The Nest

Maybe because of our extraordinarily long, wet and cold Spring or because I just got back from Europe, I am once again salivating over the thigh high stockings, garters, arm warmers and leggings offered by Sock Dreams in Portland, Oregon. I came across this site thanks to The Black Apple and love revisiting it to secretly gaze over the lovely patterns of wool, cashmere, lace and ribbons. The pin-up photos show cute legs in all shapes and sizes and various positions…very sexy. Additionally, they offer FREE shipping…even SEXIER!

I am itchin’ to get a few t-shirts and tank tops from this small company who makes these sassy designs. Perfect for this western gal.

Powell’s Books

Japanese Garden at Washington Park

Rose at Washington Park

Chocolate-mint cupcake from New Seasons

Rosemary infused coffee at Pix Patisserie

For years Celestial Seasonings tea had the same staid design on their tea boxes, but I was pleased to see a new warm and beautiful design for their African rooibos and honeybush teas. I am usually a green tea drinker, but I have become hooked on the deep flavor and smell of rooibos and I love that it is caffeine free. It’s a nice feeling to know that I am drinking tea from the leaves of an exotic bush that grows in beautiful Africa. It helps to ease, but not cure, some raunchy traveling withdrawals.

For the past few holidays, instead of giving people stuff, I have given money in their name to a beautiful organization called Heifer International. With the way the world is today, sustainability and the gift of self-reliance can make a huge difference in the life of someone who is living in poverty. Heifer does this with gifts of various forms of livestock and instruction on how to care for, breed and raise the animals. I love to see the faces of both the animals and the people and how much they love and depend on each other.

If I were to fall in love with a woman, it would be Misty Tosh. She is fierce, fun, feisty and gorgeous. The beautiful, colorful blog of her fascinating life and travels makes me want to sell everything and run off with her to Baja and enjoy margaritas and Coronas on the beach.

The lovely people at Fair Indigo sent me a Jiffy the Giraffe in thanks for my last post about their Joobles line of children’s clothes. Thank you so much, I love him!

Jiffy had an adventurous first day when I took him to work at the university. I found out he is quite the hipster-intellectual.

He was quite impressed with my large monitor, but he got bored with work quickly and I caught him making copies of his bum on the photocopier.

Later in the morning he shared a Starbucks with Heath and hung out in her lap, but she had to give him back to me when he commandeered her cell phone and sunglasses and went “Hollywood” on her.

Jiffy went to lunch with Harry and me and climbed around in the library bookstacks. He is concerned with the state of the union and mostly hung out in the economics section where he become interested in a book on economic restructuring. After lunch, he wanted to check out the news so I got him a New York Times, which he happily devoured for an hour or so.

I think Jiffy had a very fulfilling day and seemed to be very happy coming to work with me. He thought the university was very nice and hopes to teach a class here someday on personal finance and the importance of saving money…and baby giraffes.