I haven’t fallen into a well.

Nor have I been kidnapped, slipped into a coma, gone on a crazy meth binge, ect.  However, we are homeowners now! We've been in our new house just over a week and are working like crazy to get everything unpacked and in order before school starts next week. I'm so sorry for the lack of updates, but I'm trying hard to get back into a normal routine. Once that happens, I'll be back to posting more regularly. We're going to the local farmer's market for the first time tomorrow, I've got tons of plants to get in...

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Annie Leonard’s The Story of Cosmetics

I absolutely love Annie Leonard's The Story of Stuff project.  The videos are so informative and easy to understand, despite the fact they deal with pretty controversial and complex issues.  Her most recent installment, The Story of Cosmetics, has to be my favorite so far.  It's an honest portrayal of the cosmetics industry's lack of regulation and real concern for its consumers.  I want hold a mandatory viewing for all the people who have looked at me like I'm paranoid or have too much time on my hands when I've told them I make my...

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BPA in home canning?

I've been canning a ton of tomatoes and a few jams and jellies with my grandmother this summer.  The benefits are many: spending time with my grandmother, learning a skill, and slicing a huge chunk out of my grocery bill--just to name a few.  But I hadn't really considered that there could be any negative aspects until I read Grist.org's Ask Umbra on the dangers of BPA in canning lids and canned food.  BPA, or Bisphenol A, is a compound found in plastics that's hard to avoid because it's just about everywhere (the Environmental Working Group...

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Miscellany

I was taking pictures for an something entirely unrelated the day before yesterday, and I turned around and was smacked in the face by this view.  I've been meaning to take a picture for you guys, and it seemed like an appropriate time.  Having lived so close to people for the past couple of years, I'd forgotten how nice it is to be out in the country. On a completely unrelated note, my sister Erika posted this picture of Dawn and me, and she even called me fashionable!  Thanks, Erika! Also unrelated: Kyle and I went...

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The sound of crickets.

My past few days have been full of: We are definitely in a transitional period--we're loafing around my parents' house, waiting to hear back from the bank and our school and the insurance company so that we'll know which forms we need to fill out or pass along.  Meanwhile, all our stuff is packed in boxes in my parents garage (including my sewing machine and fabric, though they're fairly easy to get to).  Thus far the temptation to do nothing has been too great, and I'm indulging in some of my guiltiest pleasures while I have the chance--sleeping after ten, chocolate...

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I’m famous!

On Monday I was featured on my school's alumnae association's blog.  MFAeA, Mississippi's First Alumnae Association, is posting a series of profiles of recent graduates from the Mississippi University for Women.  This is totally unrelated to anything I talk about on here, but I've provided a link for those of you who may be interested (like my mom): New Graduate Profile: Danielle...

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Long Weekend

We had a long, fun, productive weekend out of town. Early Thursday morning Kyle, Kirby, Dawn, and I left for Lake Charles, LA to scope out our new city, look at our graduate school program, and house hunt (something I've kept somewhat mum about until now, because it's a Big Ass Deal).  Then we went on to Houma, LA where we visited with friends, ate too many donuts, and attended a really fun show: Then on Sunday we went to New Orleans and had lunch with my sister Erika.  For homebodies like Kyle and me, this weekend was...

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I am a college graduate.

The past few days have been full of a visiting with friends and family, eating good food, attending practices, and standing around.  It has been both fun and really stressful.  I'm going to miss MUW so much, but I'm looking forward to moving on to new and exciting things. One of my favorite parts of this weekend was the Magnolia Chain ceremony.  All of the graduates partner up (Chuck was my partner!) and line up holding a very long chain of magnolia leaves and blossoms, then walk out onto the front lawn singing the Magnolia Chain song.  We make a circle...

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Sorry Charlie

I apologize for disappearing for several days! Things are crazy around here. My school's homecoming was last weekend--I'm not sure how other universities do it, but mine has been around since 1884 so there are a lot of traditions to be observed. Homecoming is an especially big deal for the Women's Studies department (I'm a Women's studies minor). Additionally, I just came from the Southern Literary Festival, another really big deal as our school hosted it this year and I'm part of the creative writing program. On top of all that I have two final...

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Busy business.

I have so much to say! First of all, I've decided to drop my clay arts class because it was eating up all of my spare time (10 hours a week, basically). Consequently, I'll have a lot more free time (10 hours a week, basically). On a related note, here are some things you can be expecting around here: 1. That winter hat tutorial I promised a month ago, now that it's almost spring. 2. Lots of grad school and moving business; those two things are really sneaking up on me. 3. I bought raw almonds and Meyer lemons from a fruit stand while...

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