A few details worthy of mention:
1. It has become a habit. A delicious habit. Oatmeal with almond milk, a drizzle of fresh local honey, strawberries and toasted walnuts. I ask you, is there anything more scrumptious and rich than a toasted walnut? The flavor truly transforms a dish. Try it. If you are loathe to fire up your oven for a few nuts, you probably need to get a toaster oven which is as magical and practical as a baby angora unicorn. Maybe even more practical!
2. USPS now has sheets of songbird stamps available for purchase. They are the loveliest little stamps I have seen in a while. If you are a letter writer residing in the USA you’ll need to purchase some, as soon as possible, and then use them up quick so you can buy more.
3. That fantastic green glass goblet is one of six Robert brought home from Georgia recently. He was home for a week between deployments and brought me my first two fire presents of the year! Fire seasons gifts are a holy and wonderful tradition he has kept for the past seven years of our life together, something I always look forward to and frankly, occasionally badger him about. He is good natured about my badgering and knows it’s not the actual gifts he finds for me that are important to me, but the fact that he thinks of me and misses me when we are apart. Presents are a manifestation of my constant presence in his heart, even when a fire season keeps us apart.
He always finds at least one present to bring me while he is off in the boonies battling flame, every single year. In years past, gifts have been wonderful and creative ranging from caribou antlers and fox skulls to surrealist art prints from an artist in Bend, Oregon to a warthog skull from Arkansas. I have never received a shirt or a piece of jewelry. Though I might, someday. Robert is a wonderful giver of gifts. A girl never can tell what she might receive — except for that caribou antler, I guessed that present correctly over the phone, across the thin air between Fairbanks, Alaska and Winthrop, Washington. Anyway, I love those pea green vintage goblets. Rob transported six of them, most miraculously, and they are a delight to sip from. He also brought home a heavenly host of crystals he found on the ground while hiking around and working in Hot Spring, Arkansas! Tremendous! Extraordinary!
4. I was in Oregon last week — more on that soon, I’m working up an essay on the topic — and found the most exquisite batch of stationary in Sisters. Travel here to see Angie Lewin’s work.
5. I am currently working in the studio like a true she-beast trying to build up some beautiful inventory for an art walk I am appearing at on May 2nd. It’s been so fun! The new work is so springy and fresh and I feel free and lighthearted out there as I tap away with my hammers. A light heart is a blessing. We all know this.
6. Fresh eggs! Finally! You know, I’m down to one hen here. I’m pretty sure she thinks she’s a dog. I’ve been faffing around with the idea of getting her a pal this spring but for two years now, I’ve wanted to switch over to a pair of laying ducks which are reportedly less destructive on garden spaces than hens. Do any of you keep laying ducks? If they are free range, how do they do with your garden spaces?
I’m off to perform my daily hour of morning yard work which involves, on some days, the delicious extraction of dandelions from my flower garden, herb garden and succulent garden. This time of year, it feels fierce and maybe even cathartic to yank up a dandy by its taproot. So satisfying. Dandies, be warned, in a couple of seconds I am coming for you and there will be no escape.
Be well, dear folks.
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