Spearfish Men

Every day that I go to work I park my car in the parking lot for the city park. This lets me get a nice little six-minute walk in before work and I get to stroll through a gazebo and across a bridge suspended over Spearfish Creek. After work I walk back the same way and hop in my beloved car. During three different occasions as I drive out of the park with all my windows down, I have had guys my age yell things like "Hey pretty girl!"; "HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY!"; and the ever popular, whistle. This cracks me up everytime. The fact that they think their demonstration of expressive, highly-eloquent phrases will impress me so much that I pull over just to respond to their mastery of the English language is quite comical. Maybe if they threw flowers in my car I would consider stopping my car... Maybe.

I Am My Mother's Daughter

For those of you that may not be familiar with the whimsicalness that is my mother, she paints EVERYTHING and loves an artsy good find that is always unique. I am not-so-slowly becoming this woman.

This morning on our way to Rapid City for a Sam's Club run, which is a norm when living with my grandparents, the three of us stopped at an estate sale. Before we had even parked the van I had spotted this beautiful wooden chair. Upon closer inspection I saw what a phenomenal chair it is and that I absolutely had to have it! The wood is quite dark but the seat is very faded. The top of the back rest has a beautiful carved design. The best part is that there are numerous paint splatters. It may have belonged to a distant relative who also has a natural inclination to paint every piece of furniture. I like to think that it is already 100 years old so when I live to be 104 and have had it since I was 20, just think how wonderfully old it will be!

Later on in life I am going to transform a room in my home to my own library. My view for the library is to have many large windows and an eclectic assortment of chairs, colorful bookshelves and lamps to furnish the room and of course loads and loads of books along with a few vintage globes and colored glass bottles and vases of flowers. Although I am a twenty-year-old-dorm-dweller and I already have more furniture than most people destined to live in a dorm for two more years have, this chair will one day be perfect in my library.

A Lovely Book

Summer is the best reading season. You can read which ever books you want to read and the best part is you can read them while swaying in a hammock and eating a popsicle.

One of my favorite books is "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." I read it for the first time last summer and then of course made a lot of my friends and their moms read it as well. It is composed entirely of letters between the main character Juliet, a writer, who is interested in potentially writing a book about the effects the German Occupation had on the tiny island of Guernsey in the English Channel during World War II. The letters are between her and her editor, her best friend, and the residents of Guernsey who founded the literary society. It is truly lovely and is a book about loving books. I have decided that I will read it every summer and when I have my own library in my house someday it will receive a special spot on my bookshelf. I will also visit Guernsey at some point in my life.

During this second reading, I underlined some of my favorite passages that exemplify why books are so wonderful.

Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. 


Men are more interesting in books than they are in real life.


Am I in love with him? What kind of a question is that? It's a tuba among the flutes, and I expect better of you. 


I think you learn more if you're laughing at the same time. 


Do you live by the river? I hope so, because people who live near running water are much nicer than people who don't. I'd be mean as a scorpion if I lived inland. 


Lovely.

Holy Hail!

Yes, in case you were wondering by this post's title, I am deliberately writing with every alliteration possible. They are my favorite! This title is also an obvious play on words! ; )

Today was quite interesting and I think could have only been possible in Spearfish. For work today I had a set-up for a wedding at a different site down in the park. The transportation of the trailer containing our white wedding chairs meant I learned to drive a John Deere Gator and back up a trailer without mirrors all while wearing a dress. After that setup I went back up to Ruby's Garden for a wedding rehearsal for tomorrow. I haven't had to deal with any bridezilla's with this job but tonight I dealt with a cousin-zilla-who-is-also-the-photographer-but-shouldn't-be-involved-at-all. I wouldn't want her as my photographer... or as my cousin. She had a question for everything and thus, I had an answer for everything. The mother of the bride came up to me at the end of the rehearsal and said that I did a good job of handling myself around the cousin and that I was very helpful. I think that cousin/photographer/crazy lady was just stressing out the poor bride.

After the rehearsal I met my favorite volunteer couple to take down the chairs from the wedding quickly before the storm came. When all three of us were in the enclosed Gator the hail started. I drove it up to it's parking place and we waited out the hail in a garage.

