Day 155/365

Day 155/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

look at that handsome face! the rugged good looks, the clear hazel/green eyes, the notched ears bespeaking his street days, the regal bearing, the small old man tufts of white hair in his ears. who would not fall in love with this kitty?

Day 154/365

Day 154/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

this is Clyde *laying on my lap*! yes, we have had a breakthrough and now Clyde can’t get enough of the loving and we could not be happier about it.

Day 153/365

Day 153/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

In which I continue my obsession with every version, knock-off or real, of the Poul Henningsen ‘Artichoke Light’ – one example pictured above from our public library’s entranceway.

The Danish designer who created the original in the 1920’s also “edited the polemic left wing periodical Kritisk Revy (1926-1928, “Critical Review”) in which he and his colleagues scorned old-fashioned style and cultural conservatism, linking these themes to politics. At the same time he began as a revue writer praising natural behaviour, sexual broad-mindedness and simple living.”

My kind of designer. My kind of light.

Day 152/365

Day 152/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

after a day in Des Moines, I came home to find this bloom completely open on my cactus. a nice end to a grey and rainy day.

Day 151/365

Day 151/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

it has been grey, grey, grey the last few days + has taken a turn for the cold. time for all of the fairy lights and warm colors to do their work in our space and mitigate this iowa weather!

Day 150/365

Day 150/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

we have been hanging out in the back bedroom as Clyde continues to slowly acclimate to living with us (and in a house full time) this week. trust is slow to build with a kitty that has never had an inside home or trusted anyone except his previous feeder who spent a year building a bond. he inches closer every day and we are patient as can be!

Day 149/365

Day 149/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

kitchen table on a Sunday afternoon in fall.

Day 148/365

Day 148/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

a very full day ended with an amazingly delish dinner at our friends’ N + E’s place. they are the kitty parents of Louie, who is Clyde’s oh-so-handsome son. you all *do* see the resemblance, don’t you?

Day 147/365

Day 147/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

this is not the most flattering picture of our new + gorgeous orange kitty hunk, but Clyde has been a bit elusive as he has settled into our home today. lots of time spent under the bed, but happily, also some forays into the open to eat and drink and regard us warily as we coo at him.

Day 146/365

Day 146/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

the gardens are still producing greens and we are still happily eating them. we have an abundance of chard (pictured here), mustard greens, and little baby kale. this particular batch of chard went into a gratin with winter squash and carmelized onions and manchego cheese. perfect for a chilly fall night!

Day 145/365

Day 145/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

this is maggie’s, “aw, mom, do we have to get a cat?” look. or her, “um, excuse me mom, could i please eat the rest of that squash/turkey/fill in the blank with any food we are currently eating” look. yeah, probably that one.

Day 144/365

Day 144/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

mmm, fake bacon BLT for dinner.

Day 143/365

Day 143/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

i am listening to Farm City by Novella Carpenter on my zune these days and it made me actually *joyful* about the drive to Des Moines today. “Food is a beautiful thing because it connects us to the natural world and shows us our place in it. When you really geek out on one thing that you love, you feel more connected to the whole process.” so says Novella, and her memoir is allowing me to totally geek out on food and gardening joy. for even more of it, check out her blog at novellacarpenter.com/ .

Day 142/365

Day 142/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

an orange kitty named Clyde + a sunny Sunday afternoon = purrfection. Clyde is getting to know us slowly, and next week he will become a part of our family! we can’t wait for snuggling and playing and napping in the sun and general kitty fun. and we promise his current feeder that he can entertain visitors whenever she’d like to come over for a cup of tea and some lap sitting!

Day 141/365

Day 141/365, originally uploaded by iowagrrl.

B is working like crazy to bulk up her necklace inventory before the holiday farmer’s market next week and the awesome What a Load of Craft event in December.