guest posting : the hippie memoirs

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oh, heeeeeey. i am back from cali-for-ni-A! we had a really great trip, but it's obvious to me that i am still out of sync with my sleep schedule. i've been waking up with less than 10 minutes to get ready and out the door for work since monday. dat's no good.

i am planning a vacation recap post for the near future, but until i can collect my thoughts and pictures, my beautiful friend emma is featuring me on her blog the hippie memoirs. emma and i have been collaborating together here and there for the past year, and she is my favorite gal to work with! she's talented and creative, and her blog just had a spectacular makeover. she is doing a new monthly feature called meet the muses where she will introduce a new blogger every month to her readers. i'm excited to be involved! head over to read a few fun facts about me and check out the rest of her amazing blog.

but wait. before you go. how are you guys? i've been out of the loop, and while i did have a lovely vacation without my computer for a week, i am excited to be back. more posts are coming soon including some exciting news i have to share! hint: i'm not engaged, pregnant, moving, or getting a new car. (but what else is there??)

guest posting : blooming branch

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i am guest posting on my friend chelsea's blog today. she is participating in a 31 day writing challenge where you pick a topic and blog about it on the daily for a whole month. you can read more about it in this post. i am so impressed with what she has written so far and am excited and flattered that she asked me to join her! head on over and see what i had to say about being a twenty-something. if that doesn't entice you, you will also see a picture of me that chelsea referred to as the "sunshine spider". there it is. you're clicking now.

currently

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hello and happy monday! hope everyone had a nice long holiday weekend. for whatever reason, my boss also gave us today off. i didn't complain one bit.

so i'm a tad late to the game with this one. anne and jenna hosted a "currently" link-up which went live on the second, but even though i'm late, i figured i'd join in anyways. i love sharing my currentlies with you all.

wishing // for a giant slice of chocolate cake to appear in front of me. wish big or go home.

celebrating // my boyfriend and i recently celebrated four months. i know it's not a big milestone anniversary or anything, but you have to start somewhere, right? he's been a huge addition to my life, and i am thankful for him every day.

wearing // my bathing suit. whether it's poolside or beachside, i've been enjoying some quality time in the sun and water. if you can't beat the humidity, play in it!

cooking // chicken salad. i forgot how easy and delicious this is. i made a big batch to take with us last weekend to the beach, and it was very simple to put together. it really just requires some chopping and stirring once the chicken breasts have been poached. i used this recipe. give it a try!

planning // an upcoming bestie weekend with my girls. my two college girlfriends, my roommate and i are meeting in my hometown of southern pines for some quality girl time. we try to get together fairly frequently to catch up and do some shopping and coffee/wine drinking. i love my girlfriends, and it is always so nice when we can make all our of schedules coordinate to hang out. i anticipate lots of giggling about boys.

what are you guys currently up to? happy monday!

what didn't make it to emma's instagram

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hey, all! happy monday. i hope everyone had a good weekend. did you get into anything fun? mine was a mix of family, friends, food, fun. apparently, my weekend was brought to you by the letter F.

last monday, i was honored to do a little guest post for emma over at the hippie memoirs. i had such a fun time putting it together, and i am so excited that i get to feature her on humming right along today! i can't remember exactly how i found emma's blog. i was probably browsing comments on someone else's post and clicked on her name. i am so glad i did because it led me to her wonderful blog! it was one of those times when i knew immediately that i had stumbled upon a really great space. emma is creative and inspiring and has excellent taste in music. she loves the Lord and her friends and family. her instagram feed is flawless, and she has a great sense of style. oh, and she's super sweet and kind and has been such a dream blog friend! she is moving to nashville this summer and there may or may not already be talks of an epic road trip in our future. fingers crossed.  

today, emma is going to be taking over my "what didn't make it to instagram" series. but first, a little Q and A with the lovely girl so we can all get to know each other a little better. and heeeeere's emma!

