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.