{Gratitude} Lately

Lately I've been thankful for chocolate and coffee for breakfast.

For thrifted sweaters and the warmth of wool.

For pulled handles and trimmed mugs.

For creaky hardwoods and sweet conversations on the floor.

  For road trips and Airstreams found in old barns.

For bacon and bibs.

For snow days and time off from work.



For reclaimed barn wood and handmade dining room tables.

And for tree shadows and returning to cities that feel like home.
What have you been grateful for lately?
Here's to gratitude and how it turns everything into enough.
Happy Thursday, brave ones!

{Pottery Class}

“Be curious. Try new things. What people call intelligence just boils down to curiosity.”
- Aaron Swartz

The above quote inspired me to take a 6 week pottery class that started at the beginning of the year.
I enjoyed it so much that I signed up for another 6 week class that starts on Monday!

I never expected to fall in love with pottery at age 32.
A great reminder to never stop being curious and trying new things. 
Happy Wednesday, brave ones.

{Today's Letters}

Dear Mr. Loerke, while passing through Asheville on Sunday I couldn't help but think about our fishing trip there last fall. The South Mills River gave you one of the most beautiful brown's I've ever seen! Dear Bek, last week we made lots of progress on your new chicken coop. Thankful to have another woman in my life who knows how to operate a circular saw. Dear South Carolina, yesterday we got 9 hours of sleep, watched 2 movies, and ate 4 different kinds of cake before 3pm. I love this state. Dear Timothy James, today is National Pistachio Day. Pretty sure this means we should celebrate by baking these. Over and out. 

Happy Tuesday! What have you been baking lately?

{Foxhollow Farm}

On Saturday my friend Molly and I attended a workshop at Foxhollow Farm taught by
Tennessee's well known barefoot gardener, Jeff Poppen.
Jeff stressed the importance of having the correct balance of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium in your soil. 
{An incorrect soil pH results in spotted & wilted greens}.
We also learned about biodynamic farming, irrigation, fertilizers,
companion plants, tilling, and compost.
I left feeling inspired and motivated to start building our raised beds soon after
moving into our new house.
After all, there's nothing quite like pickling your own cukes or eating BLT's with homegrown tomatoes.
Happy Monday, brave ones!
What are you looking forward to planting this year?

{Only Love by Ben Howard} Brit Awards Performance

Two Brit awards and this performance of Only Love. I'd say it's been a good week for BH.
Happy Saturday.

{Fist Pump Friday!}

{Nathalie, Allison & Mollie : Samford University : Zeta Tau Alpha's "The Help" : Step Sing 2013}

{Elisif : Highest Point on the Annapurna Circuit : Thorung La Pass : 17, 769 ft : Nepal}

FPF challenge photos: 1) while riding an elephant 2) with your mailman 3) in front of Antique Archaeology in Nashville 4) with Twinner at Local123 5) at your favorite BBQ joint 6) at the Pyramids in Egypt 7) at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo 8) after running a marathon 9) in front of the Sistine Chapel in Rome 10) in front of your sorority / fraternity house 11) at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC 12) with your grandma or grandpa 13) with your favorite professor or teacher 14) at Caine's Arcade 15) by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco 16) with Katie Davis in Uganda or at Catalyst Dallas 17) on a sailboat 18) while cheering on your favorite team at the ballpark 19) in front of the Sydney Opera House in Australia 20) camping with friends 21) at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC 22) at Old Faithful in WY 23) at the Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox Statue in Bemidji, MN 24) at the World's Largest Peanutin Ashburn, GA 25) before / after sky diving 26) while stuffing your boca with fried goodness at your local State Fair 27) with your friends at a college football game 28) while fly fishing 30) at Carhenge in Alliance, NE 31) while rocking your Halloween costume 32) with the Fremont Bridge Troll in Seattle 33) on top of the Empire State building in NYC 34) while rocking tacky Christmas sweaters 35) in front of your favorite brewery 36) eating a cinnamon roll at Please & Thank You in Louisville 37) on top of Mount Agung in Bali 38) with Naomi, Josh, Eleanor or Samson Davis of Rockstar Diaries 39) in front of the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas 40) in Patagonia, Chile or 41) while learning something new. To participate email photos to em@todaysletters.com. Happy freaking Friday, Homies!