1. What do you most like to do in your free time?  

I love to travel and explore, even if that means just jumping in the car and driving without intention. I'm also a big reader and I love spending time in bookstores and coffee shops. And then, of course, hanging with friends, listening to records, and writing. I'm also pretty addicted to online shopping :)

2. What creatively inspires you?  

Lots of things inspire me! It can be a great book, a song, a design, or even an individual. I feel like I am most inspired by people who live without limits and embrace life to the fullest.

3. Do you like to cook/bake? If so, what is your favorite thing to make?  

I definitely bake more than I cook. My favorite thing to bake would have to be cupcakes. One summer I worked my way through a cookbook making a different cupcake each week!

4. Why did you start blogging? And how has your blog changed over time?  

I wanted to be able to combine my love of photography and writing and have a place that was all my own where I could document my life. I was inspired by other bloggers and thought a blog would be a good creative outlet. Over the years I think I've definitely become more concrete with my blog posts. My blog is still first and foremost a place for me to write about my life, but it has also become a place to express myself and to meet super rad people (like Lacey)! Another thing that's changed since I first started blogging is that I don't pressure myself to post everyday. That just became so much of a hassle and it was to the point where I was posting content just to post. Now I try to put up around 4 posts a week which gives me a nice breather and is a way to ensure that each post is thought out rather than just thrown together.

5. What are your top three albums or artists of all time?  

This is such a tough one...

"Underneath" by Hanson
"Dreamboat Annie" by Heart
"Barton Hollow" by The Civil Wars

6. Who do you admire and why?  

I definitely admire my parents and my pastors. There are several people in my life who have gone out and chased their dreams no matter what the odds and they've done so without compromising their character or their beliefs. Those are the type of people that I admire most!

7. What is your favorite movie?  

My favorite movie would have to be "Across the Universe". The music, the sets, the story- I love it all! Other than that, I pretty much love anything starring Rachel Mcadams.

8. Sweet or savory?  

I'm definitely a sweet-kind of gal. Bring on the sugar!

9. What are some things on your summer bucket list?  

So far I have a few trips planned but I definitely want to do more traveling, I'd love to see the fireworks in DC for the 4th of July, I want to spend as much time at the beach as possible, and no summer is complete without a Ferris wheel ride!

10. What is your recipe for happiness? 

I think that happiness is found in loving yourself, in loving life, and in loving others. Although it's not always the easiest thing to do, if we strive to love, even in the toughest situations, we will be rewarded with happiness in one way or another.

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Top left: Hair always looks its best after the stylist does it.

Top right: Flipping through "The Kinfolk Table" for recipe inspiration.

Bottom left: Nothing better than a cold Starbucks on a hot day. (I take my black tea with a dash of lemonade. It's so good!)

Bottom right: I love front porches decked out in American Flags during the summer time.

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Top left: Puppy Kisses are the best kind.

Top right: It wouldn't be a proper Sunday night without a bubble bath.

Bottom left: Some days, getting out of bed is the hardest part.

Bottom right: This weathered little building outside of my office always reminds me of something out of a movie.

emma, thank you for being such a wonderful friend and guest posting for me today! i love all of your non-instagrams! it's fun to see what you're up to, and, hello, that starbucks drink actually does sound really delicious. i might just have to try that myself. please head on over to emma's blog and follow her along on all of her adventures. she's the real deal!

guest post-10 things i love

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hey, ya'll! happy monday and all that. hope you guys had a great weekend! did you get into anything fun?

i am guest posting over on the hippie memoirs today. the ever cool miss emma and i have become bloggy friends and have coordinated a couple of fun guest posts for you guys. she has a series called "10 things i love", and today i am taking it over! head on over to read a little Q and A about yours truly and then see what i'm currently digging.

make sure you read through her posts and get to know her! she is super creative and sweet and has the best taste in music. basically, i want to be her. or at least be her friend so she can rub some of that coolness off on me. thank you, emma!

currently

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linking up with jenna and anne today for a "currently" post!

cooking: i cooked up a storm this past weekend. my boyfriend was in colorado for several days, and i thought it would be nice to stock him up with a few meals upon his return. i made sesame garlic pork loin, classic potato salad, pasta salad, and shortbread chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies. he was not the only one who benefitted from this cooking frenzy.

