crazy time of year again

But maybe it's always crazy around here. I've just finished hambonedesigns.com, my new venture with my older brother on our original bike bag design. And now I'm thrown head first into sewing for holiday presents. What I do love about this is picking out fabric for each person. That is so much fun, I get to buy fabrics that I really like but wouldn't normally buy for myself.
I just finished this super cute bonnet for my niece, which was made from a pattern I found on the made by Petchy blog. I added rick rack to the edges which came out so cute, but I haven't decided yet if I will do the topstitch around the edge. What do you think?

Colorful Breakfast

colorful breakfast, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

Currently addicted to genmaicha tea, and this delicious strawberry jelly I found at Bi-Rite. And here's a little known fact for you, I eat kiwis by scooping the fruit out of the skin with a spoon in one movement. Quick & easy.

step into the consciousness of your right brain hemisphere

Got 20 minutes? Watch this.

Listening to...

I have been doing a lot of sewing in my craft room lately, and whiling away the time by listening to the podcast Tapestry of the Times broadcast out of Baltimore. It's a show that features the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and you'll hear everything from Indonesian traditional music to banjo players in Appalachia to Pete Seeger. Just read this description of Episode 8:

In this episode of Tapestry of the Times: Gourd banjo music from Mike Seeger, a rare recording of a young Bob Dylan, Calypso music from Trinidad, and the final performance of folk legend Dave Van Ronk. Plus: a cowboy ballad from Lead Belly, and “Mean Talking Blues” from Woody Guthrie.

The only bad thing is at this rate I'll be done listening to all of them before the week is through.

so true.

so true., originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

go. do. something.

The Sixties

In running errands today I was taken to 49 Geary, that five floor building on the fringe of Union Square that houses five floors of art galleries. I had completely forgotten that the Fraenkel Gallery is having a Garry Winogrand show this month, and I owed it to myself to walk around and see some beautiful art so I had a look. It's a collection of his photographs from the 60's, many of which show the Kennedy/Nixon election which is so poignant during this presidential debacle...errr campaign...we're having. The feeling in these photographs is eerily similar to what is going on now. There's presidential campaigns between young men and old, there's homeless people in the street, there's civil unrest due to overseas tension, and of course there's an interracial couple with chimpanzees.



Also at 49 Geary are photographs by Todd Hido at the Stephen Wirtz Gallery, his signature houses at night were present as well as a series of overcast landscapes taken through a car windshield. His images are so desolate. I love the style. This show is up through the end of December and is worth the trip.

what message does this send?

I was thinking about the city I live in the other day; how we celebrate difference and variety in people, and how in so many areas of this country that same quality of difference is abhorred. I just watched a video that interviewed so many people who think Obama is a terrorist. A woman who said his name is too close to Osama. A man who said Obama spent his childhood from the age of 1 to 6 with islamic muslims. Is it illegal to be muslim? What kind of message is being sent to young children of differing faiths and colors – that they should be the same as everyone else? I certainly don't think that all McCain supporters are of this ilk, but the fact that they have brought about this kind of hatred in a country that was founded on violence and built on blood, I think that's reprehensible. We are so polarized and I don't see how we can ever reconcile as a country. With people on both sides saying they're afraid for the future of the country if the other side wins. I am not even a democrat! I just want someone who is reasonable.
/rant

Fresh Eggs

Fresh Eggs, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

My brother says that everyone he knows in Santa Cruz who lives in a house with a backyard has their own chickens. I love the idea of having chickens, if only to have fresh eggs all the time. These were from our friends who live near Davenport. They were so much better tasting than normal store-bought eggs. I might have to get a coop for the fire escape!

Sew Sweet

Fabric.com is holding a “Sew” Sweet Giveaway, which also allows you to enter daily through Oct. 31. Each time you enter you choose between two prize packages, one quilting-focused and one garment-focused. Both include a $300 shopping spree from Fabric.com, free shipping for a year, an Amy Butler Sweet Life bag, and a Gutermann thread cabinet.

we all fall down

Sigh. I don't want to worry about societal troubles right now. I'm tired of worrying.
Time for Talking Heads.

you can hear music from the treetops

sitting serenely, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

This weekend was the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park, which is a nice bike ride from our house. Sunday was even more packed than Saturday, and in order to get a good seat for Bonnie "Prince" Billy we climbed up into some trees on the sideline, snuggled into the ample branches, and listened to the tunes. It was much nicer than being packed in with the masses. There were so many amazing bands there, and the event is completely free! Such a nice weekend before the autumn weather settles in.

