Today Was A Very Good Day

This morning, I stole Will's place in front of the laptop when he got up for a drink of water. He returned (as people most often do when getting up for a drink of water) and, seeing me checking my email, protested.

W: "Hey! I was working there."

C: "Oh hang on, this will only take a minute. Plus, I'm leaving for work in five."

W: "Seriously, I need to be working on that."

C: "...hold on..."

W: "I was working on my thesis..."

Thesis? Thesis? THESIS? As in DISSERTATION THESIS???? AS IN WILL STARTED WRITING HIS DISSERTATION, AKA OUR TICKET TO LIFE OUTSIDE OF GRAD SCHOOL????

Yes. Yes indeed. And that is why today is a very good day.

Now I must give the mathematical genius his computer again. Don't want to break the flow.

26-Years-Wise

On this, the morning after Will's 26th birthday, I woke up to my older man coming into our bedroom.

He slipped under the covers and kissed my cheek.

He then pulled out the Kindle and read me two chapters of Les Mis. Afterward he went into the kitchen and made me a smoothie to drink in bed.

When I asked him where this great Saturday morning awakening came from he replied:

"From the Wisdom of the Age."

He gets even sweeter as he gets older? I'm one lucky girl.

The Birthday Boy with his birthday cake--my first Tres Leches attempt. Yes, I did have to taste it to make sure it was edible before I handed it to him. Hence the missing corner.




He so loved my birthday present that he brought it to bed. Boys and their toys.

We Left in Fall...

And returned to Winter. We had only been gone five nights and England decided it was time for the ol' season switcheroo. It's a good thing I came back from America with THESE:

"I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows!" ~Buddy the Elf

My feet have never been happier! So happy, in fact, that I may or may not have sung a song about these new beauties as I was zipping them up this morning. It went a little like this:

Boots

By Caitlin Brian

Sung to the tune of "Duke Of Earl"

Boots, boots, boots,

Boots of mine, mine, mine,

Boots of mine, mine, mine,

Boots of mine.

Yes I know. I have the gift of song.

But America was far more than an awesome early Christmas present (thanks, parents!). This America trip happened because of these two crazy kids:

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Folz! (courtesy of Abigail Carpenter Photography).

Erin and Steven were the first couple friends we made as newlyweds. Everything in life was new then--new city (for me), new church, new job, new lifestyle--and Erin and Steven's friendship was such a blessing in all of the new-ness. We packed in so many adventures, game nights, movies, deep conversations, and great food in that year that whenever I look back on our time in NOLA I will always think of them. It was an honor to be in their wedding--we were beyond thrilled! Actually, we were beyond emotional. I usually don't consider myself to be a wedding cry baby but, man! My defenses were useless against those two! At least I was in good company... right, Willis? :)

A great wedding combined with great family time made for one fast paced but incredibly wonderful few days back in the States. Oh, and did I mention that we got to watch LSU beat Alabama while surrounded by LSU fans/Alabama haters?? God is so good. Great trip, y'all. Great trip.

I Made A New Friend Today

Meet my new bff--the Starbucks Chai Latte with Soy Milk. Di-vine.




I met my new friend just in time for the cold Oxford winter. It almost made up for my Port Meadow catastrophe today (more on that later... I'm probably going to need another latte before I am ready to divulge). I know I said that I have a hard time committing to anything, but in this case I think it's safe to say that I've found my new go-to drink. And in the words of Herman's Hermits, "something tells me I'm into something good."

The Farmers Market

If you read yesterday's post you'd correctly assume that this blog should be about Port Meadow and nature. However, I have a problem with commitment. Can't buy new boots without the family's approval, can't buy a new shirt without a support team, wouldn't even dream of buying a new purse without a 1 month "waiting period", in which I attempt to envision the new purse in my life.

You get the picture. I'm a crazy woman.

Will likes to say that marrying him took all the commitment I ever had right out of me. The man could be right.

So, after mentally committing to tramp through Port Meadow today, in search of some glorious fall foliage, I instead woke up, changed my mind, called my friend Erin and arranged to meet her and the kids at the weekly Farmers Market in City Centre. Because I'm crazy like that.

Would you look at all that glorious color?

The Gloucester Green Farmers Market happens every Wednesday and I work every Wednesday--except for this one. I had no idea what I had been missing! Giant red peppers-- 4 for a £1. Ten beets for £1. Dark green bunches of asparagus for £1.50. The produce looked amazing!

I never knew the custard apple existed before today.


Wish I had room in my bike basket for one of these, too, but the beets (all 10 of them) would have been a bit cramped

And then there were the flower stands. I don't think I realized how much I would like an apartment with a balcony until I saw these beauties.

The artsy version (or the version where Ella put her finger over the flash).


Here they are, in all their colorful, wispy glory.


I suppose I could keep a cactus alive on my window sill, but they're not as dreamy as the purple lavender.


My adorable assistant photographer, who provided the background music to my first Farmers Market experience by singing "Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink" as we walked in and out of the stalls.

So there you have my first venture to the Farmers Market. Port Meadow will just have to wait for another day. Until then, here's my one fall-ish photo that I snapped on the way back to the bus stop.

On Seeing

I read this quote today on another blog (yes, I frequently read but do not write) and I can't get it out of my head. And so, after being duly convicted by these words, I will be taking to the fields tomorrow with my camera before I miss any more of Fall.

I , who cannot see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch.

I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf.

I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine….

I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle… is revealed to me.

Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song….

At times my heart cries out with longing to see these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight.

Yet, those who have eyes apparently see little. The panorama of color and action which fills the world is taken for granted….

It is a great pity that, in the world of light, the gift of sight is used only as a mere convenience rather than as a means of —

adding fullness to life.

~Helen Keller

Dear America,

It has now been 18 days since we left your shores. Only 18 days? Hard to believe, considering how busy we have been since leaving you! I just wanted to drop you a line to say "thanks for the swell visit." Really--you outdid yourself.

For starters, how great was it to get to be in this girl's wedding??

We've only been talking about this day for a couple of years now.

Our trip definitely started with a bang. And, even after such a magnificent party to start off the visit, you kept the energy up for another four weeks. From New Orleans to beautiful Texas, the reunion with family and friends kept the happiness on full throttle. Nation--you must have been exhausted from all the excitement! I know I was.

I mean, I had no idea how much I had missed driving your impressive highways and eating your incredible food! I'm pretty sure I took some of it back with me in cellulite form. Fortunately, customs doesn't make you declare that. And your friendliness. How could I have forgotten your friendliness? I nearly cried when the nice lady at Starbucks wished me a "great day" with a genuine smile and eye contact. Has it really been that long? Sure, the man at customs in Detroit wasn't as excited to be stamping my passport as I would have liked him to be... maybe you could work on that? Just a suggestion.

I'm sorry that I don't have more pictures to send you of our trip, but we were having way too much fun enjoying your sights and citizens to be bothered with the camera. That's ok--I've got all kinds of mental snapshots in my head. Hugging my brother after one long year away. Sitting on my in-laws front porch in the breezy New Orleans evening, sharing drinks and good conversation. Watching Lee walk down the aisle. Pulling up to 7315 Fountain Spray and seeing Dad's car in the driveway. Visiting with my Mamma at the kitchen table. Talking with my sister until 3 am.

Oh America, you make my heart ache. Do you know that?

Fortunately, we'll be seeing you again in just a few weeks for another happy occasion. Until then, know that you are loved.

Caitlin