My dream studio

The EtsyBloggers topic I chose for this carnival is all about my dream studio. ::sigh:: I'm one of those gals who keeps all her supplies mostly in shoeboxes and wherever else I can shove them. We have a second bedroom in the apartment that is supposed to be a studio/office, but until the past couple of weeks, it's been primarily a storage area. We finally started getting down to business -- a year after moving in! -- to get more things unpacked or thrown away, as the case may be. I have no delusions that my space will ever be a picture-perfect work area, but I vow to have a real studio some day.

I'd want a desk like this:

(Photo courtesy of MayaLee♥.)

Shelves like these for my books and magazines:

(Photo courtesy of Laurie :: Liquid Paper.)

A great bulletin board full of inspiration like this:

(Photo courtesy of Cathe Holden.)

An amazing color scheme:

(Photo courtesy of Crafty Intentions.)

And, of course, lots of bead storage:

(Photo courtesy of freshie & zero.)

It would all come together in a brightly colored amalgamation of vintage, kitschy and modern. I'd put a little cot on the floor and never leave! :) Oh, and of course, it would come complete with my hairball:

And heck, since I'm dreaming here, maybe even one of these, too:

Month 3

The current EtsyBloggers blog carnival is either the subject or spring or a check-in March is already the third month of the year, so what have I accomplished on my goals for 2009? Hmm . . . let us investigate.

My main goal for 2009 was to introduce a new line of products, mainly my bath and body stuff. That's the shorthand for my body scrubs and washcloths. I hadn't intended to do this before the spring craft shows, so I'm still technically on schedule there. I did list my first potholder, and though it's not a bath item, it's still along the same lines. I consider that an accomplishment.

Another major goal was to make a consignment inquiry by the end of March. Well, that's fast approaching. I better get to work!

I also decided I must buy a new computer, and we did: success!

And a final, very important goal was completing my taxes by myself. Right now, my amended forms (don't ask!) are signed but not quite sealed or delivered. I just need to write a couple of checks and put in copies of my W-2s, then I'll be done with that as well. I will definitely have them sent off before the end of the month.

So, that's my progress. I think I'm doing pretty well, though I could use some new jewelry inventory. I foresee a busy April!

Crafty crush

One of the topics on the current EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival is to share with everyone an item from someone else's shop you love so much that you wish you'd thought of it first. I run across stuff on Etsy all the time I wish I could make, so I'm going to share with you all three things on my "Wish I'd Done That!" list. Since I make jewelry, I've decided to confine the list to that category. First is this wonderful Layered Keepsake Necklace from my friend GemsByEm:

This is such a great wedding or anniversary gift! I love how delicate and classic everything looks with the small silver discs and the old-style typeface. Next up is my friend Hollyrocks' way-too-awesome Rainbow bubbles pendant:

I don't even work with polymer clay, but this piece always makes me wish I did. It's so simple yet totally stunning. Someday, this will be mine! And finally, there is the whimsical, elegant work of LieblingDesigns. Her Bonita Necklace in particular caught my eye recently:

I love that the design is simple but still gorgeous and totally unique.

So now you know a few of my crafty crushes. Who are some of yours?

Obligatory Valentine's Day post

I didn't mean it to sound that way. The truth is I'm incredibly excited about Valentine's Day. We have a lovely day planned tomorrow. In the morning, I'll rise early for my ballet class, and right after, we're heading to the Circle Cinema to catch a back-to-back airing of the Oscar-nominated short films (dorks!). We'll spend the afternoon doing whatever sounds like fun -- thrifting, snoozing, maybe getting free couples massages at our apartment complex. At 8:30, we have dinner reservations at Biga, the tastiest, fanciest, and most deliciously romantic place in town for our buck. I'm going to wear my scandalous green dress (viewable in this entry), red lipstick, and perhaps a pair of fishnets -- oh my! We will sip wine, eat more than ought to be humanly possible, and still manage some dessert. I just can't wait!


