dunhaven; ic community.

Happy Independence Day, everyone. We fought hard to free this country, to give it a chance to be the best nation it could be. We still have a long way to go, so let's use today to celebrate the opportunities we have to keep striving and fighting for a better future.

With the blessing of my amazing husband, I am proud to announce that these McKinnons have expanded their family. ( Cut for image! )

There are so many pictures on my phone that probably would have been better to make this announcement with, but I'm p sure that this is the most truthful picture to best demonstrate their personalities. So, please meet T'Challa and Thor. As background, both of us brought a cat home today to surprise the other, hence how we suddenly have two. If that isn't representative of our relationship as a whole, I don't know what is. 🙌🏾 🤟🏾

PS: Happy Canada Day in a handful of hours! Make sure you apologize to someone and other assorted Canadian stereotypes that I will not confirm/deny to be true tomorrow to truly celebrate. 🍁

The Navarro's stand is going to be darn beautiful this weekend at the market, friends. You might want to check it out and here's the proof: ( Cut for image! )

I'll also have some new pieces there, if jewelry is more your style.

These are super great and make my heart happy so I'm sharing them. But also they forgot to mention the part about always getting them their favorite candy at the gas station and only gloating a little bit when you win at Mario Kart.

Unrelated, Dunhaven! Is anyone hiring for the summer? I am being upfront in that I cannot guarantee employment beyond the start of fall semester, but I'd like something until then. I'm a fast learner and I am up for pretty much any job! See, I'm getting a little too good at Mario Kart and I'm kind of bad at remembering my rule of only gloating a little bit when I get really good so I need something else to do during the day when my husband is gone so I don't keep refining my skills.

Happy Father's Day, Jeb.



Thank you for always being exactly what I need--without question, hesitation, or complaint.



And to you, too, Daddy. Wherever you are. ♥

[OOC: Foster can read all wedding-related filters.]

[Calliope]
We've already sent you an invitation- which stands regardless of your answer here- but if you have the time in your schedule, I'd really, really love to talk to you about making our wedding cake!

[Jeb]
So this is probably going to sound weird (or maybe it won't?), but would you be at all open to catering a wedding? Foster and I were talking about it, and honestly, the wedding food we'd most love is your breakfast buffet and cheese fries.

[Rowena]
I'd love to talk to you about wedding photography! Our wedding is August 10th in Richmond.

---

[Stella & Eve]
I'm working on a new flavor line for the Dreamery's two year anniversary at the end of the month, and want to collaborate with other local food establishments! How does Wildflower Honey w/ Ricotta Walnut Lace Cookies sound to you?

[Calliope]
I'm working on a new flavor line for the Dreamery's two year anniversary at the end of the month, and want to collaborate with other local food establishments! How does Rhubarb Crumble w/ Toasted Anise sound to you?

[Ian]
I'm working on a new flavor line for the Dreamery's two year anniversary at the end of the month, and want to collaborate with other local food establishments! I've actually got two tea-infused flavors in mind that I'd love your help with. How do Jasmine Blossom Milk Tea & Chocolate and Magnolia Saison sound?

[Elle]
I'm working on a new flavor line for the Dreamery's two year anniversary at the end of the month, and want to collaborate with other local food establishments! I've actually got two flavors in mind that I'd like to add an alcohol to. (In the mixing process, not to actually sell boozy alcohol. Unless you want to do that, since you've already got the liquor license?) Either way, I'm thinking of a Saison Magnolia and a Lemon Grand Poppy Sherbet. Thoughts?

[Foster]
I know I could just talk to you about it at home- and I probably still will- but for the Dreamery's flavor collaborations, any chance you can source me some good edible plants? Which, okay, that just sounds like I'm asking for drugs. But I'm not. Just hibiscus and lavender for sure, and maybe some peonies, begonias, poppy flowers, and nasturtiums if I get to be really greedy.

Prepare yourselves: Beginning Monday of next week, Grandma's will be running daily specials that will rotate between cheese fries, milkshakes, and our homemade desserts.

We'll also be running some extended hours and will close at midnight instead of 10:00 from May 10th thru May 23rd.

Finals Week is approaching. Never say that I didn't do anything for you.

[GRANDMA'S EMPLOYEES]

We've been preparing for the madness of the specials, but just so it's clear, if you aren't feeling up to picking up any of the extended hours, they're in no way mandatory.