My grandparents and I went to the local Mexican restaurant, Guadalajara, for supper. The owner of Guadalajara works out at the same place my uncle and I go too. My grandparents now greatly enjoy taking me out because they get a discount and get entertainment from the young servers flirting with me. I find that odd... I am with my grandparents and you choose to flirt with me. Classy, fellas! Now the three of us are watching a Chinese movie about a young couple who fall in love in the 1950's which my grandpa pointed out was when he was a sophomore in high school! We are quite the diverse crew!

Hiking, Hiking, Hiking, Hiking

Yes, yesterday was the first day since the introduction of this blog that I have not posted. I assure you I had a solid excuse. My uncle John and I went on a 7.2 mile hike up Big Hills. This would have been completely do-able but the day before we had gone on a hike up Old Baldy and yesterday morning we had a Barefoot Fitness workout. Ufdah! I was simply too tired to use my brain by the time I got home.

That being said, yesterday was one of the most well-spent days a summer could possibly have. John and I went to Barefoot Fitness at 6:30 a.m. and then I worked until 12:30 p.m. We went to The Green Bean (yes that was my second time there this week) and had a perfect pre-hike lunch. They serve a wonderful wrap (alliteration!) called the Woodstock. It has hummus, sprouts, cashews, spinach, red onion, and cucumber. Delicious-ioso! Then came the hike.

The hike was in a word, interesting. We traipsed behind a herd of cows for about half the hike and I wont even deny that I stepped in more cow manure than I thought could be possible. Don't worry, my shoes are white again- thanks Jeanne! We thought the piles were big flat rocks until Scout put her nose in one and then wiped it against my leg. Kinda gross. Eventually we were behind so many cows that John was throwing a stick at them which had barely any effect and practicing his mountain man A-yaaaaaaah call to shoo them away. We learned cows aren't easily shooed. I have enough friends who are dairy farmers to know that this next statement is ridiculous but damn, those cows scared me! They are mean and ugly.

John found the act of me wiping cow manure off my leg on a post quite comical. Apparently I do too, since I am smiling despite the circumstances.

Once we got past the cow chaos (another alliteration!) the hike was very pleasant. At some points we could look through the trees and see where the road to Spearfish Canyon was. We were pooped (in more ways than one) by the end of the hike and so were the dogs! Our pre- and post-hike soundtrack has become the satellite radio station, Willie Nelson's Roadhouse. We listen for the best lyrics that define what country music is all about. My favorite lyric from yesterday: "She's acting single and I'm drinking doubles."

Quips from Grandpa

This morning I pulled into my aunt and uncle's driveway at 5:53 a.m. and shortly thereafter John and I left to go hiking up Old Baldy. It was a great hike! It was super muddy but luckily I am the granddaughter of Jeanne Becht because less than 12 hours later and my shoes look brand new. The woman loves doing laundry, thats for sure!

After the hike I quickly went home and got cleaned up and went to work. I was asked to attend the executive board meeting which was quite interesting and may have convinced me I need to work there for several decades but I was there until after 6 p.m. So, I didn't get a whole lot of time with The Grands. When I got home I walked out to the shop and helped my grandpa with the truck seat he is upholstering for a friend.

My grandpa tends to be a man of very few words and he is the only person in the world I could sit with for days and days and not need to say anything. However, tonight he was unusually chatty! As he was taking stitches out he kept saying, "Ooops." Then he went into describing a friend he used to fish with in St. Paul who was a surgeon and would always say that the most commonly used word in the surgery room was, "Oops."

We continued to talk about how we both have a hidden love for the good old kind of country music, particularly Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. I also informed him that when I was little I used to think I was the only Sanna in the entire world and was rather crushed when I realized I wasn't. I used to also think that I would never meet another Roger and that my grandpa was the only one I would ever know. Also not true. One of our volunteers at the fish hatchery is named Roger (and actually knows my Roger). This new Roger and I had a lovely conversation on Sunday at the Father's Day Brunch but I may have to rename him.

When we were about to walk back to the house for supper we stopped to collect eggs. Here is a tidbit of information that I learned this week and probably never would have if I wasn't living in Spearfish for the summer. When chickens are old enough to lay eggs but not quite full-sized yet their eggs are called pullet eggs and are quite smaller than normal eggs, nearly half the size of the eggs we are used to. Like I said, I would never have learned that if I wasn't living with Roger.

