Brandywine Zoo.

 

   This is my kinda zoo. It is teeny tiny so it doesn't take hours to wander around, which was perfect considering the ungodly heat we had over the weekend.  Also?  We were practically the only people there.  Probably because this zoo is in Delaware.

"Hi, I'm in Delaware."

Francie has finally gotten to a stage where she is really interested in animals so she loved seeing the tiger and the monkeys, calling out "woof woof!" to them all.  Every animal is a doggie woof woof at this point. We're working on it.

Currently.

Listening to- Gotye's album Making Mirrors is so good, I'm loving Jack White's new one Blunderbuss, and I have recently discovered Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and I'm diggin' it.  One of my little personal goals this year was to get back into things that I enjoy and music was a huge one for me.  With pregnancy and new motherhood, I just totally lost myself and fell away from things that were once so important.  It might sound silly, but finding "new" music to enjoy makes such a difference!

Reading- I've been forcing myself to get through Eat, Pray, Love although I must admit I have been skipping over parts.  I got it at the Goodwill for a quarter because I just wanted something for light entertainment but this woman gets on my nerves.  I hated the movie too so why am I reading this?  Ugh, I don't know.  Again this is another personal goal- to get back into reading as it was something I loved before.  I'm planning on buying a Kindle before heading back to Bulgaria.

Thinking about- How I need to really start the immigration process for Martin.  I am a huge procrastinator and when presented with a task of this scope, I just shut down.  It is so stupid of me too because this is something that I want done, like, yesterday.  So yeah, we will be starting the paperwork and hopefully getting this ball rolling before I leave the states.

Obsessing over- The good weather and getting out as much as possible!  I suffered terribly this past winter from seasonal affective disorder so a little natural light therapy is doing me good.  And on that note, I think it's time to get outside and enjoy the afternoon sun.

"Currently" meme from Sometimes Sweet.

Life's a beach.

We had a girls weekend in Ocean City last week with my sis.  My family has had this shore house since I was little and it's a place that holds some of my fondest memories.  To bring my girl down there to such a happy house, such a happy place, it was so good.  

An Earthquake.

Last night one of my greatest fears was realized- a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Bulgaria.  People from Sofia to Skopje felt the quake and were startled out of their beds at 3am.  I obviously was not there, but my husband and his family are.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in Bulgaria and throughout that region.  It has been one of my biggest fears since moving there.  I've often wondered what the scene would be like, grabbing the baby and diving for cover in a doorway or rushing down the stairs and away from our building.  It's a terrifying thought.

The instant I heard about the quake last night, my heart sank.  I tried in vain to find any news or information online but it was slow to come in.  I never thought I'd say this, but thank goodness for Twitter and social media- it was the only place to get any updates and information for awhile.

Eventually I got a message from Martin, he was fine and was staying outside of the apartment building.  What a relief!  Several more quakes and aftershocks followed the first but damage was minimal and there have not been any reported casualties.  Thank goodness.

This earthquake could have been devastating, and of course we never know when the next one will strike.  But for now, a sigh of relief and a reminder to hug a little tighter and say a few extra I love you's to those we hold dear.

Penn's Woods

Something that I've tried to do since I moved away from my hometown years ago was to see it through a new lens anytime I've been back.  I have never been able to do that successfully, not until this time.  It must be because I was gone for 9 months, the longest stretch I've had so far.

The first thing that really hit me upon returning this time was how green everything is, how colorful and vibrant the foliage is this time of the year.  Beautiful flowers and plants and trees all in bloom.  Pennsylvania is such a lovely state and I've only lived in one small pocket of it in my life.  There is so much more to see, as always.

 
 
Top: Old Navy, Shorts: Mossimo, Necklace: Forever 21

A visit to Tyler Arboretum

 

 

Friday was National Public Gardens day so we spent the afternoon at Tyler Arboretum.  They usually charge $9 a person to wander around the grounds which is a bit steep, but on Friday it was free!  Free is good.

Not so good?  Pushing an umbrella stroller through mulch and grass.  Great way to get in an impromptu workout though.

Francie loves running through the grass, it seems to be pretty much her favorite thing these days.  She loves the outdoors and that is making me really excited for the day that we can go on hikes together.  I have visions of us up in Alaska, showing her all of our favorite spots.  Sans stroller, of course.

Happy Mother's day, Mommas!

A Few Photos.

Blocked.

I'm suffering from a major case of blogger's block, in case you hadn't noticed.  It's been building...slowly...over the last month or two.  And at the moment I just feel stuck. Stumped. Like I don't have anything worthwhile to share.

But I'm here, we're here!  Francie and I, that is.  We're doing things, seeing people, going places.

I think I'm going to pick up my camera today and take some pictures.  And then I think I'll blog them.  Probably.

Ridley Creek State Park

Some days the weather is nicer than others.  Some days you just need to get out and take advantage of the sun and the warmth before the high heat and the humidity kicks in.  Sunday was one of those days.