Blessed.

This upcoming week brings St. Francis' Feast Day in the Catholic Church. St. Francis is one of my favorite historical figures and amongst other things he is well known for his love of animals so his feast day often includes a Blessing of the Animals/Pets at many Catholic churches.
I looked up what was going on in our fair city and found that there is a Franciscan monastery within a few miles of where we live AND that they were having a blessing ceremony TODAY for animals & pets.

So we went!

Guinness is now a bit holier.

This particular Franciscan was quite taken by our dog! He called Guinness "beautiful".

It was mostly dogs {& their owners} but I also took note of several cats and there was even a hermit crab.

I love this tradition in the Church and I love the stories of St. Francis.

We walked away with a certificate and a medallion for our pooch to wear on his collar.

Have you ever participated in this? Has your animal been blessed?
Good week ahead to you!
xoxo, natty ♥

Zoo day!

We went to the zoo today!
We saw a Komodo dragon today!
There were pretty skies today!
Good weekend to you {today}!

Onions.

We had our work retreat today; it was SO weird going on a work retreat that wasn't at my old job. Our retreats at the school I taught at always occurred the day before our back-to-school meetings. I loved this ritual of beginning the busy school year with a day of reacquainting and fellowship.
I missed my old coworkers and friends but thoroughly enjoyed today's experience.
It was at a living farm and involved an experiential component meant to be like a day of a slave on an 1800s plantation. It's a really impactful and fascinating lesson as well as a super cool organization that runs the place.
We learned and gardened and shucked chicken poop {literally!} and then did some team-building activities.
Potbelly's provided lunch {delish!} and the weather held out; a lovely day! The only drawback was the profound amount of STINKBUGS gracing us with their buzzing, crawling, and prolific presence. We don't see these guys too often in the Bay Area so I had a learning experience!
I titled this post as I did because the farm's garden has produced award winning onions!
There were other vegetables but the knobs were prominently displayed and looked as pretty as onions can.
Happy weekend to you!

If you read any articles today...

...ake some time to read about human trafficking. This sounds a bit unlike my usual blog posts {food! dogs!} but my new job is in an organization that is fighting this issue and it's something that needs to be known.

This is a good op-ed piece : http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/opinion/kristof-in-obamas-speech-their-voices.html?smid=pl-share

On Tuesday President Obama gave a speech on this issue and I'll try to get up a link for that transcript later today. 

Again, I don't usually get this active on my blog; it's a place for fluff that relaxes my mind but sometimes it's good to "go there".
xoxo, natty ♥

Monumental.

 xoxo, natty ♥

Some color!

Walking home today I looked up.
And I saw colors! Emphasis on the plural!

We're not that far north here so I don't know how much variation we'll see but I'm ready for it!
xoxo, natty ♥

Packers.

Monday is quietly drawing to a close and I'm thinking of a few other happy things...

This morning's run...that's the capitol in the yellow part.

1} Aaron Rodgers is on TV right now. Le swoon.
2} Dinner tonight! Tomato-zucchini casserole!
3} I scored myself a backpack and my little spine {& shoulders!} are already thanking me.
4} My mother has been downright SPOILING us. I could get used to this pampering!
5} My sweet hubby returned safely {albeit a bit bleary eyed} from a weekend away; thank goodness for safe travels!

What's going on in your corner of the world? Are you enjoying pumpkins yet? I have it on my hot list to get us to an apple orchard come heck or high water. Look forward to that, folks!
xoxo, natty ♥

Deer in the city!

September brings beauty to Washington DC. Yesterday it heated up again but today was back to breezy, warm, cool breezes, and bright sunshine. I ventured into Rock Creek Park during my run this morning. This is a beautiful creek {obvi} and trails that run through the middle of the city. I am a nervous sort and don't often explore trails like this when I'm on my own but it was a normal hour {9-ish} on a weekend and, as I deduced, there were beaucoup pedestrians so I felt comfortable.
I trundled along and enjoyed Radiolab and people watching while I got in my miles. And then I saw a deer.
In the middle of Washington DC? I'm new here so I don't know if this is normal; I'm guessing it is? Otherwise people around me would have been freaking out too but as it was, only I stood there mouth agog at this pastoral creature hanging out in an underpass on an urban creek trail.
I obviously didn't get in a picture, I didn't want to scare the guy!

