Happy Friday, everyone!
It has been a great work week, but oh my word, my brain is utterly fried. I am tired. I have absolutely nothing of any sort of substance to share with you. Just some very random pictures coupled with commentary in like fashion. I was going through the camera roll on my iphone today and decided I would share some of them. I love to scroll through the pictures my friends take with their phones. I think you can learn something new about someone by looking at the little things they like to capture throughout their day. So the following jumbled mess is a string of some pictures or moments that I have captured over the past few months.
Eatin’ breakfast across from my love.
A perfect mid-morning, continued.
One of my favorite areas in Atlanta: West Midtown. It is raw and industrial; it provides all kinds of inspiration.
Piedmont Park, midtown Atlanta. One of the many Atlanta parks I frequent weekly.
A good friend of mine recently made approximately one hundred individual origami butterflies and strategically arranged them on the wall one at a time. The pattern is brilliant. I’m in love.
But not quite as in love as I am with the real thing. This butterfly was showing off for me. If I were a butterfly, I would want to spend my afternoon perched near these flowers, too. Little kaleidoscopes of colors bursting with oranges, pinks, and yellows.
My **favorite** sandwich from Alon’s. Roasted eggplant, roasted red peppers, sliced tomato, cold chunks of fresh mozzarella, and homemade basil pesto all held together with whole wheat bread. Insane, I tell you.
Columbia Seminary’s Library . . . One of my happy places.
One benefit of having the window seat. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” Psalm 19.1
The moon testifies, too. One beautiful night I slipped out for a walk and the moon was so bright, one could nearly have mistaken it for the sun. “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever . . . who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever . . . the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever”(Psalm 136.1, 5, 9).
Tomato Juice? I warned you that this was going to be random. I don’t even like tomato juice but for but for some odd reason I have a fierce loyalty to it when I’m on the airplane. Maybe the recycled air changes its chemical composition or something. Also, I really wish they would go back to serving peanuts. The one meager little package of tiny pretzel sticks leaves a lot to be desired.
My nephew and a Stetson box.
Now you see him.
And now you don’t.
Sort of?
My little niece. This may seem like a random picture to you but it thrills me to no end because she looks so much like Amanda here. Her lips and eye shape are identical. I keep praying her eyes are going to turn sea green like Amanda’s. Okay, you caught me, I haven’t actually been praying about it. But, I’ve been hoping.
Dear Chicken and Fluffy Biscuits, I could eat you every night of the week. I was Colin’s hero when I made this dish.
A few evenings ago I was running in my neighborhood and I was struck by the way the light was plummeting down through this tree like a lightning bolt. The leaves were so illuminated that it was nearly impossible to discern their color. A few of them looked like brilliant white snowflakes.
My crazy Dad and his portable but sizable hunting blinds. This was my first glimpse of my parent’s house upon my arrival into Houston a few weeks ago. Needless to say, it felt good to be home. Never a dull moment in the Moore house.
Um. Yes, please do. This might be the most profound graffiti I have ever seen in a bathroom stall.
A pretty church in our neighborhood. I love the rose window. Makes me feel like I got off at the wrong Marta stop and magically ended up in Europe.
Our local bagel shop, Belly General Store. They make the BEST olive oil and garlic bagels EVER. Also, the style and design in this little shop are out of this world.
The side of Belly General Store, equally as aesthetically fabulous.
Typical Melissa and Colin.
Mom, Annabeth, and me in Houston. This picture was originally taken with a DSLR camera but I decided to throw it in the mix because I saw it today and it made me smile.
Working in the Living Proof Office in Houston. And, sipping on coffee, of course. The coffee that we were guzzling that particular day is called Stumptown Coffee. Stumptown Coffee is Kelly Minter’s favorite coffee roaster. Evidently it makes her long for the New Jerusalem. She has got some good taste. We were licking our coffee cups when we weren’t busy taking turns running laps around the office in a caffeine frenzy. Apparently, according to several Siestas from the Northwest, Stumptown Coffee is from Portland, Oregon, but it also has locations in Seattle.
Today I went to run an errand and when I went to pay the parking meter (downside to intown living), I noticed a little note.
It blessed my heart that someone took the time to write out this little message for a stranger. But I did wonder where he or she got the scotch tape. I don’t typically carry scotch tape around with me but maybe I’ll think twice about it next time. Anyway, after I saw the little note, I went to look at my parking spot and lo and behold, I had parking spot 601. Gotta love it.