watching: castle season four on netflix. i have no idea who even watches this show, and i am really behind in the series so i don't think i will ruin anything if i say THEY FINALLY KISSED. that's all.

planning: weekend trips. i don't have a big vacation on the horizon, so i am looking forward to planning some short weekend trips to the beach, my hometown, charleston, charlotte, etc. weekend trips are sometimes my favorite trips because the planning/travel time is usually pretty minimal and you can really focus on enjoying your time there.

reading: still working my way through the ghost at the table and just started evolving in monkey town. good reads so far! and since we're on the topic, i mentioned in this post my goal to read a minimum of one book a month this year. i am happy to report i am still on track! we're in june and halfway there. don't fail me now, good intentions.

wearing: this new maxi dress. it has pockets for my necessary items. lip gloss and chocolate. i am the happiest girl on the block.

head on over to the link-up to see what everyone else is "currently" up to!

everyday moments

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one awesome thing about this blog world is that you get to "meet" some really cool people. i met kiki through the etsy swap i did a few months ago, and she was sweet enough to ask me to guest post for her series "everyday moments". her blog is really cool and is filled with all sorts of fun posts and links and great words of encouragement. we have emailed back and forth a ton, and she is always so sweet in her responses. she actually takes the time to respond thoughtfully to emails i have sent her. that speaks volumes in this day and age of quick replies and one word answers.

head on over to see my guest post and take the time to browse around her blog. lots of fun things to read and see! thank you, kiki! so much fun getting to know you.

giveaway

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hey all! just a quick post today to let you guys know about a giveaway samantha at elah tree is doing with a piece of my jewelry! samantha has an amazing blog and runs a fabulous etsy shop. i have been enjoying getting to know her through our emails and from reading her fun posts. she is a sweet girl and super talented to boot! she made an awesome sidebar button for my blog (see on right side) as well as an amazing new banner for my etsy shop. i am way impressed with her work. i would have tried and failed miserably to make those things on my own. thank you, samantha!

head on over to her blog for a chance to win and stick around and get to know samantha while you're there. happy monday! 

currently

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linking up with jenna and anne today for a fun "currently" post.

cooking : i've been making lots of non-lettuce salads lately. i mix up red peppers, avocados, chickpeas, black beans, water chestnuts, carrots, sun-dried tomatoes, sesame seeds, baked chicken and season it up with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and sesame oil. it is the best tasting salad around! super healthy but very filling and energizing.

reading : two books are currently on my night stand. in the grip of grace by max lucado and the ghost at the table by suzanne berne

wearing : jean shorts and button downs with my yellow strappy sandals. i am loving this easy combination. it's so comfortable and super cute to boot. can't beat it.

loving : this gorgeous spring weather! north carolina summers have a bad reputation for being muggy city, so i am trying to take advantage of the cool mornings and warm afternoons before the humidity hits us.

anticipating : beach trips this summer. i can't wait to play in the waves and set up my beach chair in the sand and catch some rays. my dad gave me his old surfboard a few months ago, so i really want to get that thing in the water and give it a go! i think i'll probably end up just getting pummeled by the waves, but i'm determined to catch at least one good ride.

head over to their link-ups here and here to see what other fellows bloggers are "currently" digging!

etsy swap 2014

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i recently participated in the etsy swap 2014 hosted by meg and amy and had a blast! the person i was assigned to "stalk" and shop for was the ever-cool jess from writing in red lipstick. based on the short bio i received about her and from reading up on her blog, i found out she lives in virginia and has a thing for bees and woodland creatures. oh yes, i could definitely work with this. i got to work scouring etsy for some choice gifts and it didn't take me long to find some items to send to miss jess. here is the little package i put together for her.

