before the storm

my birthday sundae
at a
fancy hotel
by the lake.

. . .

sometimes
our lives
seem to be
an assortment
of moments...
too scattered
is our
day to day
that
one cannot
weave them
into
a story.
it ends up
more like
a nonsensical dream.

that is how
things
have been
for me
as of late.

. . .

grub was
in paris
for my birthday
{i made him go}
but he brought me
back
macarons & jam
from
pierre hermé,
tea from
mariage frères,
and treats
from my favorite
stores
{muji & petit pan}



i had hoped
to have
an amazing day
of swiss thrift shopping
on my birthday
but
the thrift shop gods
were not kind.

a few days
before
i saw
an old wooden toy
at a thrift shop
but hesitated
to buy it
{it was a whopping 8chf}.
but
it pestered me
until i returned
and
found it there
waiting for me
and
on sale for
half price!
i love old
beat-up
wooden toys.



it had
a signature
on the bottom



i looked it up
to find it was
a vintage swiss toy
by antonio vitali,
a pretty famous
swiss toy designer.

needless to say
it made
my day.

. . .

things
are otherwise
quiet...


{photo by grub}

trying to
sink into
what life is
like now.

enjoying
weekend breakfasts
on the balcony...



walks
by the lake
after
the saturday market...




lunches
with wine
(for those
with that option)



and
afternoon naps.



fleeting moments.
the quiet
before
the storm.

xo