Yikes!

Thank goodness it was just a dream...I dreamt last night that Tom Brady was my son and Giselle Bundchen my daughter-in-law, and I have to admit I wasn't very welcoming to her. Not too thrilled with him either. On the other hand, as Marty pointed out, having a helicopter pilot in the family would certainly feed my desire to travel the world.

But I much prefer the son I have, and was delighted when I woke up to realize this was just a dream. Still, that helicopter's got me thinking...

** photo of Giselle with her helicopter pilot instructor from Ian Nolan/Splash news

Jewels

Even though I've already blown my budget on tea and a sponsor ad today, I'm so tempted to totally wipe myself out and buy a necklace from one of my favorite jewelry artisans, JmebyJaime. She uses a lot of precious gems and stones and the weight of her work is lovely. I bought a couple of her bracelets years ago, and have been wearing them a lot lately.

Thought I'd look her up to see if she's still out there creating and she is. Check out her amazing sale!

Etsy

I've not had anything in my etsy shop for quite some time but thought I'd give it a go again with my latest idea. I love Persephone books but I'm not about to start a publishing company reprinting some of my favorite OOP (out-of-print in library lingo) books, or just plain favorites from my reading history. But I do love books and I do love tea, both of which I also like to share.

So my etsy shop is now a place where I will sell vintage and thrifted, otherwise homeless books along with some of my favorite teas. The catch is of course, trust. The customer trusting that the book I send they will enjoy because I am covering the books with maps and brochures from my travels. So there will be no conscious choice in this other than that someone decides they need a book and some tea (or perhaps a friend needs it), and I am the book lover to send it, so it is sent. I will also have no idea what book I am sending out to someone.

Why? Sometimes surprises are good. And sometimes what appears to be a surprise at the time may prove to be synchronicity. Like maybe there is a particular book someone is needing to read or reread and through no conscious work on my part or theirs, that is the book that appears in their mailbox. The only choices will be around the tea -- and that I'm working on. For now I just have vanilla rooibos. And sometimes I'll probably include a couple vegan cookies for good measure (I'm having a ball creating recipes for them and sharing the cookies). Just because. It's kinda fun, you know?

Thelma and Louise

I'm off to the library soon before they close for the holiday. Thelma and Louise have been beckoning to me for quite some time. I need an adventure like theirs minus the problems with the law. I think while I'm at it, it's also time to pick up Home for the Holidays for my annual viewing.

Why-tos and wherefores...or something like that

Actually, I was just trying to think of a clever name for a post. I haven't much felt like writing blogs since the laptop crashed, as this computer just has too much stuff on it (and that confuses me, distracts me and so on from my work, more than the usual internet routine). I also don't like to blog when I'm in pessimist mode.

I've been rather gloomy lately, my mood matching the weather. Intended to edit some photos for my etsy shop, but cannot find or open the files on this computer. Just as well because I need to get out while the day is young -- scoot to Falmouth and possibly Sandwich for some fresh Thanksgiving veggies.

I haven't been totally grousing lately -- still enjoying books, old movies and developing vegan cookie recipes -- low in sugar, high in fiber (trying all kinds of flours but my old unbleached standby). No matter how down I get, I never lose my enthusiasm for simple baking. Maybe it's because of the yummy reward afterwards? My latest experiments -- peanut butter cookies and then gingersnaps yesterday turned out awesome if I do say so myself (Marty, who is Mr. Carnivore himself agrees they are dynamite).

I leave you with my latest polaroid of the Beech Tree, taken this past weekend. It about sums up how I've been feeling -- bare, exposed, worn.

Crash

My laptop crashed on me the other night and I am hoping it's just the battery. I am one of those foolish people who did not back up her files on a portable hard drive. On the other hand, not having the laptop available forces me to connect with people in real world time and space, and that is always a good thing, though I am enjoying keeping up with some of my new blog friends, and hoping to meet them someday even.

Don't have an edited photo handy and Marty will need this computer soon, so I'm leaving you with a quote from my Simple Abundance reading from today. It's one of my favorites and I quote it often:

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." -Jane Howard

Blank --> Tall Skinny Bitter

I had a post in mind earlier this evening on our way back from Roche Brothers but by now I have totally forgotten it. Wish I'd noted it someplace but oh well. My -- all of a sudden I realized what it was! My eggnog latte made me think of it! Had stopped at Starbucks earlier to see if they were hiring because I have been bitten by the barista bug. I found the book Tall Skinny Bitter in a coffee shop a couple of weeks ago and love it! It was written by a Northwestern barista, and while they don't like Starbucks, pickin's are slim here on Cape Cod, and I just want to learn the trade. It could be fun, it could be hellacious, but I won't know until I try and it certainly looks fun -- and all the people in the book say it is fun, so why not? AJ, the Starbucks barista I've known for a few years now, was there tonight, gave me an app, and she said it is a lot of fun, so I'll see. Granted, most baristas are half my age, but they'll catch up.

While Amazon's image was better, Sasquatch Books is the publisher. I'm on my way over to request their catalog.