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{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

when i got the fox brooch in the mail, i wanted to keep him for myself! how cute is his face? i was stunned by the intricate detail of the stitching. i thought the cookie cutter would be a cute idea since jess hails from virginia, and i also included some chocolate bars because a gift isn't truly complete without a little sweet. hope you liked everything, jess!

the lovely kiki from in its time had my name, and i can't say enough good things about this fun package! she really did her research and got all of my favorite things. peanut butter, the cutest hand-stamped spoon, hexagon stud earrings that i have honestly been eyeing for a long time, and my favorite candy bar. thank you, kiki! you are so sweet and thoughtful to put all of this together!

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

had a blast both giving and receiving some great etsy finds. thank you again for hosting this swap, meg and amy. looking forward to next year! head on over to the link-up and check out what the other bloggers gave and received! you can also search #etsyswap2014 on instagram. etsy love forever.

sunshine award

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i read a lot of blogs. if you are a blogger, i'm sure you can say the same. sometimes, i lose track of time because one blog links me to another which takes me to another to another to another. and then i don't remember how to get back. i forget to leave the trail of breadcrumbs to find my way home. but it's ok because instead of ending up at a candy cottage with a witch for a landlord, i end up in a cool, virtual space.

one blog that i have recently found and LOVE reading is the hippie memoirs. emma kate runs this lovely space, and she was sweet enough to nominate me for the sunshine award. humming right along blog started small and has remained relatively small, but i just love the creativity it allows me to express and for the friends i have met and connected with because of it. i wish emma and i lived closer because i honestly think we'd be fast friends upon meeting. she has the most lovely posts and pictures and i can just tell she's a fun person. her instagram is always full of cool images to boot. so, emma, if we are ever within 100 miles of each other, let's promise to meet up. ok? ok.

here's how the sunshine award works.

1. display the award on your blog
2. announce your win with a post and thank the blog who nominated you.
3. post ten interesting things about yourself
4. nominate some other deserving bloggers
5. link your nominees in a post and let them know with a comment

10 "interesting" things about myself:

1. i have a fingerprint on my right palm. is this rare or not? i thought it was until i recently found out that someone else i know has two! one print on each palm. some people get all the breaks.

2. this month marks the 20th year i have lived in north carolina. good grief. that makes me sound so old. the funny thing is that i don't really feel rooted here. i love my friends and family to the ends of the earth, but i feel like my heart longs to travel and move west. i've been talking about this for years though and still i remain in the south.

3. i prefer to listen to others talk rather than being the one talking. it's just easier to be the listening ear. i don't like talking about myself all that much unless it's with friends who make it easy. however, i don't like being talked AT. there is a difference.

4. i recently learned how to do doughnuts in my car. a really cute boy taught me.

5. i have yet to have an epic new years. it is probably one of my least favorite holidays. there is so much hype and expectation and it stresses me out. it seems to be the one holiday that reminds me of how single i usually am. way more than valentine's day or christmas. it's that dang midnight kiss.

6. i love fashion and cute clothes, but i usually end up wearing some variety of workout apparel. i feel comfortable and relaxed in my tennis and sports bras and yoga pants. and it actually works out pretty well because when i do dress up, people be like whoa.

7. music is everything. i always have music playing. i am always on the lookout for new music. concerts are fun. i would love to make you a mix cd. i would love it if you made me a mix cd. tell me what bands you're into, and i'll tell you mine.

8. i am a very friendly person, but i find making new friends to be hard. the older i get, the harder it seems to make real friends. it takes time and intentionality and a good amount of vulnerability. those things are hard to find in people (myself included) these days. when you were little, you became best friends with the kid playing next to you in the sandbox. "you like sand? me too!" i'm not saying it's impossible, just harder.

9. my middle name is kate. my older brother suggested it, and my mom was like "cool." lacey kate. i think it has a nice ring to it.

