My Dreams of Bohemian Country Life Were A Bit Off

I had romantic notions that life near a forest would look like this:

But since moving to the South I have been apart of such activities and they actually look like this:

P.S. This is the county photo

And this photo is for the city-folk who might get upset when they saw a children so close to him:

(I really did re-take it for that reason.)

Anyway, comfy, not form fitting clothes that allow for maximum movement with nothing on your heads is actually how you do proper archery.  You'd think that a hat would be a useful item that everyone wears.  But unless it's a baseball hat, you will be teased.  I was shocked at all the comments from my new family-in-law when I wore this hat.

Totally pragmatic, right?

It was a hot and sunny day!

They reacted as if I was wearing this:

Yeah, I wish.

Anyway, so lesson learned.

What you see in magazines about country life does not translate to real life.  In Mississippi.  And you'd think this would be obvious but life in LA or NY really does look like editorials. 

But I haven't given up completely.  There are plenty of other rural photos I can try and recreate.  

Like basically everything from Vogue's 2008 Fashion Rocks issue staring Dhani Harrison and Sasha Pivovarova.

I'm almost positive my Mississippi Husband would wear a flower crown while playing chess in the woods.  Just as long we weren't in his father's camp (if you're Southern or a hunter you might know what this means).

I dreamt I had money to buy an awesome sofa

I mean like real money, like ABC Carpet & Home money or Anthropologie money (don't act like they aren't high end - their prices and patterns are so alienating they screams 'high end').

But alas, I do not have said money, so I had to settle for a Rooms 2 Go sofa, which was tres comfy. 

And brown.

Again, like the Roll Top (not to be confused with Roll Tide), I do not have a before photo but you can imagine a plain (read: ugly) brown and black fabric-covered sofa.  I dare say it's made of terry.  

So I took two table cloths from World Market (my version of ABC Carpet & Home in AL) and stapled it to the back and bottom frame and wrapped two cushions in it.

Since it's backed against the wall, you can't even tell how horribly I stapled it to the back.
But soon that wasn't enough - with no experience and without reading about upholstery, I bought a few more table cloths and literally sewed it on the arms.

  Suddenly, a thimble sounded like the best invention in the world, but I was working with such bare bones material, I had to suffer instead.  

Of course, if you look closely you see seems don't meet or match but who's looking that closely?

Not this guy, he just wants to cuddle. 

Did I mention that in AL I met and married a MS boy?  He's so patient with my hobbies and interest as I am with his.

(I am still learning how to dress for these activities.)

I Think I Live in a Dream State

I think California is beautiful.

And I think New York is beautiful.

And I think Utah is also very beautiful.

And I think Massachusetts is beautiful as well.

Everywhere that I have lived in the States has been lovely.

But right now I am convinced there is no place more beautiful than Birmingham.  

(Does this guy look a little heavy to you?)

True, these were all taken at the Botanical Gardens 

but it really looks like this everywhere you go. 

Want proof?

Here is a photo of my friend and me leaving the office, 

walking to the parking lot.

I really feel more patriotic since moving here.

And I haven't even told you about the food yet.

The food is even better than the trees.

Dreamiest Invitation Yet

Today a fried invited me to swim in a crik, I mean creek, this weekend.  I have wanted to swim in a creek/ small river for as long as I can remember.  And I was promised there would be no critters.  I had to decline but promised I would be there soon.   Maybe that waterproof camera can't wait. . .

Dreaming of Forest . . .

. . .And jumping from rock to rock . . .

. . . and maybe playing dress up too.