4 Days of "No T-shirts & No Beanies"

     This post represents four work days of "no beanies and no t-shirts". Outside of pictures from my accidental modeling career for Humanité, I am a hap-hazard fashion queen. What does that mean, you ask? It means, I love clothing as a functional art form but tend to not follow the actual fashion dos and don'ts. But, I am always up for a challenge. So while Erin was away, I ran Humanité in style. Or did I? You make the call, I can take it.

day 1

     The trickiest part of day one was the realization that I couldn't just throw my hat on and go. I had to actually look at my hair in the mirror and make it look like I had. There's a TON of hair up there and those who know me are aware of how hard it is not to just shave it off. The outfit is simple. I bought the shirt at Humanité our first year open. I would like to squash the old fashion rule that you can't wear black and brown together. I mean, come on, they're both neutrals and leopards do it all the time.

day 2

     Bobby pins helped with the bang problem. Day two's clothing made me feel like I was 20 again. A white tank and necklace from Humanité paired with boot cut jeans and a brightly colored cardigan. This necklace is a lot of fun. Accessories really can transform an outfit.

day 3

     This looks a little more like me. The layered shirts that barely matched looked better than expected. The pants are hand me downs from someone who is a foot taller than me. Go figure, the day I tried the least is the day I racked up on compliments! People really do notice when someone is comfortable and confidant in their clothes and I owned this outfit! Gotta love the "keep on truckin' " pose!

day 4

      For the last day in my week of semi-fashion I chose to go with closet staples: a white dress shirt, j.crew jeans, converse, and a thin gold chain. Pretty basic outfit, but very clean. The only problem? Every time I where this shirt Aj tells me I look like I just finished my shift at a restaurant.

So there you go! Fashion really can be fun and it's supposed to be. Just remember, no matter how much we spend on our wardrobe, our clothes do not define who we are. 

♥

  "And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing."

Luke 12:22

 

I'm Down with O.P.P.

I want to share some fun pictures that Aj and I have taken of other people's pets. We have a lot of critter lovin' friends.  Most of these are rescued animals that found loving homes with awesome people!



♥



The owners of The Chocolate Shoppe in Bryson City, have adopted several rescued animals from our local animal shelter.  P.A.W.S is a non-euthanizing, non-profit organization. The white cat in the first set of pictures is the newest addition to the family. He loves sitting out on the porch with us while we chill in the mountain breeze.  Donna and Sherry are quite the animal lovers and have given a wonderful home to several cats and two of the sweetest dogs. All of their pets like to catch and eat flying bugs, which is very entertaining as well as beneficial.

 

 

Annie



Katie

George

♥

Frank Lee is another animal lover among our friends. He gives a safe and happy home to six cats. Here is the oldest, Sara, napping on the sunny side of the sofa.

♥

My sister's boxers.

I sometimes wish I had it made like these dogs do.

This past fall Aj and I joined Stephanie, Jason, and all three dogs for a three day hiking trip. They were great even though there were lots of people on the trail and some rough terrain.

♥

We have so many fun pictures of animals that this may have to be a two-parter.

♥

Swain County has such a high number of stray animals. There is no animal control in Bryson City. It is up to these animal lovers to find homes and loving caretakers. I want to close this post with a couple of websites with information about pet adoption.

P.A.W.S.  Placing Animals Within Society - Bryson City, NC
Catman2 No-kill Cat Shelter - Cashiers, NC
Fix Your Pet Spay/Neuter Clinic - Asheville, NC

Trying to Make Walls Feel Like Home

The energy of a room is important. If you would have said this to me a couple of years ago I would have laughed it off with a "whatever, yoda".

     I am hoping to explain a little of why we move so much. It has never had to do with money or problems really. When Aj and I first lived together we shared 480 square feet spread out on two levels.  Now add five or six more people in the warmer months and you've got one happy little mountain top cabin. Sound tight? We were surrounded by comfort, love, conversation and the constant flow of ideas. The energy was good there. Even in winter times when I found myself alone, fire in the stove, I was inspired to create. I was inspired to connect, with myself and with God. But after three months of having no water we decided it was time to move.
    While we are always grateful to find shelter, we have never really found the energy and creativity that was packed up when we left that little shack. Since then we've moved out of places because of colors that made us nauseous, because of poor lighting in depressing winter months, because our cat didn't adjust.  I don't totally blame the dwellings, there have been other changes that need to be accounted for as well, but the house plays a big roll. The cheesy saying goes, "home is where the heart is", and as cliché as that may sound, it's right. Home IS where the heart is, because the heart is where everything else is. And the heart needs rest, the heart needs release. For this to happen it needs comfort and safety. So the "home" may be an actual stick building, it may be a trailer, and yes, it may even be a van down by the river. It's the place, the room, the tent, the cave, the arms where your heart finds peace. Unfortunately, you can't try out a rental home to "experience" it before moving in to it. And what happens if we invest to build a house to find there's no heart in it? What about the people who've got no home, roof or not?

So much to ponder as Aj and I try to make a nest in a new location. Will this be home? We're trying. Some might say that we should just make the most of where we are, but would you continue sitting in a chair if it made your back hurt?

Flashback: The West Observed

the plains

i can see as far

as this hazy day

will allow my eyes

to see

Catching Up. . . .

lots of time spent here on this mountain side

with friends more like family and their furry companions

there's love and laughter

and sometimes tears

and sometimes just relaxin'

from the same spot on that porch

the sky looks different everyday

every hour

every minute

 and sometimes there are rainbows

which are always good ways

to start a new year

it will be good

because we will be motivated to make it so

•

liz nance