friday present: from patriotism to pajamas.

Because Saturday is the new Friday (or so it seems to be for me). These are just a few of the things I'm feeling grateful for this week.

not getting caught with my flag down.

{photo by mervyn hector}

Today is Chilean Independence Day. We've been feeling the pressure building up for the last couple weeks or so, and today's the grand finale. I think joy compounds today, with a big spring welcome. The days are getting slightly longer, the weather slightly less cold (some might say warm, but not me). The other day we marveled at how many houses proudly wave their Chilean flag. We thought about how this would compare to the States or Turkey. Seriously, just about every homefront boasts a flag. The very next day I discovered that donning your flag is obligatory here. A law. Which makes all that patriotism power wane quite a bit, the flag all the more flaccid for it. But we don't have one, and nobody's come knocking on our door demanding why. Whew!

getting in touch with my inti zen. 

{photo}

I'm still obsessed with this tea. I snuck back into the market on Friday to buy more Inca Rose tea, but they were all out already. So I bought a variety pack containing two of my new favorite beauties. I couldn't have gotten away with this purchase had I gone to the market with hubby, since we have a drawer overflowing with tea at home already.

days + dreaming. 

{photo by anastasia volkova}

I loved reading all of your daydreams so much, I might want to take a daydream journey with you every week. You're all so funny and beautiful! Disclaimer: I do try to live in the present. So daydreaming about something that's not necessarily in our present moment may sound a little counterproductive. But can't we shine the light of our awareness onto our daydream routines too? I think it's pretty rejuvenating.

pajama parties. 

{photo}

Even if they are virtual... Diana at OneCraftyFox invited us all to a slumber party this weekend! How fun is that! I'm bringing lots of nail polish, pedicure supplies, Tarot cards, my new tea obsession + hot chocolate (with Irish Cream for my non-pregger friends) to go with her yummy chocolate chip cookies. Oh, and the wonderful Sunday brunch to be had! Fruit salad and champagne, anyone? Hope to see you there!

helping each other out. 

{photo by flabnbone}

Remember Thursday's sweet little deer? Well, Lyddie, the dear from Chic on the Cheap knew who took the photo and shared the info. I work hard to find the source of all images, but it can be a feat. And my über slow internet connection certainly doesn't help matters. So, yes, I treasure lovely info sharing moments like these. Thank you!

What are you thankful for today?

if i was a deer...

I would totally eat your roses. 

{little explorer by andrew evans}

I'm sorry, but it's true. I would bear the thorns to savor that earth + sunshine nectar. And how could you blame me? You know that delicious moment when you bite into a piece of fruit grown fond + near the expert gardener's roses? Or when the beekeeper keeps his bee boxes oh so close to those roses? Mmmmm. 

But since I'm not a deer, I'm happy to settle for tea. Inti Zen : Inca Rose. Now, as far as the culinary arts are concerned, there's close to nuthin' to write home about in these parts. Except for maybe alfajores (some of which I sent my friend Claire, and oh the reports I got back made me crave the chocolate covered dulce de leche cookies!) and Inti Zen tea.

I already knew I loved Inti Zen, but it's not normally available here. Why? Because it's Industria Argentina. As are good alfajores. And if you're into beef, Argentina has the market on that too. Man, how did I land on the wrong side of the border? Not that I'd trade any part of my story for the sweetness of the other side's accent. But yesterday we found Inti Zen at our supermarket here in Puerto Natales. I was so excited, I squealed and immediately wanted to buy the Patagonian Bee--with vanilla, honey + cacao. Incidentally, we were sipping Patagonian Bee when our first-kiss magic abbacadabra'ed us into this beautiful partnership. 

{from 79 ideas, isn't sugar cubes on rose petals the best idea ever?}

But then I saw it: Inca Rose. A "sensual + delicate" Earl Grey scented with rose petals. I think it's safe to say, I'm obsessed with this flavor right now. 

What are your rosy taste buds obsessing over lately?

{unattributed photos : unknown : please let me know if they're yours}

swept up + away.

I've been sorting through and editing photos to finish part II of our Uruguay trip. But it's windy here, with a touch of cold sun. 

 

One thing led to another, and I found myself daydreaming of flight and Mediterranean salads. Wings to take me to some warm place, maybe honeyed singing would be involved. 

 We would hold hands and spin circles barefoot in a field

till we drop, be kids again 

and land--presently--onto a picnic blanket with a book of the local flora

  open to daylight's stars. 

What's your daydream today?

{photos: veil : hand holders : girl : naming flowers : sun is shining}

on edge + the sea.

"Here I came to the very edge
where nothing at all needs saying,
everything is absorbed through weather and the sea..." 

-- Pablo Neruda

 

{me + the sea : parque nacional santa teresa, rocha, uruguay : by serkan yalin}

because it's never too late.

Maybe just a little late... Here is part 1 of our Uruguay travels, roadtripping up and down the Atlantic Coast. 

We started in Montevideo, where we perused bookstores with used and reasonably priced books.  

Oh, how I lamented not buying the Birds of Uruguay book. We saw so many amazing storks!  

And we saw our first opera together: The Marriage of Figaro in four acts... a five hour show sans dinner. Oopsies, we were famished.  

Though we didn't get any photos of our undernourished state. 

 

Just one a la Beatles. 

On our way to posh Punta del Este, we stopped for ice cream in Periopolis. 

It sounds Greek, but it reminded me more of Santa Cruz, California, 

except for the whole Atlantic theme. It was chilly, though, 

so we opted for hot drinks instead. 

Don't let the pretty palms trees fool you.

While we were both jonesin' for an Atlantic sunrise, which neither one of us has ever seen, all of our Atlantic mornings were way too overcast and foggy. 

Instead, we have lots of foggy beach photos...

+ eucalyptus groves popping out of the fog in the pampa.

One day we lost our way on the coast, + came across...

a backward fantasyland amid thick foliage. 

 I thought only a bull would be able to save me. 

But in the end, my husband came to the rescue. When the sun cut through the fog, we walked

 along the veranda of a curvy castle. 

Wishing you a beautiful week. Stay tuned...