Fall is my absolute favorite season. There's something about the leaves turning colors, the crisp blue air and of course the pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks.

Yesterday I traveled to the pumpkin patch and I realized I haven't been to a pumpkins patch since I was a kid. My husband and I wondered through the fields of pumpkins, picking up some and examining them trying to find that perfect pumpkin to carve. This pumpkin patch was no ordinary "patch" it had hay rides, train rides, corn maze, petting zoo and many things for kids to climb, jump and slide on. It was like a one stop shop for family fun.

It was very strange though to pick out pumpkins and it was 80 degrees. I still haven't gotten use to CA weather. I keep thinking when I walk outside it's going to be nice and crisp, because it's OCTOBER!! But no, 82 to be exact. Sweating and picking pumpkins was really random and weird.



The petting zoo was pretty fun, miniature donkeys, baby goats and piglets. I think I like miniature animals, makes me feel like a giant.
I loved watching all the families interact with their children and how the children interacted with the animals. This one young boy walked in with a carrot and shoved it in a donkeys face and said here eat this. C'mon eat it. Then he gave up on that donkey and went to another one. He kept doing this for a while, just couldn't get rid of that carrot.



While walking out to the car with 2 pumpkins in hand I watched this older brother (probably 10 or so) say to his younger sister (7 or so) say "C'mon hold my hand we are walking into the parking lot." She didn't think that was so cool and said, "No, let's choo choo." What a great explanation for holding hands, nah just choo choo. As I got to the car I turned around to see if the little girl ever held onto ther brothers hand and she was, her brother stood in front and put his hands behind his back while she held them and said, "CHOO CHOO!"
I love fall.



And this guy!

Dusk

It was 7:20pm on Sunday and the evening air was still warm from the day's heat. As I drove I kept all my windows down and turned up the radio. It was my favorite time of the day, where the sun had almost left the sky completely for the day and the street lights were slowly compensating for the departing sun. Continuing in my new lighting, I slowly turned my vehicle into the parking lot of the movie theater. As I got out of my car, I looked over to see another woman getting out of her SUV at the same time, we both glanced at one another for a brief moment. I continued my walk to the ticket window. Glancing at the board before me, times and movie titles lit in red lettering, grabbed my wallet and said, "One for Love Happens."



One of the main reasons I ventured to the theater to see this chick flick was that it took place in Seattle. Being a native of Washington and feeling homesick was one of my main reasons to see this movie. As I sat in my green cushioned theater seat, I watched the Seattle skyline appear before me. Safeco, Qwest Field, the viaduct busy with cars going northbound. I watched the characters walk around in my city, placing their gum on the gum wall in Post Alley. Walking through Pike Place at night, something I miss doing, and of course the rain.



As closing credits rolled through and the lights came up, I felt I had visited home for 1 hour and 49 minutes. Walking to my car I saw the same lady as I had arrived, we both looked at one another. It was a look of contentment.

During the drive "home" I ran through some of the scenes in my head. My sense of community had grown, meaning I missed my family, friends, church, the arts, the music and of course the amazing donuts at Pike Place so much.



As I continue my journey in California I can't help, but feel my strong roots in Washington leading me back one day. Hopefully soon.

Heartbeat

I absolutely love music and I am so appreciative of people you are musicians and can write songs. Lyrics, music, harmony, and melody this is something I want to learn.

As I was eating my sandwich at a local restaurant I was telling my friend about a new movie coming out with Jack White, The Edge and Jimmy Page. It’s titled “It Might Get Loud.” I told her all about the movie trailer and how awesome the film is going to be. She looked at me and said, “Your husband is so lucky to have you as a wife.” I smiled. She continued, “Most wives would not want to watch a movie like that or even care.” My husband is a musician and I merely a music lover with no music ability. And I am not going to count my 5 years of piano lessons as a child as anything close to musical. I hated practicing and was tired of playing hymns. My poor teacher Mrs. Meyer struggled with me every Friday afternoon. I was more concerned about what we were going to have for dinner after practice than scales, chords and new songs. Maybe if there were musicians that I admired at that age I would have tired harder. But always the things later in life that we realized we shouldn’t have given up on.

My brother a drummer, tired to teach me how to play the drums one time. He said okay you are a tap dancer; now just take those tap moves to a drum kit. It didn’t work out so well. He was completely boggled that I couldn’t keep a rhythm with my hands, but could keep rhythm and timing with my feet. To each their own.

Never promised

“A table outside would be wonderful, thank you,” I said sitting down in a green chair and placing my camera bag on the ground. Grabbing a menu, I looked up to a young face, slightly tanned face and bleach blonde hair. “Here is your water and your server will be right with you,” he said placing ice water with lemon on the table. This guy was wearing board shorts and a backwards hat. His job was not a career for him, but simply way to pay the bills. Sitting on the sidewalk in San Diego, I looked around and realized there were a lot of non-career people, but rather people who were enjoying life. A life that is full of days of waiting tables and evenings of surfing, hanging out on the beach or just plain relaxing. I get envious of this culture, this way of life. Being someone who goes through life with check lists and a list of accomplishments in my pocket that I have achieved or must achieve at a certain age. This sort of life, I believe causes weight gain, wrinkles and a serve case of the grumpys. Sometimes we have to take a step back look at our surroundings and enjoy life. Take a deep breath and live it up. We all know life is short and we are not promised tomorrow.

How to remember a trip

When I went to San Francisco last year I had numerous little things/adventures happen to me. I didn't want to forget the details of my trip. So I grabbed a napkin and started to write little notes to myself to trigger my memory when telling my story. Here is my story.

Sometimes

You just have to take a moment and look at your surroundings. I am so thankful.

Sometimes...

it's all we need

The Dynamic Duo

Do I need to say more?

That's right

I have arrived

Lovely evening

I grab my keys and take a brisk walk up to the mail boxes. Find my number, turn the key and there it is, hiding beneath some magazines and bills, my escape…my movie. I never realized how exciting receiving my Netflix movie in the mail would be. It’s like getting a present every other day, yet I know exactly what I am getting, but that still doesn’t curb the excitement I feel when I rip open that bright red envelope and pull out the white sleeve plainly marked in Times New Roman font with black lettering, “Becoming Jane.”

This movie took me back to England for 2 hours and 3 minutes and I absolutely adored it. Wrapped in a brown fuzzy blankets, monkey slippers tight around my toes and a cup of black tea with cream and sugar warming my cold hands, I felt like I could at any minute slip into a British accent.

Took the long way home

A view from the passenger seat.

Going to the market

The way we should all travel in the Spring.

Sweet Sweet Cupcakes

What I did this evening

Luggage from my Luv

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

~St. Augustine

So many covers to judge

One reason I like CA

Still getting use to the California sunshine ALL the time, but here is a place I really enjoy.

An evening to create

Over a chicken salad sandwich, french fries and a cherry coke I was asked if I blogged? I finished chewing and stated, "Not yet, but soon."

Well soon has arrived. Who knows will read it, if anyone at all. But to creating has always been fun for me. Creating photos, stories or even creating a great batch of chocolate chip cookies. Which by the way I make amazing chocolate chip cookies. My mom actually asked me what my secret was, because my brother seemed to enjoy my cookies better than hers. Someday I will let her in, but for now I like to be known as the awesome cookie maker of the family.

For tonight I really have nothing else to say, but tomorrow more will be created.