February 15 // Weekend Getaway to the Tennessee Mountains with Will
My husband is naturally good at many things — especially business. He owns and runs his own company and, with his background in accounting, I am so lucky to have him not only as my partner in life but also as the other member of my LLC. Neither of us is great at slowing down, so we had been planning this little getaway for a while. The forced quiet time was exactly what we needed.
In between a little business talk, we went fly fishing, hiked, and enjoyed a wine tasting. Blackberry Farm has the second most extensive wine cellar in the U.S. — I had no idea! And the food was unlike anything I have ever experienced… truly three of the best meals of my life, every day, for three days. We are fat and happy driving home to Memphis today.
NEEDLEPOINT
I am still (slowly) working on the Christmas stocking I bought this summer at Tapisserie in London. I am obsessed with the vintage vibes and beautiful colored thread. Will it be finished by Christmas 2026? Unlikely — but I’m trying! My mom needlepointed stockings for me and the kids, so this one is for Will. I’m thinking “DAD” across the top — cute, right? Also, if you struggle with sitting still like I do, needlepoint has been surprisingly calming for my mind. I really love it.
THOUGHTS ON PHOTOGRAPHY
My family and friends can attest that I am the queen of a new idea or hobby. I recently have picked up film photography - I took a few photography classes in high school and loved it, but I am QUITE rusty. With the help of ChatGPT, I chose and ordered a refurbished Pentax K1000 from Brooklyn Film Camera, along with some Kodak Portra 400 color film. I truly don’t know what I’m doing yet, but (per ChatGPT) the Pentax K1000 is a great starter camera. I especially love the little light meter in the viewfinder that tells you if your lighting and aperture are set correctly.
My iPhone, on the other hand, overwhelms me — 50,000 photos of everything from family memories to random screenshots… a total mess. I’m hoping this camera helps me capture more meaningful moments — photos I will actually print and keep. I’m bringing it to London with the kids next month and plan to focus less on “perfect” shots and more on real moments — my kids running in the park or chasing down the double decker bus. Honestly, that’s always been my favorite kind of photo anyway — the kind that captures a moment, not a pose.
Thanks for following along! If you have any needlepoint or film photography tips, send them my way!
Jody xx