Challenge #5 / From a high angle

A couple of weeks ago I had my little sister and my mom help me pick enough watermelon berries to make jam. Picking watermelon berries is a tradition for me - I usually just snack on them but no autumn would be complete without picking some 'snot berries!'

Although my dad kept smack talkin' that we weren't going to find enough to make anything from them, don't worry - we did. Instead of jam, however, I decided to make syrup. It was the first time I'd made it, and it was quite easy - and thankfully mom had all the supplies and ingredients...and I'd brought my sugar container from home, knowing I was going be doing this...it came home empty so let's just say there's a tad bit of zing in this stuff. 

We found 8 cups of berries, and I can safely say I ate almost a cup full before they made it to the boiling pot. Juicy! Below is about a third of the syrup we came away with. I tasted it by itself and it was kinda earthy and sweet. I'm thinking on waffles or drizzled over vanilla ice cream. 

I used my wide angle lens for this shot, and was standing on a chair leaning over the table. See the little white seeds floating on top? Mom says we should've folded the cheese cloth once more...I say it adds character! 

It's great to be home after a 5-day vacation to see family in Turlock, CA and Reno, NV. Will post some more photos from that trip soon. I hope you have a wonderful evening - the weekend is almost here!

During my recent vacation to California and Nevada, I tried In-N-Out for the first time. Oh my G. That is all.

Here pishy pishy...

I haven't had much computer time the last few days because little sis has been in town - but that's okay! I haven't uploaded my last couple of photos for my 30-day challenge...and I'm going on vacation tomorrow so I might be taking a hiatus from the blog for like a week or so as well! So, I think it will end up being more like a 40-50 day challenge. :) So it goes! 

Hubs should be home this afternoon after a long stint at work, my little sister found housing for this fall, school starts up next week, work is good...today will be a good day.

 Last weekend Dad and I smoked some salmon in the Big Chief then canned it...do you know how good that tastes in the dead of winter when all you can do is dream about fish and summer ?? oh SO good.

Happy Wednesday to you ~ happy Friday to me! ** Hope it's wonderful.

Dogs

When my first pup died, my friend sent me a bouquet of flowers with a simple, sweet note: A quote which read "A good dog comes, enriches our lives, and leaves us better than before. It's sad that they have to leave so soon." 
I had kept the note and put it in my desk drawer at work. I found it the other day and although it temporarily made me sad, it also made me realize how strong we are capable of being. As individuals, we face many obstacles in life. We make many many decisions every single day that affect our lives. Simple decisions some of them... daunting decisions others. Sometimes our world seems to come crashing down on us, and we are forced to charge through. It's not always easy, in fact hardly is it ever easy. But it's a part of life, and it shapes us. Our many accomplishments, our many hardships, our losses and our gains. All of these twists and turns and stops and starts along life's path are going to continue - it's up to us to deal with them in a positive way. Back to dogs. Since I am not a mother yet, I'm still in dog mode - and I love it. My family has had many dogs in our lifetime - too many to remember actually...but my first pup, the first pup I picked out and I paid for and I cared for all by myself - was Luka. He was a miniature Australian shepherd - but not so mini, and looked more like a weasel than anything. He was my little man and became a part of the family. I'd like to point out right now that if you're not a dog person then you may as well quit reading. :)
For almost three years Luka was by my side constantly. When he got hit, I truly felt as though I'd lost a family member. Every day tasks weren't the same - because he wasn't by my side. It took a long long time to realize he wasn't coming back and I had to wake up and smell the coffee and move on. I was able to so, knowing that Luka had the best life he could have had and I couldn't have loved him more. I still get sad thinking about him, but am thankful that we were brought together for that short time. I learned a lot when I had him. And like the quote says, he did enrich our lives and leave us better than before. I could not imagine losing a child - and understand why that is a parent's biggest fear. Parent's who have lost children are the strongest people in the world.
(I also realize I'm sounding pretty possessive in this post so far, mine, me, I - when really it was mine and my then-boyfriend/fiance, now husband's dog...)
Fast forward a year and half.
I (WE) now have a black lab and another miniature aussie. They are both almost two years old. They are a handful and they run my life. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I realize that my life will take many turns in the next phase - building a family, a home, a career... but for now I will enjoy my routine...
Wake up to doggie on my head, shower with doggie sleeping on bath mat, up and down the stairs with pups at my feet, go home at lunch to let the dogs out, go to the dog park, watch my shows and snuggle, bed time with dogs corking off my covers.
I have dirty floors. I sweep every day, but that's the way it goes. I have every kind of pet stain remover money can buy. I don't have expensive furniture or a bunch of fragile pieces of artwork around the house. My car has seat covers in it, and those covers may or may not have lots of holes in them and mud on them. There are tennis balls, rope toys, raw hides, and the insides of stuffed animals around the yard, house, deck, and vehicles. There is dog hair EVERYWHERE - places dog hair probably shouldn't be. The paint on the outside door is scratched off. I've successfully owed half of the roommates I've had at least two pairs of shoes a piece. We've spent thousands of dollars on dogs, dog food, dog houses, dog pens, doggie plane tickets, and vet bills. And ya know what, that's okay with me.
Without them my life would be different. Better? Maybe, maybe not. Would I be different? Most likely...better? Probably not.
Don't forget how strong you are. And for all of you with pups that you love - they are lucky to have you, and vice versa. Thanks for reading.

