Dream job...

2007. That's when I graduated from college. I still have no idea what it is I'm supposed to do with the rest of my life. You know how some people just seem born for a certain career? My sister, for example, just seems like she should be a nurse, or a charity worker, or have some job involving nurturing people. Some look like they belong behind a desk, working numbers all day while others seem like they belong in front of a classroom with a dry erase marker in their hands. But when I think about what category I fit into, I get stuck. I can be content doing a number of things, and my degree has trained me to be able to think, learn quickly, and work hard at whatever I am doing. However, there are no jobs that are just begging for a "B.A. in Liberal Arts and Culture" degree. At least not up front on paper. So it makes finding the right job and career difficult. I wouldn't trade it for anything though.

Many people say it's important to get into a job you enjoy. I can enjoy lots of things. But over the past couple days, I got to thinking about the things that actually make me happy and excited. That's when I figured out my dream job. Owning or part-owning and operating a shop like the one I worked at in Moscow, ID: La Bella Vita. It was a little floral and housewares shop located on Main Street on a corner of Friendship Square. Here are a few of the reasons it was so fantastic:

1. It was colorful and cheerful; basically Optimism Central. :)
2. It was a corner shop, meaning it allowed all kinds of sunshine in.3. We got to play with flowers all day. Well, arrange them, and it was fun!
4. We sold beautiful hostess gifts and got to wrap them up in pretty packages.
5. On Saturday mornings we got to see people going to and from the farmer's market across the street with their fresh vegetables and whatnot. Sometimes there was live music in the square.
6. The best coffee shop in the world was a few shops down.
7. We got to give people ideas about what would look lovely in their home.

The list really does go on and on. But here are some pictures for ya...

 

  

  

See what I mean??? :)

Tonight's Dinner Conversation...

was a little random.

Steph: There's probably a lot of mold and mildew there.
Me: And ladybugs.
Steph: Something about that church always reminds me of the color yellow. And the worst shade of yellow ever. I think it had to do with an Easter egg hunt.
Me: Yeah I used to have a recurring dream that I fell from the ceiling onto the altar. Maybe I had some unconfessed sin.
Dad: I hate baby corns.
Steph: Jenn, your eyes really look baggy today. Like that girl you said needed some concealer.
Me: I said she had dark circles.
Steph: You have both.

And there it is. At least a snippet of it. For some reason it just made me laugh. :)

Just a mix post...

So this post is like a mix tape except instead of songs, it's topics. I figure there's really nothing too small to talk about and besides...that's what paragraphs are for anyway, right? You can just skip to what you want to read. :)

This morning, I was reminded that Atlanta traffic is among my least favorite things in the whole wide world. If I never had to drive in it again, I wouldn't be disappointed. 1-2 hours of nonstop jaw clenching, brake tapping, accident avoiding, muscle tensing stress is just not my cup of coffee. Some people love that kind of life and I fall into the other category. And I love where I live. Just a small town - not rural, not big city. But all the same, I should be thankful for traffic. Or at least the fact that I have the privilege to drive at all.

Yesterday I was reminded of how much I love Soft Scrub. Cleans a kitchen sink better than anything and leaves the washcloth/sponge smelling nice to boot.

Also. Time for fall baking! Yesterday I made some snickerdoodle cookies that turned out quite fantastic. And that is a surprise. The running joke in the family is that every dessert I ever bake always tastes like sugar cookies. Even if it's a chocolate ganache cake. So. This was a real victory. Let's just not mind the fact that a snickerdoodle is very similar to a sugar cookie. Trust me. They taste like snickerdoodles are supposed to taste. Maybe I'll put up the recipe.

Caramel sauce was also on the agenda - I have a fantastic recipe from an issue of Southern Living a few years back. We made it in college a few times and ate it with apples as a midnight snack...ah yes. Who is healthy in college? Hollandaise sauce, anyone?

And wouldn't you know it, today is GORGEOUS. Far too pretty outside to be typing away on the computer inside.

College football starts up this weekend! Go Dawgs!

Which would you rather do or go camping?

Camping, of course! Just one of the many questions Granddaddy asks. :)

Just got back from Cades Cove this afternoon. Definitely wasn't ready to come back.The weather was perfect - couldn't have been more perfect, actually. It will probably be a late fall there, considering it's been a pretty wet summer. Trees are still going strong and green.

We spent about five hours at Mom and Dad's new place/cabin/log home extraordinaire, exploring, thinking about the layout, how we (the sister and I) could help decorate, what would look good where, and why in the world did they choose the 3 foot fireplace over the 5 foot one? Dad explained. But would more heat really escape out the fireplace if it was just that much bigger??? I know. He's right. :) I'm just a very opinionated daughter. Either way the house is really coming along and they're still thinking it will be complete within a year's time from start to finish! That means they're looking at about starting the move in February or March.

