Here’s to a better 2013!

Posted on by Sydney
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Hi guys.. I’m still alive, for those of you who are left. It has been about 5 months since my last post.

I have no other excuse besides that this has been one hell of a past 5 months. I have started to write this, stopped, rewrote, deleted, wrote more, deleted, ignored it, thought about it constantly, and now I’m here. Rather than go into a lengthy post giving a blow-by-blow of October onwards, I’ll just do a chronological bullet-list. Ready? Here goes:

  • Sent in my 3+ lb application to British Consulate
  • Working as a part-time Innkeeper at the Calderwood Inn in Healdsburg
  • Visa was denied by British Consulate because they didn’t believe Gavin and I were together for 2+ years, despite joint bank accounts, lease agreements, bills to both of us at one address, emails, text messages, etc.
  • Went to Denver to visit one of my best friends from high school, drove back with a friend
  • Spent Thanksgiving with family and friends
  • Sent in appeal to British Consulate, very little hope at this point. No idea what or where Gavin and I stand
  • Plan trip to London, board flight to London, arrive in London, get deported from London, land in San Francisco exactly 48 hours after departing
  • British Consulate says that it will not give me a decision until May, 2013 (this was in December)
  • Decide I need to actually start living in Healdsburg, rather than wait around.
  • Get house, get dog(!!!), get real job, make plans
  • Get visa approved
  • Be confused about everything

So, basically, life is complicated and I’m not sure what my future holds at the moment. Right now I am living in a 3 bedroom house with no furniture – I feel like a college student again. All my stuff is in London in Gavin’s new flat, which I am dreading having shipped.. Hello huge bills!

But from here on out, I will blog consistently about what I am up to.. Which soon will be me refinishing my kitchen table, painting the insides of my kitchen cabinets and drawers, painting the house, buying furniture… eesh, this is making me tired already! Ha!

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How to enjoy hot weather or Retail Therapy

Posted on by Sydney
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Today was hot in Healdsburg. I mean this is the thermometer on my parent’s back deck in the shade at 5.30 this evening.

It’s pretty warm, and I LOVE IT!!

I did what any normal person does and I walked into town. There is a great little fabric store right on our main square. I may have purchased a thing or two. Supporting the local economy and small businesses is what I call it..

Just one or two fabrics including Kaffe Fasset and some Alexander Henry! Yay! I love them all! I mean look at that little animal family – so cute!

They are all 1/2 yard cuts which makes me pretty happy. And don’t the colors just play so well together? Now I need to borrow a sewing machine so I can actually do more than stare and stroke…

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to have a glass of white wine by the pool!

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Tickle my Fancy Tuesday – Link Love

Posted on by Sydney
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10 words you literally get wrong

HOLYSHITSCIENCE.

OMG… Oceans are FREAKY! Softball-sized eyeball washes up on Florida beach. Reason #303475-3345 to live in California, not Florida. They can also be awesome, however.

You know what else is awesome? Space.

Rescued ducks experience water for the first time. Pass the tissues please.
read more about the rescue here.

Mitt Romney staring longingly at people.

I love these geometric paintings.

Double exposures can be awesome. People vs. Places.

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My week in Instagram

Posted on by Sydney
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This week was a week of wine tasting and enjoying the last of the summer weather. I also made quite a few trips out to our wineries and checked out harvest and crush in action

Fermenting grapes and big tanks at deLorimier winery

Aw.. this is what I get to fall asleep/wake up to :)

I totally took all these from a harvest dinner so I could decorate the Inn. The Great Pumpkin Heist of 2012. They’ll totally make a movie.

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Tickle my Fancy Tuesday – Link Love

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2012 National Geographic Photo Contest. We live in a stunningly beautiful world. I think I need to re-subscribe to NatGeo.. I need more of these photos in my life!

It’s decorative gourd season, motherf*ckers! I love this more and more each autumn. “When my guests come over it’s gonna be like, BLAMMO! Check out my shellacked decorative vegetables, assholes.”

Artistic interpretation

Noma Bar may just be one of the world’s best illustrators. Guess Who may just be his best portrait work.

Just the idea of redesigning 300 logos makes my brain hurt. Doing it in 6 weeks? Impossible? Not for Fraser Davdison. Who did just that!

I kind of really want to make this quilt..

High five escalator. I’d give him a high five and then get all teary-eyed. I’m cool like that..

..and now I’m really tearing up – 24 grooms see the brides for the first time. Side note: why do people touch their face when overcome with emotion? Weird.

Whoa.. Dolce and Gabbana – pretty cool. Pairing the spring/summer collection with vintage travel posters? Freaking awesome.

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My week in Instagram

Posted on by Sydney
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Well.. I’m certainly not doing too well in Blogtoberfest. I’ve already missed two days!

I will catch up. I will catch up. That will be my mantra. I’ll be like the little blogger that could.

Anyways, back to our scheduled programming – my week+ in instagram.

I made an early morning trip up to one of our wineries – the view was stunning as was the ‘tree tunnel’.

You know it’s harvest time in wine country when traffic is caused by tractors!

Mmm.. peanut butter banana bread pudding. People went crazy for it!

A creepy face in my ice water at the bar.

San Francisco was alerting me to the fact that it has hills. This was at the top of a hill that is so steep, you hope there will be road in front of you.

If you want to see all the other photos I’ve taken, you can follow my pictures here and purchase them here! Are you on Instagram? My screen name is sydthewyd, hope to see you soon!

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