TEXT TO JACE

-- [Image Attached]

HANNAH, MO, JEB

I'm leaving for Peru on Friday. I received a last minute call about a dig they think I'd be interested in, so I thought I'd take a quick trip to check it out. I should be back on Tuesday. Hannah, Mo, please try not to throw each other out of windows you can't recover from while I'm gone.

Have you ever felt like life is just so good that you have to pinch yourself to be sure that this life isn't the dream? Because that's definitely me right now. I love my job and my boss is the best no matter how much he tries to pretend otherwise, I'm so much more excited about being back in school than I imagined I'd ever be, I've made some of the best friends (and found some of the best creative inspiration), and I'm still pretty sure this great guy in my life should only exist in my favorite works of fiction.

Thanks for being so good to me, Dunhaven. Now pass me some cheese fries.

xoxo - Caty

TEXT TO JEB

-- I was thinking I could come stay at the house this weekend.
-- I could use some quiet and, as much as I love them, Lord knows Mo and Hannah aren't quiet.
-- Would that be all right?

TEXT TO JACE

-- [Image Attached]

WHO: Jebediah Hopkins → Jim Hopper
WHEN: January 26th
WHERE: His house, and then Cerys’ warehouse.
SUMMARY: Jeb dreams about more loss, and has to check on Cerys to make sure she’s OK.
WARNINGS: Child death. Mentions of loss. General horribleness. Stranger Things spoilers?

( What were dreams without someone to live them? )

FRIENDS* & FAMILY

As I think most of you probably know by now, I've been waiting for my house to get finished and uh it's finished. My stuff was moved while I was in Boston over the weekend and we've been spending the last several days kind of working on unpacking things so it's still kind of a mess. I'm cheerfully optimistic, though, and with it being the holidays and stuff, I wanted to do something. You've all been really great to me since I came to town and I'd like to do something as a bit of a thank you.

I don't think I could really handle Christmas or anything, but maybe a few days later, like... next Saturday? The 29th? I'd say New Years Eve, but I know the town throws a pretty great party and I don't want to get in the way of that, you know. So, yeah. Food, drinks, that kind of thing. I don't know that this sounds like the most enticing of invitations, but if you're free, it would be good to see you.

[* feel free to assume!]

I just want to take a moment today to appreciate the most special person in my life. Look at this little cutie. Who knew he'd grow up to be the best godfather a girl could ever ask for? Thanks for bringing me so fully into your life, Jeb, and for letting my butt leave a permanently faded spot on the counter at Grandma's from all the years I've spent sitting atop it while eating all your mint chocolate chip pie.



Love you, J. ♥

I bet you all were thinking, "Oh, good. Charlie is going to stop asking random questions about our dream lives because it's an uncomfortable and awkward topic most of the time." HA HA. No, not quite. I'm too curious for my own good and I think, eventually, all of this information will be of use to us. So here's the next topic for discussion for all you second-life dreamers out there!

What is the best part about your dream life? What is the worst?

You can answer anonymously, or not. Totally up to you.

So...hi. My name's Caty and I've never lived in a city with their own social network before, but it might be to my benefit that this one has one. I'm new to the city. Like, very new. Since I don't actually know the business around here or the people save one person, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if any businesses are currently hiring?

Thanks in advance.

WHO: Brynn & Jeb
WHEN: backdated to August 30
WHERE: Grandma's
SUMMARY: Jeb comes bearing a gift to Brynn while she's studying, and they make an awkward realization.
WARNINGS: Naaaah. :)

( 'A Triple Decker Eggo Extravaganza sounds beautiful.' )

You heathens will be glad to know that the first Grandma's Pumpkin Pie of the season is now available while slices last. I'll keep making them through Thanksgiving. Daily availability is subject to how many people decide they want pumpkin pie for breakfast. Not guaranteed by dinner.

With studying season back in session for all of you in school, I'm going to be really generous and run half-priced loaded fries from now until October 1st. You're welcome.

[BRYNN]

I'm not good at talking about things that might be in any way emotional. You probably already knew that. I promised we would talk more, though, and we can. Here or in person. Whichever is better. I just needed some time to gather some of my thoughts.

It's time for another anonymous post, again for academic research reasons. This one is not a confessional, exactly. For this one, you will post anonymously and then other anonymous users will ask you general questions that you will then have to answer honestly. You won't be forced to answer anything that makes you uncomfortable, obviously, but if you "sign up" for the questions, please try to be open to answering them.

Thanks in advance for participating!