Our Garden

This is the area we're hoping to transform into a firepit and outdoor hang out area. For now, it's just an overgrown patch of garden. 

I Started Seeds

Summer is coming, and I'm getting ready. My DIY seed-starting mini-greenhouses are ready to go and seeds are planted. Garden 2017 has officially started!

The Lizards Are Back!!

Well, I'm back in Sisian- and look who's come out to greet me:

These little lizards are harbingers of the summer to come, and I'm really looking forward to it. 

Back in Armenia

Here's a super touristy video to prove it:

Heading back to Armenia

Well, today finds me on a plane headed back to Armenia. It was a good- if emotionally exhausting- trip home. I'm glad I was able to spend time with my family. I'll sure miss Scuppers for the next four and a half months, though.

Our Tiny House

One last minute stop before I head back to Armenia to check on out tiny house, which is waiting for us to come back in September. Truthfully, I can't wait to get back home and finish it.

We Light Up the Night

I spent this evening with my family, sending sky lanterns sailing out, over the ocean. It was a good way to say goodbye. 

Scuppers

I'm really happy to be spending time with my dog- but all she wants is her tennis ball. 

#Overwhelmed

I didn't really think that post-service readjustment culture shock was a thing. Then, this evening, we went to the grocery store. I didn't really think a whole lot about it. I wandered around, and the produce section really drew me in. I stood there, marveling at the 3 different types of kale and the 7 different dried mushroom varieties available, delighting when the faux-thunder rumbled and the vegetable mister turned on. I took a few photos. Then we left. When we got back to the house, my aunt asked my dad if I had been like a kid in a candy shop. No, he answered, she seemed a little bit lost- a little bit overwhelmed. It wasn't until I heard him say it that I realized it was true. Here's a little image I made to remember that trip: 

Back in the USA

So- why am I back in America? Two days ago, both of my grandmothers died. How bizarre is that? I heard the news on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday morning, I left Sisian on my way back home for a few weeks to go to the funerals. I arrived yesterday afternoon. While this entire trip is bound to be both sad and stressful, there is one really great part: getting to hang out with my dog Scuppers. (Sorry Mom & Dad, you guys are awesome too, but, well, it's just not the same). And it turns out my girl's got game: