Driving down I-5 between San Francisco and Los Angeles, I almost lost my wits seeing the poppies in bloom.

Wow.

Which reminds me, it’s pretty awesome to tool down the road and have the backseat to yourself.
That way you get the view from both sides. I’m making a mental note to give up shotgun more often.

Combatting the effects of that overnight flight, but settling back in Ohio well enough.
I’d complain about the cold weather, but sunsets like this quell such thinking a little.

Fortune cookies, like buffet food, are such a crapshoot.

At some point I either started realizing fortunes were usually just statements,
or perhaps quality has slipped over the years. I can’t say which, I just notice it now.

Tangent: Not sure I’ve mentioned that I have this weird thing where I must eat the entire cookie
before reading the slip of paper inside. I think I make up these little challenges (superstitions)
in life so I can have some easy wins.

Anyway, I liked this particular one and kept it on my desk.

When I was gearing up to talk about how and why I take photos last month at
the South Park Tavern, this statement stuck with me as one of the reasons I keep at it.

My roommate Eric made this macaroni and cheese for his Thanksgiving dinner.
I not only got a taste before it went in the oven, but he brought back remaining leftovers.

Always admired this type treatment when I drive through Hamilton.

Quick visit to Columbus Ohio and hit the nightlife, tried some Jeni’s ice cream (to be exact, three mini scoops of rhubarb rosé,
strawberry buttermilk, and belgian milk chocolate), and wrapped it all up with a trip to the Northstar Cafe (excellent breakfast grub)
the next morning.

Pictured: The Shooting Star fresh juice drink from Northstar (orange, carrot, lemon and ginger)

So good.

Took a peek inside the Seed Bomb manufacturing facility yesterday, even made a few myself and felt one with the earth.

Bonus still life from the factory floor:

These cameras welcomed you to the store.
When we entered there were kids in the back making music at a workshop of some sort.
The rest of the joint extended this fun vibe with excellent products for sale.

Highly recommended if you visit Chicago.

I’ve got a list of restaurants I want to try, if only for a single visit.
The Oakwood Club is one I can now add a checkmark beside, thanks
to an evening with Jenny, Christina, Anthony and Dan.

I highly recommend getting the creamy garlic peppercorn dressing
with blue cheese crumbles on a salad to start off. From there, it’s pretty
traditional fare served in an old-fashioned wood-paneled establishment.

And I’m not whining because they made me take my fine english driving cap
off, but the place needed a little injection of life; maybe some upbeat music, I dunno.

I’d still go back for the food on a special occasion.

We didn’t know if these were weeds or not, but our neighbor suggested they were poppies.
She was correct.
Love the mystery of inheriting a garden.

I kinda liked the simplicity.

Some items I like to have on hand when I’m making stuff:
A good pen, portable paper (loving the butcher orange Field Notes),
and if I need icon inspiraton, the Handbook of Pictorial Symbols

A favorite pair (from the DDC)

In our second bathroom that is so narrow, it’s almost impossible to read on the toilet.