the kindest people

The kindest people are not born that way, they are made. They are the souls that have experienced so much at the hands of life, they are the ones who have dug themselves out of the dark, who have fought to turn every loss into a lesson. The kindest people do not just exist – they choose to soften where circumstance has tried to harden them, they choose to believe in goodness, because they have seen firsthand why compassion is so necessary. They have seen firsthand why tenderness is so important in this world.

–Bianca Sparacino


sierra foothills

“Love where you live”

Amador County wine country appreciation post. 

mood

In his farewell address to the nation the other night, Joe Biden said, “I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is a dangerous — and that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultrawealthy people, and the dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked. Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

currently reading

As a kid, I always got a Farmer’s Almanac in my stocking. I looked forward to reading the weather and crop predictions, along with the quirky stories and jokes. I’m not sure if it’s nostalgia that drives me to purchase the current edition every year, or if it’s my inner nerd wanting to know what might happen in the coming year. 

*also pictured: my favorite Sharpie® “Everybody swears” 

tin snips

Yesterday, when I picked up the folks to return their old iPhones, Dad found these tin snips laying in flower bed by the billiards room. They were full of rust, and looked pretty bleak.

Today, I used a wire brush to remove the loose rust, then soak them in naval jelly for an hour. A rinse, and some 3-in-1 oil brought them back to life.

Maybe there’s a metaphor in that story. Maybe I just wanted to play with chemicals. I’m not sure.