Day Two: Mount Rainier

Before we had booked our flights to Washington, we had been talking with Stephen (Marcus' brother) about what we'd like to do while we were in the PNW and one thing on our list was a nature hike. I had emphasized that I was pregnant and didn't have much endurance, so I didn't want anything too long or strenuous, but was dying to see some of Washington's famous mountains. He picked the PERFECT hike! It was a 3-mile loop in Mount Rainier National Park. There were little wildflowers, hidden streams, insane views and just enough toughness that you felt like you put in a good days work by the end of the hike. We had a slight sprinkle that only added to the Washington experience. I was in love with those mountains and look forward to getting back there someday--we already picked the spot we're gonna build our little red cabin and I'll fulfill my dreams of becoming a witch doctor, right there on top of that mountain, I'm sure the forest rangers won't mind a bit :)

 __________

he's wearing:

blue striped oxford shirt//jcrew factory (buy here)

navy jacket//gap (similar on sale here)

watch//skagen (buy here)

camera bag//case logic (buy here)

jeans//ae (buy here)

boots//last chance (similar here)

she's wearing:

faux leather jacket// (similar here)

denim vest//gap (on sale here)

watch//skagen (buy here)

striped long sleeve tee//gap (similar here)

stretchy waistband jeans//level 99 (similar here)

sandals//old (similar here)

I was pretty jealous that Margo got to hitch a ride for part of the trail ;)

When we made it to the bottom, we rushed to the car to meet the rest of the fam at Duke's Chowder House for some authentic clam chowder. It was my first experience with clam chowder and I was pleasantly surprised--it was super peppery, which i love in foods and I wished we had gotten some to take home for a midnight snack! It's super rich and filling, but i wanted more later that night for sure!

The next morning Marcus went on another, much more intense hike with the boys and then we all ate at Din Tai Fung for Lizzy's birthday dinner. The food terrified me because I'm super visually picky when it comes to meat, and the pork inside these potstickers and dumplings looked, I'll be honest--horrifying, but I was brave and gave them a try and they were quite delicious--although in the end, I mostly filled up on shrimp fried rice (YUM!) and spicy green beans (DOUBLE YUM!).

Next, it was off to Oregon!

new eyes//free write

I feel like lately I've fallen into the trap of negativity. I truly believe that just like optimism is contagious, negativity is equally so.

For the past several months I've been complaining about living here in Arizona--I was hating the weather and griping about how there were so many beautiful places to live--why in the world were we stuck in a place who's favorite color seemed to be brown and faded (very faded) green. Almost every weekend would come and go and the only thing we could find to do was eat and sit on our couch watching movies. We have yet to find friends to fill the spot of our Idaho besties and the lack of socialization was really getting to me.

I dreaded seeing co-workers or family members after a weekend because I knew they would ask something like, "How was your weekend, did you do anything fun?" and I would rack my brain trying to think of something, anything that was noteworthy, but always ended up replying something like, "It was fine--we went out to eat..." and then quickly changed the subject.

I constantly rolled my eyes at the dirt lots and chain-link fences that were the ever-present eyesores of the neighborhood--my eyes were yearning for scenes I had found in Europe--cobblestone roads, wild green grass and lush wisteria vines taking over thousand year old walls.

I was a grouch--and i was getting sick of myself.

Then a friend of a friend contacting me through Facebook and asked if I wanted to be part of his photography project. He and his wife had recently moved from Utah, a place surrounded my some the prettiest mountains in America to the desert of Arizona and he felt similarly to how I was feeling about the desolate landscape. The difference between he and I, was that he was working to love with his new home. He embarked on a project to find the good Arizona has to offer (it does have many good things) and capture the beauty--he wanted to fall in love with the wild desert.

I thought his idea was interesting, so I drove out to east Mesa and met him and his wife and we all drove out to the Superstition Mountains. As we got closer, I realized that I hadn't ever been right up to them--they're mountains I have seen my whole life, but had never taken the time to really experience them. My mouth was gaping open as we drove through the untouched desert, at peak time--the golden hour--those red rocks rocked my world. I was so happy to be right where I was.