Sitting around the campfiire with Granddaddy and Grandma is one of the best things in the world. Grandma's always insisting everybody just stay where they are while she makes popcorn or gets out all the fixins for hot dogs. "How about some chow chow? Y'all want some pork and beans? No you just stay there. I've got it." Granddaddy's just being goofy and telling us stories about a thrifty colonel he worked for in the Air Force or picking on Dad: "Kirby, would you rather be here on Monday, or go to work? You don't have to answer right now you know."

This trip was  a little sad though. Granddaddy and Grandma always run into people they know at the campground, but as they've gotten older, the abundance of friends has started wearing thin. Granddaddy explained that all his friends have started to pass away and their spouses just don't go camping anymore either. It's not often Granddaddy's voice takes a solemn or sad tone, so it's always hard to hear when it does. I was kinda wishing we'd have more time to stay, just so we could be their camping buddies for a while. I think he's going to call his friend Bill Sharp (who's too old and ill to go camping alone anymore but not too far to visit) to come up and stay a few hours. Everyone loves Mr. Sharp. I have no idea how old he is. But it's very. He and his dog Roxy have been camping up there for years and years and years etc. And he always has a friendly smile and story. Old people are the best company around a campfire. Or anytime for that matter.

As a side note, lately I've been reading Louis L'Amour's Education of a Wandering Man. Well, I took a break to read Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl by N.D. Wilson (which I should write about later). But Education. It's a fantastic read. Who knew that a book of memoirs could be so interesting??? Still reading through, taking notes etc. Some books you just wish wouldn't end anytime soon.

Well I have some unpacking to do now. Happy rest of the Sabbath!

Dessert Tables

Is this not one of the best ideas for a dessert table ever?

 

The designer's name is Amy Atlas. And this is her site.

It's not fall yet...

But it almost is!

All summer, we look forward to the beach trip to St. Augustine, FL. It's a beautiful little town with lots of history, uncrowded beaches, and one of  the best snowcone stand in the world. That snowcone stand houses a bagillion flavors. Not even kidding.

 

Popular flavors this year: Bahama Mama (Steph), Irish Cream (Allie), Grape (Dad), Sugar Free Strawberry (Mom). I never stick with just one, so I picked a different one every time. And all this about snowcones is NOT the point of this post. 

What it comes down to is that we love the beach trip. But the minute we get back, it's time to gear up for fall. For sure. And there really is no better way to get excited about fall than to go camping at Cades Cove. Just look.

 

  

  

 

This view, mixed with Appalachian music, a campfire, a puffy vest (as one of my best friends, Lindsey, reminded me) apples, a little river, and that barely warm clear fall sunlight that you can't capture in pictures...is perfect. The Smokies are small mountains, at least in comparison to the ones out west, but there's something so cozy, calm and comfortable about them with all their colors and warmth. (Except Metcalf Bottoms. There's definitely something creepy about that place) Everyone you meet at Cades Cove is friendly, even if they aren't rooting for your favorite team in the SEC, and has most likely been camping there for years too. My family's been going to the Smokies every fall and more, ever since my mom was little. Now my parents are building a retirement home there. Haha not really a "retirement home"; just one that they will live in once they retire. :)

So yes. We are off to the Smokies tomorrow to go camping with Granddaddy and Grandma, and looking forward to welcoming in fall. Fall is amazing.

God is most certainly good.

What's this about?

What is this blog even going to be about? Oh, I'd say just about anything and everything...times infinity. Or maybe not times infinity...but I just like saying that, so it's going to stick. No takebacks. :)

I'm guessing this blog will be mostly about what I love. It will probably not be too orderly as I get distracted very easily...SQUIRREL! But it will definitely have to do with decorating, something funny, something strange, and something small and seemingly insignificant that I am completely fascinated with or by. Sentence ending in a preposition right there by the way. Do prepositional phrases count too? I can't remember.

Today, Mom just went out west on a roadtrip with her friend Mrs. Young. They migrate there every SuFall. That's the season between summer and fall for those of you who missed that class. Right now they're in Oklahoma City and they've only just left this morning. They're heading over to Arches National Park as their first stop to...I'm not exactly sure of the destination. But I think for Mom (on a roadtrip), every stop is the destination, as there is rarely a state park, national park, or monument that goes untrodden by her rather short legs and size 6 1/2 shoe. At least if it is somewhere off the road in the general direction she's going.

They drove Mrs. Young's car. I wonder if Mrs. Young is letting Mom listen to Jonn Denver on repeat. Mrs. Young doesn't listen to much music in the car. She listens to ball games. Mr. Young listens to sermons and lectures and other smart stuff. But he didn't go on the trip, so I guess Mom and Mrs. Young won't learn anything or get more holy. At least not through the speakers in the car.

I do miss them already though!

This is longer than I was anticipating...Goodnight!

First Post....

Well. This is my first post. I’m drafting it on Word. Why? Because I wanted to get started on this post tonight but after much thought (about 15 minutes worth), I couldn’t come up with an appropriate name. I asked my sister what I should name it and she came up with “I Have Room A.D.D” which I believe means that she noticed I redecorated my room again.