Because of bunnies chomping HALF of the veggies in my garden to oblivion, I had to start over with the tiller. At first I was pretty mad about it… I lost my entire crop of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beans and lettuce. But then I decided it was just funny. There are some super healthy bunnies out there now I guess! And really… it was my fault for not putting up chicken wire in the first place. I would have done the same thing if I were a bunny. Free salad bar!? Rock on!

Getting back into the dirt with the tiller felt great. I was wiping the slate clean and prepping for something new to grow. It’s hot here in North Carolina already, so I’m not sure what I’ll plant. But hopefully that’ll all sort itself out with a trip to the garden store.

I knew going in that this garden was going to be a huge learning experience. I also knew that it wouldn’t go smoothly. And I was right. So this garden is definitely living up to my expectations. :)

Got a ton of artwork and gardening done before I left town. (After I left, the bunnies proceeded to eat ALL my broccoli and cauliflower. DOH! I knew I should have put up chicken wire.)

My love and I got tattooed for our 8th anniversary.

I drove to Chicago. (Not a big fan of this traffic… but it was kinda pretty.)

Stayed a hostel (childless!) for 2 nights. This was the sitting room. My room contained a bed and desk. The bathroom was down the hall. I made sure to wave at everyone each time I walked in my bathrobe down the hall. You get over shyness pretty quick.

I completed and became certified in Thai Bodywork Level 1 at this school. I’m super eager to start practicing on friends and family. Creating a space for it in our little home here is the next step. More on this later.

I also attended numerous functions and events for my sister’s wedding and then her wedding itself. I took not a single photo… why? I was kid-wrangling the whole time. I was totally exhausted by the time it was all over and skipped the reception to go back to the hotel to sleep. Ahh…

I made these dresses! They are probably nothing much to someone who actually knows how to sew properly, but they are hot snot to me. (hee!) The dress I made for myself was out of a jersey material that my mother-in-law gave to me. I laid the fabric out on the floor to cut out the basic shape, did some tweaking (the neckline was really uneven) and added light gray triangles to make it less boring. It’s not exactly symmetrical and don’t look at the stitching up close, but it’s super comfortable. I love it.

Then I decided I was on a kick and knocked out a little dress for Veda, too. Her’s is made out of an old t-shirt of mine. It had a paint stain on the front so I put a big flower patch there to cover it up. Add a ruffle neckline and some leggings — wah-lah!

There was a break in the illustration action (all my sketches are with the clients right now), but I felt like being creative in a different way. This was the outcome. I call it “fake sewing”. I think I’ll attempt some loosey-goosey pants next.

p.s. My cat, Noah, seemed especially taken with the look. :)

What we did this morning:

- veda and i rode on our sled (my yoga mat) through the icecaps of the north pole and through a snowy cave (a white blanket).

- we had tea and cakes (wooden blocks) in a castle (a pop up tent) far, far away.

- we chased a dinosaur (the dog) through the woods.

- we worked as jungle vets to help save a jaguar (the cat).

- we tried out a new recipe of hardboiled eggs (another block) with honey on top (yet another block) in our restaurant (little wooden table).

- we went bowling (knocked over empty easter eggs with a small rubber ball) in a bowling alley (the yoga mat).

- traveled to the rain forest for tropical plants (went outside and picked some rosemary for our salad dressing).

What we did not do this morning:

- the dishes.

- laundry.

- make our beds.

- go to the farmer’s market.

THE GOOD: i promised veda we would go strawberry picking today!

THE BAD: it was forecasted to rain.

THE GOOD: we decided to go to the children’s museum instead.

THE BAD: the museum was being hijacked by a zillion big kids from local schools.

THE GOOD: we had fun anyway. mainly because i practiced some serious yoga between my ears:  ”come back to your breath”… “relax your shoulders down”… “soften”… ”soften”… ”soften”…

THE BAD: we came home and veda skipped her nap, and I had tons of work to accomplish during those precious hours.

THE GOOD: i asked veda to play quietly in her room if she didn’t want to sleep, and i was able to get my work done.

THE BAD: i treated veda to a popsicle when play time was over as a thank you. the sugar rush that ensued nearly killed me.