Rwandan Genocide Survivors

please read this and give what you can.

ehh, it's October already?

How did that happen?

Last night my husband's band had their first official show at El Rio and it went quite well, it was just like hearing the songs as they practice in my living room. Only louder and with more people there.

Tonight I am going to forgo the comedy show that is the vice presidential debate and head over to my friend Jen Damas' solo show opening at Hang Gallery. On the way home I'll hit Rare Device for the Sarajo Frieden opening. Those rare device ladies always put on a good party.


Balsamic Threads by Jennifer Damas

Milagro

Scarlett walking., originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

Being a non-secular humanist, I do not toss the word "miracle" around lightly. And sure, you can say that this is no miracle, it's the result of hard work and a lot of therapy. But let me tell you -- the chills that you get when you see a friend's daughter, who has been wheelchair-bound her whole life, get up and WALK across the living room -- well "miracle" seems about the only word fit for the swell of emotions in the company of a tightly knit community. Not a dry eye in the house, and even thinking about it now brings happy tears to my eyes.

Happy birthday Scarlett, we love you.

Another Great Einstein quote

Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy.

we're not gonna take it anymore

Twisted Sister's "we're not gonna take it" would be a better soundtrack for this.

Hatch Show Print

at Hatch Show Print, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

While in Nashville we went into my favorite place, Hatch Show Print. Just as we were looking at some posters I noticed a group of people going into the back area. I grabbed Stephen and said "Let's go too!" and just as we were stepping through the swinging gate a woman that worked there said to us "are you part of this group?" Gulp. "Can we be?" I innocently asked. She mulled it over for a second and said "Sure come in, we don't usually give tours but this is a special arrangement" woot woot! So we crashed a little private tour of Hatch Show Print and were able to see the super large 30" x 40" letterpress that can't even be inked - the artist has to hand-ink it with a brayer and do one print at a time. We saw shelves and shelves of plates, and they explained that the Hatch brothers used to cut up old wooden plates and made the large shelving unit out of them. We met one of the shop cats and saw the CNN posters they were printing for the presidential debates. It was an amazing experience and we were really lucky to be there at the right time.

Nashville here we come

Stephen and I are headed to Nashville, Tennessee tomorrow for the Americana Music Association Festival and Conference. We will be busy attending some seminars and meeting people, but I do hope to get a chance to do some thrifting. Dresses and cowboy boots!

why we drink

i love this:

Currently listening to...

Cue taken from Holly at decor8
Here is the music I've been listening to lately:

Hang Jones
Americana band from San Francisco with a story album coming out about an outlaw in the wild west, also -- my husband's band!


Rupa and the April Fishes
Local San Francisco band, Rupa sings in french, spanish and english with beautiful lyrics in each language. She's also a doctor part of the year.


Beatbeat Whisper
Another local band, from Oakland - a brother and sister duo with really great lyrics and voices, and acoustic guitars.



Csokolom
Hungarian and Gypsy folk music


Songs for Moms
all female band from the eastb-ay that sing great harmonies in their kind of folky punky way


Reverend Gary Davis
My favorite blues/gospel man


And as always, just listening to a lot of This American Life.

I love Christian the Lion

Here is the longest version of the video that I've found, without the annoying Aerosmith song.

i get around

my sweet ride, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

This past Saturday I took Caltrain down to San Jose, connected to the Light Rail (which I've totally forgotten about, but is SO nice to ride -- very friendly, clean and you can wheel your bike right on it) and rode over to my friend's house where I visited with a group of friends who I miss dearly. We used to spend a lot of time together in high school and beyond, which is about 16 years ago now, but I hope this gang will be in my life for the duration. So nice to see people you really know, who make you feel like you never left their side.
Afterwards, I rode from Campbell to Atherton. This is not that long a ride, only about 25 miles, which took me 2 hours, but this was my first long ride purely for the sake of getting somewhere and I really enjoyed it. The smells! The sights! The sounds! So lovely. I'm planning to ride down to Atherton from San Francisco next weekend, I think I'm addicted. Also, my brother just put slightly thicker tires on my bicycle this morning. It was so comfy to ride down Market Street to work this morning, unlike the usual brain-rattling ride I endure.