A Sanna-Like Monday Evening

I have wheels! 4 of them! Not 2! And a car key... to an actual car... that is mine! For the first time in my life! I am still so astonished by this that yesterday I attempted to put the key for my bike lock in my ignition. Haha that was a proud moment for myself! But can you blame me? For the last twenty years my only forms of transportation have been my very generous vehicle-endowed friends (who can't actually believe that I finally have a car) and my own strong legs pedaling my 8-year-old bicycle.

Thus I am celebrating by doing one of the things that I do best... going out for coffee! I am currently sitting at one of my favorite places- The Green Bean- in my favorite place in the world- Spearfish. It is only 60 degrees outside and the air still feels like the rain that fell all day but I am sitting outside on the roofed-deck that is stained a rustic green. Lovely. Usually this deck is filled with people but I am the only one braving the balmy weather right now! I have my playlist entitled H-A-P-P-Y playing and I parked so that I can gaze lovingly at my car. I also did that this morning when I was working out with my uncle so that while I was in the plank I could smile at my car. My grandpa and I came to the conclusion that no one could ever possibly be more excited about a 14 year-old car than I am. My drink of choice is simple brewed coffee (decaf because I am going hiking tomorrow morning at 6 a.m.) with honey and cinnamon.

Earlier today I was at my aunt Jackie's house and as I usually do when I go to her house I made a beeline for the corner of her kitchen cabinet where she keeps all of her jewelry. I picked up a gorgeous bracelet and commented on how beautiful it was and how much I liked it. She laughed and said that it was the other part of my birthday present that she had forgotten to give to me three weeks ago. After a series of photos of the bracelet on my wrist that just annoyed me, I came up with this solution to display my new bauble.

A few weeks ago during a wedding I was sitting by one of the fish ponds reading my favorite summer book when my boss pulled up and hopped out of her van and took this picture. I found it today when I was going through photos from yesterday's Father's Day events and think it just looks like summer and thus deserves a spot on this blog.

Camille at the Fish Hatchery

She is just too adorable and so I feel compelled to put this picture up! This past week when they stayed here she slept in my bed with me and we had dance party sleepovers every night because I am just that awesome of a cousin! Every morning she woke up and the first thing she said to me was, "Man, I love you!"

Camille Erin

(Grand)Father's Day

 My Father's Day celebrations have always been dedicated to my grandpa. Today I had to work at the fish hatchery for a wonderful family event in which a brunch was served in Ruby's Garden and games were available for kids to play with their dads throughout the site. Even though I don't have a relationship with my dad I always like seeing dads who simply love being dads. After work I walked out to my grandpa's shop and sat on a stool, that he made from a barrel stool with an upholstered seat, that I have always sat on when I go out to the shop. Tonight over rhubarb crisp (yes, more rhubarb desserts) I told him that I am glad he is my grandpa and he said the feeling is mutual and he is glad I am his granddaughter. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful grandpa. Happy Father's Day!

The Magic of Four-Year-Olds

Last night, my grandparents, my little cousins and I were sitting at the table eating dessert (my Grandpa's homemade Raspberry Rhubarb Pie) and drinking coffee. My grandpa was reading an instruction manual on how to fix something on my car and when he got frustrated he said, "Well this is a pain in my butt-erosis." This odd exclamation made me projectile spit out my swig of coffee onto the clean tablecloth- sorry Grandma! My four-year-old cousin, Camille found this entire series of events hilarious and then spent a good rest of the evening asking me to take a drink because she had something funny to tell me or a joke that I later learned she obviously made up. Her determination to see me spit out my coffee again seemed to me to be the definition of a very early wonderful sense of humor. She saw something funny and wanted to make it happen again. However, this is what her jokes consist of:

Camille: "Knock, Knock"
Me: "Who's there?"
Camille: "Orange"
Me: "Orange, who?'
Camille: "Orange you glad you didn't slip on a banana peel and an eyeball?!"

We traipsed through the backyard with her on my shoulders. She frequently commented on how big we were stacked together. Also, upon walking to the creek she proclaimed that it look awkward with not very much water in it... : )

We are quite bonded : )

The D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery

So I realized while I was strolling around the site today during a wedding rehearsal that I have done loads of gabbing about the fish hatchery that I am working at this summer but have not actually put pictures up of it! It is truly a beautiful area and goes way beyond raising fish, even though most of my friends still don't believe that : )

Administration building where I work

One of several ponds with the museum in the background

The Railcar

The old fishing boat

A view of the main trout pond

Ducks and trout in another pond

As I have mentioned before, my favorite part of my job is doing the wedding coordination. Basically all this entails is meeting with the bride during the rehearsal and then the morning of the wedding setting up all the white chairs, cleaning the bridal changing area, sitting on the deck of the over-century-old Booth house and then snooping through the house's kitchen windows to watch the wedding. I usually call my friend, Abbie and give her all the details on the bride's dress and the bridesmaid dresses. All in all it's a great gig. Here are some photos of Ruby's Garden where all the weddings take place. 

