Getting Away

Two weeks ago I was hard-pressed to find many pleasures in daily life. I was stressed, hurried, not sleeping well, and generally cranky.
Then I went on vacation.
Not only did I go on vacation, but I went somewhere peaceful with a goal of spending part of my time doing fun things, and part of my time relaxing. I didn’t have internet access for most of the trip, and that turned out to be a blessing.
It’s so much easier to find pleasure in the smallest details when life is whittled down to the bare vacation essentials: a little shopping, some sightseeing, lots of naps and early morning sunrises, walks, time with my sweetie and our pup, and good food.

I wasn’t the only one, apparently, who found our cabin in the Ozarks relaxing. This little guy stretched out for a full 20-minute power nap in the middle of the afternoon:

Is it possible to overrate the benefits of a vacation? What a luxury to be able to slow down and notice the pleasures that are all around us.

And what did you find pleasurable today?

PS: See additional vacation photos on my other blog, Textile Traveler.

A Virtual Stroll through Salado

Salado is a lovely little town about 30 minutes north of us (so about half-way, give or take, between Austin and Temple, Tx). We like to make little day trips to Salado occasionally to pick up the little essentials of life: handmade glycerin and goat’s milk soaps from All Lathered Up, fabric from A Sewing Basket, and, on our latest trip, two hand-thrown pottery salsa bowls from Mud Pies Pottery (plus a piece of Sir Wiggleworth’s homemade fudge, which just happens to be in the same shop and is therefore impossible to avoid):


I love these little bowls, and I can’t wait to use them for some fabulous salsa at our next party.
It makes me sad to see that the economy has affected Salado so negatively; there are way too many “For Sale” and “For Lease” signs in this artsy little town, but one of my greatest pleasures is to stroll through and past the shops when the weather is fine. And there are great opportunities for capturing photos in Salado:




And what did you find pleasurable today?