I will end this late night tangent with a picture my Mom just texted me from Chicago. If you look super closely, you can see the sky-line in the distance. You can definitely see the Sears tower (or Willis tower?) to the right. Also, you can tell the leaves are going to turn for fall soon. Oh be still my heart. I wish I were going to be at the event tomorrow! Not to mention, Chicago is my favorite city in the world.
Have a wonderful weekend, Siestas. Whether you are busy with work, church, high school football games, or just hanging out at home, I hope this weekend brings each of you peace and restoration and that whatever you are up to, you are supremely blessed by God in the midst of it.
Love the photos, girl. Thanks for sharing. Especially loved the one of your dad and his deer blinds. Hits quite close to home! God bless you and yours!
Tessa
Thank you for those beautiful pictures Melissa. I enjoyed them through and through. 🙂
I sure do hope God sends some of that peace and restoration my way this weekend–in dire need of it. 🙂
Blessings on you sister!
Thanks so much for sharing…loved the pics. Blessings to you as well for a wonderful weekend 🙂
Thanks for sharing those snip-its of your life! Great pictures.
Good to hear from you Melissa. I know you must miss being in Houston but life takes us down many roads and some don’t keep us close to home geographically, but it can’t take the love and memories from us no matter how far we go! Loved the pictures and hope you and Colin have a blessd and fun weekend together. Carla
Hi Melissa!
I love Chicago too! It’s a great city.
We had the BEST time in Houston last week. SO. FUN.
Someday, I pray we will get to meet face to face, too.
Enjoy your weekend… we will be busy at the convent picking and processing the dates from our date palm trees! Fun 🙂
many blessings friend – Sister Lynn
PS Next time you are on a plane get the spicy tomato juice – SO good.
I agree! Love the spicy stuff!
Melissa, those pics were super fun!
Every now and then I go through all my phone to see what pictures I have on there. Sometimes it’s hysterical and makes me laugh. Sometimes I find one that makes me a little sad because I miss the person that’s in the picture. Sometimes I realize why I haven’t done anything with them because they’re that bad. Sometimes I find “surprises” that my friends leave on my camera for me.
All in all, going through the phone photo album is always an experience.
Hope you have a great weekend! Take lots of pictures!
Nikki
Melissa, thanks for sharing your the everyday-ness” of your life. I love this post!
What a wonderful glimpse into your life. =) I loved how raw the photos were because that’s really how life is isn’t it?!
I was particularly fond of the Chicago skyline pic as well considering I’ve lived in the suburbs my whole life. 😉 I still get as excited as when I was a little girl when that first skyscraper peeks into view or I see the first seagull because that means the lake is close too. Ahh yes I am smitten with Chicago too!
Hugs from one Melissa to another *wink*
Chicken and Fluffy Biscuit recipe? Please? Maybe my 3 year old son will eat it. Then again, maybe not. But its worth a try…
hey, me too! would like that recipe!
Melissa,
Those are the kinds of things that make us smile and realize how blessed we are. Thanks for sharing the pics and thoughts.
It’s the little things that we can be thankful for.
Yes, i do wish I could be in Chicago this weekend. I know it’ll be great. Praying that someone will hear and respond to God’s call in their life this weekend.
Awww! You can’t show us a picture of the chicken and fluffy biscuits without posting the recipe!!!!!
So fun! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks Melissa.. I’ve been told that I change subjects sort of randomly, so I enjoyed the menagerie. And extremely tired but not sleeping.. so a great time to read the blog
That eggplant sandwich looks HEAVENLY!
You can’t post a picture of chicken and fluffy biscuits without a recipe!
I actually started carrying scotch tape and a mini stapler in my center console. In case I randomly needed it! 🙂
I live in Virginia Highlands so loved seeing the familiar pics here. You have found some top notch places to enjoy!! Thanks for sharing.
Susan, what part of the Highlands do you live in??? -Melis
We are on Orme Circle. If you ever go to the off-leash dog area in Piedmont Park, you can look up and see our home.:-) Hope this area of town has been good to you!!
Thank you for sharing a glimpse of life with Melissa. How fun it is to randomly take pictures of all sorts. I am from central IL, love the Chicago pic, and it is also one of my favorite cities. Those pictures paint a thousand words of your enjoyment of life.
We had dinner at the ambassador’s house last night- his wife is from Chicago and apparently they’re putting art displays in all the residences around the world. They requested art from/representing Chicago- it was a lot of fun to look at!
I left some BFF’s when I left Wisconsin. Your mom will be speaking to their heart this weekend. YEAH Chicago!!
Melissa, tell us more about Collin. We hear about Keith and Curtis, but nothing about Collin. He has such a sweet face, and he has captured your heart. Tell us why.