This blurry visage, however, is representative of my excursion this morning. Pretty {when it's in focus}!

Did you have a lovely weekend? Becs, I ADORE that painting.
May your Monday bring you peace and joy!
xoxo, natty ♥

More skies!

There were some threatened storms today but they never came to fruition and I don't think they will.

They sure brought some pretty skies though!

Unfortunately there was a screen in between me and the beauty. And unfortunately I was too lazy to actually go outside and get the shot.
I hope that your weekend has been moving along nicely!
xoxo, natty ♥

The Cauldron.

I'm a walking commuter now and it's about 1.5 miles each way. I'm certainly enjoying this new lifestyle and I hope that I feel the same way come December and January.
I love seeing so many other people walking to work and scurrying to and from the various metro and bus stations; the district is so BUSY.
My other favorite part of the journey is, as I've come to call it, The Cauldron. The Cauldron resides in the yard of a corner home and I think that they're doing some renovation work. There is a decent amount of other stuff laying around in this yard but this guy really speaks to me; in the middle of it all, there's a cauldron!
I hope that it never leaves.

I worked up the courage to take a picture of it today though it came out a bit blurry. I kind of want to go in and decorate it in autumnal colors.

In other news my mama and I are enjoying a relaxing Friday night which is EXACTLY what I needed considering that Monday night did not provide very many hours of rest and it's been a nasty and losing game of catch-up since then. Happy weekend to you!
xoxo, natty ♥

So fast!

We are in the middle of one of those times that moves just super quickly. Being back in work {so grateful!} does that to a girl. It's Monday and then before I know it Friday has arrived. Almost. 
Last night my sweet brother-in-law arranged a West Wing tour of the White House for us; ¡MUCHAS GRACIAS HERMANO-IN-LAW! My mother was thrilled to see this beautiful place and we certainly enjoyed poking around {all within tour limits; don't worry!}.

I tried to get in a question.

My mom has been taking SUCH good care of us! Thank you sooooo much mama! Food, laundry, dog walking...she is SPOILING us. It's an early night before an early day tomorrow and a busy weekend.
xoxo, natty ♥

Rebecca's skies.

xoxo, natty ♥

Un Refugio Para Amor.

Hurricane Maria has landed! And with her come the telenovelas!

We recovered after a late pick up last night that kept us up to a wee small hour. We also made it through a brief but strong and windy storm.

After a quick Trader Joe's pit stop and some delicious Szechuan dinner we are thrilled to be relaxing and enjoying the beginning of a fun visit which will include many novelas; ¡ole!

Clear Eyes Full Heart Can't Lose.

This is a busy week for us here in Logan Circle so I take a moment to ponder some Good Things.

A cheerful attempt at banana grams.

1} We've currently gotten ourselves enmeshed in the final season of the TV show Friday Night Lights. I've waxed poetic on this series before and we had actually put off watching these last episodes because then it means that it's over. The time has come. Since Friday I think we've watched nine out of the total 12. 
2} My mom's flying in TONIGHT! Like, really late tonight...that's why I'm not currently scrambling to get into bed. Woo hoo!
3} Because of my mom's visit we probably won't watch those last few episodes for a couple of weeks which is great because it draws it all out.
4} I wore corduroys today! Yea! It's not really cold or anything but it's not Dang Hot and Humid anymore. I guess that's a good thing ;).
5} We have SO many windows in our apartment and we're a corner unit; we get some glorious cross breezes when the windows are all open. With the changing weather {read : no more 100 degree days} this is a possibility and it's lovely.

What's going on in your neck of the woods? Is the weather turning? Are you enjoying the plethora of football and baseball on TV? Happy Monday-is-almost-over!  
xoxo, natty ♥

An offering and a treat.

We had some friends over last night. When people come over Guinness gets really excited and shows off his toys and scarfs down his food...almost as if to show what is his and not anyone else's.
After the initial excitement wears off he then kind of hovers over everyone or lays down in the middle of the group {under the dining table, for example} and just waits for something exciting to happen to him. 
He must have felt neglected last night because when I got out of bed this morning there was an offering/sign left for me. Our bed frame creates a sort of ridge/edge and on it I found one of what I thought was Guinness' favorite things; his rawhide bone. He nurses one of these for about two weeks, slowly consuming it and getting gnarly little bits of it in his beard but perhaps this morning's show was his way of expressing that even his bone can't make him happy when there's a whole apartment full of people not.paying.attention.to.him.

