to me today. I recommended books, got to know some regulars better, and passed out samples of scones for everyone studying, talking, reading, writing, listening and enjoying in the cafe. I organized drawers--one of my favorite things--and laughed with my co-workers. I sampled the Gold Coast blend with a little chocolate and it made me want to have a desert party, in a backyard, under some twinkle lights.

I think change is great.

Pearl Brewery Farmers Market

Saturday morning Beth Hernandez and company (Alina and Levi) went to a farmers market near downtown. It was absolutely wonderful. We went out to breakfast before we walked around, and had cranberry walnut french toast, berries and coffee. Beth doesn't know how much of a sucker I am for lovely breakfasts. We wandered through the market listening to live music and looking at everything there was to see. I bought some carrots, lettuce and lavender tea.

In Other News

As of yesterday I became a contributing writer for the North East Herald, a weekly community-related newspaper put out by the San Antonio Express. It is a great feeling to pick up the paper and see your by-line on the second page.

To read the article go here.

Ginormous

"The imagery is all mondini-Ruiz fizz and whimsy-- poodles and pastries, cats and chandeliers, ballerinas and glamour girls. Red dots abound." I read about this art show by Franco Mondini-Ruiz in the San Antonio Express last week, and we ventured out to see it yesterday. Definitely fun, with an enormous and brightly-colored pinata in the center of the room, the art is done mostly with subtraction technique. Slathering blue on a vase and then wiping away the color in places as a "fashion lady" appears.

 

Hooray for local art.