I would hang this in my home.

re:location

Occasionally, and with greater frequency lately, we talk about where we will move when we leave San Francisco. For as much as I love the foggy days, the liberal peeps and the delicious burritos, we are not long for this land of high rents and increasingly common "me-first" attitudes. Somewhere in my mind lives the perfect place to live; it's a small town with plenty of artists and musicians, beautiful architecture, varying seasons, bicycle lanes and a small garden to call my own. Our house would not share walls with others. Our dogs would have land to roam. The water would taste delicious right out of the tap. We would know and like people in our community. Community is what we lack here in the city by the bay.

And then I wonder, does this place exist? Where do I begin to look for it? Please tell me, Google.

Oh yeah, and it would preferably be a town without cars. Let me know thanks bai.

old things

alameda flea, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

Sometimes I like to go to the antique flea market just to look at things. The abundance of stuff just reminds me of how much we have and how much we leave behind. It certainly does not make me want to buy more stuff, even though that's the sellers' aim. But it's nice to wander the many many aisles and check out the construction of things. Old tin film cans. Ceiling tiles. Lunchboxes. Everything was made better in the years before plastic. Things were made to last, not to be thrown away and float in the pacific ocean for god-knows-how-long.

Shooting in the studio

IMG_7292, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

I photographed my husband in the recording studio yesterday for a Santa Cruz Guitar Company ad for Acoustic Guitar Magazine. My friend Kristin is the doll that saved me and lent me her lighting set. We were in the studio all weekend mixing the new album that should be out by September/October. He's a handsome devil, if I don't say so myself.

my favorite piece

my favorite piece, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

We just got back from the opening at the BellJar for Jen Lobo's new work and let me tell you just how much I love this woman's art. Everything about it. The colors, the story, the linework, the texture and pattern. Love it so much that one of her pieces was the inspiration for my sleeve tattoo. It was so nice to be able to meet her and show her my tattoo, she was very honored and I loved her reaction -- this is the second tattoo she's seen that was based on her work.

Funny coincidence about this new painting of hers that is pictured above, but that story will have to wait for a little while longer.

Up the beach

sea pickles, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

On a recent trip to Fort Funston with the dogs I photographed some strange looking sea items, like this bunch of sea...pickles? There were jellyfish strewn about and some really gorgeous seaweed. One dead bird.

Inspiration is everywhere if you just open your eyes.

surprising mom and dad

surprising mom and dad, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

My family's got this weird thing. We really like to surprise each other. When my parents lived up in Kennewick, Washington and we would make the 14 hour drive up there, we would call mom when we were around the corner and tell her we were four hours away. Then...surprise! This weekend my older brother made a surprise visit up to the bay area while my parents were visiting from Vegas. He text messaged me from the corner coffee shop and then I took my parents down there. Hilarity ensued.

Riley on the Letterpress

Riley on the Letterpress, originally uploaded by Ape Do Good Printing.

Just had a letterpress lesson at Anthony's studio Ape Do Good with Riley McFerrin and I'm so excited about using the setup there. His instructions were so clear that I think I could jump on the thing tomorrow. I've got a million ideas running through my head of things I want to make on it. So many projects, so little time! I need an intern.

Extraordinary Indeed

Rupa & the April Fishes by Judith Burrows 1, originally uploaded by safathemonkey.