"You can have it."

Poor guy. He's getting plenty of loving today and with my mother coming to visit for two weeks starting tomorrow night he is going to be living high off the hog.
In other news, we discovered a new tasty treat. I ventured off the beaten gastric path at Trader Joe's yesterday and came home with a new find.
I had a couple last night and wasn't feeling thrilled but...tonight! Tonight, my friends, is a different story; they're delicious! Albeit quite sweet with an almost weird flavor to them. But I'm enjoying.

In my last bit of news for this Sunday, I am cautiously ecstatic; I ran FIVE miles this morning. I hadn't run that long since December of last year. Nine months later I'm kind of building up my IT band strength. Yikes. Is this what getting older has to bring?
If so, I'd like to un-check that box on the agreement form! 

But truly, even though I'm staying steady at three miles most days, getting up to five today was a thrill and a pleasure. I'm a bit slower than I used to be and though I know I could go faster {the kick is definitely still there}, the speed seems to aggravate my little-yet-persistent pain. During my miles I meandered through the tony Georgetown neighborhood and absolutely marveled at the quaint brick sidewalks and the ancient {by "new world" standards...or at least to a California girl} homes all the while enjoying the BEAUTIFUL late summer/almost fall weather. It was warm but cool, I wasn't dripping sweat, people were out and about, and it was SO apparent to me what I love about running and I really hope and pray that this five-miler can turn into a daily occurrence and that I can get back to running half and full marathons.
xoxo, natty ♥

Roll AWAY Tide.

Mikey's playing soccer right now and I'm enjoying some empty time and watching the Arkansas game. We're playing Alabama and our quarterback is out for the game so things aren't looking great for us but that's ok...WOOOOOOOOO Pig Soooooooie anyway =)

Are you enjoying the weekend? It's warm but very pleasant here...I love September!
xoxo, natty ♥

Limbo.

I feel as though we're in a funny little holding pattern, on several fronts.

I'm starting work but don't have a real idea as to what my normal working week will look like. My position happens to be a new one so there's going to be a fair amount of absorbing the work culture and LEARNING. Major amounts of learning, actually.

Mike's semester hasn't fully gotten off the ground yet. In a few weeks we'll know better what our days will look like but for now we're kind of just doing our thing.

My mom is coming to visit for two whole weeks! On Monday night she'll get here and I envision that by the time she leaves we'll have a bit better of an idea as to how our life will "go" but between then and now we get some hanging out time with her.

I'm waiting on a new and unbroken phone. The new guy comes in soon. I'm also having some issues/confusion with my computer and trying to load the old stuff from my last computer onto the new one {new from last December} and because of that my phone isn't backed up to the computer at all so I think I have to just lose all of my music playlists and podcasts. That is soooooo not that much of an issue or problem/concern, but it does kind of add to the unsettled-ness of these days. Oh well, see the next paragraph to hear about how pretty things are!

It's even transitional weather! The temperatures have gone down a wee bit since a month ago and though the leaves don't seem to have any new colors yet they are falling off of their trees and I can tell that more are going to be going the same way soon. The angle of the sun is also continuing along its southward swing; things are more orange in the evenings and there's just a different look to it all. 

Despite everything that's up in the air, I'm happy. I feel good to be here and that we're kind of eking out a little niche in this new place. 

Do you ever feel as though things are in transition? Do your life changes ever happen to coincide with the seasonal changes!?

I hope that you have a lovely little weekend planned. We're doing the usual suburban/boring thing; groceries, laundry, cleaning. Hopefully a bit of fun thrown in here and there.
xoxo, natty ♥

Dervish.

My posts these days seem to have a uniting theme : business. I'm trying to fit in a bit of running here and there and now I have a job {woot!} and I'm doing a few other things here and there and before I know it, poor little Guinness hasn't been to Dog Park since Monday! Now that I wrote that out it doesn't seem too long ago but our dog has an uncanny ability to make me feel dreadfully guilty. 
Are you experiencing business? It's a good thing, that's for sure, but I had just forgotten what it's like!
Happy almost-Friday!
xoxo, natty ♥

Buffalo.

 xoxo, natty ♥

Odds & Ends.

