boats and dreams and growin' up

[As a warning, if the last two posts weren't any indication, you will probably be seeing many pictures from Crater Lake in future posts. It was just so strikingly beautiful there. These pictures are totally unedited,too! Sometimes I like to up the photo contrast in Photoshop but the colors were so naturally gorgeous that I didn't change a thing.]

We hiked around and down to the edge of Crater Lake one day during our vacation. I was so drawn to this boat, floating all alone at the edge of the lake. Besides the fact that it lent to a beautiful photo composition, I loved the image of a single, small boat floating at the edge of a huge lake. In a way, it's like a reflection of my life. Going into my senior year, I feel like I'm on the cusp of taking the next big step. Like this boat, I feel small and alone, at times, especially because I am making decisions for myself, not for anyone else nor is anyone included in the decision I make. But at the same time, there is a whole wide range of possibilities and I have potential to sail away into the lake, so to speak (although actually I might say the sea...sounds better). Anyway, I'm not much of an analogy girl...at least I don't come up with very good ones, but for what it's worth, there it is. In a more down-to-earth fashion, it's time to start thinking about what's to come, filling out applications, sending in resumes, tracking deadlines. Oh boy.

And so that's enough time spent creating word pictures for tonight. On tomorrow's agenda: updating my resume.

Family Vacation...

...in 10 words or less:

Gorgeous natural beauty. Family time. Spectacular plays. Warmth, sunshine. Relaxation.

p-town lovin

10 Reasons Why I Love Portland:

1. Well, the obvious. I grew up here, I know the place well, and I have all my childhood memories here. My family is here. This is where my roots are.

2 & 3. Because of the two great Portland things pictured above: (1) biking and (2) Stumptown Coffee. [As a side note, this picture is from today, taken at the first & main Stumptown shop...and that is my new bike in the background!]

4. People care about the environment here.

5. Fresh fruit, vegetarian, and vegan options abound thanks to a little streak of health nut-hippie that runs in Portland blood.

6. Portland is walkable. Also, bike-able. Pretty much anywhere I want to go is within 3-5 miles of my house.

7. Mild weather. This summer has been a little TOO mild overall, but hey, gotta love the moderate temperatures year-round.

8. It is absolutely normal for total strangers to greet each other when passing on the street.

9. Portland has awesome events, especially in the summer. I love street fairs, Sunday Parkways, and neighborhood festivals.

10. Portland can be easily navigated. Whoever came up with the numerical streets crossed by alphabetized streets was a genius city planner. Gotta love Ankeny, Burnside, Couch, David, Everett, Flanders, etc, etc.

I love love love this city!

My Weekend in Photos.

Beach Day. Yard Sale. Sunday Parkway Bike Ride. Hawthorne Street Fair. 95 degree goodness.

stuffstuffstuff

So. Much. Stuff. It's garage sale time! AKA, time to sort, organize, clean, price, and set up. Hello, busy week.

10 Things I Love About Summer

1. The blackberries growing over the fence into my backyard (seen above).

2. Cooking and cooking and cooking...trying out all kinds of new recipes, which I will bring with me to school next year. Mostly vegetarian...I'm on a new meatless kick.

3. Teaching swim lessons, especially to kids with Down's Syndrome. Irvin and Thomas make my day every day.

4. My swim team kids.

5. Exercising!

6. Having time and a car to go buy things I need (or want!), which is so much easier at home than at school.

7. Hiking and watching movies with my dad, and playing games with my family. These things pretty much only happen in summer.

8. Fruit smoothies.

9. Farmer's markets and eating organic food. Also, any and all food coming from our garden.

10. Going to Mosaic. I sure do love that church.

Cam-Cam-Camera!

So, when you're on a spending streak, why not spend more? This was my philosophy this weekend. I figured I'm getting paid next Thursday, so I might as well go ahead and spent my whole paycheck (and more) ahead of time. ;) Actually, I just finally got around to buying some things I've wanted for a very long time. Yesterday was my new bike (see post below), and today I brought home my very own Nikon D3000 Digital SLR (with additional lens and bag to boot)!

This has been my dream for a long time - to have a digital SLR and learn to enhance my photography skills. Ironically, while I've been trying to sell photos on my etsy site, the only ones that have ever sold were taken on my little point-and-shoot. I won't let this deter me from learning to use my new camera, though!

Watch out, blog! Killer pictures to come.

[P.S. The above photo was taken with my new camera, as is. No photoshopping or editing occurred.]

My Sleek New Ride

The title is self explanatory. [I may be terrible at blogging but] I have a new bike for the first time in a decade. And I am so excited.