Went to Amnesia on Valencia street sunday night for a secret Rupa and the April Fishes show. Amnesia is a tiny little bar with a tiny little stage that had to accommodate six musicians. The dance floor was packed. The air was thick with sweat. Rupa and the April Fishes played for well over an hour, with their raucous double bass-driven, trumpet-tinged, accordion-laden music. The red setting of Amnesia was perfect for Rupa's sounds. How could I have forgotten my camera!? (above photo pilfered from flickr)

four dogs are better than two

these girls are buddies, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

My brother started a new job in Oakland so for the past few weeks, and until next Friday, we have been host to his two huskies Ensign and Amber. They are really great dogs, both very affectionate yet independent -- unlike my two little needy monsters. Here are Clementine and Amber after one of their marathon playtimes. There's no guessing who is the winner between the two of them, Amber is much faster than Clemmy and definitely gets more "bites" in. I wish we had more space and acres where they could all roam, then I would even get two or three more dogs! But as it is now, Ensign and Amber are going to stay in Vegas with my parents for a little while. Hopefully they'll be back soon because I think Clemmy likes their girl time.

chair at wide hive

chair at wide hive, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

this chair and this curtain just go so well together

learning to ride

me and my rad bike, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

I remember my dad trying to teach me to ride my bicycle, and I just couldn't get it. Then one day I went out there by myself, and I kept repeating something my teacher had said in class that day. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" I kept falling off. and i kept trying. and soon, i was riding my bike! I supposed I've always kept that mantra with me, as I've always been very persistent throughout life and have just gone for what I wanted. Sometimes that stubborn persistence gets in the way (as in, "I WILL make my own ball gown even though I only have a week to do it!") but more often than not, I'm happy I've pushed my way through life.
If you don't, then you never will. Life is too short not to follow your dreams.

what's that sound - coming out of the hole in the wood

Cool new site my friend Kristin sent me, songza has a huge library of songs that you can stream online, plus other features.
I got in touch with my young goth self listening to Current '93 on songza this morning. She said "Good Mourning" bwaahaaa haahaaa

behold my bag!

front of bag, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

This bag took me one full day to make. I fell in love with this fabric at WhizBang Fabrics the other day and had to use it for something. I followed Corinne's tutorial for the bag and then added a different inside pocket and adjustable strap. I luckily happened across her post on craftster the day before I was going to make my bag, and it suited my needs better than another tutorial that I was going to modify even more. Corinne's tute is great! Very easy to follow, and everything turned out well. I have extra fabric left over so next week I'm going to make this same bag in a smaller size, maybe to accommodate a medium sized notebook and one paperback. This is on top of three other projects that are demanding my attention right now, but hey a girl's gonna do what a girl's gonna do. See more photos of my bag over in my Handmade flickr set.

I Want You To Dig

I'm a little bit hooked on the Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds song "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" Whenever I hear it I think "Wow that really reminds me of something, what is it?" But I just realized. It reminds me of Nick Cave! He's back and I'm glad. Didn't really pay too much attention to the last couple of albums (they fell off my radar after Boatman's Call, which now that I look at their discography -- wow that came out in 1997? this life thing is going too fast) but this new album sounds re-energized. Reminds me of nights years ago spent in a certain apartment in the tenderloin with a curly redheaded girl.

San Francisco Folk Festival

Beatbeat Whisper, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

I spent a few hours of each day this weekend at the SF Free Folk Festival which was oddly held at the San Francisco City College. Spilling out of classrooms, hallways, stairwells, and even the cafeteria came some great sounds and fun dance classes. I especially liked Beatbeat Whisper who are going on a northwestern tour so if you're up in Oregon/Washington areas check them out. They are a brother/sister duo (or as Ayla put it "we are...of the same parents") and they play various instruments, but for the most part it was two guitars for this show. Their songs are very dreamy, and definitely conjures up feelings of nostalgia. For what, I'm not sure. Their voices sound beautiful together. I also was lucky to catch The Johnny Starlings who were up from San Luis Obispo (their music made Mayumi and I just smile and smile), Five Dollar Suit which is a more traditional bluegrass four piece that my friend Mayumi plays in, and my friend Kenny Schick who beats on his acoustic guitar to great effect. Oh also one of Mayumi's other bands (she plays in so many I can't keep track, including my husband's band Hang Jones) played on Sunday called Devine's Jug Band who play all 20's and 30's jug band songs.

I took an Algerian dance class and sat in on a Bollywood dance class as well. And all this for free! Sometimes I love city living.

Hang Jones online!