Ruby's Garden. It was planted by D.C. Booth for his wife, Ruby 

A view of the beautiful walkway around the seating area

The terrace underneath which the bridal parties stand during the weddings

The back of the Booth House from Ruby's Garden 

Hiking up Crow Peak

This morning, my uncle, his two dogs, Finn and Scout (such good hiking partner names!) and I ventured out for a hike up Crow Peak! This was my first time hiking Crow Peak and it was wonderful! It was the perfect weather for a hike, just a little warm with a slight breeze. I took lots of photos and so did John. Enjoy!

Sunflowers along the trail!

The gorgeous views from the top!

My grandparent's house is down there!

Scout taking a drink at the top

Me and John at the top of Crow Peak

Me and the puppy hikers!

Me on the top of Crow Peak

The Quintessential Summer Day

It happened. The perfect summer day. Everything that makes a great summer day happened today on June 15th already! The day began with a walk through the park with my uncle and his two dogs and then a Barefoot Fitness workout. The day's events continued with drinking coffee on the deck, lounging in the hammock and then going to a water park with my cousins. It was their first time at a water park and I was delighted to share in their experience. The evening continued with my favorite foods (tacos and grapes) and staying in my swimsuit all day long! My hair has been braided in two and I have gone without makeup all day and am sporting a lovely new tan. I then drank some more coffee on the deck. Having a day off in the middle of the week was used very wisely and the entire day just felt like summer. Hello gorgeous sunshine!

Common Grounds

For being such a small city, Spearfish has oodles of coffee shops. I am bound and determined to try every single one of them for the sake of this blog! (I realize this is a touch sacrifice!) Yesterday after work I walked to Common Grounds. First of all, I love the name. Naming and the act of using words not only correctly, but cleverly is very important to me.
I love when coffee shops have a genuine, natural comfort to them and effortlessly bring people together. The good coffee shops are the ones you could easily spend five hours in and not even notice the time passing. The menu of Common Grounds is printed on a giant chalkboard with all different colors of chalk. Love it! My favorite coffee shop in Sioux Falls has a hodge podge of chairs that don't match and so does Common Grounds.This coffee shop also has a great table that has a wooden top and blue spindle legs.
I ordered a Passion Fruit Italian Soda which was delightful and sat outside with a good book. Common Grounds also serves sandwiches and ice cream so it isn't a straight-up coffee shop but I loved the randomness of it and all the colors!

The Littlest Cousin

I am the oldest grandchild and Camille is the youngest and this entire week we have been like peas and carrots or peanut butter and jelly or macaroni and cheese. She is the true redhead of the family! My favorite part of the day is when she asks me how I got to be so awesome!

Summery Food and Music

As I promised in the Rules of Summer post I have a recipe for a great summer dish and a summer playlist.

First, this little tidbit:

4-year-old Cousin: "Do you catch fish at the fish hatchery?"
Me: "Nope"
Cousin: "Do you eat fish at the fish hatchery?"
Me: "Nope"
Cousin: "Then what do you do at the fish hatchery?"
Me: "You will never know."

Working at a fish hatchery and not being involved with the fish in any way is difficult for anyone to understand.

Recipe for Grilled Basil-Marinated Chicken:
Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon chopped basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt or sea salt
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 clove garlic, chopped 
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Directions

Whisk together the oil, vinegar, basil, onion, salt, peppercorns, and garlic in a bowl. Transfer the marinade to a gallon-sized sealable plastic bag with the chicken and shake to combine. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.

When ready to cook, build a charcoal fire or preheat gas grill.

Remove chicken from the marinade. Grill the chicken, turning once, until browned and just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a platter and garnish with the basil sprigs.

This turned out to be DELICIOUS. Unfortunately I had to serve hungry little kids so there aren't any pictures, but trust me it was delightful and a perfect summer meal to grill!