PS, Each week we receive several FPF photos that can't be posted on the blog due to photo quality. We'd love to encourage you to 1) take your FPF photo horizontally (when possible) 2) use an SLR camera (no blurry cell phone pictures) and 3) take your photos in the daylight. Thanks!

{Today's Letters}

Dear Mr. Loerke, last week I had a student tell me he couldn't focus unless he had a clean work environment so I let him sweep the floor. I love my job. Dear Hillbilly Tea, five bonus points for presentation. My roasted cauliflower and hazelnut soup was just as amazing as the antique silver spoon and wooden plank it was served on. Dear The One and Only Ivan, I never expected to learn so much from a baby elephant, gorilla, and stray dog. Thanks for being one of the best books on friendship I've ever read. Dear Timothy James, yesterday I found myself getting just as excited about our new washer and dryer as I did my first banana seat bicycle. I am. old.

Happy Wednesday, brave ones! What good books have you been reading lately?

{Gratitude} Lately

Lately I've been thankful for Sunday traditions and baristas who whisper before 9am.

For basement burgers and truffle fries.

For handcrafted gifts and the anticipation of spring.

For monthly baking goals and bread that rises.

For freshly squeezed OJ and the selflessness of others.

For afternoon coffee and consistent wavers.



And for rocky mountain chai served with a side of intentional conversations.
What have you been grateful for lately?
Here's to gratitude and how it turns everything into enough.
Happy Monday, brave ones!

{Neon Drag by Melaena Cadiz}

Sounds best when served with a cinnamon roll and dirty chai from Please & Thank You.
Happy Saturday.

{Fist Pump Friday!}

{Ashley Tangen : Please & Thank You : Louisville, KY : FPF Challenge Photo Winner!}

{Kelsey, Sarah & Morgan : Taylor University Students : Peace Pagoda : Pokhara, Nepal}

{Cami & Gregg's little, Owen Player : 4 months old : Northern, VA : }

Thanks to Ashley we can now cross off another FPF challenge photo from our list. Here are some others: 1) while riding an elephant 2) with your mailman 3) in front of Antique Archaeology in Nashville 4) with Twinner at Local123 5) at your favorite BBQ joint 6) at the Pyramids in Egypt 7) at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo 8) after running a marathon 9) in front of the Sistine Chapel in Rome 10) in front of your sorority / fraternity house 11) at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC 12) with your grandma or grandpa 13) with your favorite professor or teacher 14) at Caine's Arcade 15) by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco 16) with Katie Davis in Uganda or at Catalyst Dallas 17) on a sailboat 18) while cheering on your favorite team at the ballpark 19) in front of the Sydney Opera House in Australia 20) camping with friends 21) at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC 22) at Old Faithful in WY 23) at the Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox Statue in Bemidji, MN 24) at the World's Largest Peanutin Ashburn, GA 25) before / after sky diving 26) while stuffing your boca with fried goodness at your local State Fair 27) with your friends at a college football game 28) while fly fishing 30) at Carhenge in Alliance, NE 31) while rocking your Halloween costume 32) with the Fremont Bridge Troll in Seattle 33) on top of the Empire State building in NYC 34) while rocking tacky Christmas sweaters 35) in front of your favorite brewery 36) eating a cinnamon roll at Please & Thank You in Louisville 37) on top of Mount Agung in Bali 38) with Naomi, Josh, Eleanor or Samson Davis of Rockstar Diaries 39) in front of the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas 40) in Patagonia, Chile or 41) while learning something new. To participate email photos to em@todaysletters.com. Happy freaking Friday, Homies!

PS, Each week we receive several FPF photos that can't be posted on the blog due to photo quality. We'd love to encourage you to 1) take your FPF photo horizontally (when possible) 2) use an SLR camera (no blurry cell phone pictures) and 3) take your photos in the daylight. Thanks!

{Today's Letters}

Dear Mr. Loerke, what do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day? Wait for it ... waaaait for it ... Hogs and kisses! Can I have both? #baconme Dear February, you make everything look magical when covered in snow, especially beehives. Dear Jeff Poppen, you had me at your Carhartt overalls and bare feet. I have a feeling I'm going to learn a lot from your gardening workshop next weekend. Dear Timothy James {who always gets two letters}, I love you. Even more than bacon, beehives, and bare feet.

Happy Valentine's Day, brave ones! You are loved, loved, loved!

