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Sunday, May 8, 2011

urban love

Sometimes, a long walk is all you need to be reminded of why you are where you are at a certain time in your life.

When things are going badly, I learned that I just need some fresh air and beautiful scenery. While Winter Terms spent abroad used to be my outlet for beauty, I have to seek other means of adventure in the "real world." In Wilmington, Delaware, that means a walk around the city.

 The Grand, my favorite building in the city

My two-month "Sex and the City" marathon concluded Friday night in tears as I watched the final episode. I had never seen the show while it was live - mostly due to the fact that I didn't have HBO, but also, I was never that interested in my teenage years. After years of my Ya-Ya sisters' pleading, I finally decided it was time to watch the show. A co-worker lent me her DVD collection and I was hooked. New York City was its own character in the story. And, I suppose, Wilmington is an important character in my story here. The day after finishing the series, I took my longest walk yet - 12 miles - around the city with a friend.

Wilmington has charmed me. On more stressful days at work, a short three-hour walk through the city before it gets dark is just what I need to feel better. The lights along Market Street and the reflections in the Christina River during twilight make my heart smile.

 The riverfront

The Grand is lit up beautifully at night

The city was beautiful in its bare and cold state just a month ago, but it's even more therapeutic now.
Brandywine Creek in mid-April

Only a few weeks later, and the trees along the creek are in full bloom

Spring has arrived and the city is even more enchanting. 

Josephine Fountain in Brandywine Park this Saturday

One of the many highlights along Saturday's long walk was getting to enjoy the gardens in front of the many beautiful homes in the city. 


Atop Rockford Tower (a stone water tower), we had a beautiful view of the city and the Wilmington Flower Market going on below us. 


Even though it suddenly became freezing cold and rainy, God rays came through the clouds at the Russel W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge.


And on the walk back home, I finally got to see the beautiful Kalmar Nyckel in the perfect lighting. The tall ship of Delaware is an icon I've been waiting to see since I moved here nine months ago.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

pretty little things

It's been a long while since I last posted something, so for that I apologize. Here are some pretty things I have been meaning to share...

I had several orchids in my apartment for a few months. A large green one, a little pink and green one, and a mystery orchid I got from Longwood's orchid show. This flower fell off, so I decided to give it a new life in little vase.

And then one night, the moon was perfect. Photo was from March 20, taken from my balcony.

A perfect Saturday afternoon at Longwood Gardens. I promise more photos on this adventure will be in their own post.

 Darling Merlin

And sweet Paprika

An Easter photo

Tulips light up my life, especially when they remind me of the ones all over Elon's campus.

My orange star flower. Sadly, I had to send my orchids to Connie Camp, named as such by Mama Dent. My mom has a magic touch with orchids and since mine were not doing so well (she claims it's the poor lighting in my apartment), I sent them home with mom to be healed. While my orchids were receiving their own rejuvenation, I decided to heal my own heart by buying this orange star plant I found at Giant. It's South African and its prettiness and growth surprises me every day. After a month or so, I have five sprouting up and they are so heavy, they began to droop down. A quick fix: gold ribbon to keep them lifted enough to still bloom...

Tied together with a bow.

Brandywine Park, one of my favorite places in Wilmington, was bursting with cherry blossoms a couple weeks ago. I'm so glad I got to see them before they went away.

 For Easter, Mom embroidered this lovely table decoration for me. Here's one corner...

 ...and the other corner.

 Big bunny on my table!

One morning, this pretty surprise was waiting on my desk at work for me (from mom). It was wrapped up so beautifully, too.

Little ladybug clips on my Easter basket

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Post Valentine's Day Love: Photos 442-453

Sunday, February 27, 2011
The little things in life make me oh, so happy


Saturday, February 26, 2011
A 10-mile walk around Wilmington starting along the Brandywine River near the zoo

Friday, February 25, 2011
I like to test the limits sometimes
 
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Rehoboth Beach


Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Parfait
 
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 
Little visitors


Monday, February 21, 2011
My first frontpage photo spread

Sunday, February 20, 2011
We know I struggle with choosing among puppy photos

Saturday, February 19, 2011 
Rachel's new home in Baltimore


Friday, February 18, 2011
The ghostly moon


Thursday, February 17, 2011 
An almost daily tradition - riding to Wawa with Daniel. This usually consists of hilarious conversations, hot chocolate, vanilla lattes, pepperoni parfaits, etc.


Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Valentine roses from Mom and Dad

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Love and Valentines: Photos 435-441

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Morning sun on my carnations

Monday, February 14, 2011 
My gerber daisies are joined by a beautiful Valentine rose from Rhina.


Sunday, February 13, 2011
Gerber daisies, one of my favorite flowers


Saturday, February 12, 2011 
Table setting for a Celebration of Singledom: A most wonderful Valentine's Day party with the most wonderful friends there ever were. Details coming soon!


Friday, February 11, 2011
The dress I was excited to finally have a chance to wear. Tonight was the opening of Fred Comegys' photo gallery at the Delaware Art Museum. It was a wonderful tribute to his incredible work from more than 50 years as a photographer at The News Journal. Afterward, a big group of us met at a bar in Wilmington to say goodbye to one of our favorite co-workers.

Thursday, February 10, 2011
Justin Williams looks up to receive instructions as he learns how to give a tattoo on practice skin. "Anything Once: Tattooing" runs next Sunday. It was an epic adventure....I'll give more details when the story runs!


Wednesday, February 9, 2011
My dishes finally arrived! For Valentine's Day, my mom wanted to get me the set of dishes I fell in love with from...guess where! Anthropologie, of course! I began eying these dishes when I first saw them back in July when I moved to Delaware. I never forgot about them and so it was decided that the time had arrived for me to own them.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Photos: 422-434

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Preview of my upcoming Friday night at Fred Comegys' photo exhibition

Monday, February 7, 2011
Morning sunlight


Sunday, February 6, 2011
Watching me leave

Saturday, February 5, 2011  
Merlin thought he found a new chew toy


Friday, February 4, 2011
Sleepy Paprika

Thursday, February 3, 2011
My first attempt at fettuccine (I was really excited about the success of this one)

Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The sky after work (I rarely catch the daylight by the time I leave, so I had to settle for a cell phone picture)


Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Windshield iced over

Monday, January 31, 2011
You'll notice a theme: I love having these roses around

Sunday, January 30, 2011
Going through recipe books

Saturday, January 29, 2011
Roses from Rhina

Friday, January 28, 2011
Funny memories from a girls night out

Thursday, January 27, 2011