We don't do gifts on Valentine's Day other than the sweet stuff. My box of these amazing chocolate miracles are arriving today, and I'll be baking Grey his gold cake with orange icing either tonight or tomorrow afternoon. I also managed to win myself a V-Day treat by being the second caller on Up Late with Ben Sumner on Saturday. They are from Sweet Tooth Candy & Gifts in town. I was really hoping they'd be shaped like Ben Sumner's face, but roses are nearly as cool:

Cute, huh? I love that the full-on chocolate roses (with stems, not in the box) have a tag that reads "semi-solid". Is that how we say "hollow" these days? :)

Really, though, this will pretty much be my perfect Valentine's Day. I'm happy any day I get to do the things I love with the one I love. Through a fancy dress, some wine, and magically delicious chocolates on top of it all, and it's like a dream come true.

I hope you have your ideal Valentine's Day!

Dun dun DUN . . . TAXES!

One of the topics for the current EtsyBloggers blog carnival is how we're doing our business taxes.

Ahhh taxes. Well, this will be my first year to do them. I didn't become a licensed, sales-tax-collecting entity until March of last year. To be honest, I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm sure I haven't kept adequate records and receipts. In fact, I know I haven't saved soooo many receipts. I have records of all my sales, but my expenditures are a little iffy. Oy. However, I'll still be doing them myself unless I totally freak out. I have some friends -- you know who you are! -- whom I will bug if need be. I plan to get started soon, too, so I have plenty of time to screw it up, fix it, and then screw it up some more. :)

I will have a fun craft update on Monday -- I promise! I've been crocheting and making some scrubs. I can't wait to share them.

"Traditions"

The current theme for the EtsyBloggers Carnival is either my favorite Thanksgiving tradition or how I'm preparing my Etsy shop for the holiday rush.

Hmm . . .

On the second one, the truth is I have absolutely no plan to prepare my shop. Ha! How about that? My goal is to put things in it and hope people buy them. Maybe someday I'll have a plan of attack.

The first topic is difficult for me, too. As discussed in an earlier post, Thanksgiving went from being my favorite holiday to much lower on my list. Back when I ate meat and only had one family destination every year, I loved it. What a great time to wear your fat pants, eat a whole pie, and sleep for 19 hours, right? Once I left for college, the holiday got more complicated since I had at least two houses to visit in a very short break, so I quit returning home. In fact, my two favorite Thanksgivings happened in college after I decided I would not leave campus. On the first one, my mom came out to visit me, and we spent the weekend in a brand-new, gorgeous hotel I got us a steal on in Huntington Beach. The second was my senior year of college when my friends and I made a vegetarian meal ourselves and ate in one of the dorm kitchens. It was so fun, and I ate pie for days after.

When I was a kid, my favorite thing was to eat at least half the bowl of mashed potatoes intended to feed 12 people. I looked forward to seeing my family and taking three days off from school. Now, I'm more of a Thanksgiving Scrooge. I can't eat most of the traditional foods (turkey, dressing, candied yams, gravy, sometimes the greenbean casserole and mashed potatoes), and I don't like football or parades. My parents split nearly 15 years ago, and when you add in my boyfriend's intact family, that's a lot of houses! My newest tradition is picking who I like best that year and eating with them. This year, his family wins. They're a bit more pleasant than my crazy one anyway.

I guess my favorite tradition will be the one I make one day. I look forward to having a family of my own, babies included, to celebrate with. I love the idea of giving thanks for all that we have, but the reality is too anxiety- and dead-animal-laden for me. My goal eventually is to serve meals on Thanksgiving instead of watching loved ones make pigs of themselves. Though I wouldn't personally cook a turkey or eat one, it would make me happy to help others who aren't as lucky as me bring their traditions to fruition. I genuinely look forward to traditions to come.

How about all of you? What are your favorite traditions or ones you'd like to start?

What I've been working on

I've been working on many aspects of craftiness lately. Inventory is important, of course, so here are some new items that will be available soon: rings and Yo Yo Pendants.