{Ready for Spring}

While walking yesterday I thought about all the reasons why I'm looking forward to Spring;
Runs at Cherokee Park, getting my hands in the dirt, moving into our new home, farmers markets, ordering our bees, open windows, camping at the Gorge, hanging our porch swing, after supper bici rides, mowing our lawn ... so many wonderful things to embrace with the changing of the seasons.

What are you most looking forward to this Spring?

{Today's Letters}

Dear Mr. Loerke, you've had two weeks off to do things like study at coffee shops and fish at Floyds Fork. Grateful that you play just as hard as you work. Dear Friends, since substitute teaching I've A) caught one of my students rolling a joint with a Zig Zag wrapper and eraser shavings B) asked a 6th grader the meaning behind his tattoo and C) observed a group of female students tucking their book fair money into their bras. I love my life. Dear Nashville, you're less than 3 hours away. I see a road trip in our future. Dear Timothy James PA-C, today is your second day at a new ER. Pretty sure this means you'll need two cupcakes when you get home.

Happy Monday, brave ones! Have you ever been to Nashville? If so, we'd love to hear any recommendations you have on places to eat and things to do there!

{Fist Pump Friday!}

{Matt : Winter Park, CO : Mary Jane : Double Fist Pumps for a new GoPro!}

{Gabriel Makowski : Snowmobile Trip to Old Faithful : Wyoming : Yellowstone National Park}

FPF challenge photos : 1) while riding an elephant 2) with your mailman 3) in front of Antique Archaeology in Nashville 4) with Twinner at Local123 5) at your favorite BBQ joint 6) at the Pyramids in Egypt 7) at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo 8) after running a marathon 9) in front of the Sistine Chapel in Rome 10) in front of your sorority / fraternity house 11) at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC 12) with your grandma or grandpa 13) with your favorite professor or teacher 14) at Caine's Arcade 15) by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco 16) with Katie Davis in Uganda or at Catalyst Dallas 17) on a sailboat 18) while cheering on your favorite team at the ballpark 19) in front of the Sydney Opera House in Australia 20) camping with friends 21) at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC 22) at Old Faithful in WY 23) at the Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox Statue in Bemidji, MN 24) at the World's Largest Peanutin Ashburn, GA 25) before / after sky diving 26) while stuffing your boca with fried goodness at your local State Fair 27) with your friends at a college football game 28) while fly fishing 30) at Carhenge in Alliance, NE 31) while rocking your Halloween costume 32) with the Fremont Bridge Troll in Seattle 33) on top of the Empire State building in NYC 34) while rocking tacky Christmas sweaters 35) in front of your favorite brewery 36) on top of Mount Agung in Bali 37) with Naomi, Josh, Eleanor or Samson Davis of Rockstar Diaries 38) eating a cinnamon roll at Please & Thank You in Louisville 39) in front of the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas or 40) while sledding or skiing. To participate email photos to em@todaysletters.com. Happy freaking Saturday, Homies!

PS, Each week we receive several FPF photos that can't be posted on the blog due to photo quality. We'd love to encourage you to 1) take your FPF photo horizontally (when possible) 2) use an SLR camera (no blurry cell phone pictures) and 3) take your photos in the daylight. Thanks!

{Learning to Walk}

Today I'm thankful for the walks I've had each day since moving to Louisville. They've reminded me to explore the city I call home, to value absence of words as much as I do deep conversations, and to appreciate the the free dog biscuits and poop bags at the corner of Peterson & Frankfort Ave.
* * *
Ralph Waldon Emerson once said, "Few people know how to take a walk. Qualifications for a good one are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity,
good speech, good silence, and nothing too much."
I think Ralph was on to something.

{Today's Letters}

Dear Husband, this weekend we watched a movie, ate French toast for breakfast, put Dermabond on River's paw, and spent time with friends watching the Super Bowl. I love life in Lou. Dear No-Knead Bread, you came, you rose, you conquered. Thanks for invading our bellies and for reminding me that delicious doesn't have to be complicated. Dear Substitute Teaching, I made two mistakes my first day: neglecting to check the school cancellation schedule and forgetting to bring my sled. #snowday Dear Timothy James, thanks for shoveling sidewalks, scraping cars before work, and taking out the recycling. You're amazeballs.

Happy Monday, brave ones! I hope your weekend was restful and marked by some of your favorite childhood memories. Growing up we went sledding at a place called Suicide Hill. If you made it as far as the train tracks you gained instant street cred. Where was your favorite place to go sledding as a kid?