Shirt by anise mouette via The Makery, and diaper cover by my cousin (in law), Rachel.

Also, here’s a good article.

The Makery is a super-awesome little shop run by our friend Melissa. She has done such a good job with this place & it’s jam packed with treasures made by her and many, many other talented folks. Stay tuned for a photo of my gal in some goods from here when our tshirt weather returns in the next couple of days. When we walked into the store Melissa was playing country roads, just for us even though she didn’t know were coming.

WHY Louisville, another awesome shop full of their own screenprinted shirts, stickers, jewelry, and all kinds of stuff. We made Andy pose at his desk and pretend to be working. Notice the poptarts. This store makes me feel the need to restock my tshirt collection, starting with this one.

There is also this awesome record store, but I didn’t take any photos there.

Now I must go cook a delicious, nutritious, post-roadtrip-weekend supper of… veggie burgers and tater tots. Typo: poptarts. I’m not THAT tired.

I like to nibble on cheese throughout the day and I think I would like living on the prairie. Oh, and I really love music that makes me want to snuggle up with a steamy mug of tea.

Read her. Love her.

Mikey and I were just talking about someone we know in Morgantown, and I said “where is she from? here?”, meaning THERE.

I don’t live in Morgantown anymore. I don’t live in Morgantown anymore. I don’t live in Morgantown anymore. I don’t live in Morgantown anymore. I don’t live in Morgantown anymore.

Dear summertime,
Thank you for finally containing summer-like activities. At least in Ethan’s backyard, where we danced to John Prine songs on an uneven surface of creek rock, dripping cold-beer-can-sweat onto the tops of our feet, spinning and jumping perhaps a little too close to the fire pit. I promise that I kept one motherly eye on him while the other photographed Mikey from every angle.

Dear Lucero,
Thank you for coming back to Morgantown, where I might actually get to see you if these paper dolls keep selling and fate will allow. I love your whiskey and mountains voice, even if you are cocky.

Dear JK Rowling,
Thanks to you, I am going to be in grief counseling with Janet, Cooper, and Maggie at least. How does it feel to know that you are going to be torturing the very souls of MILLIONS? Maybe you really are evil.

Dear Mr. Iafrate,
Thank you for being one of those loathed people who has everything good happen to them with very little effort, because it’s rubbing off on me. I now have a GOOD summer job that I did not even have to apply for – it just fell into my lap. Also, you fell asleep face down on the floor behind me, and now the rest of your beer is getting warm. Wake up and drink up, son.

That’s the way that the world goes ’round
you’re up one day and the next you’re down
it’s half an inch of water and you think you’re gonna drown
that’s the way that the world goes ’round…

We’re months from leaving, and I already know what songs I will want to listen to every time we drive home. Maybe if I listen to these over and over and over this summer, they won’t make me panic when we actually get to Toronto.

• Simon & Garfunkel – Homeward Bound
• John Denver / a bar full of drunks / anyone – Country Roads
• Neil Young – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
• Neutral Milk Hotel - The King of Carrot Flowers
• Cat Power - He War
• Rilo Kiley – Pictures of Success
• Gillian Welch – One More Dollar
• Jackson Browne – The Pretender
• Against me! – Joy

It’s a weird list. There are hundreds more.

I keep torturing myself with this article.

Dear The Container Store,

Please expand into Canada. I need to organize myself with your wares.

Love,
emily