I showed you a purple-and-white heart ring I made for myself a little while back, but this black-and-pink one will be for sale. The green is also mine, but one just like it will be available, too. See how good they look together? That's why you should buy tons of them! ;)

I call these Yo Yo Pendants because they are two flat-backed marbles glued together and then wrapped with wire, so they look a lot like those fun toys you played with as a kid. Each side is a different color, so they're reversible for double the fun. I have one that's red on one side and blue on the other. The ones I have for sale are all different, and a few even have patterns. The colors I have available are red, orange, yellow, light green, medium green, teal, navy blue, medium blue, white, black, purple, cream, light pink, and medium pink. Custom colors and designs are available, too, and purchased pendants will come on black cotton cord for wearing. They'd also look great on leather, chain, or ribbon. I wear mine proudly. :)

The other major thing I'm working on is my display. I've been doing shows for almost a whole year now, and I'm finally acquiring the right things to make my items stand out. I've recently purchased/been given six necklace busts (three white, three black), a bracelet stand, and an earring carousel. Check it out:

"Oh Brigid, your second earring display picture is blurry. What's the deal, nerd?"

That's because it's spinning! Yes, I am a nerd. I think the rotating display makes a huge difference, though. Everything looks more professional and is easier to sift through. In the first picture, my $15 stuff is on the left, and my $10 is on the right.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures! I'm working on a display for my rings and pendants now, so I'll be sure to share it with you soon.

Holiday yummies!

I've been hearing this rumor that the holidays are approaching. I'm never the person who starts planning gifts and such in October (and hardly in November either, but don't tell!), no matter how much I enjoy shopping for and wrapping them. I'm sure that'll change when I procreate, but for the moment, I'm trying to hold onto fall as long as I can until it slips into Winter. It makes me cold just thinking about it!

Holidays -- Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas -- are an interesting time for vegetarians. I love to spend the day with the family, but mealtime is always a challenge. Ham, turkey, stuffing/dressing, candied yams, most casseroles, and gravy are all off-limits to us crazy herbivores. I generally stick with mashed potatoes (as long as they're made without chicken broth), rolls, and pumpkin pie. The past couple of years, though, I've been contributing heavily to my family's meal to ensure I have stuff to eat. This year, I hope to make a nut loaf. Here's a recipe that sounds tasty:

2 large onions, finely chopped
1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons butter
3 cups grated carrots
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
5 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup unsalted sunflower kernels
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups soft whole wheat bread crumbs

DIRECTIONS
In a nonstick skillet, saute onions, mushrooms and green pepper in butter until tender. In a bowl, combine the mushroom mixture, carrots, celery, eggs, walnut, sunflower kernels, salt, basil, oregano and pepper. Stir in bread crumbs.

Coat a 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray, then line with waxed paper. Transfer vegetable mixture to a prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F Let stand for 10 min before slicing.

The dessert I'll probably make this year is my super-awesome Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies (click link for recipe as posted in my blog this summer). I love anything pumpkin yearround but especially as the leaves start to turn.

What are your favorite holiday foods?

Frankie says relax.

It's time for my first week-long vacation in almost three years. Hurray! We're heading to Atlanta tomorrow to enjoy the interesting sites and meet up with some family.

Travel is my ultimate relaxation technique. Even when I wear myself out on vacation, I come home feeling refreshed and ready to get going again. Worn out we will probably be at the end with all the sight-seeing and walking we intend to do and the fun we intend to have. We will explore history, nature, art, and culinary treats, just to name a few.

All this said, I'll be out of pocket until October 19. I hope everyone else can find a way to kick back, relax, and enjoy things, wherever you are.

My favorite creation

It's hard to pick an absolute favorite creation I've made, but there is one that stands out in my mind. This necklace was made entirely out of necklaces given to me by my grandmother. The only new things were the beading wire and the crimps -- even the clasp came from one of her pieces.

My grandmother is an interesting figure in my life. She's not incredibly likeable; she always says the wrong thing; she has no idea how to express positive emotions. But she's my grandmother, and I know she loves me. She shows it in different ways, one of which was giving me dozens of strands of beads she used to wear to work back when she was a court clerk. She's not a vain person at all and is unconcerned with appearances. Parting with the beads wasn't hard for her, but it meant the world to me. I tried to sell this piece but couldn't part with it. It's too much like a member of the family. Instead, I wear it often and plan to pass it on to my own daughter one day.

My family doesn't really do heirlooms. No one really owns anything of value except their modest homes, so it's nice to have something. I hope future women in my family will enjoy wearing it once in a while.

Summertime fun

Summer still has an easy-going, "let's have fun!" vibe to me, even though I now spend it as any other working adult. Even in college, I would still come home to work during the hottest months. That means I haven't had a summer off in, oh, six years. I don't think that mentality ever really goes away, though.

