Found on the street

Hi, my name is Linda and I'm a dumpster diver/garbage picker/branch hoarder.  Hi, Linda.

I just can't help it.

I found this guy at the park after the crazy Santa Ana winds last month.

I'm going to repaint this guy and use it as storage.

Hi.

Not pictured are some milk crates I found on the curb that I promptly washed with hot water and disinfectant.  Yes!

Happy 2012!

Happy 2012!  I can't believe the new year is upon us.  I'm looking forward to all the good that lies ahead . . . and slowly learning to become more resilient in the face of adversity and change.

Silence and solitude in the garden

I took a trip to the Descanso Gardens this past week to spend some time in prayer, reflection, and solitude; spiritual disciplines I've been trying to cultivate since college.  It was so nice to be out in a beautiful garden on a warm, sunny day.  I also grew up coming here and enjoyed a bit of nostalgia . . .

I was also inspired by the garden itself.  I started to imagine my dream garden.  I've decided it would be filled with:
Citrus trees
Olive trees
Pomegranates
Avocados
Persimmons
Rosemary and other herbs
Heirloom tomatoes
Succulents
Bougainvillea
Lilacs
Lots of orbs and decorative cylinders . . . (yes, I subscribe to Sunset magazine).

What would you grow in your dream garden (or what do you grow currently)?

Joni Mitchell

I've been mesmerized by these two videos/songs for the past few months.

Finding Beauty in the everyday

As you can probably tell, I like taking pictures of everyday objects :)

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 was extremely low key and fun (but don't get me wrong . . . I don't want to present a sanitized view of my life on this blog.  There was the lingering depression, illness, and anxiety in the midst of good things).  But back to the good things that saved me from the sad things: family, friends, church, homemade gifts, Christmas parties, food, games, and an overall sense of hope from Jesus . . . 

Homemade cranberry jalapeno jam from C.

I made Gallagher's Brown bread to give as gifts.

Yute.

The flicking game.

Shabu Shabu Christmas dinner.

Banchan.

The meat.

The fried rice post Shabu Shabu.

The Christmas cookies at a friend's party.

Adventures in the forest

I met up with a good friend and her son at the park yesterday.  It was so nice to get out of the house after being cooped up in my room for three days with a cold.  We ended our excursion with some treats at the Trails Cafe.