Category Archives: home

hello, august

I’m currently hyperfixating on getting a kitten.

And no, it’s not an unfounded obsession.

Last week Taylor adopted her first cat from a friend of a friend who had a stray show up on her porch. When Taylor brought the little black-and-white beauty home the whole thing was a bit sus, and now our suspicions have been pretty much confirmed by the vets: little miss Agnes is preggers. She is with child. She has buns in the oven. She’s eating for two (or eight).

I’m thrilled. My cousin Maddie is thrilled. Taylor is thrilled (after initially having an anxiety attack about it). Assuming that all goes well, and that Agnes pops out at least three healthy babies, the three musketeers™ will all be adopting sibling kittens. How cute is that!?! I’m obsessed with this idea (and yes, we already have a group chat going).

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cocaine, dopamine, and other drugs

Yesterday I found myself on a park bench watching the ducks and geese and chimney swifts while the sun set in the hazy sky. I was just sittin’ and thinkin’ about how crazy it is that life is just a series of getting addicted to one thing after another, and then inevitably withdrawing from each one.

Just hear me out.

Sure there are the obvious (and often harmful) addictions, but discovering a new song that you play on repeat? Creating a good habit that makes you feel good? Creating a bad habit that makes you feel good? Making fun purchases? Talking to someone you like or love? Hanging out with friends? Good foods? Good shows?? Good books???

They all give you that hit of dopamine or serotonin or oxytocin (or all of the above) that we all ~~want~~ need so badly.

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happiness

This week I’ve been focusing on the simple task of being happy.

And by simple, you know I mean arduous.

Okay listen, I haven’t lost it completely…the foundation that I so carefully constructed during the last 6 months is still there…underneath some rubble. A serious lack of blue skies, a desk that is sticky from the constant humidity, and some unexpected happenings that have happened have caused a few recent earthquakes. Or maybe some natural, beneficial forest fires.

(it’s yet to be determined)

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bones

Recently I accidently got super into animal skulls.

Let me explain.

Last year my 20-year-old cat (Oscar) died. It was from an illness or infection related to old age, and she died 3 minutes before midnight while me, my younger sister, and my mom sat around a bonfire with her (that in itself was a strange story for another day).

As many of you know, my family and I live out in the country, so we naturally have a lot of wild predatory animals around us. And when one of our pets dies, we simply put their bodies out in the field to continue the cycle of life. C’est la vie.

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garden planting

In the last week of May Mom, Riley Mae, and I planted our gardens — one of my favorite times of the year.

Sure, my family and I always tend to lose some interest in the gardens during the hottest dog days of summer, and then we kinda just let them go to do their thing (we’re always surprised to go out to harvest the winter squashes and discover just how many were hidden in the leaves!).

But springtime? We love getting everything all cleaned up, going out every morning to water, and seeing the baby plants grow!

irises (left), and bleeding hearts (right) blooming

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the meadow

This year my family and I decided to let our front yard grow up into a meadow…and to say that we’re excited about it would be an understatement.

**sulphur cinquefoil** (*Potentilla recta*)

click on the photos to enlarge them

The backyard is where we spend almost all of our outdoor time. The deck is back there, the gardens are back there, the chickens are back there, the trees are back there, and it’s pretty much completely hidden from the road. It’s our little oasis (when the neighbors aren’t being too noisy, that is).

Aaaaand as for the front yard, it’s pretty much been wasted space.

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