Once the weather starts warming and the humidity sets in, I get bitten by the productivity bug. I want to take classes, eat healthier, see my brother and sister more often, go to the movies, clean the apartment (well, that one is rarer), go for walks, read books, etc. It's like the summer holds more possibilities than the rest of the year -- maybe it's the longer days? I'm working hard to fit everything I want to do in. I'm not sure it's even possible, but I will surely try.

Here are 10 goals for the rest of the summer. Some are a bit far-fetched, but at least that gives me something to strive for.

1. Swim once a week.
2. Ride a bike at least once.
3. Set up metalsmithing equipment at home.
4. Take a pottery class.
5. Complete three books.
6. Lose five pounds.
7. Go to the zoo.
8. Bake a vegan, gluten-free, low-sugar cake that doesn't taste like crap. (My little sister is on a celiac, egg-free, and low-sugar diet, and her birthday treats are always disgusting.)
9. Make tons of cool new jewelry.
10. Plan a fun birthday party for myself.

What about you? What are your summer plans?

Crafty little critter

The truth is that I'm no great crafter or artist. I aspire to be, though, so I like to try my hand at everything. Jewelry was the first artsy/crafty thing I discovered a talent for, so I've stuck with it. I really do love it. I enjoy the entire process -- selecting beads, invisioning a design, sometimes sketching the design, assembling, bending, crimping, wrapping, and finally finishing. I feel so accomplished when I take a handful of beads and turn it into something totally unique. I also love wrapping wire and making my own findings, embellishments, and finished pieces. Wearing my own jewelry is one of my absolute favorites, too. It feels great to receive a compliment on something you created with your own two hands.

My second favorite craft is probably crocheting. I'm not near good enough to sell my crocheted pieces, but I love to create them. I learned to knit three years before I ever picked up a crochet hook, but I was never good at it. I have one scarf that looks nice enough to wear -- the rest look like total crap. I have great respect for skilled knitters, though. I find crocheting relaxing and rewarding. So far, I've really only made scarves, hats, snowflakes, two pairs of baby booties and one amigurumi.

I almost forget about bookbinding. I don't know if I love it more or less than crocheting, but it's so much fun. I like making little bitty ones as gifts. I made my friend a little travel guide to Italy and my boyfriend a book of reasons why I love him. I also do a bit of amateur photography (as evinced by my Memorial Day post), though I don't think that really counts as crafty.

My goal is to learn to do as much as I can. I'm two years out of college now but haven't taken a real art class since 7th grade. I've started signing up for everything I can afford and squeeze into my schedule. I'm working through lampwork bead making and metalworking now. I hope to take painting, wheel throwing (pottery), and maybe even a knitting class if I feel brave. I also need someone to show me how to use my sewing machine so I can start making bags, skirts, and eventually quilts.

One of my favorite ways to try new things is by doing swaps on Swap-Bot. There are a lot of "XYZ for beginners" swaps, and I've tried my hand at several things that way. That's how I learned about ATCs. After about a dozen of them, I've come to realize that I suck at them. Completely. I just don't have an eye for it. I have to make my first sock monkey for a swap soon -- I hope I don't crash and burn at that, too!

What about you? What's your favorite craft for just you? And is there anything you've totally failed at?

How I Spent My Memorial Day

There's little I love more than walking around outside in the spring and summer. I'm one of those sick, crazy folks who likes the heat -- the humidity I can do without, though that isn't really an option here in roasty-toasty Oklahoma. All the same, I relish any opportunity to roll up my jeans, kick off my shoes, and walk through a patch of clover. OK, so honestly, my favorite thing to do outside is cartwheels. Boy, I do love cartwheels. I'm able to do very little from my brief stint in acrobatics almost 15 years ago, but I am a cartwheel and round-off queen. My boobahs got too big for me to still be an ace walk-over champ or execute a perfect standing back bend, but I can turn a cartwheel -- two- or one-handed -- with the best of them. There is photographic proof of this, but I shan't be sharing it this time round.

