I miss playing games with you so much. What’s your favorite 2 player game? What about a 5+ person game?
Eeeee! Games! I go in and out of phases with board/card games. I’m in a more “out” phase – probably because we don’t live in the same town anymore.
Luke and I play Sky Team which I highly recommend. It’s a cooperative game kind of like Yatzhee, but with more mechanics and you’re trying landing a plane. No pressure. Unless you’re a very cool and chill person, I suggest playing cooperative games with your partner. I am a bit too competitive and Luke’s too good at games.
I think the same goes for 5+ person games which is why I really like Pandemic. My favorite is Wingspan! When women design games, they are better. Big statement, but it feels true.
It’s not a board game, but I’ve been having a lot of fun playing the game Ito with friends. It’s an easy game, but very interesting to see how people think differently.
What do you think I don’t know about you?
While I’d love to be a mysterious person, I’m very much an open book. Maybe too open? Tyler, I feel like you know.
Did you know I compete in a monthly puzzle competition? I love doing a puzzle and doing it with three of my best puzzle loving friends is super fun. I think we need a lot more practice if we wanted to win because we are competing against teams who finish a 500 piece puzzle in under 20 minutes. If you want a reference point, we do our puzzles in about 40 minutes to an hour!
What’s a risk you’re glad you took?
I would consider myself risk adverse. I got this approved with my husband (Luke Jones), but marrying him was probably the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. We got married after only knowing each other a year and being together in person only about 6 months of that time. But when you know, you know. And immigration speeds up timelines! It’s been the greatest adventure and I’m so lucky to have found my person.
You famously/notoriously re-gardened your front “yard” (back yard too, but let’s focus on front for now). Tell me why, how, and would you do it again?
I could talk about this all day!
When we moved into our house, it had recently been remodeled. The front yard is on a busy road and was a mess of weeds and mud. Growing up, we had a typical American house where instead of a garden, we had a lawn. I got really interested in learning about the benefits of a garden and the negative sides of a monoculture lawn and dreamed of having a diverse garden instead.
When we moved in, I hired Laurel of Laurel’s Garden Design to help come up with a plan that was mostly native plants along with ones I’d always dreamed of having. Since I had never lived in the South and hadn’t gardened before, I didn’t have much knowledge of what to plant and Laurel came up with a dream design! She installed stone paths and we planted everything over a couple of days in 2021. Five years in, it’s a delight to see what is growing every day. It’s become a huge hobby of mine to tend the plants and go to nurseries to find more plants to add.
Why you should sow a garden and not a lawn:
- Gardening > mowing. Picking a few weeds and mulching is much more fun and less time consuming. The garden is extremely low maintenance since the plants were chosen for the environment and don’t need much. While the first year took work, I only need to water now if I plant something new or it’s an extremely dry week.
- Water conservation. Traditional grass lawns consume a lot of water. Converting them to native plants reduces water usage since they are accustomed to the typical rain fall of the area.
- Biodiversity. Plants produced food and habitats for pollinators and birds. We leave the plants to seed and decompose over the winter so we always have birds eating and flitting around.
- Edible landscape. Along with bird food, the garden provides us with food. While I grow more vegetables in the backyard, I have planted strawberries and herbs in the front. If I was to do it all again, I’d plant even more edible plants.
- Who doesn’t love flowers?!? It’s a major happiness boost. I promise, you’re going to love it.
If you could relive one ordinary day from your past exactly as it was, which would you choose?
Yesterday was great day and I’d happily Groundhogs Day it again and again. April is magical in Durham. I played a bit of Pokopia in bed after feeding our three cats, Oliver, Otto, and Odin. The I picked Luke up from the gym, which is right by the Farmers Market, and we had a stroll around. Of course – I bought some more plants. Sipped on a lavender latte from the food hall and bumped into friends. Then Luke and I played tennis (Luma rules – no points, five serves each), and did some gardening (planted the tomatoes and eggplant sprouts and Luke put up a hummingbird feeder he bought).
After a quick shower, we got on our Vespa for a scoot over to our friend’s home (they live in the house from the movie Bull Durham!) for their baby shower. We have a great circle of people who were all there to celebrate the soon-to-be parents.
After a few too many rose spritzers, we drove (don’t worry, I’m the passenger princess) back home for an outfit change to head to a Troop Beverly Hills birthday party for our friend Mark. Him and his husband Cody always cook a huge spread of food and do vegetarian options in the smoker. Smoked paneer? Yes please.
A two party Saturday really tests the social battery. I’m an extroverted introvert and crashed hard around 10:30.
I love getting to see all the people I love here. Everywhere I go in Durham, I’ll probably run into someone I know. It makes my heart so happy. Yeah, all my favorite things in one day! Wine, moped, Luke, friends, gardening, and I even had some pimento cheese (as Tyler knows, cheese is my favorite food). A stellar 10/10 day.
Where she lives
Durham, NC by way of Rapid City, SD
Profession/Passion
Great questions. Currently looking for my next role! Passionate about having a nice life and creating a sustainable future.
Hot drink
A Luke Jones cappuccino – I’m very lucky to live with an excellent barista.
Comfort Content
emdoodles and Marc Sebastian are the only reason I still have TikTok.
