Friday Favorite

The capitol dome on my walk home from work Tuesday...

To Everything Turn, Turn, Turn...

I think we've reached a turning point - seasonally speaking.

The past few days you can just tell a change in the air...as in literally, the air has gotten a lot cooler. Tomorrow is supposed to be the coolest day yet only getting up to the low 50s. I've even heard rumors about the possibility of snow in high country. This is not how I normally spend my Augusts. August is usually spent mostly indoors standing in front of cranked up air conditioners for what is easily the most miserable time of the year in D.C. I will not miss that.

I've also noticed the sky seems moodier. There are lots of fast-moving clouds and the passing afternoon storms have turned chillier. A quick, light, fall-feeling rain just went through. It was the kind you don't need to shut your windows for, but that makes you want to curl up with a book and a cup of tea. I like those.

The thing I don't like is seeing the mornings take just a little bit longer to lighten. There is nothing more difficult than waking up at your normal time and it looking like it's the middle of the night. Yuck.

Of course, none of these observations are scientific in any way. It's more of a feeling and just noticing some things seem different.

I'm happy it's changing though, because I LOVE fall. It is by far my favorite time of year, but it's a little harder to enjoy it here - mostly because it's too short! Back East it lasts months versus weeks. The weather is warm through September...starts to take a turn in mid-October...then tapers off into winter about early December.

I'll miss that. And the zillions of fall colors out there. And our annual apple picking trip.

Speaking of, I'm going to have to find something to harvest here. But I'll have to do that fast!

O Pioneers!

Much like the pioneers who settled the West, I am doing without a modern day convenience.

I'm not talking about electricity, indoor plumbing, or a car to get myself around in...I've got all those.

I'm without a microwave.

I gave my D.C. microwave away before moving because it wouldn't fit anywhere in the U-Haul or car and I was totally over thinking about it. Besides, Carrie had a microwave I could use, and they aren't that expensive these days...so, adios D.C. microwave.

Then, as I moved into my new place I realized I had/have other priorities than a super-quick way to heat my food. I decided I would go old school. I would use my oven for everything - even to warm leftovers. If we did it before microwaves were invented I could certainly do it now, right?

It's really been ok. I cook quite a lot anyway, so the ways of the oven are not new to me. The only drawback is the time constraint. Waiting for the oven to pre-heat, then to warm your food could easily be a 15-20 minute (or longer) endeavor.

Clearly, this is where the benefits of a microwave kick in.

I told a coworker I didn't have a microwave and he looked at me as if I had just donned a floor-length skirt and bonnet. He said he has an extra one and he would be MORE than happy to let me use it.

I told him sure, even though I kind of like my pre-'70s/'80s (I didn't Wikipedia the date microwaves were invented) way of doing things.

However, there is an appeal to chicken in 15 seconds v. 15 minutes...

Home Again, Home Again - But Which One?

I know I’ve been M.I.A. the past week. I went to D.C. for the weekend and have just been…tired…since I returned.

John and Sara's wedding was this weekend and I went back for the big event - and it was totally worth it, as I never doubted the wedding itself would be.

I did doubt, however, the wisdom in returning to my old home so soon.

I was anxious all week, and as the trip got closer my feeling of anxiety got worse. As I told several friends, I likened the trip to visiting the grave too soon.

I don't want to live there - but I do miss components of my life there - and I didn't want to have to say goodbye again to friends and the things about the city that I love. I dreaded Sunday.

But, I made it through the anxiety and had a great time. I got to see lots of friends and I went to several of my favorite places: Rosemary's Thyme for happy hour...my little 17th St., coffee shop for an iced coffee...shopping at H&M...etc.

It was so natural to be there! Oddly so, in fact. I felt like I was home from vacation from my new home. I guess that's what happens when you live in a place so long. I was there eight years. I've been in Cheyenne roughly eight weeks.

D.C. and I will always have a little love affair. We fell hard for each other immediately and very few cities will ever compare. Cheyenne and I don't have the passion for one another that D.C. and I did, but we're still on a first date feeling each other out.

I think this could go somewhere...

Planty's New Home

A couple weeks ago I brought Planty over from Laramie to get him settled in his new home.

Aside from my bed, Planty was the first thing I found a permanent location for in the apartment.

After being traumatized by freezing weather in the back of my car, culled, and toted back and forth between Laramie and Vail I think he rather likes his new little corner...

You'll also notice the photo on the wall above Planty. It was the first thing I hung on the walls in my new place: an awesome picture of the Lincoln Memorial, my favorite memorial in D.C., at sunset...