The shoot was so beautiful--it was extremely quite and peaceful and there was a gentle, but crisp breeze. He shot film, so there as no peaking. We stayed out for a few hours and just as we were wrapping up, both he and his wife's eyes widened, I turned to see what was of such interest and right behind me over those gorgeous flat mountains, rose a bright silver dollar moon. I got the chills and my eyes welled up a little. It was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen.

I was suddenly so proud of my state. I had fallen back in love with it. Out there in the silence, I could feel that God loved me. He made beautiful things for us to look at, because He knew there were people like me, who needed to see them. That's when I know God is there the most--when I see His creations, unaltered by man.

Since that time, I've had the chance to drive out there again, this time by myself. It was just as magical and I felt just as loved.

I needed new eyes, and out there in that cool desert, I found them.

all photos by Pressing the Plane

Cowboy in my blood.

I feel like Ansel Adams would approve of this photo. What can i say, i'm a little proud of it.

Spending a couple of days in Heber Valley was the perfect mini-vacation. The weather was mind-blowingly beautiful and made me super jealous of a large majority of you all that actually get to spend time OUTSIDE in the summer!

We ate and visited. I filled my Poppy void by spending a majority of my time either playing catch with my sister's very eager dog, Copper, or forcing their new kitten to snuggle with me. Is there anything in the world cuter than a kitten? I thought my heart would pop as i watched Murphy discover her tail (see photos).

I also got to meet up with my best friend Jenny and meet her new baby boy! She lives in Texas but was visiting family in Utah. He was such a charmer and my heart still hurts that we aren't next door neighbors. Someday we'll make it happen, won't we Jenny?!

The whole thing made me yearn to live a country life. I loved the wide open space, the music in the park nights. It made my soul happy as we walked through the grocery store isles and my sister waved and said hi to everyone she passed.

I find this to be a reoccurring desire in my life. I wonder if it has anything to do with my heritage. My dad was a real Wyoming cowboy who grew up in a little town called Star Valley. Maybe it's in my blood.

I hope someday I get to test it out.

Cotton Candy Skies Awaken My Tired Eyes.

This morning I lay in bed cursing my demanding alarm clock. It was cold and dark outside and the warm sheets made it almost impossible to listen to that blaring noise that meant it was time to get ready for work.

I wasn't feeling well and driving to work in the dark was just about the last thing I wanted. 

I'm pretty sure I was scowling all the way down the 101, when I noticed it--One arm was glowing a gentle, golden orange. 

It was then that my eyes made their way to the passenger side window and my mouth dropped. 

The sun was making it's daily debut and the clouds benefited from his arrival--pink, orange, yellow, and purple, and then a smile. I quickly looked to the cars around me, hoping that everyone had at least caught a glance and the spectacle at our right, but as far as I could tell, they were all in the terrible trance that I was in only minutes earlier. A trance that broke so quickly once I opened my eyes to one of God's signs of love for us. My testimony is strongest when I am looking and really seeing His artwork. It is all around us, and it can make a bad day, good.

Scenes from Grad Weekend

Oh, what a lovely weekend we had! 

We were visited by The Boss and Ma Nielson, who treated us to dinner and dessert at Carino's before Marcus's pinning ceremony Friday night.

Then Saturday morning we woke up early and went to the boys graduation from the Nursing Program. 

I felt a lot like I was in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry--all the professors in their fancy gowns and hoods, it was awesome. 

They even gave Marcus a rose that he used as a wand for the rest of the day.

I thought after I graduated with my Bachelors degree in May that I would surely be done with my formal education, but those amazing robes really got me considering a master's program...Do you think that's why they wear them, to lore the kids who are suckers for costumes?

After having lunch at Craigos, we loaded up Ma & Pa Nielson's truck with most of our belongings and sent them off. 