OH my gosh! Melissa if you love Stumptown and are in the Washington/Oregon/California area you should check out Ecco coffee(California) Victrola and Vivace(Seattle) Stumptown and Crema(Portland, Oregon) They are GREAT coffee! I work in a coffee shop in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and we import lots of their coffees!
Thanks for the sweet post and just sharing pictures of life!
Many blessings.
Holly, Thank you so much for the coffee recommendations. I must say that I am intimidated by your coffee knowledge. Do you in Vancouver? Seriously, who gets to live in Vancouver? Lucky.
The picture of the sun shining through the tree is beautiful! Love it!
Love your random pictures, Melissa. I think I’d fly across the country for that sandwich. Just my kind. And to visit your Belly General Store. Olive oil and garlic bagels–yum!
Can you share your Chicken and Fluffy Biscuits recipe? It looks delicious and beautiful and the same time.
Since I’m focusing on the food, I must be hungry. But I’m going to bed, so I can get up early and go the Simulcast. 🙂
Photos say a thousand words! Great photos these were 🙂 Your chicken and fluffy biscuits look so good it made me hungry! My stepmum is from the USA and gave me a recipe while she was out here (Aus) called Hungry Jack Beef Casserole and it has “biscuits” on top as well and is absolutely delicious. I’d never heard of these sorts of recipes til then. Anyways, blessings on your weekend also!!
YES!! loved your picture reel, melissa! thanks for the glimpse into your daily life! yes you ladies definitely need to make a trip to seattle… i will bribe you with the BEST coffee you will ever have. and i can back that up and make it for you myself! thanks for wishing peace and restoration over my weekend! need it. and back at you! in the spirit of randomness (and midnight commenting)… what do you think makes my house crane-fly central? my screen door is covered with them at night, and i see a big daddy on my wall now. doesn’t he know he has overstepped his bounds? he needs to be out with the rest of his kind. goodnight!
Thanks for Sharing Awesome Pictures . God Bless!
Howdy, Melissa. I loved all your random pics. Really, most of them are from your phone? My phone pics never look so “phone avant garde.” They’re usually much more “disposable wedding camera” looking.
I loved your funky moon pic – it makes me think of the vs in early Genesis – “the lesser light to rule the night” (does that not sound like the title of a great song just waiting to be written???)
I will be nursing myself back to health this weekend since I’ve managed to come down with a very nasty sinus cold. (Blessedly my matzo ball soup tasted particularly yummy.)
Looking forward to praying tomorrow for siestas near, far and wherever they are – and for Beth.
Cheerio and Ciao ~ Warm in Alaska.
I think Stumptown Coffee is the best! And it’s from Portland, Oregon – Portland is known as “Stumptown” – but they have locations in Seattle too 🙂 The NW has the BEST coffee, I love it!
Thanks for letting me know, Melanie! I didn’t realize that Portland is known as Stumptown. I’ve never been but I’m so hoping to make it out there soon! Do you live there?
Hey Melissa! Honey, you can ramble any time you want. Thank you for sharing your pics with us. I love the Oragmi butterflies and the huge doe like eyes of Annabeth. I love the hunting blinds. Your dad looks so happy! jackson is too cute! I am glad that there are places that you can go and just, well, be. Kind of like Jackson in the box, huh? We all need those.
I love the relationship you have with your mom-frenzied caffeine rush and inevitable crash afterwards.
Take care, Melissa. You are valuable.
Kels
P.S. The parking spot was totally amazing. Kind of like pay it forward, huh?
Melissa,
Just really curious, what is it that you love about Chicago (I used to live there)?
Thanks!
Nikki, I don’t know where to start– love everything about Chicago, even the bitter cold winters. Where did you live?
I lived in Des Plaines. I can’t remember exactly how many minutes west of downtown it was. I actually loved the winters because even though Chicago is called the windy city the wind is nothing like it is in Kansas where I grew up, now we know wind. I found out that the reason they call it the windy city is because of the way the wind comes in off the lake and creates swirls around the city streets. Also, when it does snow they clean that up off the streets so fast you hardly even notice it, unlike Kansas where they don’t clean the streets hardly at all and it causes a problem for days. I loved the countryside and the shopping and food. My biggest problem was the traffic. You spend an extraordinary amount of your life sitting in the car no matter where you want to go. I think that is why they say it is a great place to visit but living there is another story.
I have visited Atlanta a couple times and love it there. Wonderful city, food, shopping and weather and some amazing churches. But I also lived just north of there and know how difficult the summer heat, humidity and pollens can be. Every place has it ups and downs.
