Details below about my polymer clay snake fundraiser in support of the 67 severely neglected snakes being rehabilitated at Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary.

Athens Day 2.
Ancient Agora, and a beautiful evening spent with @suzybates.bsky.social and family up on a gorgeous hill overlooking all of Athens. I love meeting up with great friends in far away places!

Athens Day 1.
We arrived in Athens mid afternoon and got settled at our Air BnB, then went walking. Had dinner not far from our flat and apparently burgers here are just the meat 🤷🏼‍♀️. Lovely Greek salad though. Lots of street art too. Made it until 8 pm and basically died upon hitting the bed.

There is something insanely satisfying about power washing things. I’ve been working on my old dirty fence. What looks like “weathered wood” is often just… dirt.

Finally caved and got some marshmallow slides. I can’t decide if I love them or hate them. They are comfy, I’ll give them that. A little chonky.

Today we sold our Miata. We have had her for 28 years, since 1997 when I bought her brand spanking new after grad school. She was such a fun car for all this time, but it financially makes little sense to keep two cars for us now (more in comments).

A few highlights from delicious French dinner last night. Menu included:
✨Oysters on the half shell (📸)
✨Rabbit rillette
✨Lobster bisque (📸)
✨ Endive salad (📸)
✨ Flatiron steak w/haricots verts
✨ Cheese plate
✨ Chocolate gateau

All paired intentionally with French wines by course.
Table also (📸)

Looking forward to spending a fantastic Valentine's Day (one day past) dinner with the love of my life (@DanielJudd) with dear friends. It's fit to be a French FEAST and will be chef's kiss perfect 🤌.

My extra project this week was a long needed refresh on the paint in the laundry and back bathroom. It was formerly a pale sea glass blue but the paint can went by the wayside many moons ago and I lost the color. So I painted it “Fresh Popcorn”. Also drastically simplified it.
More pics in comments

This sweet girl got a clean bill of health at the vet this week. Bloodwork and fecal all normal, vaccines updated, weight is perfect. No signs of arthritis. We don’t know her age but we guess about 10-11. We have had her now 4 yrs, 3 months. Love our Chelli girl.

Taco Friday. That’s a thing, right? (From Can-Tina at ABW)

Here’s Yuki being photogenic on a Wednesday. She’s so nosey.

Made Nigella Lawson’s Clementine cake yesterday. Tangerines, eggs, sugar, almond flour, and baking powder. That’s it. Moist and tasty.

Some recent highlights from our family trip to Japan after Christmas. Chion-In Temple in Kyoto, the little river offshoot just north of Gion where we love to stay, Yasaka Shrine, and Kiyomizudera. One of my favorites.

Drinking out of my Japanese Year of the Snake mug brings me joy. ☺️

A guilty face. After attempting to shred a pizza box.

This was a successful item to add to my Nagi’s enclosure. She loves climbing on this thing!

Side eye from my beautiful Yuki. How dare I change water and rehydrate during the day.