THE GOOD: i handed veda a hammer, scrap wood and nails and let her pound out some energy.

THE UGLY: said sugar rush paired with lack of sleep = ornery little girl at dinner time… to put it mildly. (good lord!)

THE GOOD (gotta end with good): bedtime was earlier than normal with no stalling because little miss was worn out.

* * * *

Notes to self:

- no more store bought popsicles. time to freeze some fruit at home.

- yoga works. do more.

I wish this video had been around when I was a teenager, and I noticed that my natural tendency was to be alone and love it. Or all through college when my roommates were going to parties and I offered to come pick them up when they were ready. Or when my coworkers were going out for beers after work and I declined in order to go jump back into my current read at my crappy apartment. Or even in recent years when groups of friends gather and I feel sort of restless and awkward the whole time, wishing I could just build a fire and sit quietly instead.

I come by my introversion naturally. My mom is a classic loner. In fact, she just took a job as a janitor so she could just do her own thing at her own pace. I think that sounds pretty great. I guess being an illustrator has that in common. No one overseeing. Just one person in a room doing a job. I hide behind a computer. My mom hides behind a mop.

But while I know it is my nature is to crave solitude and to feel most alive in a quieter environment… I had never really heard someone say it’s OK to be like that. That I shouldn’t force myself to be more social. That I can accept this giant part of myself as is. No qualifiers, apologies or shame.

This is permission to be an introvert.

Thank you, Susan Cain.

1. my favorite shoes. they are so ugly. hideously purple. i got them at the grocery for $2. but i wear them most.

2. hanging laundry on the line. there is something about this simple task that calms me.

3. reading elsa beskow books with veda. we both love them.

4. lollipops that are good for your teeth. seriously. our dentist recommended them.

5. looking forward to my thai massage level one training in chicago coming up. (and staying in a hostel for the first time!)

6. feeling like i’m really practicing all the learning i’ve been doing.

7. netflix tv shows at night to unwind.

8. gigantic salads with all the fixings for lunch.

9. tending my garden. i enjoy it more than i’d hoped i would. makes me feel strong and capable.

10. recognizing and honoring when i need to shut down all electronic “intake” and just do my own thing. enough thinking/researching/reading. more doing/doing/doing. seeing what happens if you just freaking go for it.

This is a recent piece I did for the Washington Post. The review was for Jeffrey Zaslow’s latest book, “The Magic Room,” which takes a look at the bridal industry. In particular, the increasing cultural importance of the wedding dress.

This was one of those pieces where the concept was like a big fish that voluntarily jumped into my net. It came together quick and easy. Love that.

This is a recent piece I did for the Washington Post. The review was for Jeffrey Zaslow’s latest book, “The Magic Room,” which takes a look at the bridal industry. In particular, the increasing cultural importance of the wedding dress.

This was one of those pieces where the concept was like a big fish that voluntarily jumped into my net. It came together quick and easy. Love that.

My favorite sound in the whole world? It’s a tie between rhythmic ocean waves and a crackling bonfire. (Build me a bonfire on the beach? Pure lopie-bliss.) Oh yes.

My mom and youngest brother came down to NC for a visit last week. The ocean is only a couple of hours drive from Raleigh, so I booked us three days at a beachside motel. Nothing fancy. Just some outdated furniture that’s used to getting sandy, a sliding glass door leading onto to a big porch and a couple of burners for whipping up some motel-cooked meals.

The weather was a bit chilly. The wind never did let up. So I should have brought an extra sweatshirt and/or windbreaker. Veda didn’t seem to notice. She was jumping through the surf before I could get a swimsuit on her. The girl feels no cold. Last year she was scared of the ocean. So I guess she’s faced that fear. Toe-tickling waves will do that.

We saw a puffer fish. Some jellies. Holes that I assume were turtles nests. An angry fiddler crab. Shells were gathered. Sand too. Lots and lots of sand. And a quick visit to the near-by aquarium to get a good look at some sharks, snakes and other interesting fellows that I prefer to greet through glass walls.

Happy Easter today. We had our egg hunt and then mulched some cabbages. Maybe later we’ll dye some eggs. Maybe we’ll just nap.

Hope your weekend is beautiful.