Wenatchee Valley College Lady Knights v. Yakima

It's that time of year again! This year is certainly different, my daughter, who has always been a player, is now an assistant coach at WVC. Shade is home visiting while Eric is deployed to Afghanistan, so having volleyball to (once again) fill her time has been helpful to keep her busy.

I once again get to say "Go Knights!"

Fall hiking [Wenatchee photography + design]

Awww, fresh air, crisp air. We're finally getting a little Fall without fires and smoke and although it seems like Winter is rapidly approaching (snow on the hills already), I plan to soak up every minute I can. Also, after having asked for snowshoes each year for more years than I can remember, I decided I'm just buying my own. Plan to keep the outdoor activity up even after the snow flies. Hopefully these views will last for quite a while longer, but if not, I'll be ready. Get outside wherever you are. Look up. Look out. Listen. You might just love what you hear.

Zoo Boise [Wenatchee photography + design]

Friday 5 [Wenatchee photography + design]

1. So, yesterday we had to say goodbye to our oldest daughter as she heads to her new life with her Army husband in the very far-away state of Kentucky. Easy to say it was one of the toughest days I've ever had. Of course, I am excited for her to "start her life" but I would be lying if I didn't say it breaks your heart when they finally go. We love you Shadey-shoe, more than you can possibly know until the time when you have babies of your own and experience that gut-wrenching emotional tie to another living being. You are amazing and a big reason why I am the person I am today. You were the first to make me a mom and it's totally honest to say I learned as much from you as you from me.
2. Linda Woods and Karen Dinino are two of my favorite authors. They write books about art and life and a lot about their love for cookies and Trader Joe's and, as sisters, for each other. Their latest book, You Rule: The Art of Taking Charge, recently came out and I was thrilled to create a piece inspired by it and them. Their stories of current predicaments and vivid memories of a self-described erratic childhood help share their wit and wisdom while encouraging us each to take charge of our own lives. They are big proponents of journaling as art and each of their books go further in helping you get out your own story in your own way. It was a great exercise for me to try and document a few of the "rules" that I try to love by. Things I've never really put into words but help guide me anyway, when I take the time to really listen to my own heart and head.
3. We got a new car. And by we, I mean, my husband talked me into it, but I get to drive it mostly and at first I thought it unnecessary and then we roadtripped in it and OHMYGOSH I LOVE IT. A Ford Edge in the most delicious magical raisin color. A red-brown-cinnamon-mexican-hot-chocolate-mole-sauce and fresh plum COLOR that I can't really describe without all those food adjectives. And the whole roof is one big sunroof that opens up and lets in the breeze and it has navigation and Sirius radio and when my cellphone rings it answers it in the car so I can just talk through the stereo and, did I mention I LOVE this car?
4. Just documenting my complete love for blueberries right now. They've always been my favorite fruit, but growing up but that just really meant "I love Betty Crocker blueberry muffins." We live near a pretty awesome U-pick blueberry farm and they are the biggest, sweetest berries you'll ever have. No kidding, look at these pics, they're as big as quarters!
5. Haven't had a whole lot of movement on the scale front for a while, bouncing up and down through most of the summer. I suspect that's because I've lost a lot and now is when it starts to slow down. I'm down 65 lbs and want to lose about 50 more. Still a lot of work ahead of me, but, since it's just a part of my lifestyle now, I have no doubt I'll get there someday since I'll just keep on keepin' on. 65 lbs is 25% of my previous weight, I have lost one-fourth of me!

U-pick blueberries [Wenatchee photography + design]

Indie and went out to Sleepy Hollow Nursery, between Wenatchee and Cashmere, and picked blueberries. They have a u-pick farm and while the berries are always good, this year they were the biggest berries I've ever seen. The diameter of quarters and as big as cherries. And, as always, so sweet. I can't get enough blueberries this summer.