9.4.25

Been in Scotland just over a week :) I live in a small town south of Edinburgh, in what was once the old cemetary custodian's house. I'm able to see the cemetary right outside my room window, and often think about the presences that must exist around here. It feels serendipitous to find this place and my housemate/her little one. Each time we learn more about each others lives, realize the similarities in what we're drawn to, and just share in laughter, meals, and play, I feel viscerally reminded that there are no coincidences. That things come into your life at a certain time for a reason

Finally cooking and enjoying it after many months of eating for fuel vs for pleasure. This was my first grocery haul from a small uncle-run grocery stand. There's a butcher in the back, a large stock of fresh veggies and fruits, a great selection of spices/teas/dried goods and delicious yogurt/other cultured dairy items. I hope to become a regular. I'm also trying to befriend the old ladies at the cutest little co-op grocery store that's just down the street from me (we know each other's names now ☺️)

The clouds look like this most days but it makes the ocean seem like it's letting out a deep long sigh. Or I am just projecting how I felt seeing the ocean for the first time

Sometimes though the clouds look like this and it reminds me of the midwest

Unlike most of my moves, I set up my room within the first 2 days of arriving and was given the treat of golden hour light to congratulate me. The other treat I gifted myself after unpacking the first day was purchasing envelopes and stamps at the post office

The soon to be 5 🥳 year old I live with showed me where to pick blackberries near the house and also how to identify the good squishy rosehips. I set my alarm to wake up early when he's here becuase I get really exicted to hang out :)

This will be it's own blog post sometime soon-ish but I went to Glasgow earlier this week to attend an incredible event that my housemate so graciously invited me to. This greenhouse is in the community space where parts of the event were hosted

A morning of sadness fueled a delightful 12 establishment quest attmepting to find a bookbinding mentor. Amongst the quest were errands to gather things that help me move through sad feelings, plus lingering tasks and random pitstops. The full list of places visited in somewhat chronological order:

• 1 bank (failed attempt to open an account)
• 2 cafes (one for a little snack, and another one later for a coffee)
• 2 bookbinding stores, one that was also a bookshop (gorgeous perfect store), neither could help me w my quest
• 2 art stores (gathered some supplies I was missing to begin crafts, first art shop was small and cozy and the second was more corporate and modern)
• 1 hard ware store (to get a mallet for the crafting)
• 3 libraries (one gave me an email to inquire about book repair, the other gave me a bookbinder shop address and phone number, the last one gave me an email to inquire about volunteering in the library archives)
• 1 ramen restaurant (where I ate chicken katsu w Japanese curry and read my book before hopping on the bus home)

There are lots of magpies here and the seagulls' calls are louder and squeakier, they make me smile when I hear them. The flowers look especially bright when the sun shines through the more often than not overcast skies. Grateful for the learning this time has brought me already and excited to see how it keeps developing.