 Jas and I in La Grande, OR hiking with Luka.

 Luka drinking out of a straw.

 Luka a few days after I got him.

 Me, Luka and Zoe not long after we got Zoe.

 Me and Luka.

 Jas and Penny. Uh Oh!

 Jas, Me, Penny and Zoe at Hatcher's Pass.

Penny and Zoe cooling off in a mud puddle this past weekend.

Challenge #4 / Something Green

Good Morning all!

It's Friday, finally.

I will be heading south for the weekend to harvest some berries and get my city girls (dogs) some beach time before it's too dang cold out. 

I have to admit, I just might be ready for fall. We're in that transitional period right now where summer is fading into autumn. I understand that all summers must come to an end...but when you live in the land of the midnight sun, I think saying goodbye is just a little bit tougher. Nights that never ended are shading into days that will become considerably short. I can smell the crisp air when I get up - it's changing out there. 

Bring it on! Why not...

The green will soon become yellows, oranges, and reds. There's termination dust on the mountains and it will only creep lower and lower.

Although, t-shirt and shorts season will still go on for another couple of months for crazy Alaskans - a hoodie is now in order, and soon gloves and hats will find their way in. We shall still try to wear shorts outside as long as possible. 

What a great summer it was - I will reminisce for just a little while - and then look forward to change.

PS - My 'something green' for this photo challenge caught my eye while thoroughly enjoying my java this a.m. In fact, it's time for a refill. 

A wonderful weekend to all!

Challenge #3 / Clouds

When mid-August rolls around in Alaska, any day that looks like this is like winning a million bucks (not quite, but you get my drift...)

My sisters, my niece, and my pups and I took a short hike along Flattop Mountain yesterday... you could tell that the colors were changing and the air was a bit more crisp than usual. 

An evening high above the city with family and a camera...life's good. 

Trying not to take it for granted...

Challenge #2 / What you wore today

This could have gone a lot of different ways.

For the first time in forever I wore a dress to work, but didn't want the evidence of that up on here.
I'm currently wearing a t-shirt that my bball coach in college gave us to wear at practice before our practice gear came, that says NO EXCUSES.
I've worn flats, crocs, and slippers so far today; two different jackets and maybe even more surprising is no socks. I love being bare foot. If I could do it all the time I would; however, my feet are always ice cold so the two concepts don't mesh so well. I'm also not supposed to be walking barefoot due to problems with my feet so don't tell my mom, please.

Consequently, I chose to take a photo of something I wear every single day. Something that when I first received it was way too large and in charge, and in fact really the first ring I'd worn in, again, forever.
It was a bit awkward the way it would slip and hang and it didn't seem natural.
None the less it was one full karat of ALL MINE. And it was and is perfect.

I also love how this shot really brings out the peach fuzz on my fingers.

How did Monday treat you?

Challenge #1 / Self-Portrait

So, here I am. 

A doctor once told me,

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." Okay, it was Dr. Seuss and he didn't tell me, PER SE, but I read it in a book once and that's a pretty good quote, huh?! So, my advice here is: you are the only chance you get at this life. We don't get to be someone we're not. We get one crack at this baby and that's it. Look around at your wonderful world, your amazing life and be thankful for what you've worked for and earned and what you've been blessed with - past, present, and future. Instead of dwelling on the not-so-good things, appreciate the very good things. Take em and run with em. It will never be perfect, but the possibility of it being pretty dang good is high. You are in control. Live the life you're meant to live. Be happy. 

I started this 30-day photography challenge to keep me sharp and picking up my camera each day. Also, it's kind've fun to have "assignments" to keep things new and interesting. Sometimes it's good to be told what to do ~ and to use your mind and creativity to decide what it means to you. 

**I did a friend's engagement shoot last night and am working on those photos so stay tuned! 

I guess it was kind've a typical Sunday, really. How was yours?

30-day challenge

Look what I found! I'm excited. Should I start today???

Whose with me?

August and Fireweed

It's a beautiful time of year in the AK.

The fireweed are taller than I am. 

Unproductive pleasures.

 Doing what you love is complicated. 

I wish I could say that I wrote the essays below - but alas, I did not. I found them online and pulled my favorite excerpts from them. They are both quite real and quite inspiring and gave me something to think about...so it goes...

Make it a double.

Something I've learned.