Two More Days...

We move to Portland in 2 days. I can't believe this day is really just around the corner!!!
I feel very excited! I'm ready. I feel like I can leave this home and begin a new life...with all it's surprises and unknowns...being together again and not feeling like Joe is a visitor on the weekend! (We both feel this way!)...And O is going to be thrilled to be with his dad everyday!
Bye house. Thanks for being such a great home for us...the memories are many and will be treasured...

Just a Picture of a Tomato...

Joe...

This is my beautiful and wonderful husband...we've been sharing our lives for 7+ years, and I love slowing down and thinking about our times together...like our first date...lasting over 12 hours...making out in the little Miata...steaming up those little windows didn't take much...

Our trip to Lyons, on the motorcycle...laughing in bed to funny faces...watching "Harold and Maude" (Joe's favorite movie)...his kind and loving heart...when he calls me "sweetpea" which is just about everyday...

In all this "crazyness" of getting ready to move, I just wanted to stop and write a little bit about the love of my life, and how lucky, grateful I am to know him...

I love you Joe.

The Last Of Autumn...

Hey...That's Mt. Rainier!!!

They are putting in 37 new houses just south of us...and due to all the clear cutting that has taken place, we can now see Mt. Rainier.
Yey?

Friends...

(Last photo by David Julian)...Oh baby!!!

:)

Light

I took this photo this afternoon....just playing with my ISO/no flash photography...

Christmas List

1. Olympus Ex-25mm Macro Extension Tube

2. Olympus E-1 Body (It's a water resistant camera)(CHECK!) (Thanks honey!!!)

3. All-Clad Frying Pan

4. A day to myself so I can go play with my camera

Ho, Ho, Ho.

Red

Choices....

So Tired...

I'm pooped. I had a pretty productive day in spite of the constant stress. It's not huge...but just always there...hugging me like a second skin. I did manage to get out and shoot for a while, although it's pretty hard to hold the camera still with Owen on my back...but I'm pretty pleased with a couple of shots regardless...um, I mean, "irregardless"...haha...private joke...(like really private...I'm the only one that knows about it!)

Have a picture.



And another...

Sad Day

Today I received news that Barbara W. died yesterday. I have been very sad all day, and I am still in disbelief...so sudden, so young, so beautiful...

I wanted to go out and photograph something beautiful to post here...to honor her, but alas, the rain was constant today.

I thought about what I wanted to write here all day...but as I sit here, I just don't feel like writing about it. It doesn't matter.

Barbara, I will miss you. I am sorry Joe and I never made it down to Napa to see you. I love you and I hope your last moments here on earth were full of love and minimal pain.

Letting Go...

This time I mean it. We are truly weeks away from moving. I only have to finish painting a couple of rooms, cleaning and setting the house up for selling.

A couple of days ago, they came to put in the carpet in the master bedroom, which I have used as my studio for these past 5 years. I painted the walls a beautiful caramel color and was in the process of painting the hall just outside the room, when I was overcome with sadness. I went into the bedroom and wrote a couple of messages on the soon to be covered floor. I wanted the house to know that I loved it...so many memories...In that room in particular, I had found my creativity again, there in my tree house...I painted many, many canvases there...drank many cups of coffee and mate and tea...spoke on the phone to Bebhinn, Maggie and Tusi...I read my art magazines...I sketched...I held my little baby, I chatted with my love, Joe.

I know we will create a new wonderful home for us. I know there will be other gardens. I know there will be other memories. I look forward to creating them...

Where Am I?

Joe, Owen and I went on a little walk this weekend across the street to the new Quadrant Development...we found a quaint little trail, which is the only redeeming quality and contribution they have brought to our neighborhood...but alas, I digress.

On the early part of the walk, Joe noticed that this tree, (crabapple?) was budding...and sure enough, there were new little gorgeous, fragrant flowers opening up in utter confusion...I've never heard of this happening, maybe it's a common occurrence in the Fall, as the days are similar to our Spring days? (If this is a wrong assumption, let it be known that it was Joe's idea!!!)...Is it global warming? Is it the Republicans fault?

Yes, that's it. The little tree feels that the end of the world is nearing due to horrid policies by this Administration, and decided to push it's little buds out into the world, just to have one last go at it before we all die.

Foggy Morning...

Autumn...

Fall has arrived to Seattle...Yesterday was a beautiful morning...I just love the crispness of the air and light...and the colors Fall brings...

Random Thoughts...

I feel like writing...

I am sitting here on my beautiful and comfortable couch...I can hear the classical guitar music Owen is sleeping to through the baby monitor...It sounds so nice...I think I'm going to play more music...listening to NPR all day gets a little old I suppose...especially listening to same stories a couple of times...

We are working so hard on getting the house ready...we hired a crew of guys to come tomorrow and stay all day...they are going to do a lot...I will mostly watch Owen, as my babysitter (who I called to see if she could come today and tomorrow) has not returned my call...this has been the pattern lately, along with cancelling the morning of...so I will not use her anymore...it sure sucks though as it would be helpful to have some time to pack. I did though hire another babysitter (she is a stay at home mom), but she won't start until Monday. She's coming everyday for a week or two for a few hours, so that will be good.

So we may be moving to Portland as early as a couple of weeks...I can't believe it...forever it seemed far away...unreachable...and now it's right around the corner...I'm both excited and sad....I'm really, really, really going to miss this home...I wish I could pack it up and take it with me...but the knowledge that Joe, Owen and I will be together is really great...I've hated the distance between all of us...and I know Joe is so happy to have us all together!

Yey!

I'm looking forward too to buying another home...I don't think our plan to pay cash for our next home is really going to pan out...the homes in that cash range are not in the best neighborhoods, so I think we are looking at a $100K mortgage...not bad at all...maybe we can work hard and pay it off in a year or two...God knows we won't need to buy anything for our new home! haha...

I've been looking at my past artwork as I pack my studio...it will be good to spend time nurturing and creating again...I do miss it...

Well, it's 9:30 and the dryer stopped...off to fold laundry.

We're moving to Portland...

We decided a week or so ago to move to Portland...I feel good about the decision, excited really...but I will admit that I am dealing with feelings of loss. I have come to love this home...in a way one can love a home...in the short 5 years we have lived here, we have amassed a heart full of memories...the love and work and dreams we have lived here...

There is a part of me that realizes this is irreplaceable...this place is unique...but so is my marriage...and I miss Joe, and long for our life when we spent our time together as oppossed to now, were it's only a few days a week...I know in my heart that this is the right direction we need to follow.

I will miss most of all the woodpeckers, my Japanese Maples...my Bamboo...my kitchen...Pookie's Garden...were I have spent many mornings just sitting and being happy.

I hope whoever ends up with this home, enjoys it as much or even more than we have...I can't do more than that.

Nature...

Hmmmm....