Instead, I wanted to share some lovely shots I took yesterday at Woodward Park, a big, beautiful green space in midtown Tulsa. My boyfriend and I decided to take a walk around the place in celebration of No Working Day -- I mean, Memorial Day. It was extra fresh and verdant after recent storms, and the sun darted in and out of cloud coverage, which made the light interesting and varied. I won't bombard you with all the shots, but here's a few of my favorites:

At left, a rose blooms in the Tulsa Municipal Rose Garden. Ahh, such a beautiful place.

At right, a waterlily emerges from a pond in the rose garden. I love this shot because it almost appears to be in motion.

At left is a shot of a tiny branch with leaves of some unknown plant. I just liked the perspective, with the fluffy flowers serving as background to the little guy.

On the right is the walkway up to the part of the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens that was open yesterday.

Yes, that's my beautiful boyfriend contemplating life on the cute little bridge. Such a cutie pie!

That's ittle bittle me on the top of some rock steps on the right. See how nice the light was when we were there?

And here are our new friends from the park, Gladys the turtle and Sylvester the squirrel. Both of these shots emerged from pure luck. I was shooting pictures of some tadpoles in the pond when I spotted the little one on the left. As soon as I clicked, away s/he swam. The little fuzzy guy happened to stop and turn at the moment I poised my camera. I love his little pose. He reminds me of dramatic chipmunk.

I hope to spend a lot more time outside this summer and will certainly share more snaps (that's what my mom used to call 'em) with you again. Without green grass and blossoms a-bloomin', it just isn't summertime.

Give yo mama a kiss!

Moms are a wonderful thing, and none is greater than mine. (Sorry, it's true!) Mother's Day must be one of the greatest holidays around because not only does it honor the most important woman in most of our lives, but it's the perfect excuse to give homemade gifts, something all us crafty folks just love.

When I was a child (I can't say "little" because I'm still pretty small, and I can't say "young" because my decade-older boyfriend always reminds me that 23 is still young), I always made things for my mom for Mother's Day. My favorite medium was paper, mostly because that was the only crafty thing I knew about. I would create all kinds of things using paper: drawings, cards, signs, and once even a purse. Yes, a construction-paper purse held together with staples. I was probably 7 and convinced it was the most beautiful purse there ever was. I remember lots of pink. I was so proud to give it to my mother but so perplexed as to why she didn't carry it. She assured me to use it for a "special occasion," something I heard a lot as I created jewelry covered in glitter and paper clothes for her.

Mother's Day is May 11 this year, just 16 days before my mom's birthday. I try to stay on top of both these holidays (birthdays are definitely holidays) to make sure I get something good for both, but it can be difficult. So instead of making everthing for birthday and Mother's Day, I'll also be purchasing handmade. I don't think Mom reads this, but you can never be too careful, so I'll not reveal what I've purchased for her. Instead, here are a few great gift ideas from some wonderful Etsy sellers in no particular order.

1. Does your mom love to cook? Then check out Snappy Shop! She creates awesome, ironic, and adorable aprons, as well as a few other sewn items. My personal favorite is the Bacon and Eggs Pocket apron (though I'd probably be more likely to pick up the vegetarian version).
2. Is there a new mom in your life? Head over to Rainbow Swirlz! Designer Mendy creates hilarious onesies perfect for young, hip moms. My favorite one reads: My entire lifeis being blogged. Her store also features a line of really cool, screenprinted tote bags perfect for hauling books, baby items, or anything.
3. Does your mom love jewelry? There are so many great jewelry artists on Etsy I can recommend! From JD Star's woven bracelets and The Storybeader's haiku-inspired necklaces, to Gems by Emily M.'s classic designs and Bargain Basement's whimsical pendants, you'll have no trouble catering to her taste on Etsy. (There's always my shop, too, but I didn't want to be inappropriate by including myself in the list. Wait, did I just do that?)
4. What's a jewelry fiend to do with all her treasures? Go buy a jewelry scroll from Chaos Into Art! I've seen these in person, and they are both handy and dandy. Shop owner Jessie is a really great, innovative artist, and your mom will love the scroll.
5. Is your mom a plant lover with a brown thumb? Then head over to Orion Eclipsed Photography for a print of artist Holly's beautiful photographs! She has prints available of sunflowers, Crape-myrtles and more.
6. Does your mom love sewn items with old-fashioned flair? Raggedy Pageant makes beautiful collage quilts that are perfect for any mom. From fun and whimsical to boldly ironic, Robin makes it all. Her unique dolls would also make the perfect addition to any collector's treasury.
7. Is Mom a hat lady or even a member of the Red Hat Society? Boring Sidney has an array of beautiful headpieces for sale, including this Adorable Cloche of Red that I've been coveting since, oh, forever. The shop also features pieces ranging from classic '40s styles to fascinators and gothic fashions.
8. Encourage your mom to keep in touch with a set of stationery from Enfin, La Voila! Her pieces range from whimsical to kitschy, perfect for a variety of moms. More classicly minded moms might enjoy the butterfly generator set, while those with a sillier sense of humor might fall for the "I'm too sexy for this card" set.
9. Make the mom in your life queen for the day with a crown from Up from the Ashes. Her fascinating designs range from regal to delicate to just plain amazing.
10. What dignified lady doesn't need a beautiful bag? Ophelia Miller makes a variety of bags featuring beautiful fabrics in useful designs. From clutches to totes, her shop will suit all your purse needs.

