Sunday, October 18, 2009

If you can't put it into words...

...then let someone else say it for you. :) Here are a few of my favorite poems on autumn. I just love this time of year! Enjoy.

Nature XXVII, Autumn

by Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.


Nothing Gold Can Stay

by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold,
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.


Ode to Autumn

by John Keats

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.


Love and Latt
és,

Katie

Monday, October 12, 2009

10 Happy Things

Sorry, once again, for my lack of posts lately! I have been trying to balance an odd combination of being busy and incredibly bored, and haven't had much to report in a while. Since I have had a lot on my mind, and have really been trying to focus on the blessings in my life, I thought I would share 10 things that currently make me happy. So, without further ado, my 10 happy things:


1.My sweet hubby drew this and e-mailed a photo from his phone while he was out of town for work. :) I just love him.

2. Funfetti cookies. Seriously.

3. Being able to Facebook with family and friends all over the world.

4. My adorable - and genius - little niece who is constantly saying and doing new things. When she calls me "Tatie," it warms my heart.

5. The cool fall breeze we have had lately is just lovely.

6. A coworker brought me fresh honey from her parents' farm, and it is to die for!

7. I recently had a conversation with an atheist friend, and came out feeling even more strongly about the things I believe -- God is good.

8. I have already bought my Halloween costume, and am excited to dress up at work for the second year in a row (did someone say costume contest??)

9. I am in love with my new, red sweater from Old Navy.

10. We just bought Snow White and Pinocchio on Blu-Ray, and Justin hasn't seen either one yet! There's nothing to cheer you up like a Disney classic. :)

What makes you happy?

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Sunday, October 4, 2009

FALLing in Love

Fall, being my favorite season, brings out my creative side. I am at my best when I'm doing something that uses the right side of my brain, and for some reason, this time of year I get the urge to create. I cook and bake more, I find little craft projects to do, and lately, I sew! My latest project was a doggie bed, which I made out of a cute, paw-printed fabric and the stuffing from an old pillow. I made a do-it-yourself oval shaped pattern out of wrapping paper, and made a simple two-sided pillow for Daisy to sleep on in her crate. (Picture coming soon!)

Now that I'm finished with that little project, I'm trying to decide what to do next. Since Halloween is only a few short weeks away, I have been googling costume ideas and pumpkin carving designs like crazy. I haven't made any decisions yet in those areas, but when I do, I'll be sure to share my ideas.

Aside from my fascination with autumn, there is not much to report. Justin and I have both been busy with work, and are only able to see each other about three days a week until his current project is over. I apologize for my lack of blogging, and promise I will come up with something more interesting to write about soon. :)

Have a great week, everybody! Enjoy this beautiful time of year!

Love and Latt
és,

Katie

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

It's Here! It's Here!

Okay class, does anybody know what today is? .... No? It's ONLY the first day of my favorite season of all. Today, kids, is the autumnal equinox, also known as the first day of fall. Starting today, we can all get out our cheesy leaf garlands and light candles that smell like pumpkin and cinnamon. Can you feel the excitement?! It would really be nice if South Carolina would hurry up and get the fall memo already; the leaves on the trees here are still as green as they were in May, and our temperatures still reach the 80s on a daily basis. Uh, hello Mother Nature.. wake up! It's fall! Not that I'm complaining; the weather has been great and all. I am just so antsy to get out my sweaters and long-sleeved shirts, and to go pick apples and carve pumpkins and.. well, you get the jist. :) I am a fall-aholic! So, from me to you...


Love and Lattés,

Katie

Monday, September 14, 2009

I Love Me Some Nirvana

...and I'm not talking about the band.

Saturday, I redeemed my Urban Nirvana gift card and went for an hour long massage.

An. hour. long. massage.

It was even better than I could have imagined. If you've never had a professional massage, I highly recommend it. Okay, so at first it was just a *teensy* bit awkward, because as soon as I was shown to the small, dark room, I had to undress and wriggle under the sheet on the table thingie. As per Justin's request, I asked for a female masseuse. I am glad I did, too, because it did help some with the awkward factor. Once the lady put her hands on my back though, the awkwardness completely disappeared and I was in heaven. Carolyn (that was her name) had a super soft voice, and communicated well. She said things like "Katie, I'm going to do all of your movements for you. Try not to move your own arms or legs; just relax..." and I felt like a little puppy getting scratched behind the ears. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm not the type to splurge on "frivolous" things, but I will definitely be going back for another massage (or maybe a spa treatment!) one day, because after going, I suddenly find myself more relaxed, less stressed, and generally more happy. :)

And speaking of happy, I made "breakfast for dinner" last night, and I don't mean to brag, but I made the most delicious French toast. I mean, it really hit the spot. I have a special place in my heart for breakfast foods, and they just downright make my day.

Now, I will level with you - my life is not always massages and French toast. A good friend of mine, who also happens to be a coworker, is leaving town, and this makes me sad. Tomorrow is his last day at work, and since there is already one unfilled position, we are going to be *extremely* short staffed at the Information Desk. But, life goes on. I wish my good buddy the best of life as he ventures out into the world and follows his heart. Stephen, it is going to be tough to fill your shoes, and you will be missed, but we will manage somehow. :) Don't forget to write!

I will leave you with a photo from work today.. this is me (duh) and my little buddy, Gavin Mathis (the 7 week old son of one of my bosses). Isn't he the cutest thing you have ever seen?!

Have a great week, all!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Friday, September 11, 2009

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Ellen to Replace Paula?!

This morning, as I sat at the table finishing my cup of coffee, I overheard a few phrases on "The Today Show" that caught my attention. "What?!" I said. "Rewind that!" Justin, equally confused, hit rewind on the DVR remote. He pushed play, and then we both sat in stunned silence as we heard the news we thought we had heard the first time: that Ellen Degeneres had been chosen as a permanent fourth judge on American Idol. You can read about it here.

I know, I know... a little dramatic, right? But, hey - Justin and I are shameless Idol watchers, and we may have even voted once or twice (or twenty times, what's the difference?). We watched proudly as a couple of our favorite contestants were crowned "the next American Idol" (namely, Carrie Underwood and David Cook) and screamed in horror at the TV as some of the greats were kicked off way too soon (Daughtry anyone?!). Maybe we have too much time on our hands, but we are Idol nerds and aren't really sure what to think about this latest development. We both love Ellen and think she'll add some hilarity to the show. Of course, it will be tough to fill Paula's shoes... oh, the special moments we have had poking fun at her outlandish (and sometimes indistinguishable) statments, choices in fashion and inability to agree with Simon's logical opinions.

This is going to be interesting.

Thoughts, anyone?


Love and Lattés,

Katie