Joy

16
Blue winter hills

I would paint you this picture if I could. Each day I climb over the mountain and descend into the Connecticut River valley as wood smoke and the sun rise simultaneously and glitteringly into the Vermont sky. This week was blessed with near-constant snow flurries and as I rounded the final bend each day, the sun marched over my shoulders from the east and scattered a million diamonds across the landscape. The hills layer upon one another in the fore and the distance as white pines, blue spruce and hemlock that blanket the hillsides sigh under snow flakes and recede into subtle hues of blue and violet. Fog rises over the river, snaking north along my route. I cross over the covered bridge and find the day waiting on the other side to greet me.

Joy

15
Ladies' Weekend

Meg was behind the shutter for this one.

Here it is almost the weekend again and I've been totally, utterly jam packed to the gills with stuff to do since returning from last weekend, which involved a whirlwind trip to Boston for a reunion with my best grad school girls.

And, joy of joys, what a weekend it was:

Having all seven of us together again, same as ever. Laughing until I couldn't breathe playing Apples to Apples. Making decisions like Antiochians do. Wandering down city sidewalks with elbows linked. The best eggplant burger on English muffin at the best seat in the house, in front of the fireplace, at Christopher's in Porter Square. Drinking enormous beers at the sloppiest dive bar on Boylston. Questing for jelly beans...perseverance conquers all. Getting silly. Sarcasm. Ripping on each other. Smiling 'til my face hurt. Leading my gals around downtown; knowing Boston. Hugs. Car rides to catch up. Snuggling in the mornings, hungover on food and wine. Playing in the park. Bead shopping, bra shopping, blowout deal clothes shopping. Being downtown Boston for sunset. Remembering all over again why I miss these girls so much.

Joy

14
Feist: The Reminder

I just love this album; its rise and fall, the rhythmic variety, her voice. I could listen to it every day. In fact, I do.

Joy

13
The Moth

Emily & Jared's living room, the wood stove burning, potluck-style eats, beer and wine and stories, oh the stories. This month's theme: Lost or Stolen. Nights like tonight make me love my life.

Joy

12
My BLM belt buckle

Hello, I spent nine months saving the desert and earned this ball-bustin' belt buckle as my reward for surviving. I tell people it stops bullets. It might. I am incredibly badass.

But really, I am so thrilled to finally have a belt to wear it on. Good work, New Mexico.

Joy

11
My cozy room

When I moved in, I drew it so it would come to be.


Then, it came to be!

This is the place I look forward to getting to at the end of every day.

Joy

10
A really lovely dinner together

Spicy, creamy, savory, hot plus tangy, sweet, salty rim tequila plus easy conversation, stories to share, laughter, smiling, comfort. Joy.

Joy

9
Catharthis

Aristotle was right. Telling it to someone who's listening and understanding, bringing it all to light--even if it's ugly and sad--is joyful.

Joy

8
Down time
I can't remember the last time I found myself with extra time on the weekend. I'm staying in, writing a bit, crafting a little, cleaning, doing laundry and cooking. It's not that I'm not busy, I guess. Just free.

Joy

7
Positive experience at the grocery check-out

Maybe it's just me, but oftentimes checking out gets the better of me. There's a lot going on! I'm unloading the cart and getting my bags in the right place and paying and signing and trying to watch the monitor, leaping to bag my own stuff and be extra nice to the employees (I was a cashier once. Be nice to your cashiers, people.) and manage my keys and wallet and credit card and mittens and button my coat and get out of the way quickly so as not to hold up the next person oh god! But sometimes it's fine and everyone's nice and I manage to keep it all together and I walk away feeling victorious. Yesterday, that happened. Hooray.

Joy

6
Singing in the car

All those old songs I know by heart, out loud, on the drive to work.

Joy

5
Teaching Science

"Is there more, less, or the same amount of water on Earth today as 1,000 years ago?"

"Less! Wait."

"MORE! Ice caps melting."

"NO! Ice is water, dummy."

"Humans! Humans use water. We need it! LESS!"

"So the water I just drank doesn't exist on Earth anymore? Okay, so say I die. I know, it's very sad, you come to the funeral, whatever. My body is cremated. What happens to all that water in my body then?"

"It burns and turns into steam!"

"And then?"

"Clouds. Rain!"

"So now the water that was in my body is falling from the sky and turns into a puddle that you just stepped in. Way to go. Thanks."

"..."

"So it's the same amount of water as 1,000 years ago?"

"Good."

Engaged brains, creative minds, curious hearts, humor. Some days, my job brings joy.

Joy

3
Morning Oatmeal

Rolled oats, crushed pecans, dried cranberries, chopped apples, maple syrup and butter followed by a steaming cup of tea for the ride in. This is my perfect morning.


4
Milestones

A love letter on the occasion of one year.

Joy

2
Savasana


Total relaxation, all tension gone, heat emanating from my body, organs sinking into one another, limbs sinking into the floor. Heart quiet. A challenging yoga class followed by an extended moment of bliss.

Joy

1
Roasted Vegetables


Potatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplant, onion, garlic oh god roasted garlic, olive oil, rosemary, red pepper flakes, dash basil, touch dill, salt, pepper.

Mid-Winter Musings

Just stopping by to say, apropos of nothing, that I want to spend summer in New England this year. Camping in warm weather, hiking bluebacked mountain peaks, canning local fruits into tight-sealed jars, basking in green grass, visiting the ocean, riding my bicycle everywhere. Yes, I think that's what I'll do. Come visit!