Sunday we feasted on Fondu and Marcus used the Red Plate.

While I'm not the biggest fan of the aesthetics of this plate, I do love the tradition that goes with it.

When ever someone is being honored (birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations) they used 'The Red Plate' and they sign their name on the back along with the date and the occasion. 

I think the kids will like it, don't you?

As we were eating, we had visitors:

4 Teenage sized deers and 2 babies! 

It was so precious. We sat and watched them for about 30 minutes before they leaped away.

Then we took an exploratory drive around the farmland of Idaho.

Along with one beautiful sunset, we saw a llama farm, a moose, a pony, two falcons, 10 baby cows, three long horn bulls, and at least 30 peacocks perched in the trees. 

It was so delightful! 

I think we'll be going on a few more of these before we hit the road for Arizona next week.

I hope your weekend was magnificent! 

I'd love to hear the highlights!

God of Nature.

As you may know, I went on a little road trip to Arizona last week. 

As I piloted the 16 hour voyage, I was continuously amazed by the grandeur of this earth we live on. 

I was close to tears on more than one occasion. 

They were tears of happiness and wonder.

To me, Nature has always held divinity--and this trip was a spiritual experience. 

The new blossoms on the trees, the rich red rock of the canyons, and the marshmallow clouds all seemed to be singing testaments of the God of Nature that created them.

How grateful we should be to have a Father in heaven, who is the greatest of all artists, allowing us live on His canvas and partake of it’s splendor.

If your faith is lacking, I implore you to take a road trip--I’m not sure how you could doubt, come your journey’s end.

We're Looking for the Girl Called Alice.

Alice: Sometimes I believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
The Mad Hatter: That is an excellent practice.

Oh, I really do not think our weekend could have been nicer. 

I begged Marcus to take me down to Utah for Halloween, for we live far back in an enchanted forest, and I very much doubted anyone would come trick-or-treating up our lane.

There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter.
Luckily, I am.

He's such a good man, so Friday afternoon (after raking our yard for 4 hours for the second time this week) we began our journey down the rabbit hole. 

Saturday was spent putting the final touches on the costumes, eating skeleton cupcakes, and brewing homemade hot chocolate with the nieces and my sweet big sister, Heidi. Then we went to the neighborhood block party and were bestowed with the unofficial Best Costume Award (YES!) After visiting a haunted house, we finished off the evening by falling asleep to Hocus Pocus.

She had never forgotten that, if you drink much from a bottle marked `poison,' it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later.

However, this bottle was not marked `poison,' so Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast,)
she very soon finished it off.

Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?

The Mad Hatter: Have I gone mad?
Alice: I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. 
But I'll tell you a secret.
All the best people are.

I was really excited to be playing the part of Alice as I have always felt akin to her. I am, perhaps, a mix of her and the Mad Hatter...Which makes me very peculiar, indeed. 

Please tell me you've read the book? 

Oh, it's pure genius and I am about to pick it up again!

anyways...

Sunday, after church, we drove through Robert Redford's Sundance Resort (Home of the Sundance Festival) It was breathtaking!

This was taken out my car window! I'm not even joking.

Aspens may very well be my favorite tree in the forest.

 Then over the river and through the woods we landed at NieNie & Mr. Nielson's house to drop off a birthday gift for Claire and draw Halloween pictures with the kids before we headed back to our forest.

I told this marshmallow cloud to get in my mouth, but he didn't listen to me.

I heart this color combination.

I was a very distracted driver as Marcus studied for his test in the passenger seat beside me.

 The scenes all around were testaments of our Creator. 

He is the master artist and I feel His love all around me whenever I am outside!

 Lost my muchness, have I? 

The End.


*I found this 1980s floor-length formal and my mom helped me make it into an Alice dress, I made my apron, and we thrifted and sewed all of Marcus's outfit on Saturday :)
Halloween is SOOO satisfying.