prairie

These photos were snapped while wandering through Payne's Prairie in Gainesville last Spring. It's a really neat and easily accessible nature escape. One of my favorite spots to go think and read is the observation deck just off US441 south of Gainesville. I've seen wild horses and lots of gators out there (the human and reptile kind).

creepy plant

This plant has always creeped me out. I don't know what it's called and I don't care.

I'm gone to carolina in my mind

Sippin' on a Cheerwine, hands full of fresh blueberries, Smokey Mountain crisp mist making my cheeks tingle just a bit- there's no place like this place. A place where it's okay to have really muddy shoes, where roads whimsically wind and weave high above the woods, and the people are even sweeter than the tea. These photos were taken this past summer in southwestern North Carolina. It's been a part of my family's summer ritual since forever.

When I was little, the mountains kind of scared me. Black bears and big bumblebees aside, they just seemed too untamed and free. But can anything be too free? I often become fixated on rules and familiar things, squirming uncomfortably at freedom. Scandalous freedom. The mountains are good for me. I am free. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Adventures worthy of note near western North Carolina: the Nantahala River, Stoney Hallow Farm, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, the Virginia Creeper Trail, Linville Gorge, the mile-high bridge on Grandfather Mountain...

sailing in captiva

Wandering along the water on the New Moon in Captiva this summer... what a dream. NEW MOON SAILING

PS- If you ever find yourself in the area, make reservations and watch the sun set at the Mad Hatter!

rainy day

I really love rainy days. But they're terribly inconvenient when you are itching for an adventure with two out-of-town amigas. So, we decided to go downtown and give the museum a go. Apart from us, every museum patron was well below the age of ten or accompanying someone well below the age of ten. Lya didn't like the geckos. Or turtles. It was a  really wonderful afternoon.

abandoning room 3

This is a formal farewell to Room 3. Adios, it's been quite a fantastic year.

I've memorized the location of every one of your creaky old boards that lurk innocently beneath the carpet. I can navigate around those squeaky roommate-waking mines quite well now. Goodbye slamming sundeck doors, humming kitchenette ice machine, and neighborly busboys singing in the afternoon. Ciao to everyday sleepovers with my dearest friends and happy hour mocha milkshake runs.

A year in this old house amounts to:

An addiction to Downton Abbey and New Girl

A stolen/borrowed projection screen (for gator football and presidential debates)

A midnight miracle ice cream gallon topped with smashed oreos

Spontaneity, shared secrets, and a hidden time capsule

Studying for my truly final final exams

Frantic job searching and rants of hopeless confusion

Many mysteriously absent frosted animal crackers...

Shared closets and last minute dress swaps

Regular ruckus around 2:15am

A firm no-knocking policy

Way too much online shopping

Cheerwine spilt on just about everything (sorry Room 1)

Countless fits of uncontrollable laughter (thanks Room 1)

...

And tremendous thankfulness

Pillow fabric from Boca Bargoons- Easy DIY monogrammed pillow made with iron-on adhesive

oh deer

Wandering in Lake Placid, FL at Henscratch Ranch: One of the young deer was so enthralled with the scattered corn that it let me creep up close and its soft panting blew dirt onto my camera lens. When it finally decided I was too close for comfort it clumsily leapt back on funny knobby knees and shot me a wide-eyed gaze of mistrust (see photo below).

I know it's been quite a while since I've updated Wanderings- I've been enjoying my final sweet weeks at the greatest university in the entire world. Expect more photos from my wanderings this year soon!