This week I went to one of my favorite spots in Madison, Wis: the boathouse. Wisconsin might not have the breezy beaches of my hometown in Brazil, but i might actually prefer the lake and sweet water over the ocean. I used to love jumping waves in the beach. Now, I attempt to persevere through the violent punches of water, trying to not drown.

The university boathouse is a place where I come to sit, close my eyes and soak in the sun or sunset. And have occasional encounters with adorable dogs.

I needed to go here because this week I received the news that my childhood dog has nasal cancer and has about a month left. I have heard of so many people who lost their pets to cancer and never thought it would happen to me so soon. Looking at the vast blueness at the boathouse in front of me is like a breath of fresh air.

Today I picked my favorite summer shoes that I recently got: abarcas! They are originally from Spain, but you can order them online. It’s so easy to slip them in when you don’t want to bend down to tie or zip your shoes.

Hope this posts encourages you to spend time and appreciate those around you. And have a great & peaceful weekend. - Pati

photos by Tyler Schappe