{moment} velvet shadow

recently

i was lounging like a lizard in the sun

soaking in the warm rays of juneuary

when a shadow passed over me

and i opened my eyes to see

this...

the innkeeper's pup: contemplation

earlier today, my darling daria jean beauty queen was staring out the window in deep contemplation...

the two of us are reflecting and resting in preparation for a festive month ahead...

...sweetly dreaming of how we want to end this wonderful year.

sending you lots of puppy love from the inn.

see you in december!

xoxo

the innkeeper's pup

my darling dog, daria jean beauty queen, was photographed last weekend by my talented urban tribe member lance of astigmatism productions...

{soul gazing}

{sun dog}

{licky loo + naked neck}

i have looked at these photos at least three hundred and seventy two times, and each time i do my heart fills with enormous love for my dear pup.

in my opinion, great photography captures essence. beautiful photos make me feel like the soul of the subject has been recorded. i sense that the photographer was compassionate, observant, and patient to notice and artfully document the real feel of a being. 

thank you, lance, for your beautiful photography.

i am excited to share that lance and i have a creative project brewing, although it's tippy top secret for now...but stay tuned for an artistic collaboration betwixt two old friends.

{summer snaps} june swoon

this innkeeper has been soaking in the sensory summer delights of nature, friends, and food...

{peaches on the grill}

{grass naps}

{melissa's lemon tarts}

{reid ranch redwood gazing}

{ripe meyer lemons}

{outdoor pixie kitchen}

{campfires}

{roasted corn}

{sherbet skies + lush green hills}

creepy cute: diner dogs

ever since i was young, i have had a fascination with kitsch that is cute but slightly creepy.

i always stared in amazement at the strange stuff found at garage sales, antique shops, thrift shops, tourist traps, and my grandmother's house.

when i discovered the diner dogs at maker faire on sunday, i fell madly in love...

these odd canines have a history...

i was smitten and snapped away...

perhaps i love these because they remind me of my daria jean beauty queen...

visit the doggie diner site to read more about these peculiar pooches.

sun soak + down time

my pup daria loves to lay in the morning sunshine...

she basks in the warm morning rays, resting and recharging peacefully.

i need to do precisely the same thing this weekend.

the plan: to lounge like a lizard on a hot rock in the early sunshine and do absolutely nothing.

nothing.

doesn't that sound divine?

a gentle offering from your innkeeper: make some time to do absolutely nothing as soon as possible.

if you feel you are just too busy, perhaps you could start with this and work your way up to sunshiney lizard lounging.

either way, i promise you it will be good for your health.

wishing you a wondrous weekend!

xo

guardians of being

on a recent evening, i found myself navigating an intense conversation with my beloved kevwrex.

we got tangled up in a talk about the future, the kind of discussion where frustration, worry, and fear of the unknown creep in and cause stress.

in the midst of our swirly chat, our dog daria entered the room and subtly stationed herself betwixt us.

at the height of our emotions, we paused for a moment of silent contemplation.

in this quiet space, daria looked calmly at both of us and released the loudest, most fantastically hilarious dog belch we have ever heard...

we both immediately started howling with laughter and nearly fell on the floor with pure delight.

our moods promptly lifted, our conversation shifted, and our smiles returned.

daria jean beauty queen brought us back into the moment with the grace of a burp.

eckhart tolle refers to pets as "guardians of being" because they help us stay in the now...



millions of peoplewho otherwise would becompletely lost in their mindsand in endless past and future concernsare taken back by their dog or cat
into the present moment,again and again, 
and reminded of the joy of being.

{book}

i am deeply grateful that my darling dog reminds me to stay grounded in the present.

un chien du théâtre

{this is}

{daria}

{a dog who}

{lives with}

{two people}

{who met in}

{a theater company}

weeds + water wednesday: plant parade

i spent the late afternoon today with my new garden and my beloved camera.  pure bliss!

daria was on the scene as my adorable assistant...

here is a snap-fest of how the dew drop inn garden looks today...

part one: tomatoes and herbs

part two: veggies

tomatoes

(super sweet 100 + sun gold)

tomato bloom zoom

tomato love from above

oregano

(italian)

basil

(purple + italian genovese)

lavender

(provence)

"scarborough fair"

(parsley + thyme + rosemary + sage)

chives

mint

(julep + mojito)

lemon balm

cilantro

lettuce

(encore mix + winter density)

onions

(yellow cipollini)

peppers

(gypsy hybrid)

arugula

(heirloom roquette)

let's face it:

i am already in love with watching this garden grow.

<3 <3 <3