Last week, I listened to Julia Louis-Dreyfus interview Patti Smith in which Patti explains that one of her idiosyncrasies is “saying thank you to everything I encounter” — her toothbrush, her socks, her digestive system (ha! but really she does mention this!). I thought at first it seemed hokey, but as the week went on, I kept thinking about the sentiment, and the warm laundry feeling it gave me. I thought of her when I drank my coffee in the mornings — prepared lovingly by my husband, who measures out the sugar and milk to the gram each day on a scale so that it is fixed just as I please. I thought about her, too, when I realized how much I love writing with my new 0.38mm Korean gel pen. And how much I enjoy the high-quality, no-bleed-through paper I use when hand-drafting, or sending snail mail. And how much I adore those handsome cardinals I can’t stop writing about. I know I’m running the risk of becoming a crazy bird lady–but the joy of their company every day! The way they enter and exit my peripheral vision as I’m writing, dotting my afternoon with color, threading it through — however briefly — with the memory of my beloved Tilly. In short, I suddenly found tiny Patti Smith thank yous on the tip of my tongue as I wandered through my day. Thank you cardstock, thank you coffee, thank you cardinal. I think it probably goes without saying that the objects are in fact portals to love. The coffee is delicious but made better by Landon’s ministrations. The paper is gorgeous but made more so by the fact that it is produced so carefully and with such tender attention by Marcie Pantzer–and of course attention is a high form of love. And the cardinals are Tilly’s signary: red wings where I dog we loved once panted.

How fascinating, in fact, that so many of the objects in my daily life are touched by love, or redolent with its memory.

Onward, as we say —

*I took the header photos from both today and yesterday’s posts while visiting the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center last weekend. It’s a nature preserve and a birder’s paradise across the Bay from us; they even have rescued birds of prey to visit with. Our children loved it and kept careful note of all the animals and insects they saw in little nature journals I gave them for the occasion. Highly recommend if you have nature-loving kids and are looking for something to do on a Saturday morning. (Very buggy, FYI!)

Sunday Shopping.

The aforementioned gorgeous paper, the dress I’ve been wearing on my podcast walks, and these delicious crackers I love dipping into everything (including cottage cheese, yum)! Plus, the shorts I’m eyeing as a transition-to-fall piece (love the idea of styling with a sweater on top) and my latest acquisition: one of these cool girl bandana tote bags, with my initials embroidered on the side! (Would be a fun alternative to a diaper bag if you’re an expecting mama.). You can read more about the bandana nano-trend this season here!

THE AFOREMENTIONED MAGICAL STATIONERY (USE CODE JEN15) // NEW MINNOW KNITS! // MY LATEST CRACKER OBSESSION // MY WALKIN’ DRESS // ADIDAS SPEZIALS // BOMBAS GARDEN PATTERN SOCKS // MELISSA JELLIES (CODE JEN15) // HUNTER BELL SHORTS // CALL IT BY YOUR NAME TOTE

And a little visual inspo on the banana bag, all photos via Call It By Your Name:

Final note: Kilte launched a sale that runs today through 8/10. They have really chic knit sets on offer at a great discount — perfect for travel days or cozy days at home this fall/winter.

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