pompkin

If you've ever met me or read through my blog, it's clear, I'm an animal person. Been one since day one. Growing up, my best friend was a Bernese Mountain Dog. We would take long naps on the floor, and I followed him everywhere he went. Rascal has long passed away, but that love has never diminished. There have been several puppies since, some family and some my own. 

As much as I love these canine friends, I also love dressing them up. I'm not talking sweaters and tutu's, I'm talking sturdy leashes and sharp canvas coats. I have a strong opinion of what does and doesn't make a good dog product. It needs to be practical, sturdy, and somewhat natural. For instance, these rope leashes from Pompkin. Just the right amount of color to be fun, but every bit utilitarian. Strong rope and good snaps. If you're in need of a new accessory for your best friend, I highly recommend checking them out. Their leashes will not dissapoint.

As modeled by Kate Kelly's, Ghost & Sam.

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thanksgiving

As I sit here basking in the glowing warmth of Christmas Day, I'm finally getting a chance to process photos from Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday held up again for an amazing vacation. We took our annual Thanksgiving Day hike with the dogs, we drank good beer, and shoveled our bellies full of home-cooked favorites. 

The vacation lasted for a full four days. Amidst the recent chaos, I had no idea quite how busy I was until I took the time to hit pause. I was reminded what boredom felt like. I enjoyed it too. Had it gone on longer, I might have gone crazy. Instead, its brevity gave me just the right amount of time to process. You don't realize how fast you're running, how much you're putting out instead of taking in, until you s-t-o-p. Sure, yoga allows me to pause each day, but it also involves rushing to the yoga studio, getting in my physical practice, sweating, and then biking home to quickly wrap things up before bed. It's not exactly stopping. 

So, thank you Thanksgiving for giving me the break I needed. For reminding me that the best creativity is born from moments when you have nothing to do. For surrounding me with fresh air. Let's remember to stop every once in awhile.

Happy belated Thanksgiving.

an oasis all my own

This past month, a fire lit under my ass. I started rearranging, cleaning, discarding, and putting my home together a new way. So many things had been put into place with a 'that will work for now' mentality, but it was time to wipe the slate clean. I needed a refresh. I wanted to look around and feel calm...inspired in my own home. Bit by bit, I worked through it. I finally went and bought the things we'd been needing. I added a few plants to the collection. It started to come together. Slowly, I was building my own personal oasis. 

There is nothing liking having your own space. A retreat where you can escape to at the end of the day. Surroundings that fill you with happiness. You set the accoutrements, each object placed, each decoration intentional, and then you fill it with the people you love, the animals who give you companionship, the food that feeds your body. Your personality and your movements imprint themselves on the walls. Evidence of life sprinkles throughout. You have all you'll ever need, right there.

I'm a traveling soul -- drawn to adventure, but at the end of it all, there is nothing like coming home. Build your oasis. Leave it. Return to it. Appreciate how it supports you.

open space

The other day, I read an article that talked about negative space. It described a hand. The negative space in-between each finger defining the edges, and allowing our brains to make sense of physical matter. "Without nothing, there cannot be something," it explained. The negative space allows us to make sense of what is.

It got me to thinking about other ways in which this is true. I decided that it also holds beyond the physical. Without sadness, we could not understand happiness, and moments of quiet help us make sense of the chatter. That, is why it's so important to relax, to meditate, to do yoga, and to get out and hike in nature -- even if it's the middle of a snow-ridden winter. We need moments to free the mind, so that we can then reign her in. We need mother nature and her wide open spaces, so that the world and all her clutter can make sense.

That is why I return.

weekly scenes: a winter hike

Our first snowfall happened over Thanksgiving this year. We went home, hoping it would come. Crossing our fingers and holding out for its magical presence to start sprinkling down. Sure enough, rise and shine Wednesday morning, and there it was -- flurrying in the skies and making its presence known. All day it snowed, and bit by bit the landscape was blanketed. Come Thursday, we strapped our hiking boots on and went out to enjoy it. Off to Highland Forest with three dogs, Adam, and my brother. We hiked the expansive trails for about three hours. Working up a sweat with the uphill climbs, and losing our breath from the utter beauty that surrounded us. There is something about a snowy landscape that makes your heart drop. It's a quiet presence. The snow brings peace and sheer awe in one fell swoop. 

Upon arriving home, we warmed up in front of the fire and set some cider to brew with cinnamon and clove. It was truly one of those days. You know, the ones where you feel like everything is just perfect.

united by blue

Get up. Go. Adventure.

Leave the plans behind. Ditch the maps.

Step inside. Ask directions. Follow the lines scribbled on a napkin.

See where it leads you.

Then find your way home.

weekly scenes

Spring is here, friends. There is no doubt about it. The weather is perfect. For some reason I feel surprised by how great it is. Like I thought that the winter was an incessant, never-ending thing. I had forgotten what sunshine was like past 5 o'clock, but I'm mighty grateful to have re-discovered the feeling. 

I am invigorated just being able to step out and enjoy myself. I make little excuses to NOT come inside. I walk with no purpose, and make everything into an outdoor activity.

My parents were in town and we made it back to my favorite hiking spot, Wissahickon. Marley and I haven't been since the fall. You can see just how happy she was from that shot of her jowls billowing in the wind. What, your jowls don't billow when you're content? Ahhh, I'm just messing with you guys - but - our return to Wissahickon made me very excited for the months to come. It solidified the inaugural initiation of spring. I can't wait to see what amazing memories get made this season. I feel like it's going to be a good one. ;)