recently . . .

1. We adopted a sweet stray cat who literally kept trying to come in our door one night as we held Evening Prayer in our home for some folks from Church. We thought she was a kitten because she's so little, but the vet said she's actually an older, malnourished, deaf cat. We named her Lily Belle even though she can't hear us. She's already looking much healthier and purrs when we walk into her (temporary) upstairs room. I'll have to take an updated photograph soon. So now there are three.

2. This is my new favorite music by a favorite band, Sun Kil Moon. Their artwork and music make me swoon:

3. Finally, the Art House America Blog launched! I'm an official editor now, my eyes twitching from fatigue and a wee bit o' stress. But I'll get used to my new role in good time. I'm so thankful for this job, and the AHA Blog. There are seven articles posted so far, two of 'em by me:

"To Sing in Feast or Famine," and

"All Aboard the Coal Train!"

By the way, if you want an AHA Blog button for your blog, just click here. I'm a fan of buttons.

[image by Jacob Wick]

4. My drummer-husband, Johnny, turned a very handsome 43 yesterday! We baked my aunt Pat's carrot cake recipe — his favorite cake — and celebrated with a few friends at our favorite Ethiopian restaurant, the Blue Nile, last night. Two of those friends were our super cute 4-year-old Godson, Judah, and his Dad, Omar. I dig Judah's shirt, don't you? And selfishly, it was amazing to be able to partake of all the celebratory, culinary delights this year. Praise be to God.

Oh, and several kind people and myself chipped in so that Johnny could order an iPad today! He is SO. HAPPY. That's kind of what I was going for — his utter, stunned happiness. He deserves an iPad and much, much more.

5. Lastly, in two days I leave for the Glen Workshop in Santa Fe, NM. I'm taking a Spiritual Writing class from Lauren F. Winner. I am both excited and terrified, but mostly excited. I'll get to see a beautiful part of the country, see/meet both new and old friends, and learn how to write much better. Plus, I believe the 18 page manuscript I turned in is the first (rough) chapter to my first memoir. Yep, a book. Already? Am I high??

I can't wait to get back to narrative blogging. I've missed y'all!

Happy weekend.

a celebratory cupcake

We made a pilgrimage to Crave Cupcakes today to celebrate my finishing an 18 page manuscript for the Glen Workshop in August . . . not because my manuscript is fantastic, but because it is FINISHED (for now). I'm taking Lauren F. Winner's Spiritual Writing course. I've never written a long format essay before, so just the completion of the dang thing required a celebration.

It was a really tough choice, but Johnny selected a dark chocolate "expresso" cupcake and their premium roast, and I chose white chocolate macadamia nut and the dark roast decaf. My runners-up (that I did not order) were red velvet, strawberry, and cinnamon. We'll just have to go back, especially on the day they make NUTELLA cupcakes.

I loved this display. I need one of those mixers:

And I cannot write this short blog without giving thanks to the Lord for healing my body of some serious endometriosis, and restoring treats back into my diet. I was definitely created to love cupcakes and coffee, amen.

. . . Then we went to the library to pick up a book I need to read for a forthcoming bookish podcast that I'm doing with two online friends (more on that soon). On the way out, I perused the sale racks and scored these two gems for 50 cents each! Even Johnny wants to read them.

It's been one of the good days. Now we're settling in with a little beer, wine, angel hair pasta, and some reading before bed. Oh, and I did have a very healthy salad for lunch, to balance out all that sugar. Good night, my faithful readers and friends, even in blog-famine.

[All photos taken by ye olde iPhone.]