Friday, June 25, 2010

Photo Friday: Unexpected Loves


This is actually a really hard one for me. It all stemmed from a post at
Creating Motherhood that I read....this is apparently what triggered this week's theme. Read it...it's fabulous. Because it's all about tangential thinking which is completely the way I think. Someday I shall give you some examples. Anyway, "unexpected loves" is this weeks' theme and I've been trying to think about that all week.

I'm not usually surprised by the things I adore. But there are a few, I guess, so here goes!

1. The desert. I mean, I hardcore love it. Granted, there are some areas that are just bleak, but during most of the seasons, it is full of life, the most unexpected life. I grew up in Green Green Green, and when I left it for Africa, I missed it. I felt like I dried up a bit. Then I came back and didn't feel at home again until I hit the Southwest. So, desert. I crave it. And its variety. This particular photo isn't even the best one I had, but it illustrates the bleakness that most see, but the diversity that I see. Now that I'm back in the land of green I miss the desert (and mountains) so much that I realize now how unexpectedly I fell for it.


1. Crocheting. I was never crafty. Not really. A number of years ago I was working in Southern California at a camp and someone was making a hat. And I had nothing better to do, so I bought a skein of yarn and a hook, and learned. Before I knew it, I was hooked. (Tee hee, pun intended). I learned to read patterns, put together projects, and have created some beautiful gifts. I will be posting more of my work soon. But I despise Martha Stewart, etc. I did not think I would like something so...well, grandma. LOL. But I have my own shelving unit for yarn, bags of projects in various stages, and too many ideas to keep straight. The one above was a birthday present for my sister....messenger bag, lined and all. And when I give these gifts, the personalization of them is special to the receiver, and the obvious work that goes into them. Making someone smile makes me smile. Creating something with my own hands that is beautiful makes me smile. My hands, they ache, but it's worth it.

3. Spicy food and cooking. It was a joke growing up how much I could not cook and how picky I was. Something snapped in college, and all of a sudden I was Julia F'in Childs. I can throw together ANYTHING with what's in your fridge and cupboards. It might be a little strange, but it will taste good. And I can't stand bland anymore. Hot peppers and I are good friends now, very good friends. I have two bunches ("ristras") hanging in my house now - spice = life. I have oodles of cookbooks, but mainly, I make shit up. And for someone who doesn't eat meat, I make some mean meat dishes. I love the smiles, the contentment, the SILENCE caused by the consumption of good food. And I love that I can make that happen.

So there are 3 of my unexpected loves, things that bring me joy, contentment (tho can be a bain of my existence mid-project), and peace.


11 comments:

  1. I loved this post and the pics to go with it!

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  2. My DH is like that with food - give him your kitchen and he'll produce food that will make you say "mmmmm" haha. I love your pictures - very pretty!

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  3. Awesome! I like this posts. Lots of fun facts.

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  4. Love it! That bag is beautiful. Your sister must have been so happy to receive it.

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  5. Love this post! And love the three things you chose and how you describe why, I feel like I've gotten to know you so much better in a very short time :)

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  6. awesome, look at all the things you love. It was a great post and I love that messenger bag(I adore sunflowers) , I do not like the desert, I am NOT crafty and spicy food makes me sweat just looking at it...but I love how it's all a part of you.
    TGIF

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  7. the photo with the peppers is fantastic!!! Like that would totally be my icon photo for EVERYTHING. love it

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  8. Beautifully threaded, surprising loves. Photos show these to great effect. :-)

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  9. I'm with Calliope that the peppers are fantastic - I've never seen them like that in real life so very very cool.

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  10. What a great post. I love that your unexpected loves are so varied and diverse. I'm with everyone else. I LOVE the hot pepper pic. And, while I can't wait to see your crochet projects, I will fight you on calling it a grandma craft (LOL). Check out The Crochet Dude and Doris Chan on her blog and on Ravelry.

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  11. The desert picture, and your description really hit home with me. There is just something so profound about the desert. I lived deep in the mojave as a child, and have the most vivid memories of the heat and the dryness, juxtaposed with a vibrancy of life that persisted and thrived despite the seemingly harsh conditions. Then as a young adult I spent 3 weeks backpacking and living in death valley. Again I was struck by the persistence of life, the most delicate of living things, that appeared when given the chance. I actually spent 24 hours alone along a tiny creek that sustained an entire valley. I found it so difficult to articulate my experience with the desert, but seeing your photo and reading your reason for loving it made so much sense.

    I hadn't thought about it until now, but there is actually something of a connection between this infertility and the desert. the intensity, extremes, the hope and promise of life despite all odds. You've got me thinking now...

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