Did you know that a plum/apricot hybrid is called a pluot?

Today on the way back from our morning walk with the dogs, we noticed that a street a block over from ours was closed.

"hmmm, must be road work" Brent said.

But I saw tents set up, and so I convinced him to be nosey with me. We turned around and walk down there and sure enough, they had set up a little farmers market. Apparently it happens every Sunday from here until September.

These are the sorts of moments that I love the most. Discovering something new and unexpected right in my own little corner of the city. Everyone in our neighborhood was there with their children and dogs. I just love the communal nature of the people here! We even have a little community newspaper called "The Western Edition" that is specifically focused on the interest of the people in the 2 square mile radius around us.

I started down the rows of vendors and filled my arms with plums and apricots and organic strawberries (which by the way are smaller than normal strawberries but TWICE as flavorful!) We bought new redskin potatoes and two bouquets of flowers for the house.

I came home and made beautiful little bouquets and put them in glass bottles all over the house. I can't stop munching on all this delicious fruit! I've been missing the great Raleigh Farmer's Market so much, and our little discovery today was just what I needed.

M

This is why I love the city

So this guy passed through our neighborhood on his journey to the golden gate. I'm just bummed we didn't get the opportunity to help him along the way. Too funny.


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Things I have learned since moving to San Francisco:

1. "Just over the hill" is not neccesarily the same sort of "hills" we're accustomed to in the south. I think a few of the hills I've walked up in this city could qualify as mountains along the blue ridge parkway.

2. Don't make eye contact with people on the bus. seriously, don't do it. It's not like in the south where you can smile and someone will smile back and then you just ride in peace together. Ohhhh nooo... here, if you make eye contact with someone, it's an open invitation for them to start telling you about the alien that abducted them from the park or that they're trying to become enlightened enough to write a new chapter of the bible. just put your ear phones in and look out the window.

3. Do not go anywhere ANYWHERE near a tourist attraction on a holiday. And I thought Wilmington was bad on memorial weekend. I've never seen a sea of people like the pack of folks who swarmed us when we made the oh so dumb decision to check out the fisherman's wharf on July 4th.

4. Walk! Living here has made me realized that there were so many places we could have walked to in Raleigh... but due to laziness and convenience, we always drove. I have seen such a change in myself in only two weeks... we walk everywhere, and it feels so good. Plus I notice things I would otherwise overlook like silly names written in the concrete and interesting posters people staple to the board outside the burrito shop.

5. Dogs fall in love with places too. I thought our dogs would be happy anywhere, as long as they were with us. I realized this week, sitting at the top of Buena Vista Park with the dogs that Gibson and Bailey are just as smitten with this place as we are. Bailey was laying in the grass, just sprawled out and happy as a claim, and Gibson had this giant smile on his face... ear to furry ear...

Also, I'm attempting to eat my weight in avocados.

yesterday was my last day of free-wheelin before I had to return to work.
And boy did we take advantage of the day.

We took our first trip over the golden gate bridge.
Believe it or not, I've been under it in a boat,
but until yesterday we've never gone over it.
A friend of ours picked us up and we headed North.

On the other side, we spent hours exploring the Marin Headlands.
This area is an old WW2 military base (Fort Cronkhite)
Which has been abandoned since the 1960s.
There were old bunkers, missle tunnels, concrete structures,
and miles and miles of wilderness.

We followed this tiny dirt trails all the way to the very edge of giant sea cliffs.
We watched seals lounge in the sun and deer graze nearby.
I can't even explain to you the beauty we experienced.
It was unlike anything I've ever seen before.
I felt like I was at the very tip of the world.

There was no one around for miles except sea birds and wild animals.
We even found this one place where there were tunnels underground leading from one concrete bunker to another.
years ago, the military stored weapons and munitions in these bunkers.
Now they're covered in some of the coolest graffiti art I've seen.

Later, we came down out of the hills and had dinner in Sausalito.
It is a beautiful town on the water,
but different than I expected.
I thought I'd discover a bohemian seaside community with organic markets
and barefoot boat dwellers and bungalow hippies.
Instead, It felt like a mini rodeo drive
with high end retailers,
million dollar cliff-side mansions,
and more luxury cars than I've ever seen in one small area.
It was charming, none the less
and we had the most delicious mexican dinner with a view of the water.

M

Home Sweet Home

I've got lots of pictures for you guys today! And best news of all, I'm writing this from the comfort of my own desk. The cable man came this morning and set us up with internet and cable TV. woo hoo!

Alright, so lets start the show...

This is what our first two days in our new place looked like. Nothing but suitcases and a little airmattress:


So fortunately, our furniture arrived on Saturday morning and we got to work, putting everything in its place. Here's a little tour of our itty bitty, happy little home:

Standing in the kitchen, looking into the living room:


Another of the living room, from the front door:


Our sweet as pie bedroom. Thankfully you can't see all the stuff we've shoved underneath the bed!!