For those of you who know me and have seen me in the past four months you'll know that my cell phone has actually seen much better days. It's an iphone and the screen is dreadfully shattered. It still works quite well and normally, actually, and the only issue for me, personally, is that it hurts a bit if I hold it too close to my ears. That and people actually cringe and get a weird look on their face when they see it. I finally decided to do something about this situation. It can be argued that this is quite tardy considering that the shattering occurred in May but it was a busy Spring and Summer, to say the least. 
Yesterday's agenda, getting a rubberized case to protect my phone in the event that it falls from my sweaty grasp. I did that when I ventured to Georgetown to get the new computer cord. Today, FINALLY transferring all of the data from my old computer to the new one. This technically could have been done in December but September is still less than a year later so that's OK. I'm currently in that process and the next item on the agenda will be to fully upload/back-up/whatever it is my phone to/with the computer and then I'll get the new telly phone.
Have you put anything off long enough?
xoxo, natty ♥

Curried.

My first Monday on the job; what a wonderful thing!!! I'm entirely serious here; this is a glorious blessing.

Doesn't this look like fun?

A few more highlights of the week...

1} It has cooled down a bit here. While I am a big fan of warm weather, as we all know, this is an exciting development; it's going to be fall! Autumn! I'm getting excited to wear cool-weather clothes, light up some cinnamon-y candles, make SOUP, and carve pumpkins. It's so funny how the onset of a season is SUCH an exciting time for me, even if it's not my favorite time of year. However, I think that fall has hustled its way up there in my appreciation. I may even love it more than summer? Oh no. I just can't play favorites.

2} I whipped up {with some vegetable-chopping-help from my better half} some yummy Thais green curry tonight...from a jar! It was the Trader Joe's situation and I doctored it up a bit with some extra coconut milk but I'm glad to know that we have a new, nice, and easy dinner. 

3} My computer is still under warranty, the local Apple store is two tenths of a mile from the Georgetown G2 bus stop which happens to be the most direct route to and from our apartment and that neighborhood. And I didn't have to wait at the store {by some divine Providence}. #winning

4} The organization that I now work at, much like the school I used to teach at, believes in and fights for a cause that I feel passionately about. How amazing that I get a second chance to be a part of such a movement.

5} So. Many. DVRd. Episodes. Of. Law & Order. SVU.

How has your week started? Are you currently watching some football? Mister Mike and his brother are currently playing tennis and set the DVR to record the tennis on TV so I'm enjoying the fruits of #5 above.

May your Tuesday bring joy and love!
xoxo, natty ♥

Retraction.

So after I published my post that said the Hogs were on their way to winning again and went to bed last night, the Arkansas Razorbacks LOST. There were something like four minutes left in the game and those must have been a good four minutes! That's what I get for trying to predict the future.
Something else I get for trying to say what will happen is that my computer's power cord stops working. I have a relatively new {it was a Christmas 2011 purchase} Macbook Air and it hasn't been used too hardly/abused/exposed to elements/manhandled and all of a sudden today the power cord stopped doing its job. I tried several other outlets in our apartment, reset the SMC {whatever that means...I just followed directions}, let it sit unplugged for a while, updated the software, and said a prayer and nothing worked. I'll end up schlepping it over to the Georgetown Apple store this week hopefully.
On that note and in honor of my in-law family's current travails in Italy, buona sera! May your week get off to a fabulous {& football filled - we're on our third [fourth?] game of the day!} start!
xoxo, natty ♥

Hogs and rainstorms.

Last weekend the Hogs won their game and they're currently in the process of getting their second "W" of 2012 - 2013. WPS!
In other news, on an errand run into Virginia today we got stuck in the middle of a nasty {but fairly quickly moving} storm. There were even tornado warnings involved and I don't think I can accurately express in words the fear that tornadoes strike into my heart. It's bad. But my sweetie managed the roads and our car quite well and we're at home finishing up a nice and relaxed evening; exactly what I wanted/needed after a busy week and before another full set of days.
I hope there were no tornadoes in your neck of the woods today!
xoxo, natty ♥

First Friday!

It's the first Friday of September. In Catholic elementary school the first Friday of the month always meant First Friday Mass. Today is special to me because it's my first Friday with a job! Since May!
And I'm feeling it, yo. Also known as, I am tired and grateful and excited and HAPPY about things.
I hope that you're feeling some of the same, minus the tired.
Peace. Love. Weekend.
xoxo, natty ♥

Oh man!

