events in Washington D.C.

I just got back from spending a long weekend in D.C., it was so lovely hanging out in the city with my friends, very different life pace than I am used to - I slept 11 hour last night in recovery.

On Thursday we helped out at/ attended a charity gala for ClearWater Initiative at the House of Sweden. The non-profit helps empower villages in Uganda with a focus on building wells and creating easier and more efficient ways for everyone to access clean, safe water. It was a beautiful and very fun event, attended by very interesting people, and filled with delicious snacks (shrimp and grits bites anyone?)

all dressed up!

Soleil captured some images of the venue:

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images from Soleil's instagram

On Friday night, we attended the Falmouth Academy reunion in DC! It was so fun seeing school mates and meeting the new headmaster. 

photographs from the Falmouth Academy Facebook

What a whirlwind weekend - we spent the second half in Baltimore where I ate the most delicious pancakes I have ever had in my entire life - but more on that later!

xoxo

beautiful arrangements: emily blincoe

I have a lot of free time when I work at the coffee bar because the customers are so nice and easy and leave me alone except for quick refills of black coffee for the most part. Half the time I am taking artsy photos for social media to encourage people to hike on down here and visit me:

new seating outside!

fancy bean jugs

Emma's birthday tulips

I discovered this very interesting photographer Emily Blincoe. I really enjoy all her images but I am particularly drawn to her creative arrangements! I have no life news of my own to share, so here's some inspiration.

easter egg shells

rainbow pebbles

abc noodles

the inside of tomatoes

colorful citrus!

*last five images from Emily Blincoe's Instagram

xoxo

portraits

" 'It is how people interact with the world,' he told her once. 'The soul might be within the eyes, but the subconscious, the matter of their behavior, that is in the hands. Watch a man's hands, and you watch his heart.' "

- City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett

I love working with my hands, especially creating art of all kinds: painting, sculpture, flower arranging. As some of you may know, Keegan had to leave school and go home leaving me ALL ALONE in Virginia. I'll be back to the Cape in less than three weeks but for now I am filling my time with Gilmore Girls and using up my art supplies so that I have less to pack into the Volv.

This one I did in acrylics and collage for my friend from Para, Emma, whose just turned 23!

I drew this today at work (it was mind numbingly slow) of my beautiful little sis. 

anyone have any ideas for what I should make next?

xoxo

mystery film

Over Christmas I discovered a roll of film in my 35mm camera so I quickly finished the roll and then…. had to wait forever for CVS to develop the pictures. But I was really excited to discover that the film was still good and that I hadn't accidentally double exposed or flashed the roll!

I got some beautiful captures of three of my favorite friends:

my little Lucy

chocolate chip pancakes for every meal if possible

click through for more photos!

home made french fries

In one month I will be getting home from a shift at Coffee O and making supper with my new rookie Katie. Boy does that feel like a million miles away! In the mean time, I am going to keep experimenting with this amazing home made french fry recipe.

image from 3-Chairs

Holy cannoli these are so good and easy! Keegan and I made them with turkey burgers to celebrate the summer-like weather, it's 80 degrees here. I think any potato would be good with this recipe, we used Dutch baby golds, but next up I want to try sweet potatoes :))

In book news, i just finished the novel A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham, the first in a  quartet. I really enjoyed it but honestly I am not sure everyone else would as I indiscriminately love all sic-fi/ fantasy books with really cool worlds. The story follows two young men who were trained to be poets, but only one of them finished his education. Poets in this world are people who describe an action in a way that gives the action itself into a physical manifestation, a human body, and then the poet can magnify that action a thousand fold. For example, in the book, a poet uses his creation as a tool to harvest grains for his city - he can harvest it all at once by using his mind. PRETTY AWESOME.

new orleans chicory coffee

I am home from NOLA and so exhausted but mainly desperately missing the food and COFFEE! New Orleans traditionally brews my favorite drink with ground chicory, the dried root of the chicory flower.

Brief History lesson: Chicory root is harvested much like sugar beet and primarily comes from France and South Africa. The ancient Greeks and Romans used chicory as a veggie and in salads! When Napoleon enacted the Continental Blockade in the 1800s, the French had a very limited coffee supply and so began cutting the bean with ground chicory. The trend continued even after trade resumed and spread to French influenced Louisiana in the 19th century. New Orleans continues to cling to this coffee heritage, not only for its history and distinctive taste, but for many supposed health benefits! Read more here [ I did not fact check this site, why would the internet lie to me :) ]

 It was so delish, a little like chocolate, a little deep nutty flavor in the coffee.

beautiful Nicki enjoying some iced cold brew outside French Truck, home of the best coffee I have ever ever tasted.

myself enjoying the sunshine and the caffeine buzz on the NOLA river walk!

I'm going to stop by the grocery store/ spice store tomorrow to get some chicory myself and then report back!

xoxo

P.S. on the plane I read The King's Curse, the newest Philippa Gregory novel on the plane!! It follows Margret Pole, daughter of George Plantagenet (Richard of York's middle brother, the one who was drowned in a vat of malmsey wine) through the childhood and first four wives of Henry VIII. It was excellent, better than some of her more recent historical fictions. I love everything she puts out though, her stories are so captivating.