Flower Dog

 A day at the park on a cloudy morning.  Dog in tow (or more like Human in tow), aimlessly strolling through the fields of wildflowers.  

 

By the Sea

It's the end of April.  My fingers are frozen, the front door is open, and I'm wrapped up in blankets and warm booties.  Probably the last cold front until fall returns.  My Weather Bug App says it is 43 degrees but feels like 36 degrees - my fingers agree with the 36 degrees.  Hmmm why do I have the front door open...

 

Looking back at some of my vacation polaroids.  Mendocino, California is such a beautiful little town.  Victorian homes dot the streets with white picket fences at their guard.  The scent of salt and sea intermingles with blooming flowers creating intoxicating dreaminess.  The lull of the ocean further draws you into a state of relaxation.  It really is impossible to move fast here - and why would you.  Lingering among wild gardens with oceans breezes carrying your worries away. 

 

View towards Mendocino, CA from Highway 1.

 

Cemetery by the Sea.

 

All the homes are really this lovely.

 

I was obsessed with the whale weathervanes!

 

Local wildlife... 

 

Even the cars tell a story.

Friday, Flowers & Fits

 Lounging on the sofa with a velvety glass of vino by my side - just another lazy Friday night.  The afternoon on the other hand was quite a different story.  It involved 4 lbs of honey bees, Josh in a bee suit, and a vacuum to suck the swarm safely into a travel container to be transported to a new hive.  There are pictures on my face book page - I did not feel entirely at ease to take the polaroid camera close enough to get a decent shot of the swarm.  Since I work from home these days, I noticed earlier in the afternoon there were quite a number of bees buzzing around our front gate.  So I called Noah and Miss Kitty inside and investigated from the safe distance of inside the house... just looked like about 20 bees flying around so I just dismissed it and went back to work.  Well after checking on the situation a few more times I noticed that the bees flying around were less and was about to let the "kids" back outside when I noticed this huge clump swaying with the wind on a tree limb near our gate.  Upon further inspection (from inside the house) I was in awe to find a ridiculously large amount of bees camped out near our front gate.  So after a frantic call to the husband with little acknowledgment and a lot of dismissal of my encounter I called in the Pro Bee Wrangler.  He was available to come by the house right away and was happy I called him first before attempting to rid them myself.  FYI spraying or poking big sticks at a swarm is not a good idea... doesn't work and then you have angry bees.  Just FYI, I obviously wasn't going to do either since I never left the house.  He tried to also convince me the bees would be docile and would probably leave within three or four days when they found a new place to start a hive - I was not going to wait that long nor was I going to allow these bees the opportunity to think that a fabulous new bee hive home could potentially be my shed or house.  So the Pro, Brandon ( Eastside Honey Co ), saved the day, the bees and any of us from getting stung.  Now hopefully the bees will be happy at their new hive.  Oh and the husband who so quickly dismissed my cries earlier did not dismiss the huge swarm either when he finally came home from work - he drove by, windows rolled up and took a few photos and decided it was in his best interest to enter the house from the back entrance and avoid the swarm....  It was quite the experience!

On a different note...

Flowers are blooming and spring is singing.  I love this time of year.  Noah and I were out for a walk last weekend after one of the biggest rain storms in a while (there was actual thunder and lightning).  Much to Noah's delight, Shoal Creek was up and running at full force - so Noah decided to join in on the action. Puppy fits like crazy!  I can't believe I actually caught it on polaroid!  Finally we have Miss Kitty... she has found a new fav loung spot right next to the front door when it is open... enjoying cool breezes yet without the sunburn.  She is now our official door stop.

Well it has been too long of a break since I posted last.  I will be back soon!  Until then, enjoy the polo love!  All photos taken with my SX-70 on Impossible film.

hello december

finally.  a cold December day.  we had to have the heater on instead of the a/c.  Noah's second day out for a walk after house arrest for two weeks.  he absolutely adores this cold weather and practically was dragging me the entire time.  been itching to take more polaroids lately.
this was the second attempt on a second trip around the park after the first shot was totally over exposed.  since the wind was blowing, I had a hard time keeping the polaroid covered from light to prevent over exposure.  I think it's about time to purchase the newest film that has sun protection so I don't have to worry about shielding the photo for four minutes and risk wasting expensive film.

*****

Christmas shopping + sipping on homemade hot cocoa.  I didn't realize just how easy homemade hot cocoa was - no need to by an expensive container at the store... and I haven't done Swiss Miss since college.  All you need is 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Dagoba Organic Chocolate) and 1 cup sugar for the powder.  I make a mix of it and put it in a recycled jam container for more than one use.  All you have to do to the mix is heat up your milk, add the mix once the milk is warm, and then add about a teaspoon of vanilla.  And VOILA!  easy hot cocoa when you are craving something warm and yummy.  well, better get back to shopping!  xoxo

Sunset at the Dog Park

little bits

Taco Deli Portobello fundido taco.  wandering downtown Austin.  the farmer's market.  a man dressed up complete with festive stilts and a santa hat.  $5 sunglasses from Progress Coffee.  dining out with the husband.  last day of house arrest for Noah.  sweating in December and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the cold front. 

 

I've missed documenting little bits of my life.  There was just a discussion last night among friends about how easily we forget the little things in our life.  So every now and then, I'm making the effort to take note.  Every little moment means something to me, and each time I go back to those moments.

Whether it makes me laugh or cry.  I'll have something to reflect on and a collection of moments to remember and embrace.  xoxo

 

 

Joni's Lucky Saturday Out in Downtown Austin

Noah spies on the neighbors...

Two Down, Thirty Eight To Go

Woohoo!  Day 2 of my 40 day yoga challenge was a sweaty success!  Yoga by candlelight in a heated room  is the great way to end a Monday.  It was definitely a harder class tonight, I can already tell I'll be sore in the morning.  I'm not sure if I'll post every day on the ole' blog or change it up and just put a blurb on facebook.  SO I'm just providing my disclaimer for all those keeping me in check.

 I wore a sweater with thumb holes today while on my morning walk with Noah - Yup, it's definitely the little things that keep me happy.

A look back to last year, around this time - sunlight captured on experimental b/w polaroid film.

Something New

I'm challenging myself to 40 days of yoga.  There is a studio that actually has this challenge starting next week - but I figured I should just start one of my own, just for me.  I've been hesitant to post anything on this matter, but I decided if I want to hold myself accountable, I have to put it in writing.  Honestly, I suck at sticking to these type of challenges... anyone remember my photo a day projects... yup, plural for I tried three times and failed each time to finish.  My reasons for this challenge are fairly simple really.  I feel better after I attend a yoga class - I need the outlet - I hope to deepen my practice - for the past two weeks I've been working on getting back into my work out routine so this will help keep me going - it really does help with stress - and well, I'd like my butt to look better in my stretchy pants.

Day 1 of my Yoga Challenge was a success.  I met at Black Swan Yoga Studio with Kara, after a movie and Amy's Ice Cream with Lisa - who declined the offer of sweaty yoga.  (if you work out after ice cream it cancels out the calories...)  I have thus determined that working out right after ice cream isn't the best idea... but damn chocolate and reese's pb cups were calling my name today.  

So Day 1 complete.  Yay!  hehe

On a different note, fall is in the air!  We were greeted with a cool, low 60s this morning and low humidity - so refreshing.

I leave you with two recent photos of some sunshine, a messy bed, and a sneak peek of slipper season!!