Bedford and Grove

You all know Bedford and Grove.

AKA the place I've spent many a night with Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Phoebe and Joey. 

Oh wait, I think that might have been make believe.

Nah, real enough for me.

Little did you know these Friends {see what I did there?} lived in a New York oasis of tree-lined streets, charming gardens, and brownstones with street numbers that include "1/2" in them. 

I spent a solid 45 minutes over two days just wandering Grove and Bedford streets.

Also, please tell me another place where I can find such a happy light coming through the trees and buildings. As if this place isn't perfect enough, it likes to give off that fuzzy, perfect glow that convinces you that it's all a dream.

New York, as always, I just love you.

Incomprehensible Rambling

Sometimes I wonder where the time goes.

I've been checking in here every few days. Writing a little bit, but never being able to hit that publish button. Never quite satisfied with my rambling. Because it really doesn't go anywhere. It's a jumble of thoughts that have been trapped inside my brain for the past three or four weeks. And since I didn't have any answers to that jumbled train of thought, all the musings I managed to get out of head and onto my computer screen don't make sense, even to me. 

I think I reach conclusions, then go back and read and realize that there are ten different conclusions that I could make. But then again, I guess that's the way life is. Is anything really every concluded? Is there ever just one path, one argument, one way of thinking? Never.

So here I am...to ramble on with some nonesense. Indulge me, it's cheap therapy.

It's been a busy month. So many changes. Spending a lot of time trying to make plans that I can't really quite make yet. Trying to get an idea of where my next steps will take me. I've felt like I'm a hamster on on a wheel lately - running so fast, but not quite managing to get anywhere.

But it's all a waiting game. If I've learned anything over the last few years, it's that patience will pay off. I just have to keep running on that wheel, giving it all I have, and eventually I'll get off of it and be right where I want to be. 

Eventually. 

Every time of uncertainty and, well for lack of better word, crappiness has turned out to lead me to a better place. I think I've rambled about that a time or two before. But when things get difficult and I begin to get anxious, it's the one comfort I have. That I know everything that is meant to happen will happen. And I truly believe I've had the bad periods in my life so I can genuinely appreciate all the wonderful parts of my life that always seem to be born out of the bad experiences.

Then comes the problem of the fear of failure. It's my biggest fear. My mom says I've been like that my entire life. Since I was old enough to understand what failure is. Even when I didn't understand the concept, my mom said I was always someone who wanted to please and make others happy. Then, of course, I want to make myself happy as well. Exceed my goals and overcome challenges. Not doing so would be a huge personal failure, and shortcoming on my part.

So I'm spending my time rambling right now with the knowledge that this week, my future will begin to fall into place. Will it work out how I've planned it in my head? Perhaps. Will I fail in a sense? That's possible too. But that failure leads to other successes that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. And that's the most important thing that I know, but at times, it's hard to appreciate and understand.

Well, that was a lot of slightly random, deep, yet incomprehensible piles of thoughts for a Sunday morning. Thanks for sticking with me.

Sunsets and Saltwater

 

Isn't it magical how golden hour can make you feel so alive and full of life?

Add in a hazy evening that makes everything look a little dreamier and some choppy water that catches the light just so, and one can easily forget the rest of the world and all their worries. Everything close by looks bright and alive, and everything in the distance is so soft. The ambiance is something hard to match. It can make you feel like you're in a world of your own, far away from any worries, anxiety or sadness. How could you be anything but blissful when you are in the middle of a golden world?

This little dock just before sunset is one of the places I feel like I could live my entire life without ever growing tired of it.

Newport, I love you. So dearly.

Have a beautiful weekend. I'll be chasing more sunsets.

Nearly in Bloom

You might remember this post from last year about the daffodil field on Cape Cod that a man planted in memory of his beloved wife.

Well, this beautiful patch of land on the side of one of the most scenic drives along the length of the Cape is nearly in bloom.  

Well, at least it was roughly two weeks ago. By now, I'm sure it's a field of golden dreams.

