...a new bloom, a butterfly, and a memory of a book...

 The morning began with a new bloom in the garden right after a dreadful storm. The morning was cool so I went for a two hour walk in town meandering up and down streets in this small town. I spent much of the day working although I was able to do this remotely and even from my garden. I captured this butterfly! He distracted me even while work attempted to gain my attention.

This evening I was inadvertently reminded of a book series. The Kissing Coffins, that I enjoyed. I remembered that I had left off on the sixth book so quickly checked the library for its availability. Tonight has been my time to catch up with familiar characters. I'm fortunate that I am in a profession where I can embrace my interests. Last semester, I taught both a vampire literature and film course as well as an adolescent literature course. Royal Blood falls into both categories. But tonight, I'm putting away academia and enjoying a good story... and maybe feeling young (at heart) again.

...wine and cheese, and details

It's almost officially summer which means having guests over. Tonight, my 20+ year friend is coming over to catch up. He's one of my favorite guests because he appreciates the little details (e.g. the tiny bat pick in the bread, the skull picks in the cheese, and the napkins). I can't imagine a better way to achieve one's daily fruit consumption than with sangria (all organic fruits!) This makes me think about a few weeks ago when a colleague brought in a hand full of mint, which she had clipped from her very own garden. I popped a sprig into my soda water and it worked magic! This morning I planted my very own mint (Mint Julep and Peppermint) in my garden. Now I have to wait patiently for it to grow so I can enjoy it.... just like I'm waiting patiently to enjoy tonight's treats,

... sunshine deserves a big hat

"Some sunshine is good for the soul, but I always make sure I wear a big hat." ~ Miranda Kerr

My mother has always liked me in hats. I rarely wear them because I think they will make me hotter than I already am. I was surprised to stumble upon the San Diego Hat Company Ribbon Crusher. With a UPF 50+, the highest rating in UV protection, and its lightweight feel, I couldn’t help but pop it on my head. 

I’ll be honest; I was torn between the black and white stripes and the fully black hat. I tried them both on and off a good dozen times. Because my latest mantra is that I can never wear enough stripes (when wearing black everyday a stripe is certainly a “pop of color”), I finally purchased this one. It screams fun! And well, since they were only $30, I may just go back to pick up the black one.

Every gardener needs a good hat. This one will be more for strolls in the garden than actual labor… but still.

...A full moon on the morning of Friday the 13th...

(This page was not intentionally left blank! Eeek! Cue the eery music!)

Purple Shamrock Plants

Purple Shamrocks after the storm.

...a coffin hunt lead to Squashapenny Junction...

Last Sunday, my fella pointed out an article about an antique store that is practically around the corner from me; yet, I had never heard of it. It doesn’t have a website and once I arrived I learned that Suzanne, one of the owners, doesn’t even own a computer. It’s off the “main” country road so you have to know where you’re going to find it. The owners seem to like it this way. Before you enter, you have to leave your cameras, cell phones, and bags behind. While in 2014 this almost seems invasive in a how-dare-you-tell-me-what-to-do way, it is private property and aesthetically the outside is so intriguing that I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to abandon one’s things and go forth.

I crept up the stairs, one of those buildings with so much to see that one must go slowly. When I was ready to reach for the doorknob, the door open and Suzanne and I both shrieked and laughed having scared one another. She was an absolute delight!

While inside, my fella and I parted ways. I wanted to start in the far left and wind my way around. I noticed a small room that was packed with bead curtains. Suzanne whispered, “I think bead curtains just make people want to enter that room.” I hesitated. “You’ll certainly want to enter that room.” I, wow, did I. It was full of antique medical supplies, Victorian hair art, and a life-size skeleton seen in old doctor’s offices. To be honest, I was on a mission. I had read that Squashapeeny had a coffin from the 1880’s and I wanted to see it (how big and how much was all that was on my mind). I meandered, stepped over, twisted my body to look around… I doubt that I was able to process even a quarter of what the store had to offer. I completed missed the Funeral Coach sign. Luckily, my fella pointed it out to me. What I didn’t miss was the Old Stone House sign. I gasped and Suzanne was delighted. She loves when someone falls in love. I know from my obsession with American Pickers that signage, especially old specific signage, isn’t cheap.  It wasn’t, neither was the Funeral Coach sign, but I had to have them both.

Historically, places like this have been where I’ve found “my things”. Now with Etsy, I find myself buying a bat towel here and a spider web necklace (from an actual spider) there… I love these finds but there isn’t anything quite like the hunt. The moment you turn and see something that you just know must go home with you. I thought I was going to have that feeling when I saw the coffin. It was a model from a funeral home, never used (I do get a bit squeamish about “medical” things sometimes) and while I was initially excited about its size, it was a child’s coffin. My best friend buried babies; I can’t have this in my house. And with that, I let it go… maybe for you to find ^o^.  The great thing about going on a hunt in these old antique stores is that you can go again in a week or two and see “new” items. My cousin found a funeral parking sign just the week before I was there. I wonder what I will find when my bank account replenishes.

...a long work week and a reflection of what I've learned from vampires...

Because this is a new blog, I’m trying to post more frequently than I normally might. I’ve been a research blogger for over a decade but this is my first personal post. I’m still determining how much or how little to share of my personal life.

time to kick back and relax

Nevertheless, last week was exhausting so near the end of the week I just didn’t have it in me to write much… or think of much honestly. I was finishing up a 3-week intensive summer school course on Vampires in Literature and Film. It’s a general studies course I developed at my university to basically teach that vampires in literature and film and never *just* about the vampire. I often say that I have the best job ever—a university professor of English who gets to teach about all that I loved and have carried with me since I was about 15 years old. I get overwhelmed by how lucky I feel. I did the work, earned the education- yes but obtaining a tenured university professor position is still a little bit like finding a unicorn. Okay, maybe it isn’t that difficult but I sometimes exaggerate.

At the end of class, my students who are just awesome brought in fang-bite cupcakes and even a magical blood pitcher which they knew was completely ridiculous but that I loved. It was one of those shake the pitcher and it appears that it is a full pitcher of blood and then when you pour (whatever beverage you choose) it appears as though half the blood has been poured out. They offered these as a thank you gift for all that I’ve taught them over the course of the semester.

Naturally, I started thinking about what vampires have taught me over the years. Here is the beginning of my list:

1. Be hospitable! ("Welcome to my house! Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring!" Dracula chapter 2)
2. We will always be a little bit afraid of what we don’t know. Give others a chance especially when they’re different. ("We are in Transylvania, and Transylvania is not England. Our ways are not your ways, and there shall be to you many strange things." Dracula chapter 2)
3. Just because something doesn’t seem scary in the traditional sense, it still can be haunting. (Case in point, Nosferatu)  
4. While it is beneficial in some ways to be optimistic, the sun doesn’t always come up tomorrow so you better be prepared. (30 Days of Night)
5. When they’re gone, you’re still going to think fondly and miss those friends who are just down right awful for you and completing unhealthy. (Carmilla)