Summer Playlist

• Here Comes the Sun- The Beatles
• Dog Days Are Over- Florence and the Machine
• Highway to Hell- AC/DC
• You Shook Me All Night Long- AC/DC
• Accidentally In Love- Counting Crows
• I Believe in a Thing Called Love- The Darkness
• Raspberry Beret- Prince
• Dancing Queen- ABBA
• Shake It- Metro Station
• In the Summertime- Mungo Jerry
• I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)- The Proclaimers
• American Girl- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Blister in the Sun- Violent Femmes
• Every Teardrop is a Waterfall- Coldplay

Rules of Summer

My blog is now one week old! To celebrate, I decided I needed something that was all about what the intention of this blog is. Since I have already gotten away with the self-proclamation that I am good at summer I feel as though I owe it to you to bestow upon you my rules of summer. Follow these and you are sure to have an incredible summer!

1. Go barefoot basically all day long

2. Eat watermelon in ginormous quantities

3. Grill summer food (look for a recipe later this evening!)

4. Let your hair dry outside (I do this all year long but now at least it doesn't freeze to my head)

5. Listen to music that sounds like summer (also look for a post with suggestions later this evening!)

6. Run through an elephant-shaped sprinkler- or any other animal-shaped water toy- with a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old

7. Don't wear socks, better yet refuse to wear socks

8. Smell the flowers

9. Ride your bike down a HUGE hill with your hair blowing behind you

10. Eat as many popsicles a day as you wish

11. Put your feet in a creek

12. Read in a hammock

13. Eat all meals outside, even breakfast at 6 a.m.

14. Pull little kids around the yard in a red wagon

15. Drink Pink Lemonade by the gallons

16. Relish in the cinnamon on your nose, also known as freckles

The Spearfish Creek is suitable for number 11

Coffee Mornings

I love great coffee mugs. There is almost an art to a great coffee mug- the feel and weight of it in your hands, the shape and placement of the handle, the texture of the pottery, the design around the outside plus what actually goes in it. Coffee cups have even come to be of significance to their owners. One of my friends even proposed to his girlfriend with a hand-painted coffee mug that had "Will You Marry Me?" at the bottom of the inside of the cup. I have the start of an excellent collection of coffee mugs but I left them back at Augie. No worries, my grandparents have some that have already served me well this summer. My favorites are about being a grandma or grandpa, ones that perfectly define my grandpa, and ones that are about being, well, old. I also like one that my mom stole from a restaurant back in the day but I thought a picture might put an unwanted negative spin on my blog!

She hasn't been a new Grandma for twenty years but this is still quite accurate. 

This is correct on all accounts. 

This one cracks me up every time despite its inaccuracy. My grandpa is BOTH handsome and handy.

Eventually we will all have a mug that says this. 

Don't Be Fancy, Just Get Dancey

Last night was one of the best nights ever. My cousins are staying at Grandma and Grandpa's this week so of course being the good big cousin that I am, I have all sorts of fun things planned. I learned that the four-year-old loves dance parties so much so that she even raises her voice when she says we are going to partaaaaaaaaaay! That's exactly what we did. The two of us girls had a dance party to the likes of Katy Perry and Pink and the little girl knows every word to 'Firework' and 'Raise Your Glass.' We topped off the night with a more kid-friendly reading of 'The Cat in the Hat.'

I am fairly certain dance parties and jumping on the bed will be an adequate replacement to my normal workouts for the week!

Also, don't be surprised when most of the postings this week are about the adventures I have with my cousins!

The Greatest Sweater There Ever Was!

For the second day in a row Jackie and I went thrift store shopping. Now who is shaping out to be the thrifty thrift store shopper in the family?! I got what could be described without any exaggeration whatsoever as the greatest thing I have ever owned! This turquoise sweater isn't actually vintage but definitely looks like it is so when I say that I am wearing my exquisite vintage sweater just go with it. I tried it on with jeans which was adorable but it will also be cute over a black dress. The original price tag was still intact and displayed the astronomically high original price as $175! Obviously I would never pay that much for one piece of clothing. I paid only $23. Go me! I always feel slightly guilty for buying wintery clothes in the summer but obviously this is Sanna-In-A-Sweater so it is an exception to my normally rigid rule.

Don't be surprised if I wear this on a weekly basis!
This picture was taken in the rain. That is what is called dedication to my blog... or obsession, you pick! 