I am so in love with this place. Perhaps it's the beautiful story of an undying love between a man and his sweetheart. Perhaps because you can't look out at a field of golden yellow without a smile on your face. Or perhaps because this field signifies so much more to me. The beginning of a season of good things. Things that aren't visible to anyone except for at their peak for a few precious weeks out of the year. 

Most people don't know this field exists unless they happen to drive by during one of those weeks. But there are some of us that do know what's beneath the green grass, the leaves after fall and the snow in the winter. We know there is promise for a beauty that we can only see briefly, yet it exists beneath the surface year round. 

These blooming beauties made me see the brightness among all the grey even though their golden glow was barely visible until you walked among them. They haven't been at their prime in nearly a year, yet here they are. As lovely as ever. Ready to bloom. Ready for big things to happen.

Breaking Bread

I know, you might be confusing yourself and thinking this is the Betty Crocker website. 

Nope, it's just me.

Pretending to be Betty.

Pretty convincing, yes?

Well if you've been around these parts for a long time now {God bless you if you have}, you know that recipe posts on this little space of mine have been few and far between. I'm usually in the group that prefers to have people who know what they're doing prepare my meals. 

Up until about a year ago. Then I decided to give the cooking thing a try in an attempt to stop being so wasteful spending money on going out for every meal and also to try to live a healthier lifestyle. 

I found this recipe from The Comfort of Cooking on Pinterest a few weeks ago, and thought I'd give it a whirl with my big kid kitchen accessories.

Side note: what is it about pastel colored Kitchen Aid mixers that makes you feel like an unstoppable force in the kitchen? I have no idea either. But it sure makes my inner domestic goddess' ego shine.

So one Saturday, I surprised even myself and whipped out a beautiful loaf of bread that left that incredible fresh bread smell wafting through my kitchen for a few days. You all, it even tasted good. Like made me never want to buy a loaf of bread from the grocery store {ever} again kind of good. The one thing about this recipe I would have done differently is add just a wee bit less salt. But otherwise, oatmeal wheat bread perfection, if I do say so myself.

Making Martha proud since 2014. I knew I'd grow a few domestic skills eventually. Maybe by 30 I'll be able to sew a button on a shirt.

A Winter Stroll

Well that was a very unintended little hiatus from my little space. Sometimes I get too busy living life, but that's a good problem to have. The last month has had precious few slow moments, but it has also been filled with so much happiness and fun. I guess that's really just the pace of my life, not just the last month, if I'm being honest. Sometimes it exhausts me, but I wouldn't change a thing. To have so many loved ones to visit, afternoons filled with laughing and fun, and late nights catching up with friends is a beautiful thing.

The few quiet days I've had lately have been just as wonderful. Catching up on sleep and taking long walks have been my favorite way to pass time this winter. Even with the frigid cold and high winds, fresh air can really renew the spirit and reenergize you. 

These pictures were taken at the end of February when temperatures hit a high of 40{!} here on the Rhode Island coast. Although signs of spring have been more and more present since last week {we were in the 50s this past weekend!}, it seemed as though the subfreezing temperatures would never end. I don't think I've ever been more ready for spring and sunshine! But beautiful February days like these would refresh me and ease my impatience for warmer days!

Looking forward to catching up with everyone over the next week. It's hard to believe it's already April - as always, time is flying by me! 

Plant Life

A home doesn't seem completely home if there aren't any fresh blooms nearby. I don't have any outdoor space of my own, so having fresh flowers on a weekly basis is my way of bringing nature inside. Not to mention they smell delicious and add some brightness and warmth to the increasingly frigid New England winter weather.

Hello, spring? Can you hear me?

No?

Thought so.

So these little blessings found at Trader Joe's and various other grocery stores will have to do the trick until warm weather decides to descend upon New England.

Also, I'm looking for words of wisdom when it comes to succulents. I've killed five {FIVE!} so far, and I really have no idea what I'm doing wrong. People swore up and down it's hard to kill succulents, but apparently they have't met me. Anyone have advice on how to keep those little beauties alive? Or is it just that I have a blackthumb when it comes to keeping plants alive for more than a week?