One Warm Winter Night...

A week ago yesterday was our neighborhood's annual luminary lighting. Though it didn't feel much like the holidays as it was somewhere around 50 degrees out.

We took a little walk around and enjoyed the candlelight and the modern equivalents.

We had both going inside as well.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas or your holiday of choice this season!

O, Cwistmas Twee

As for the title, I am watching The Princess Bride as I type, so really, what choice did I have? We got a nice little twee three weeks ago (nearly) already (!) from the local lot, stuck it on a bucket so that we could see it from the sofa, used burlap for a skirt, transferred lights that were strung up around our screened porch...

tinsel or bead garland? Greg fought for the beads and won...

+ some ribbon...

+ some more ribbon + vintage baubles I found at a thrift store last year.

and then this came in the mail last weekend, a pre-x-mas gift from some great friends, a Cwistmas pickle, the finishing touch! 

Meet the Kids

Formal introductions here on the blog. Piper, the black lab and Elphie, the siamese x american shorthair, or something like that. I love it when they pose themselves. 

Exploration: Near Before Far

Last Friday, husband kind of took the day off (there were a couple of lengthy work phone calls in there) and we did a little culinary exploration/revisitation. As it turns out, we will indeed be moving in the spring, out west. Right now it's between Seattle, Portland, and Denver. He will be working in sales and the only constraint on our location is that it must be near a hub, so the final decision rests on my job prospects. I am looking for work related to my archaeology degree, and if I have a specific offer in hand, that's where we'll go. If the time comes and I haven't gotten a particular position, I think Seattle will be the winner. For several reasons including lifestyle, amenities, and potential prospects for me on both ends of my employment spectrum, the opposite of archaeology being flower-related. And Seattle is a hotbed for local flower love.

We paid a first-time visit to Commonwealth Sandwich Bar for lunch. Delicious. Will definitely miss the Columbus food scene, for it is top notch.

I had the Urban Cowboy involving pork shoulder, bacon and gorgonzola and Greg had the Chicken Club. We had slaw and fries on the side and a Mexican Coke. Mmmmmm cane sugar.

Next we drove down to German Village and peeped at Christmas decorations, then stopped into Pistacia Vera for macaroons and coffee to go. The classic pistachio is hard to beat. Good thing this place is safely at the other end of town.

It was rainy, so we decided to just come back to the cozy home until it was time to go out for a drink at House Wine and dinner (another first-time visit) at Pies and Pints here in Worthington, where on the whole, we were pleased with both the quality of pizza and beer. 

So not a let's-be-skinny day, but there was exercise had over the course of the weekend at least. 

More on the move as it becomes available.

Growing Seasons

Some of the lettuce and arugula I sowed way back when. Still going strong, thus far untouched by frosts and freezes, bunnies and deers, despite being completely unprotected due to my never getting around to doing anything to protect it. 50 and even 60 degree November and December days have aided in it's longevity too. We're having a little cold snap right now, but it looks like the warm temps will be back. Last winter was creepily mild, and so far this one's shaping up the same way.

This came in the mail the other day, featuring super-lovely Pink Senorita Zinnias on the cover of which I grew a nice little crop this summer. They were the stars of whatever arrangement they went into.

Not sure where the garden will be next year, nor if it will be a whole plot of flowers, herbs and veg or a few pots on a patio. But that doesn't make all of the possibilities a seed catalog in the mail (especially Baker Creek) holds any less exciting. I will continue to be and grow as a gardener, if not a flower farmer. More details soon.

On the Coffee Table...

I got out of the habit of reading regularly early this year. Struggling to get through magazines, let alone books. Though I never ceased to be good at collecting both. And I mean the real, bound, print-on-paper deal. No electronic reading devices here. 
There are a couple of books that I started and then put down that I really want to get back to, but I always struggle to revisit books that I've abandoned. Do I start over, or just skim to refresh then pick up where I left off? And what to do in the case of a series left off in the middle of?  So for months I would just surf the interwebs instead of facing my "to read" pile. I take comfort in doubting that I'm the only one that grapples with such debilitating problems related to reading for pleasure. :)
I decided to start this week with a couple of virgin-to-me titles to get past my reader's block. In the meantime I instituted a moratorium on printed word purchases. That calls for a sigh. 

Bye, Fall

The little pile o' pumpkins centerpiece is hitting the compost pile today. Going to start in on the winter holiday decorating. 

We had a very nice Thanksgiving holiday back in Illinois with family and friends. Feeling pretty overstuffed after, I resolved to eat better and get back to regular exercise. Ummmm, that's going ok so far, except for the croissant, bacon, and rum cake-in-a-jar  (first go at the recipe and a baking triumph, so I especially don't regret that one) yesterday. But they were had sort of in moderation and paired with some redeemingly healthy things. 

I've also been looking to do something healthy for what's upstairs, which I do believe trickles down to everything else, so I've decided to give the whole mindfulness/meditation thing a try. I got this app and did day one Monday and really enjoyed it. I missed yesterday, boo, but I think I might restart today and try to get the husband on board.


Last week was a very good week for Unknown Blackbird on Etsy. Adding more things leading up to the holidays.


Our (eight year old) puppy had surgery on Monday to have a couple of lumps removed. She is resting comfortably as is our agoraphobic cat who had her annual trip to the vet also on Monday followed by a very traumatic bath (for she and I) after she wee-ed in her crate on the way home.

One last thing, I changed my user name on Pinterest and something went wrong and now I can't get at my stuff. But they're telling me all is safe and sound and not to worry, they're working on it. So my P button is temporarily (hopefully) broken. Maybe meditation day two now for a little perspective. Back soon.