Hang Jones online!, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

http://www.HangJones.com

I have been working on this website with my friend Scott, who did an amazing job with the coding, for the past couple of months, at least. My brother Hernan wrote the first installment of the story which is on the Legend page, and he's also currently editing the video that he directed for the first song, Caroline.

I am my husband's biggest fan, he is extremely talented and quite a looker.

We're working on our dreams right now.

this is a nice quote

I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but I find a strange sense of comfort in being reminded of my own mortality. It makes me appreciate things more, push stronger, and play harder.

“The most solid advice for a writer is this, I think: Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough”
William Saroyan

Home Sick

Clemmy and me, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

I came down with a cold after coming back from LA (darn circulated airplane air) and it's pretty much been me and the dogs in bed for the past couple days. It's always so hard for me to just take it easy. I ask Stephen "What should i do?" and he says "REST!" I hate that answer. I'm the type of person that always has four or five projects brewing and it kills me that I'm actually home during the day and don't have the energy to work on any of them! Thank Steve Jobs for laptops though, or else I would be getting absolutely nothing done. Currently focusing on the Hang Jones website which will be ready to launch soon. Though I would also like to go downstairs to my craft room and sew myself a new bag, or skirt, or just clean the house or paint the walls. Yes, I'm a bit ambitious but I take after my dad. We always say he's like the energizer bunny the way he goes from one project to the next.

Hang Jones video shoot

Ben and his gun, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

We had a whirlwind trip to LA to shoot the first Hang Jones video. My brother directed and I always love watching him work. I had so many different tasks for this project; props, costumes and of course I had to take some photos to document. Had I not been completely overwhelmed with the costumes and set I would have taken a lot more photos, the place we shot was incredibly inspiring. The crew was amazing, the actors were perfect, and the setting could not have been better.

through the woods and back again

Wallpaper in our Room at Ace Hotel, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

Back from our Portland/Shasta trip only to leave again. We're leaving for LA tomorrow evening to shoot the first video for Hang Jones. While I'm excited, I'm also really nervous because this is super DIY and I want it to look great!

The shot above is a detail from our room at the Ace Hotel in Portland. Such a great place, I look forward to our next trip there.

Bourbon

new necklace, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

Portland was so great, as was Shasta afterwards. I have much to write about but I haven't found the time. For now here is a shot of my new necklace that Stephen got me at the Capsule Festival in Hayes Valley yesterday, by Rachael Victoria Adams of Nouveau Motley. It's one of those metal labels for old liquor bottles, and it says Bourbon. I love the repurposing of the tag as a pendant. Such a great idea!

Evan B Harris Mural at Ace Hotel

Evan B Harris Mural at Ace Hotel, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

We are staying at the Ace Hotel which does not disappoint as far as design goes. I'm very happy that we're staying on the 4th floor, because as soon as we walked into the skylit stairwell we found this huge mural by Evan B. Harris. I wrote about his work earlier when I saw his show at Rare Device. I really love his style, and also found a stationery set by him at Powell's which is just a block away. Stephen and I are really loving this town, and I'll write more later. For now we are off to explore a little more. Glad to have a rainy day, as it wouldn't quite be a visit to Portland without one.

heading out of town

on the way home, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

We are heading out on a trip to Shasta and Portland tomorrow. I'm excited to spend some time in that northwestern town that I hardly know. We're seeing some old friends in both places, and dropping the dogs off to vacay with their best friends the Rickard girls. When we come back to pick them up they'll be primped, refreshed, and ready to rumble.

the sky glowed like neon

the sky glowed like neon, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

We took an impromptu urban hike today with the dogs. Saw some great murals, smelled some not-so-great smells, ran into some friends and stayed a while. Really starting to enjoy our time in San Francisco. Funny how things change when you just remind yourself of the impermanence of it all.

the many poses of captain clementine

the many poses of captain clementine, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

there are some days that i want to just lay about like Clementine, rolling to and fro from one comfortable position to the other, waiting for the sun to come through that window.

creepy playgrounds

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/02/nightmare-playgrounds.html
via Neil Gaiman's journal.

a classic, reissued

this beautiful book cover being reissued by penguin is the work of none other than Shepard Fairey. I was fawning over the design and then read the penguin post and thought OF COURSE! So inimitably his style.