10. if you treat me to a coffee, i will love you forever. no explanation necessary.

so there you go. a little insight into how boring i really am! let's redirect the spotlight on some well-deserving bloggers.

tightrope to the sun: emma's writing is beyond beautiful. i first featured one of her poems in this post, and it is still one of my favorite pieces i have read by her. since finding her, i make it a habit to check her blog on the daily. i think what i find most attractive about her posts is the sincere honesty in them. i can't even. it impresses me, it intimidates me. she is also an avid reader and gives the best book reviews and recommendations. i have a list of books and authors to check out thanks to her!

blooming branch: my dear friend chelsea is the woman behind this beautiful blog. her posts are always thoughtful, insightful and well-written. she writes deep from the heart and is brave enough to be honest about both her struggles and her triumphs. this is something i admire in bloggers as i am not that courageous. chelsea and i met in college and have remained besties through the years. i am grateful for her and for her wonderful blog. (side note: she/her blog is one of the reasons i started my own a few years ago!)

real home living: laura is a fellow raleigh/durham blogger who i met a few years ago at a blogger's meetup. her blog is a blast to read. she and her husband (and now new puppy!) have the most fun adventures in raleigh and beyond. they recently bought their first home, and i love that laura updates her readers on the progress they're making with house renovations. laura and i met up one evening for dinner in raleigh, and it was really fun to catch up in real life instead of our usual blog comments back and forth.

have fun checking out these blogs and bloggers! what blogs are you reading these days? have you ever had the chance to meet up with some blog friends in real life? i'd love to hear!

thank again, emma, for the nomination! keep up the awesome blogging. in fact, i'm heading over to your blog to see if you've posted anything since the last time i checked five minutes ago.

tag, you're it

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the lovely emma kate from the hippie memoirs tagged me to participate in a fun post this week. i have a list of questions to answer in hopes that you guys will get to know me a little bit more. this reminds me of those really long email chains that used to go around when i was in high school with the bazillion questions from "do you prefer hugs or kisses?" to "what was the last thing you ate?" those things were so insanely fun. this is like the grown up version of that. 

1. what's your motto?

i don't know if i really have a life motto, but last year my mantra was "be brave". i think that has followed me into this year as i am continuing to try new things and be a yes woman (the good kind. not the pushover kind.)

2. what's the first memory you remember having? 

i remember riding in a little front seat of my mom's bike as she would peddle us all over town. i think we were living in holland at the time. i remember being scared out of my mind going down hills. it was basically like front seat on a roller coaster. 

3. is there a word you seem to say a lot?

hahahaha. 

4. if you could live anywhere, where would you choose?

the west coast. my first choice is always california, but i think living in washington or oregon would be amazing. my motivation for moving is always the same-the miserable, sticky, smothering season that is summer in the south. the humidity, it takes over your brain. you start thinking crazy thoughts. thoughts about marrying giant icicles and getting adopted by polar bear families. it's not safe here in the summertime. 

5. what's your favorite indulgence? 

brownies and ice cream with toppings. 

6. what's a song you have repeatedly stuck in your head?

good grief. every day is a new song. today: drunk in luuuuuuuuv. 

7. think of something soft. what first comes to mind? 

my pink, fuzzy bathrobe. thing is a garish eyesore, but it is beyond comfortable. 

8. when you were a kid, who did you look up to and why?  

my parents. still do. they are all such wonderful, loving, supportive people. their patience with me and my siblings is beyond normal limits. i love them all so much. 

9. if you could communicate with any animal, which would you choose?  

cats. and i would sing them taylor swift's lyrics "why you gotta be so mean?"

10.  what do you like to do on rainy days?  

i love to hunker down at my craft table and crank out the goods. i brew coffee and get some music going. this is my zone. if my roommate is home, there is a good chance we will end up on the couch at some point playing with each others hair and talking about boys. 

11. what do you hope to achieve this year? 

continue saying "yes" to new opportunities, focus on my etsy shop, take art/craft classes, eat chipotle burrito bowls. 

thanks, emma kate! this was fun. i have decided to tag emma jane and laura to play along. tag, you're it! 

great christmas exchange 2013

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this year i participated in a fun blogger gift exchange hosted by oak & oats and elah tree called the great christmas exchange. the basic gist was that you submitted your name for participation and got someone's name in return for whom you would put together a christmas package of goodies. presents and new friends? oh boy!

