… and a sexy new address too! Bookmark 1000threadsblog.com (because I don’t know what I was thinking with all of those hyphens either…) and keep an eye out.
It will be a little quiet around here for a day or so, but I promise we’ll be back up and running in no time.
I can’t wait for you to see!
Photo: via Pinterest
No damage to the house, the power is on… actually we’re not just here, we’re as good as ever… and feeling seriously lucky for it.
(Lemon is still feeling uneasy, but he’s kind of a wimp.)
This morning my thoughts are with those who can’t say the same.
Photo: Our Labor of Love
How do you know you live (kind of way out) in the country? You might find yourself shooting giant robots with pumpkins, or watching uncomfortably as your six year old maneuvers what looks like a tank with ease.
Sunday afternoon, we took an impromptu trip up the road to visit a farm where we heard you could shoot punkin’ chunkin’ cannons yourself. Since I’m pretty sure Mark has dreamt of this day since he himself was six, there’s no way we could pass it up.
But really, as totally crazy as they were, the most impressive thing about the whole deal wasn’t the cannons — it was the size of the robots! I can’t even imagine what it must take to build these things.
There are a million reasons why I can’t wait for our honeymoon, but one of them is definitely the much-needed break. I’m looking forward to a little time to sit back, relax, and read something fun (because super fun frivolous reading and the word vacation are one in the same).
I’m excited to start making a list of what books I might want to take along… and because I have a sneaking suspicion that you all are sitting on some fantastic recommendations, I thought I’d start with you.
So tell me, what book will I be crazy if I miss?
P.S. Bookshelf Porn
1 // Learning that one of my very best friends (who has had a crazy amazing busy year and I am so so proud of her — so I totally understood when she said she wouldn’t be able to make it) just bought a ticket to come to our wedding.
2 // Coming home to fresh seared scallops and cider with rum.
3 // … not to mention a clean house and an empty basket of laundry. That guy, he knows just what to do to tug at my heart.
4 // A sweet gift for Austin from his soon-to-be step-gramma.
5 // Realizing that after months (maybe years) of work with no change at all, I’m running just a little bit faster.
It’s been a stressful couple of weeks, with tons of work and the wedding right around the corner, but in the end… it’s always the good stuff that comes out on top.
Photo: Cassidy Carson via Snippet & Ink
I was so honored to find out recently that a fellow blogger, lovinghomemade, decided to spread some love and nominate A Thousand Threads for the Addictive Blog Award… a huge honor because the award comes from someone who understands exactly what it takes, and she still likes my blog… so thank you lovinghomemade, it really means a ton.
But here’s the thing… the award requires that the nominated blogger share a little bit about why they blog, and when I thought about it, I realized that I’ve never really answered that question.
In fact, I’m not even sure it’s something I’ve ever fully thought through. Deep down, of course, I know… but even now, it’s not easy to put into words why I do this thing, night after night… keeping my poor guy awake so long he falls asleep on the floor while waiting for me to finish up and head to bed, only to wake up to another day of work and another night of blogging.
Wow okay that probably doesn’t sound very appealing at all… but it is, I swear it. I’ll try to make the case a little better below…
Trips to the farm, the fair, Nova Scotia, and NYC (oh, and a little bit of wedding planning too). It’s been a busy couple of months. Are you following along?
Hope everyone’s week is off to a good start (even if Tuesdays are kind of the worst).
xoxo
Upon landing in Nova Scotia, my first thought was that it looked, and felt, like home.
The province is reminiscent of the place I grew up, with its rolling hills, evergreens, and quaint coastal towns, but that’s not the whole story.
Nova Scotia is a place that makes a person want to stay.
We were on our way to an adventure of unknown proportions, fishing 20 miles off the coast of Wedgeport for bluefin the size of bears. I was ready for the challenge… but let’s be real, I knew absolutely nothing.
Once I was introduced to the chair, the thick twine, the reels as big as my head, well… it was a little scary. My stomach started to churn, and it wasn’t long before I started to hope for a slow day… just to save me from the embarrassment of the desperate, soul-sucking failure I knew I was about to endure.
But all of that fear was gone as soon as I felt the exhilaration and accomplishment of reeling in an animal so huge. Mark still can’t stop laughing at the grin I couldn’t wipe from my face.
The stuff is crazy fun.
… and the fun didn’t stop with a little fishing. Over two days on the water we saw so many whales, seals, and sharks it almost felt commonplace.
I couldn’t help but wonder what my mom would have thought, who used to squeal with glee at the sight of one whale miles and miles offshore, nothing more than a speck. These guys were practically jumping on the boat.
On our last day in Wedgeport, we hopped back in the boat for a visit to the Tusket Islands, full of brightly colored lobster pots and weathered fishing cabins that serve as the perfect picnic spot in the summer, and transform into a bustling village full of fishermen (and women) as soon as lobster season descends.
Of course, in season or no, lobster is practically ground beef in Wedgeport, where the softer-shelled pinchers who might not ship so well can be set aside to feed a family for months (or maybe hungry visitors who jump for joy at the delicious-ness of such fresh seafood).
Wedgeport felt like home, and its people made us feel like family.
There’s nothing like a place that picks you up and forces you to relax, learn something new, and accomplish something great…
It was tough to leave, but I know we’ll be back. It will be hard to stay away.
Last Monday, as I dropped our final invitations in the mail, feeling pretty good about my accomplishments, the phone rang.
“So… if you had the chance to do something really amazing, do you think you could get away for a few days?”
(Umm… yes.)
Mark’s boss wasn’t able to make a business trip he’d had in the works for some time, and he needed to send someone in his place.
That person was Mark, but (the seriously cool news) if we were both in, we could both go.
So, business… right? I’ve been on business trips before, and most of the time it doesn’t even matter where they end up… those trips are always much less fun than I imagine… sitting in the hotel, attending a conference, or meeting after meeting… staring at the wall… never getting a chance to play.
This was not one of those trips.
On this particular trip, Mark and I were headed to Wedgeport, Nova Scotia for lobster picnics, scallops on the shore, and a whole lot of fishing… for bluefin tuna… which are, oh, about six times my size (nbd).
We were just a little bit excited.
And the trip didn’t disappoint a bit.
Of course, before we go on, I have to mention that I caught the biggest fish (It’s okay, I’m not competitive or anything).
We were on the water for two days straight and came back with a laundry list of shark, whale, and seal sightings (!!) in addition to five fish caught.
Three of five were successfully tagged (no indulging here — though that sashimi does go for a seriously pretty penny out on the market ((yum)) — we were on the ocean in the name of science) and in the end Mark and I had each reeled in two: three in the realm of about 400-500 lbs, and one (mine, hehe) about 650 lbs… which is a pretty serious sport in itself.
But really… the most amazing thing we encountered in Wedgeport was the people: folks that made us feel like family from the second we landed and left us dying to come back… to visit their small town and maybe even steal their lives… because seriously, guys, we’re kind of super a little jealous.
What an amazing, wonderful place… this Wedgeport, Nova Scotia. Really — even now — I’m not even sure where to begin.
But I have plenty more to share, so be sure to check back!
Have you ever been fishing for big fish? Or up to Nova Scotia? It was an amazing experience, to say the least.
Sometimes, life has a way of surprising you… in the very best of ways.
It was perfect.
A Thousand Threads 