In the bedroom, looking towards the living room:


I also attempted to take pictures of the kitchen and bathroom, but they're both such small spaces that you really can't get a good picture.

So that's our place. We love it so much! And everyday we open our windows and just enjoy the sounds of the city.

Melissa

Day four.

In less than 24 hours we managed to put most of our puzzle together.
We found the appropriate place for the couch,
hung a lifetime worth of photographs on our walls,
we found a spot for my great grandmothers china dishes in the kitchen
and slept as soundly as I think we've ever slept in our own bed,
in our own bedroom,
in our city.

Last night, just after we turned out the lights from a busy day of unpacking
Brent began to laugh.
My eyes were closed when I asked, what's funny?
You'll never believe what I just saw out our bedroom window, he said to me.
What?
A man in a wedding dress and blonde wig, pulling a suitcase just walked by.
We both giggled.
Oh San Francisco, how weird and wonderful you are.

Sometime during the night,
a neighbor decided to do some decluttering
and left a giant pile of odds and ends on the sidewalk beneath our window.
All night, and all morning,
people of all sorts have been stopping by.
Homeless people, eclectic middle aged women wearing purple and straw hats.
Moms with strollers, men in sandals and socks,
They've all stopped and rummaged through the free for all in front of our window.

They can't see us.
We're just out of sight up above them.
But I keep sticking my head out of the window to see who's out there now,
finding something to take home with them.

We couldn't help but join in,
afterall, the WHOLE neighborhood had atleast taken a look.
So we got ourselves a might fine bright blue milk crate.
And Brent bungee corded it to the back of our scooter.
And just like that... voila! We have a trunk for our scootie.

I can think of ten things I plan to put in it.
Like green curtains for our living room, and bananas, and
a new DVD player if I can figure out a place close by to buy one.

Today Brent and I took our first long scooter trip.
(a whole 7 minute ride!)
We took Fulton St. all the way west,
and landed at the ocean.
The pacific pales in comparison to the lovely, golden Carolina shores.


Everything was gray. The sky, the sand, the water.
And there were a million jelly fish on the beach.
But it smelled like the ocean,
and the breeze felt distinctly familiar
and there were dogs dancing in the surf.
And we were both happy to have the experience and
plan to go back soon.

We also saw a beautiful Windmill and a herd of Buffalo in Golden Gate Park


We hiked to the top of Buena Vista Park with the dogs
and got a glorious view of the whole city and the bay.
Check out this beautiful view!!


Here is Brent standing at the corner of our street Baker, and Haight St. The green area behind, and the stairs lead to the trails of Buena Vista park. How fortunate we are to live so close to such a beautiful natural area!!



So after our day of adventures, we came home, made turkey sandwiches with mac n cheese
and spent a really long time
just looking around our apartment,
with walls full of pictures of people we love and familiar things,
and tried really really hard to grasp the idea
that this is HOME.

PS. I just read this aloud to brent. Afterwards he said to me, honey, are you about to cry? And I said, No. Not at all. I'm just... so overwhelming happy. Just beyond happy right now. And he said... well, there's that... and the fact that you've been drinking wine. So yes, maybe a little tear did form in my eye... a mix of joy, sentimentality, and two buck chuck.

P.P.S. Brent and I both swear that Mr. Miyagee (from karate kid) just walked by! Goatee and everything!

Wax on, Wax off,
M

2 blogs. 1 day.

I think this is the best day I've had all year.
Just Brent and the dogs and a gallon of light green paint.
Our kitchen is a pale creamy green, and our bathroom the same.
And my elbows and fingernails match.

I am 10 feet from brent.
Facing him.
I am writing and he is singing and playing guitar.
The dogs are curled at my feet and my hip.
And I am astounded at how peaceful I feel right now.

Lately I've been battling anxiety.
More than I've had in a long while.
And I always try to think mind over matter
and bring myself down from the brink,
but still, they've been happening when I least expect it.
In the bed at 11pm, during breakfast, or just when I'm driving and stopped at a red light.

As soon as my mind has an inch of time to spare,
I'd start worrying. Consumed by what ifs.

Right now I'm reading a book
that's teaching me to let go.
To follow what this big world holds for me
and stop worrying about the future and just
really enjoy what is right in front of me , right now.

And that's what I'm doing at this moment.
I am enjoying the smokey voice of my husband
and the mellow sounds of his guitar.
I feel the warmth of my dogs curled into me.
And oh the joy I find in putting these words down.

I think this is the biggest thing I've ever done in my life.
Well, besides getting married.
That was probably the biggest.
But this is a close second.
I am days and days and miles away from anyone who can save me.
In this city, all I have is twelve foot ceilings, and my husband, and God.
And today, like the tide washes the sand clean,
I realized that I have all I need to be made new again.

Later I'm going to find a good place to do a handstand.
Just to make the day complete.

M