i had a great time shopping for jamie who blogs over here. each participant was asked to list a few things they liked so whoever got their name would have an idea of what to get them. based on the bio i received about miss jamie, i found out she liked michaels art store, the color green, books of any kind, stationery, and craft supplies. armed and dangerous with this information, i went about putting a fun package together for her.

when wrapping gifts, i usually throw things into a bag with a piece of tissue paper and call it a day. that's hard enough, people! but this year i was totally gung-ho about using festive paper and actually wrapping my presents. maybe because i knew pictures of my gifts would be broadcast on the internet and i needed to up my game? unfortunately, because of my unprecedented enthusiasm, i ended up wrapping most of jamie's gifts before i took pictures of her items. doh. i did manage to snap a shot of the green caroline g. necklace and the pair of hand-studded mittens i made for her but the rest will remain a mystery. (until jamie links up!)

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

the package i received from shannon was just as fun! (you can follow her on instagram here: @sk_griffith). i tried to show some restraint when her box showed up on our doorstep. i brought it inside and set it on my kitchen counter. i would wait until christmas to open it. i gave it a nice, solid pat. christmas eve at least. i picked it up and gave it a little rattle. down again on the counter. silence for five seconds while i wrestled the angel and devil on my shoulder. then off to the junk drawer for the sharpest pair of scissors i could find to cut the packing tape and pry it open.

inside i found these goodies!

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

• a hand-crotched infinity cowl scarf. are you seeing this? it's beautiful! the colors are wonderfully complimentary, and it's warrrrmmm. warm will come in handy today as the high is supposed to be 27. 
• a leather bound journal and sharpie pens. fine point pens are the only way. (how did she know?)
• one of my favorite go-to brands for chapstick, eos. they rival burt's bees. 
• a delicious smelling candle and candle holder. my roommate and i have a small collection of candles on our stovetop. i keep them burning until the wicks are little black ashes floating in pools of hot wax. now that i've typed that out, this sounds like an incredibly dangerous thing to have on your stove.
• gigantic diamond ornaments. they also double as pretend engagement rings. i definitely do not have a picture of me doing that. 

such great treasures! thank you shannon for your thoughtfulness. and thank you to samantha of elah tree and beth of oak & oats for hosting such a fun gift exchange. i am linking up with them here and here! if you want to see even more pictures, search for #greatchristmas2013 on instagram. there are a lot of festive photos to peruse, but they will probably make you wish christmas was still here so be careful. there is no instagram lifeguard on duty. browse at your own risk.

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fall back

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found this poem through emma jane's blog. what beautiful words. she is quite talented. fall is my favorite season for so many reasons, and i think she hits the nail on the head. read on. 

i felt the fall air today

for the first time this year.

summer set,

fall tiptoed in through

the back door,

softly,

almost unnoticed.

she brushed past the kitchen,

she strayed down the stairs,

she gussied up in the mirror in the hall.

she didn't knock as she

pushed in sideways through

my bedroom door,

barely clearing the crack.

i sighed in my sleep,

briefly stirring as she

kissed my forehead

and held my hand.

"everything is starting again,

my love. everything will change.

everything will grow as

the leaves drift down to sleep

on loamy, grassy beds.

the pieces will fall back into place,

your heart will heal and mend,

as the summer sun will end."

i smiled at her speech,

the kindness in her eyes.

"don't take too long, dear fall,

to bring my pieces back to me.

my bed is cold.

i don't want to feel the

winter chill

without his hand."

"winter was lonely and long,

spring was all pastels,

garish and sad.

summer was rash and hollow,

full of reminders and regret.

but i, my love, i blow the

leaves about, clear the dust

from strained and aching eyes.

fall is your shelter,

fall will bring you peace,

fall makes it all fall back,

the puzzle in your head and heart

finally solved.

sleep now, dear heart,

and do not dread the cold.

until your heart is back in his hand,

my hand won't leave your side."

as i slept

she brushed my hair,

sang me mountain hymns of

sprites and kings,

lionhearts and their maidens.

i dreamt of my lionheart,

our chilly days past

and future, falling into place

in her crisp gaze.

welcome fall.