My mom and Jackie both always pick out clothing for me that I would normally never try on. Simply because I am ridiculously stubborn I throw a very minor fit but eventually try them on and then always love whatever was picked out. This was the case with the turquoise sweater. I will probably end up hiring them both as my personal stylists when I am a famous journalist.

The beautiful brooch enclosure on the sweater.

My cousins who are six and four arrived this afternoon to stay a week. When I was discussing with them what kind of adventures we would embark upon this week the four-year-old asked if we can go out for coffee. Hells yes we can! The six-year-old had to inform me that his name is printed on every city bus in Sioux Falls. He gleefully exclaimed that he his famous. We are all obviously related...

A Spark of Entertainment on a Rainy Day

It is a dreary, rainy day in Spearfish so I thought posting this video was a good solution to the craptastic weather. One of my best friends, Becca and I blast this song, Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine, while we drive around Sioux Falls in her car every time she is home from St. Ben's. I know cute baby videos are getting a bit overdone but this one is just wonderful. The baby also resembles me and Becca dancing to song in the car as well! Some days I think this song, which happens to be the most frequently played song in my iTunes has the same affect on me as it does on this baby.

Every season always seems to have a designated song for me and this song was the anthem for last summer! I am still waiting to see what this summer's anthem will be!

GreenThreads

Yes, this is the second time in a week I am posting about a business with the word 'green' in the title. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Jackie, my grandma and I went to a new thrift store in town called GreenThreads. Several days ago when the idea to go first came up multiple jokes about the store selling only green clothing ensued. Rest assured, the store sells clothing in nearly every color imaginable. I, however, did wear a green shirt just for the occasion.

My sister is the thrifty thrift store shopper (haha punny!) in the family but yesterday I had some luck. Whenever I go shopping with Jackie she throws clothing items at me and I humor her by trying everything on and modeling around the store. Three items stood out from the crowd as new additions to my wardrobe.

I was a little unsure on this skirt because I normally don't wear skirts with a long hemline but it is gorgeously made and has beautiful details like the embroidery and gold beading.

This $7 steal is lovely! And now I have even more purple clothing!

This was my favorite purchase! This band on the ring has an antique feel to it but then the bright cerulean flower gives it a modern twist.

I LOVE that the price tags were printed on the back of squares cut out of old books! 

A Chicken-Kind-Of-Summer

My aunt Jackie is pretty much awesome! Today we took full advantage of both having the day off and went to a new thrift shop in Spearfish and I scored some great purchases (look for the post to follow). As we were leaving the store she asked me if I had ever heard of the feather strands that people get in their hair. Naturally, I had and not-so-shockingly, I have been obsessed with having them in my own hair for months and simply never got around to getting them done when I was back in Sioux Falls.

Her next move is what makes Jackie so great. Before I had even finished raving about the feather strands she was on the phone with her hair stylist and asked if they had any left and if we could stop in right then. Within minutes we were at the salon and I had picked out my feathers. My grandma asked what they were made of and when the stylist explained that they were made from the feathers of exotic chickens the three of us all smirked. We could be making a fortune if the 33 chickens that roamed in my grandpa's garden were exotic. This summer is truly 'going to the birds.'

Feathers! 

As I was getting my feathers placed in my hair Jackie decided she absolutely had to have them too. It was quite the bonding experience and we joked that we never would have guessed that our day would shape out to include both getting feathers in our hair. My grandma even mulled over the decision for a few seconds!

Jackie rocking feathers in her hair

Can you catch my excitement over these?

Jackie and I with our feathers! 

Photos were taken by my uncle, John. Check out his website and blog at http://www.finndogphoto.com/

Morning Jog

Creek running through 'Deer Meadows'- my grandparents' neighborhood

This morning was quite chilly for the beginning of June but it was the perfect weather for a quick run through the neighborhood. My grandparents' house is situated at the bottom of a large mile-long loop around a hill that looks out to the tumbling dark hills of the area. As I have done on many mornings since I came out here I set out for a run around the loop only this time with my camera in tow. I ran across a wooden platform set over a running creek that also streams through my grandparents' backyard. Along my run I passed numerous horses grazing in their owners' front lawns or taking sips from the creek. Only a few of the horses feel bothered to look up at me as I run past. On other mornings I have also encountered skittish deer trying to steal a treat from the many gardens planted in the neighborhood. I discovered that running past a grove of lilac bushes makes for a much more delightful morning run. All marathons should be placed around lilac bushes to keep the runners moving!

Lovely Lilac Bushes