Iggy and the Stooges rider

If you've never read the tour rider for Iggy and the Stooges, it's a very good laugh.
read it here.

don't take life too seriously

it'll be over soon.

I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.
- Rita Mae Brown

photo shoot at Betty's house

2, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

We did an impromptu photo shoot at a new friend's house while we were in Shasta, and while it's difficult to choose from the three settings we used (her house and her styling skills are amazing) I think this may be my favorite. Stephen's blue eyes just pop out of the colors of this image. Huge thanks and hugs to Betty and Andy for letting us run around their property in a vainglorious spree.

another great trip to shasta

total muppet, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

we had an amazing 5 days visiting our friends the Rickards in Mt Shasta for my birthday. As a birthday present, Clementine went swimming for the first time! Can't you tell by her face she really loved it?!

mossbrae falls, originally uploaded by *Honeychild*.

This is beautiful Mossbrae Falls in Dunsmuir. It's a mile hike in along the railroad track to get there, and it is so worth the walk. The falls are about 150 ft wide and breathtaking.

stunning amazing beautiful

one.dress.finished, originally uploaded by annamariahorner.

Here's a dress posted by Anna Maria Horner, her oldest daughter designed it and she drafted the pattern for it. I also believe it's her own fabric design. Can't wait to get my hands on this pattern and this fabric, what a perfect springtime frock.

evan b harris work for sale at Rare Device

evan b harris work for sale at Rare Device, originally uploaded by Bird in the Hand.

I went to see the new Evan B Harris paintings at Rare Device last night and absolutely love this piece. It really would make a great tattoo, I'm seriously considering it! The pieces are great in person, right down to Evan's scrolly writing at the bottom.

Quote of the Day

"That's what I love about California! Metal never dies!"
-Lynda at the 500 Club when the Misfits came on the jukebox

do it yourself!!!

Great article about the rapid decline in the past few decades of people's knowledge of basic mechanics and the general DIY attitude that has come back so strong of late.

Why am I so inept? I used to do projects like this all the time when I was a kid. But in high school, I was carefully diverted from shop class when the administration decided I was college-bound. I stopped working with my hands and have barely touched a tool since.

All my life my dad has always fixed things. He would open up the toaster, mom's hairdryer, the VCR, and have it working good as new. But we turned into such a throw-away culture, people just get rid of things and buy new ones. This ties in with our greater landfill problem. We are living on a pile of rubbish waiting to get rid of everything we have so we can buy the latest new gadget/toy/fashion. Doing it yourself is so much more rewarding and we are obviously coming back to this as a culture.

eeeeeeeee!

Possibly the best website in the history of websites

amen brother

“Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.” - Mark Twain

when i die

i want to go here

Prints on Plushy Pillows

It took me forever to find the right fabric for couch pillows, but once I walked past this fabric lying on the table at Britex I knew I had found it.

Sorry I don't know the designer of this fabric but it is a japanese print, and they also had it in a darker colorway.

I made the piping out of a coordinating rust colored fabric to offset the blue of the couch, and finished it off with a raw canvas. I love sewing, it's hard to believe I put off learning how to sew until two years ago. I always resisted home-economics classes in high school, and now I've been bitten by the crafty bug.

False Start

It has been beautiful here in San Francisco. Sitting at lunch with a friend today we were boiling in the sun and wondering what month it was. Whenever it's nice I like to have fresh flowers around the house just to bring some of the outdoors in.

I do have a small urban garden which is out on a tiny area accessible only by the hallway window, it at least gives us something pretty to look at in addition to our otherwise bland view of our neighbor's kitchen. The following photos were taken last summer when it was a bit more lush out there. Since then there's been a few plant funerals, and a few additions to the mix.

Another clue that this photos is outdated is you can peek in our living room there and see Stephen reading a book, which he never has time for anymore. The demands of start-ups and music careers and two dogs and a wife don't allow for such leisurely pursuits around here.
But ooh look how pretty my fuschia is! That plant seems to do well year round. I definitely don't have a green thumb but I've learned that most plants will do whatever they need to do to survive.