Safety Net

For those of you following along about me losing all my money, there will no be no starving for this girl. My wonderful dad read of my strife, and generously treated me to a grocery shopping spree!

This rainbow of delicious food means so much more than just that.

One of the best things about being back in my home town is having so much interaction with my parents. I moved out of the house a week or so after turning 18 (not for dramatic reasons, just because I was excited to start adventuring), and haven’t really lived nearby since then. Being able to pop in for dinner, ask a favor, or give a favor – these are luxuries that I think we all underestimate from time to time. I’ve felt like a happy child all over again, being back in the proximity of my loving folks.

We all need an emotional safety net – whether its your parents, your partner, or just a fantastic friend (wouldn’t all three be nice).

Don’t underestimate the power of human connection. Be that kind of friend to someone; you never know who needs it more than they’re letting on.

Allowing Time to Grow

Things are going marvelously well! After a cabin hunt that seemed endless, but was really not so bad in hindsight, I’ve found a great little spot to call home. A combination of traits that eluded those before it, this cabin is both close to town and not disgusting. I move in this weekend, and my head is already dancing with sugarplums flowers boxes and kitchen tools.

My new home, with considerably fewer wheels than the last.

So with that matter dealt with, along with the news that I start working this weekend and that I have a small but unexpected tax refund headed my way, I’m feeling quite on top of things. Thanks, universe!

My seedlings are also showing a little hope, with the arrival of some rather spindly broccoli and cauliflower. I love seeing them sprouted up like this, but I worry that they’ll follow the trend of last year’s attempt and refuse to thicken out. I’ve got them under a sun lamp, and have taken care to neither under or over indulge in their watering. My thyme has also recently popped its green heads into the world, but none of my other herbs have followed suit yet. I have a feeling I’m just being impatient.

Grow grow grow little broccoli!

I’m chomping at the bit to have a place to spread my plants and other creations out. I’ve got a great supply of kitchen tools that have been too long neglected in the years that I’ve attended to other aspects of life. Its almost time to break out the food processors and tart pans and make some magic! Fairbanks, in general, is a culinary wasteland…making the motivation to cook more at home easy to come by.

I’ve been less personally reflective and more straight forward in my writing lately, I suspect because I’m still trying to give my thoughts on all these changes time to settle. I’ve purposefully neglected to share my experiences in leaving Portland, and haven’t really addressed many of my thoughts upon arriving in Alaska. I think it would be wiser to give these emotions time to age before presuming to fully articulate them. My hope is to address these, at the very least internally, at a later time.

In the mood of reflection, I recently enjoyed this blog post: “A Guide to Jealous-Free Living”. As I imagine many people do, I find myself often dwelling on minor jealousies, a practice which is as unhealthy as it is unproductive. The writer didn’t really share any ground-breaking practices, but the refresher course in common sense was an excellent read.