Life lately:
1.  Mixing up all kinds of things in the kitchen--herbal tinctures, rhubarb water, deodorant, lotion, and fermented ginger (for soda!). Pretty much obsessed.
2. Celebrating the solstice and the super moon with a camping trip.
3.  Trying to not die of overheating, and feeling extra bad for the animals with their tiny fur coats.
4. Working on good vibes.
5.  Summer reading.

Birthday hike

These are from awhile ago, and really showing them here now is just an excuse to post more mountain porn--which is pretty much what this space has become anyway.  I climbed a mountain on my 30th birthday and it felt like the rightest thing to do on that solemn occasion.  I feel different, and a little bit old (in a very good way).

 

2013, so far

A month and a week into the new year, and it's already been a bit of a rollercoaster.  Moments of calm, punctuated by moments of drama and stress.  I'm working on handling that stress--I'm thinking of lots of hot tea, trying new snacks (pictured above are longan berries--they taste like chocolate-y raisins), flowers, book reading and maybe some creative time/space.  And of course, nature walks.  Getting outside always resets my brain(case) and blows away some of that mental fog.

Recently

Hikes and Halloween.  Fall is in the air, sometimes.  Other times the glare of the sun and the heat of the air fools me into thinking that it's an extended summer this year.  Then there are the days of crispness and clouds scudding across the sky and I settle a little more thoroughly into the blanket and my book.  Speaking of books, I finished The Children's Book.  It was very good.  And one of those books where I'm mourning not being in that world anymore.  Where I have a hard time picking up the next one.  Not quite yet.

Chicago!

We trekked through Iowa (and Nebraska, but that's less note-worthy) to see some dear friends in Chicago. Beautiful fall colors, delicious food, and of course, catching up with important people, made it a pretty excellent trip.

In the air today:
1. Happy Halloween!  I'm celebrating with scary movies, good food (sweet potato stew, even though it's 70 degrees out, pumpkin pecan cake, and of course, candy), and snuggling.
2. Figuring out where to live is kinda hard.  At least I know that I want plants.  Lots of plants.
3.  I'm reading A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book.  It's a long one, and I'm intentionally slowing down and savoring it. 
4. The job search black hole is taking up all my brain space.  So, this list is only four items long.  And this one barely counts.

Catchin' up

We're back in Colorado for the time being.  It snowed (!) here yesterday, so it's nice to have central heating for awhile again.  Here's some last pictures of Montana and Wyoming...it was mostly beautiful (except for Rock Springs.  And the Golden Corral in Rock Springs.  ew).  Also, I was kinda scared of running into a grizzly bear.  Didn't happen, though, and we made it through bear country safe and sound.

Other things that are good:

1. Frankenweenie!

2. Birthday celebrations

3. Trying to run again

4. Hiking on fall days

5. Beer on fall days

Fall times

Coast has given way to mountains.  I'm more unclear than ever what I'm doing, but am more content than ever with the ambiguity.  Considering all kinds of different futures and looking forward to pumpkin flavored goodies.
 Things for now:
1. Spending time with dear friends, and looking forward to more.
2. Feeling more comfortable in a writing head-space.
3. Reading all kinds of books.  I'm rich in books!  Some heavy, some light, all wonderful.
4. Looking forward to some cold weather camping. 18 degrees is the low tonight near Big Sky, Montana, where we're headed.

Run to the hills

Longer silence than I planned on.  We're currently in Seattle--it's nice to see friends, to have full and total access to internet and phone, and to have an inside bathroom at night.  Our last mini trip was to the Olympic Peninsula.  It was beautiful and there was a tang of fall in the air.  Winter is coming, a feeling that takes on a new weight with camper living. 

Resting

We're resting up a bit and celebrating an anniversary.  Two years ago I married my best friend--nothing's better than that.  

1. Talking about life and goats.

2. Yachats, Oregon.

3. Not a single oyster consumed yet.  No oysters and eggs this time.

4. Cell phone service has been much, much worse than expected.  Sometimes that's been nice, most of the time it's been obnoxious.

5. Healthy eating--kale and chia seeds.

6. Working it out.

Oregon trail

(More than) a month into this thing and we're finally figuring out how to live in a camper with two crazy humans, one newly mellow dog, and a silly cat.  Working from the road is a challenge, but I'm making it...work.  Headed up the coast, following the fog belt and the cool weather.  We took a minor detour for some sunshine in the redwoods, and today we head to Oregon.