oh bother.

a song to set the scene // winnie the pooh by disney studio chorus

l am convinced that anytime I go into a thrift store, there is something to be found.

Whether it’s squirrel figurines, men’s vintage ties, or a rhinestone brooch, it’s the thrill of hunting for that special something that keeps me returning, time and time again.

On this particular day, we were striking out.

Don’t get me wrong, we were finding things, but they weren’t the kind of items that knocked my socks off.

I was really hoping for that special something.

You know, the kind of treasure you see other people fainting over, the “holy grail” of the thrifts.

And so I wasn’t particularly optimistic when we pulled up to the last thrift store. It was in a sketchy part of town, and the boarded up windows and loitering individuals outside didn’t exactly scream: “there’s scores to be had inside!”

But you know what they say: never judge a book by its cover.

And this was no exception.

Cause the minute I walked in, I spied a crystal decanter.

Add to cart.

A little further down the way, a set of 6 Libbey glasses.

Add to cart.

Was that a Los Angeles Lakers beer stein?

Add to cart.

Now this was the kind of thrift store worth waiting for. 

As we continued ambling down the aisles, eyes scanning for that special something, my eyes fell upon the top shelf; where looking down at me, was a 1960’s Winnie the Pooh lamp.

Oh bother.

My jaw fell open and I quickly reached up and clasped this treasure.

Add to cart.

I knew, in that moment, that this was what I had been searching for all day. Without even looking for it, or knowing such a beauty existed, I had come upon a real special something.

Unfortunately, when I brought it home, I wasn’t met with the same enthusiastic vigor.

I believe the response was somewhere along the lines of: “unsavory to look at” and “ it’s something…”

Regardless, I proudly carried my Pooh lamp into the living room and made a home for it, appropriately naming the area “Pooh Corner.”

And that’s where the lamp’s new home is.

Sometimes, one woman’s trash is another woman’s something special.

That’s the beauty of thrifting; and if you’re patient, I guarantee you too will find something worth jaw dropping over.

For me, that something special is Pooh.

green lining.

a song to set the scene // hope by the old sea brigade

It was 37 degrees when I walked outside this morning.

Now 37 degrees might not sound that bad, but when it’s January in Alaska?

It’s not normal. It’s unseasonably bizarre weather. It simply isn’t right! However you’d like to identify it, 37 degrees in January in Alaska is unheard of.

“Weather” we like it or not, it’s evident our climate is changing.

While California is on fire and Florida is wracking up more snow than we have here, our community has been watching in confusion as our temperatures read 37 degrees in January.

Our lawns are green, the roads are clear, and when I walked outside today, I heard birds.

I heard birds chirping like it was spring.

In January.

In Alaska.

What is going on?

I do my part for the environment: I drive an electric car, recycle, plant trees, shop with reusable bags, and am about to open up a business heavily supplied by used goods, and yet it feels like I’m not having any impact.

Clearly.

If it’s 37 degrees in January in Alaska.

It’s frustrating, watching the world burn.

Literally.

It feels hopeless sometimes, knowing my contribution is but a drop of water in an over-fished and over-polluted ocean.

(but that’s a whole other subject)

So again, what is going on?

It’s clear our climate is changing. No amount of sugarcoating or blaming it elsewhere is going to change the fact that every year, we’re breaking weather records.

And while it may feel defeating, heck depressing, I have to find some silver lining, or I will go crazy.

We all will.

I do what I can as a citizen, as a human being blessed to live life on this earth. I’m vocal about my efforts, and try to inspire some proactive movement in this small community I call home.

And to avoid going crazy, I look for the silver linings.

I heard birds chirping today like it was spring.

Birds singing, in January, in Alaska.

What a sweet treat.

What a delectable little morsel to hear in a notoriously dark, cold, and dreary season.

The roads are clear, in January, in Alaska.

How lucky am I that I get to drive to work on safe roads during an infamously dangerous time of year?

It’s pouring rain, in January, in Alaska.

Oh how the air smells so clean and fresh, during a month where temperatures typically drop below zero, freezing one’s nose hairs and prohibiting smell?

There’s always a silver lining.

In this case, the lining is green, like the lawn outside my window.

And I accept that, “weather” I like it or not.

That’s sometimes all we can do.