Don't forget the card! A Scrappy Design has you covered with this one.

So to all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day! To all the shoppers, get cracking! And to all the crafters, good luck, and don't make a purse out of paper if you have delicate feelings. :)

Pretentious poetry chatter

As a member of Etsybloggers, I am supposed to take part in the weekly Blog Carnival. I’ve decided finally to fulfill my obligation. The first topic is poetry, thus my essay. I hope you enjoy.

I’ve had a longtime love affair with poetry, and that has only grown since I started studying Italian. I love the way words flow together and create a picture in your mind, and there is no language with more beautiful words than Italian. My favorite Italian poet is Eugenio Montale, who wrote during the rise of fascism and continued creating until his death in 1981. His works were undeniably beautiful, modern, and quietly subversive. My favorite poem of his is called “Riviere,” or “Seacoasts,” from Ossi di seppia, his first collection published in 1925. Though the title is much less romantic when translated, it is a beautiful poem in any language. It’s a long piece, so here’s an excerpt in Italian.

Dolce cattività, oggi, riviere
di chi s'arrende per poco
come a rivivere un antico giuoco
non mai dimenticato.
Rammento l'acre filtro che porgeste
allo smarrito adolescente, o rive:
nelle chiare mattine si fondevanodorsi
di colli e cielo; sulla rena
dei lidi era un risucchio ampio, un eguale
fremer di vite,
una febbre del mondo; ed ogni cosa
in se stessa pareva consumarsi.

I can’t find a translation online, so I’m venturing one myself. It’s nearly literal, so some of the flow is lost here.

Sweet captivity, today, seacoasts
From whom one surrenders almost
Like reliving an ancient game
Never forgotten.
I recall the acrid potion that they offered
To the lost adolescent, or the shores:
In the clear mornings they would melt
The back of their necks and the sky; on the sand
Of the beaches was a vast sucking, an equal
Shaking of lives,
A fever of the world; and everything
In itself seemed to wear out.

My translation isn’t the best, but you get the gist. The whole poem is about childhood and memory, as is much of the collection. This one relies on the imagery of the violently beautiful shoreline as a metaphor for the author being pulled back into nostalgia. Montale grew up in Liguria, a beautiful region of Italy on the coast of the Mediterranean, so these “riviere” are part of his childhood. Just as the coasts called to him as a boy, so does his past continue to draw him in. Though the overall tone of the poem is somber, it ends on a high note:

sentire noi pur
domani tra i profumi e i venti
un riaffluir di sogni, un urger folle
di voci verso un esito; e nel sole
che v'investe, riviere,
rifiorire!

Though for us to feel
Tomorrow between the fragrances and the winds
A new flooding of dreams, a crazy urgency
Of faltering cries; and in the sun
That attacks there, seacoasts,
A refluorishing!

Montale spends the majority of the poem likening nostalgia to “due camelie pallide nei giardini deserti”, or two pale camellias in desert gardens. At the end, however, he gives in to the beauty of memory, the innocent joy of childhood. I agree with his reluctance to give in too much to living in the past, but I appreciate his ability to recognize that memories can be both beautiful and brutal, like the coastlines of his childhood.