Well hi there, 2012!

It's that time of year.  Time to start fresh, begin again, recommit.  Resolve and all that jazz.

In 2012 I want to find more time for FUN.

And yeah, I am a list person.  And yeah, I think that your thoughts are more powerful when you write them down. So here goes: a stream of consciousness list.

I want to...
Learn to knit.  Cook more at home and write down the recipes!  Go for walks.  Take more photos.  Maintain balance.  Write letters.  Make more music.  Learn to play the bass, sing more, lay down some tracks.  Be present.  Stay organized.  Make connections.  Be.

Say yes more.

Take roadtrips.  Document the garden.  Get outside.  Resist less.  Let go.  Take off!  Feed the birds.  Ride my bike.  Hike.  Plant more trees.

So, on that note, best wishes to you and yours.
Bring it, 2012 :)

Lightning and thunder and hail, oh my!

Minnesota weather is nothing if not extreme.  And Minnesotans honor their climate by talking about the weather.  Incessantly.

Working with the public I've learned that weather is the best universal chat fodder in these parts - everyone is guaranteed to have something to say about it.  It's a prerequisite to Minnesota Nice.  Fer sure.  And it's one of those little things that's grown on me about this state.  In fact, it's rather endearing.

So, in the Minnesotan spirit I plan on sharing some weather observations with you from time to time.

Let's begin with a video.  This storm hit us on 7/1/2011.  I filmed it as the hail was just beginning - later we got some golfball sized ones that wreaked havoc on the garden.

Despite our small bit of damage we were quite lucky.  We received 15+ minutes of intense hail instead of the damaging winds.  Trees were uprooted and power lines were down in other nearby areas.  Some places are still without power.

Mother nature has a nice way of putting things in perspective.



 

Hello, again

Yikes, it's been awhile.  Hello, again, stranger.  Where do I start?

Instead of catching up I'm going to reflect on right now.  Inspired by the blog my sister-in-law writes I am going to take a moment to list some good stuff from today. 


~A long day at the library done, and I already finished my side job for the weekend.  Exhausting for the mind/body yet amazing for the pocketbook (if I can only remember to bill the side job).  

~Yet I'm energized because it's the eve of my husband's art show debut!
I'll be there as his lovely assistant; I'm so excited for this great opportunity for him.  He's grown so much as an artist in the past year that it's truly shocking.  I'm proud; can you tell? :)

~  Listening to this makes me smile; I spent a good deal of the evening singing.

Life is good.

dreaming of summer...

I love to watch the geese fly by - there were a few flocks joining up into one big V formation when I snapped these :)