I had forgotten what it's like to return to work. 
Well.
It's busy.
Hopefully I can get up some more substantial stuff this weekend. 
Until that, I leave you with...A PURPLE STATION WAGON.

As seen on my way home today. Yes, I am now a walking commuter. This is strange for a girl from suburban California but I am loving this whole "let's walk if we can {less than 2.5 miles, give or take a tenth or so}".
xoxo, natty ♥

Oodles of noodles.

Woooooo.

Long day! Good day! Tired girl!

So happy!

 xoxo, natty ♥

Quite a day!

Though it's late for dinner right now {it's European!}, I'm anxiously awaiting some spinach/Oaxacan cheese {procured on yesterday's sojourn} enchiladas from the oven. I'm also drying off a bit because I got stuck in this :

...we don't get downpours like this in San Jose. Nor do we walk or take the bus very often.

Lessons learned.

After mass this morning I puttered around our neighborhood and ran a few errands until it was time to take the bus downtown. I had wanted to stop at the main library to look up a few tomes before going to wait in line for Sleep Walk With Me. 

I knew there would be a line because one of the producers would be answering questions from the audience after the show. Not just any producer, I suppose, since it was Ira Glass. 

If you're not familiar with This American Life {the NPR radio show} then his name won't ring a bell and you might not be too interested but I certainly was!

I had never seen a picture of him {or the real-life-him} before the show {I try not to look up what radio personalities actually look like, it ruins the mystique for me} so I was pretty rapt not only because of what he had to say {interesting!} but mostly by my reconciling his looks with the voice I've known for several years now {and several hundred miles since it's the radio show I listen to the most as I log my miles}.

In other news, Mikey and his brother are in Philadelphia {how weird for us west-coasters that this is now a day trip!} to see a Pearl Jam concert so it's just Guinness and I enjoying enchiladas and the rain {from inside}. As an aside, I crumbled some of this

on top of these puppies. Is there anything more delicious that a thick slice of this cheese at the bottom of a mug of Colombian hot chocolate? No, I didn't think so.

Oh. Another thing. Today is our official 365 day wedding anniversary {it was a leap year!}. Tomorrow is our real anniversary {date/HEART-wise}. 

I'm so excited and happy and all sorts of good things. I love this man SO MUCH. I'll be back with our paper gift reveal and other ruminations soon enough I'm sure.
Love to you all.
xoxo, natty ♥

A month in pictures; August 2012.

* Scroll down for the updated post! *
I'll actually have the pictures up later today but I have a few minutes right now to get some thoughts down. 
We're watching some college football on TV right now. But it's not until later tonight that our Hogs play! Woo Pig Sooie! I'll be sporting red and white and watching the game on my computer since it's not aired in our area haha. There are so many games on today and it's fun seeing the excited fans and announcers; I love their energy!
We're also going to go on an adventure to Alexandria, Virginia, today in search of some ingredients for a possible chile relleno feast. 
I have a package that needs to be picked up and I'd also love to go snag a movie ticket for Sleepwalk With Me. After tomorrow's afternoon and evening showings Ira Glass himself {of This American Life fame} will be there to answer questions and I'd be tickled pink to see him.
Are you excited for the start of the college football season? Do you follow a team or conference? For Becs, go Vols! But only for Becs.
Happy weekend!

* Begin update! *
Alrighty, here's the month of August in pictures.

1. Pretty sky. 2. Shaw Dog Park. 3. Brudders at Jazz in the Garden. 4. Presidential podium. 5. Beautiful fruit vegetables of the earth. 6. Tired boys. 7. Dinn-ah. 8. Monumental. 9. Peanut butter. 10. Smartrip! 11. From my kitchen window. 12. "You want a toe?" 13. Edna St. Vincent Millay. 14. Ikea directions man. 15. Cheese and quackers. 16. Hawses. 17. Nats. 18. Slippies. 19. Lettuce heart. 20. Under the sea bed. 21. Pad Thai @ home. 22. Pizza! 23. Couch time. 24. Despondent. 25. Gelato 1.0. 26. Gelato 2.0. 27. Sous chef. 28. Plate full of fun. 29. Snake. 30. Window treatment. 31. Dinner helper.

A pathetic statistic from the last month, 7/31 of August's pictures involved the dog.
And to sign off for the evening, Woo Pig Sooie!

Sporting my red and white.

Good long weekend to you!       
xoxo, natty ♥