Something #17

I opened another something the other night. By the outside of the envelope, I had a pretty good idea of what I was going to find inside.

A recipe!

YUM!

We are entering the last few days of being here in the apartment, and what also could be known as our salad days, simply because we have been eating so many salads and dishes that don't require too much effort on my part. It's time to start going through the cupboard and eating the food we already have on hand, and I happened to have a package of pasta that needed to be eaten. We always have cherry tomatoes on hand, same for arugula and garlic. Salt & pepper - check. Olive oil? Well, there's enough to finish the bottle.

The only ingredient that I didn't already have on hand was the goat cheese, so I decided to pick up a bottle of wine. Wine is ridiculously inexpensive here, and it's not bad either. Belgium is in such proximity to France, Italy, and Germany, it's not nearly as expensive to import. I picked up a nice bottle of Italian white for €4.95, about $6.50. More on that later.

I set my past to boil and added all of the ingredients in a bowl.

Added my pasta when it was done. I didn't rinse it by the way, I just scooped it from the pot and added it to the rest of my ingredients. So easy!

And delicious! 

This is the wine I bought.

Orvieto Classico by Cardeto.

I think it's just a white table wine. It's pretty good, but the reason I bought this wine was the label.

The picture is of the Duomo di Orvieto, and I was totally there!

I looked through some of Jon's photos from Orvieto on Flickr. If you have time, check them out as they are really great as usual. There are some gorgeous shots, but he didn't get one of the cathedral façade from the front. Which is a pity, because the façade is beautiful. It has the most gorgeous craftsmanship and artistry that I have ever seen. The Duomo began construction in 1290, and I sat all three nights in Orvieto in front of this wonder, just staring at it.  

I am so excited that you will be traveling soon, and especially to such far away destinations. It does amazing things for your soul. It will transform you and you will absolutely love it.

I played around with Photoshop today. Here are some more pics from the Duomo di Orvieto.

My first attempt stitching the Duomo - maybe a B- ?

My second attempt - much better. Definitely an A.

Last month Orvieto got a mention in GOOP. Even Gwyneth loves it!

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #16

Ooops! I can't believe it's been 6 months since I last opened or posted another Something.

I am sorry. 

Seems like so much has happened in the past 6 months, and in both of our lives!
First, I'd like to say congratulations on your job! Second, I'd like to say Woah! to your blog transformation! It's really cute and fun to read, and I can't wait to go thrifting with you when we get back to Dallas. Jon is really ready to get some new clothes and thrift stores will be the first place he hits, maybe you would like to help with this endeavor? But, I know you are a busy girl.

In the last post, I wrote that there were only 7 Somethings left.  This may still be true, but I think that there are two more that I documented opening, but never posted.

Het spite me (I'm sorry in Dutch). 

The good news is that I plan to remedy this in the remaining month.

Our last month here in Europe.

For now...

We'll see what the future has in store.

Want to see what I picked out to open today?

I love the textured sticker and glitter hearts. This taxi is headed in the right direction and sparkly love is flying out the back!

I like to think that this is symbolic of Jon and I (me?) when we are back in Dallas. We will be sort of wondering around aimlessly. We will be looking for a place to live in the beginning. We also hope to travel around in the United States, checking out a few places to see where we want to settle in the future - Dallas is not in the plans, but in this life I've learned that you never can know what life will bring you.

There are places we want to check out:  we hope to make it to the west coast to see friends - Jon has a friend getting married and we have friends in the San Francisco area that we owe a visit. Jon has never been to New York, so we would like to combine a trip takes us to NYC, Boston, New Haven, Philadelphia and Annapolis. It would be nice to do this in the fall as the leaves change, something I witnessed here for the first time here in Leuven last fall. I also want to go to Chicago to see about the Art Therapy program at SAIC. I am scheduled to enroll fall, 2011. And then there is the question of where we will live in the future... Jon wants to check out Detroit. There could be a lot of opportunity there. These are all dreams and possibilities at this point. We'll see how these all pan out.

Je suis désolé (I'm sorry in French). I've digressed.

 I opened the envelope.

This makes me smile.

You can't really make out this couple, but I immediately recognize them and their possibilities as I think about Jon and myself.

Is he wearing sunglasses?

If you remember, tell me about this photograph. Where did you get it? Why did you include it in my little package?

I turn the picture over to see if you've written anything on the back...

Nope, but there is the number four. This is perfect for today, as it's the 4th of August. It's also our last Wednesday in Leuven. Next Wednesday we will be in Amsterdam, then Vienna, then Munich, then on September 1st - Dallas. Jon thinks I am dramatic, but really I am just sentimental.

Ok, maybe also a bit dramatic.

Ok, maybe a lot.

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #15

I have delayed on opening this something for a few reasons.

1. I am running out of somethings!

Look! Only 7 left! :-(

2. Things are pretty good here! I mean, my life is not perfect, but I am pretty pleased with the way things are going. Even if they are not going, life kind of gets stuck in a rut sometimes...

wash

wear

repeat

etc.

Life is good.

I get to stay in Belgium, can leave the country and now come back in! Jon is deep in research and his thesis. I am try to respect his study time and it's pretty quiet around our place in the evenings. We've been eating vegetarian and feeling great as a result. We still eat meat, I just haven't prepared it at home since the new year. The sun is starting to set later, and there is still light after 6 p.m. That makes such a huge impact on things. Spring is coming!!!! Really... it's the little things.

3. I've been very sick for over a week. I missed a few days from work last week and spent the weekend on the couch - so I was not one for productivity or conversation/blogversation.

I think I've been saving them also, afraid to run out.

I like the color of the envelope I selected. I pick it up, feel it... Not sure what's inside, but I especially like the drawing.

The drawing is the main reason I chose this something, because of the raft and the blue flag with my initial.

It's my boat! Where am I going? When I was in college I worked on a series of slab constructed canoes for ceramics class. They all had different textures and glazes on them. I had a pretty good body of work going for me at the time. I would like to get back into it some day. (sigh) Boats are my thing. I like the symbolism - cast your cares to the sea and set yourself adrift. Sometimes we encounter rough seas on our voyage, other times it's smooth sailing.

Anyway, let's open this baby up...

Can you read that?

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. "

Mark Twain

I love this quote.

When I stop and think about things right now, I can honestly say that I have no regrets for the life I am living.

I intend to travel more. I am sad realizing my days here are on the decline. I still have time, but fewer than 180 days.

We are going to Binche, Belgium next Saturday to experience Belgium Carnival and hope to get pelted by oranges. I leave for Amsterdam on Tuesday, and I hope to get to Paris again next month. I love Paris.

When are you going to come see me?

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #14

It was my birthday yesterday. I had been waiting on opening up a little something for a week and a half. I knew which something I wanted to pick out. It was the large one, that is kind of flat, but looks fun because it has pink polka dots on it!

You know it?

It was kind of thick, but flat. I could squeeze it, and it would spring back to form.

It had practically opened itself. I think the radiators have something to do with that.

Ah!

Awesome!

What great inspiration to get me to the fabric store!

I have been dreaming a lot of fashion. There are so many cute simple things here, but I can't bring myself to buy anything because I am set on not spending extra money. I am saving my money to travel, but when I land back in the US, you bet I will be sewing up a storm. I've got a sketchbook full of ideas and I'm excited about that.

But who knows, I may give sewing a try here... Someone I know has to have a machine, right?

I do love the paper. I've seen lots of cool projects using old pattern paper, but I can't bring myself to tear it/cut it up.

I had a great birthday, and it was great to talk to you!

xoxo

~LYMI