Have a lovely weekend.

Just wanted to share with you my favorite shot from Nathan's most recent photoshoot.



This weekend, we're celebrating Nathan's birthday with two outings. The first is a trip to a winebar. (Haven't decided amongst here, here, or here. Suggestions?)
The other trip will be to the Apple store to pick up this little beauty.

I also might be crazy, because I'm starting in on this writing project for the month of May.

What are you up to this weekend?

Friday Favorites: odds & ends

1. hedges of rosemary



"Attached to the back of the house was an enclosed courtyard, and beyond that a bleached white stone swimming pool. There were three wells, there were established shade trees and slim green cypresses, hedges of rosemary, a giant almond tree. In the afternoon sun, with the wooden shutters half-closed like sleepy eyelids, it was irresistible."

excerpt from A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
(the first time I read about and began to imagine hedges of rosemary. Since then, I've been lucky enough to see some in person. One day I'll have some of my own...)




2. espadrilles




3. the library

This is my actual library branch, you guys. Isn't it pretty? It's so amazing-- it feels like an airy, sunlit booktopia. Another fabulous thing about the Austin Public Library is that you can go online to reserve whatever book, CD, or movie you want, have it sent directly to the branch nearest you, and (get this!) they send you an email when it's available for pickup. Seriously! You can also get email reminders of when your materials are due, and if you need to recheck anything out, you can do that online. As I said, this place is heaven. Book heaven.


4. paper lanterns




5. lockets


Ever since the movie Annie, I've had a fondness for lockets. Isn't there something so sweet/nostalgic/romantic about carrying a tiny photo of your love inside a pretty piece of jewelry?



I've been eyeing these classic lockets by Carolina Bleu, a jeweler based in Bandera, Texas who sells at one of my favorite local shops, Parts and Labour.
I normally go for silver, but I really love the look of the copper ones...

Age before beauty

You guys, I started blogging in 2002. Eight years ago!
I'm not saying I didn't take months off at a time, but in blog years, this is the age of Pixiespace:



That said, I only recently changed my template,
updated the format so I could have followers,
and really got into trying to post every day.

So this is how old my blog feels:



I lied. It actually feels even younger.



OK, OK.



This is literally the Benjamin Buttons Blog.

It stands to reason that (fingers crossed) blogging will be around forever. Or, you know, at least until the Olsen twins are this old:



Happy Blogging-- and remember:
Your blog is only as old as you feel.

Staring at the sun

"The sun had never seemed so bright, nor the day so full of promise."
from Rebecca



On Friday, I finished reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. It was so gothic and brooding-- a mystery/pseudo-ghost story that really kept me guessing.

Then this weekend, Nathan and I watched the film version directed by Hitchcock.


It was good, but I must admit that I was a little disappointed. I definitely prefer the book. (I'd have to recommend reading Rebecca, but maybe watching a different Hitchcock film like Vertigo, North by Northwest, or Rear Window.)

Isn't it always that way? Which of your favorite titles were made into films that just didn't live up to the book?

This is only a test.

In honor of all the standardized academic testing going on this week all over Texas, I give you this little video, which I think is as hilarious (but not as worrying) as the infamous 911 warthog call.



Good luck and if you need help, don't hesitate to call someone.
Just maybe not during the actual test.

I demand a recount.

Your votes said that out of tests, laundry, spreadsheets and beets,
spreadsheets were the most boring.



In fact, spreadsheets received a whopping two thirds of the votes, whereas beets only received one third.



My husband did point out that beet chips are delicious, but that's beside the point. Have you ever one time been entertained by a beet? Be honest.

Some people did comment that they hated tests and despised laundry, but I didn't count those votes, since they didn't vote on the actual poll. I know-- just call me the Enforcer.

New poll for this week (be sure to vote over on the right)
What should be the topic for the next week's poll?

What is the most annoying?
Which decade had the greatest design/fashion?
Which vacation spot is the best?
Who is the cutest?


Be sure to vote or this scary lady will hunt you down.
And by "Tuesday November 4," she means "at some point this week."