I would just love to know what excites you about Chicago coming from a young and fresh perspective and never having lived there. I am sure you have done your fair share of travel so to say it is a favorite just sparked my curiosity.
Thanks and I forgot to mention how much I loved the pictures and randomness of your post. This is the only blog I follow and it is always a treasure.
I totally know where Des Plaines is. One of the reasons I probably had a better experience than you in Chicago is that I actually didn’t even own a car for three years. When I lived downtown I walked everywhere and the public transportation was wonderful. The last two years when I lived in Wheaton I did have a car but was only driving to school and back, about one mile here and there. All that to say, I NEVER had to deal with the traffic which I heard was pretty bad. I loved the parks, the museums, the zoo, the restaurants, the city lights, the sports, the shopping, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Ukrainian Village, Evanston, the architecture, etc. etc. And you are right about Atlanta- amazing city but let me tell you, the pollen is insane.
You, my friend are a city girl. And it takes one to know one.
I loved that little random post…a glimpse into your life! Thank you for sharing and making me smile this morning before I go listen to your mama bless me with the teaching of God’s word at the simulcast (my first…can’t wait!)!!!
Hi Melissa. Thanks for the post. I have to tell you that we make that sandwich here at our house probably once a month. We use round kaiser rolls and ours is a warm sandwich as we melt the mozzarella cheese under the broiler. My husband and daughter add balsamic vinegar to their sandwich and the boys and I love it plain.
Could you post the recipe for the chicken and biscuit bake? Looks like it would be a good dinner to take to church for a pot-luck or to enjoy on a cold winters night(but let’s not go there yet.) God Bless!
Chicago has to be one of my favorite city in the Midwest also…Of course I only live 3 hrs. from there down I-65.
But if you really want to see some lovely trees right now in the Midwest go to Ludington, MI…Love the looks of that little Lake Michigan town no matter what time of year it is. God’s Country!
Melissa, awesome post. Chicago is my favorite city too and even though I’m not far from it today, I will be participating in the simulcast from a church in Michigan! Come Lord Jesus and minister to all of us today!
Blessings,
Rhonda
I really enjoyed your random pictures!! How do you make Chicken with Fluffy Biscuits? (I’m not queen of the kitchen in our house, but I’d sure love to try that one!) I’m going to a local church to hear your Mom’s simulcast today, and I can’t wait! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much. I love random posts like this. Please share the recipe for the fluffy biscuits and chicken dish. It looks soooo good!
Awesome, Awesome Pictures!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Melissa!
Thanks for sharing!
I would love to go an soak in that Columbia Library.
Good to hear from you – have a great weekend!
Melissa…you are brilliant! My hubby and I are going to NYC to see our beloved daughter and your pics got me ready. It’s inevitable we will see everything imaginable there. You made my day! Thank you! Be totally blessed!
What a wonderful array of pics! Thank you for sharing the blessings that God has touched your heart with. So looking forward to spending time in the word today via Simulcast. (Greer, SC – Brushy Creek Baptist Church)
Such fun pictures! That library could be one of my happy places, too. Big windows, books, and comfy chairs!
Thank you for blessing us with the pictures and comments. Loved every one of them.
Melissa – My husband and I are going to be celebrating part of our 25th anniversary in Chicago next weekend. Please – the best place to get a real Chicago-style pizza? Anything else you would recommend to see?
Loved the post – blessings to you
Kim
Kim, People have different opinions about the best place for Chicago style Pizza but I think three of the best are Lou Malnati’s (Wells St.), Pizanos, and Giordanos. Have fun!
YES!!! Lou Malnati’s was my hands down favorite!!
Giordanos was second.
Lou Malnati’s is definitely my favorite ever.
Is Giordanos the one with all the graffiti on the walls? Be sure and tell people to bring along a snack lest they start knawing on the table cloth while waiting for their pizza. Just sayin’
Melissa,
The chicken casserole looks great!
Any chance you might share the recipe?
Thanks for sharing, Melissa! ‘Love the random photos. And I agree, the sandwich looks delicious.
Melissa:
Great pictures, my favorite, the chicken and fluffy buiscuits (HA) Please share the recipe, it looks delicious!
Marilyn
What a fascinating post, Melissa! So creative and some really unique shots. You are developing yet another talent! We are all going to want the recipe, so you may as well go ahead and let that be your next post!!
Love,
Fran
I love tomato juice on an airplane too! It is what I always get…and I never drink it in the grounded world!
What is the recipe for Chicken and Biscuits?
Melissa,
Thank you for that beautiful post. I so loved looking at all the pictures…can’t believe the butterflies on the wall…just amazing. And the thought of them all handmade…
Blessings,
michelle in VT