Happy Harvest Time!

October has flown by so fast! The nights are getting colder and the days are getting shorter. I do love this time of year though. I love the crispness in the air and the splendor of autumn colors. It brings about a time of year that has always been close to my heart. I have always loved taking my children to the pumpkin patch every year to pick out their pumpkins. I have some wonderful memories of sipping hot cider, taking hay rides and seeing the pure joy on my children's faces.

As my children get older I am trying to hold onto those memories as we make our yearly visit to the pumpkin patch. Gone are the days when they would go with their preschool teachers, or the kindergarten class and I would get to tag along as a chaperone. This year marked the next season, so to speak, as we ventured out to the pumpkin patch on our own as a family. We have always gone as a family every year anyway but this marked the first time that the kids almost seemed to be getting a little bored with the petting zoo and the hay ride. It almost seemed to be an obligatory part of the pumpkin patch experience. I can't say that I blame them but it does make my heart yearn for the days when their eyes would light up on their small little faces as we took a hay ride and surveyed the land full of shiny, orange pumpkins.

I have to say that I was glad to see that they were still excited to go hunting for the perfect pumpkin out in the patch. They were much more picky this year as they analyzed which ones had the best look and feel for whatever Jack O'Lantern face they had in mind. During past pumpkin patch experiences I always had to remind the kids to be sure that they didn't get a pumpkin that was too big, or too green, too squishy or too whatever. They were so independent picking out their very own pumpkin. I was in store for a special treat this year, low and behold, I didn't have to carry a single one.

I think I will continue our family tradition of visiting the pumpkin patch every Fall. I think we may just have to step it up to the next level and visit the pumpkin launching area and the corn shooter machines. They were also eyeing the haunted house as we left this year. My suspicions that my children are growing up were confirmed when my son wanted his pumpkin to be a barfing pumpkin this year!

Many Glaciers

I had a yearning to see some live shots of Glacier National Park today. I went to the Glacier National Park website and checked out the web cams that have placed throughout the park. (Check it out at http://www.nps.gov/glac/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm) You can click on an active web cam image that updates every 60 seconds. It was fun to go check out all of the web cams and see how the the effects of Autumn are changing the look and feel of GNP. If I am not mistaken there was a trace of snow on some of the mountains! You should go check it out!

The image above is one of my favorites from our hike around Swiftcurrent Lake which was taken on our trip to Many Glaciers. Many Glaciers is yet another gem in the crown of Glacier. We saw some gorgeous scenery, as well as a black bear, on our way up to Many Glaciers from Two Medicine. We were not disappointed with this view of Mt. Wilbur that you can see along the trail as you hike around the lake.

Good Medicine

We decided to spend the first half of our summer vacation this year visiting my aunt and uncle in Missoula, Montana (what a great time!) and then head to Glacier National Park for the remainder of the week.  Glacier National Park is a place that Kendall and I have always wanted to take the kids.  Years ago we had gone through part of the park on our way by Amtrak as we headed out to Green Bay, Wisconsin.  If I am not mistaken we had a stop over in East Glacier.  My uncle has been to Glacier many times so we asked him what he thought should be on our agenda for the week. One of his favorites spots is Two Medicine (pictured above) which is located on the East side of the park.  Kendall and I planned out our camping/sight seeing route, bought all of the supplies we thought we might need, and read up on what to do if you encounter a bear (seriously!).  It was a gorgeous drive up there and I was quite impressed with Flathead Lake which we saw along the way.  It reminded me a lot of Lake Coeur D'Alene in Idaho! 

Montana has to be one of the most beautiful states I have ever seen. Some of the scenery is quite breath taking.  Between the winding rivers, stands of ponderosa and lodge pole pines, and the mountains, there is plenty to feast your eyes upon.  The mountains are enormous, standing stately and proud, jutting up magnificently into the sky.  The nickname Big Sky Country is very appropriate for Montana...there would have to be an enormous amount of  sky to contain the Rocky Mountains as they run through the Western part of the state. 

Our visit to Glacier National Park was something that truly touched my soul.  It was an experience that proved to be good medicine for my soul.  I thought it was quite appropriate that we stayed at Two Medicine the first couple nights of our stay in the park.  Right away, Two Medicine seemed to have a calming effect on all of us.  It was a special place where we could get away from our cell phones, the quick and hurried pace of life and (gasp!) even our laptops and email. 

The beauty of our surroundings from the sheer cliffs, sweeping valleys and the soothing turquoise lake should be enough to quiet anyone's soul.  It is great place to visit, whether you're hiking along the shore of the lake with gravel crunching beneath your feet or resting on a rustic bench contemplating the wonder of it all as you breathe in the scent of mountains around you.  The quietness I encountered was astounding.  It made me realize that sometimes we need to seek that stillness, take the time to watch the quiet dance of nature and appreciate the interconnectedness of everything around us.   

It was  wonderful  for us to spend time as a family together, no distractions.  I think we all got a lot out of our time spent together in the woods.  We were able to talk, laugh and hike together.  A great way to make memories that I hope our kids will treasure forever.  It was a time that  we were able to stop the world outside for just a little while and and enjoy our children and each other.  There weren't any schedules that we had to adhere to, no place that we had to be.  I am so grateful for this time that we had to reconnect.  

(A favorite time of mine was to sneak away early in the morning just as the sun was about to rise and walk over to the lake.  The picture above doesn't even begin to capture the beauty of the sun's rays as they started to bathe the mountains with the first light of the day. Truly stunning to see in person I must say!)

I want to thank the Park Ranger, Pat Hagan, who led us on a nature hike at Two Medicine.  He helped me to put into words this wonderful feeling I had, as he talked about what really is "Good Medicine".  As a whole, my experience in Glacier Park brought a calmness and sense of restoration to my inner self.  That's powerful medicine!  I think the following quote sums it all up for me, "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~ John Muir  

(I will probably do a couple of more posts about our adventures in Glacier. It is such a special place that I think it may deserve more than one entry.) 

Multnomah Falls...

On my way over to the coast to take my kids to summer camp a couple of weeks ago,  I decided to stop off at Multnomah Falls.  The Falls has a special place in my heart and I think it has become a special place for our kids as well. (Maybe it is the fabulous ice cream they have at the snack shop at the Lodge that is the real ticket for them!).  We were all so excited to stop and take in the sheer beauty that is Multnomah Falls.  I did notice that we have become accustomed to the drier air over in the Tri Cities though. The first thing we all noticed was how humid the air seemed to be.  On our hike up to the bridge my son, Thomas, declared that the air was "hot and sticky!". 

 We truly had a wonderful time taking in the view of the Falls, eating that delicious ice cream and learning about the local flora (if it has leaves of three, let it be!) and  fauna from the park ranger, even if the place was crawling with tourists.  In the past we have generally stayed away during this time of year due to that very reason. But in a way, it was a delight to hear people's observations of what they saw and felt as some of them were viewing this place for the very first time.  It was also fascinating to learn some of the history of this area as I had never really taken the time to find out about that before. 

Multnomah Falls is definitely a place that is worthy of a visit, even if it is during the height of the tourist season.  It really is an amazing sight to see.  It plummets 620 feet from its origins on Larch mountain,  falling down the face of a basalt rock cliff, to make this the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States.  Underground springs on Larch Mountain feed the falls with highest flow being during the winter and spring.  Almost two million visitors come every year to behold this ancient waterfall.  This makes Multnomah Falls,  Oregon's number one public destination. 

The Benson Bridge and the beautiful Multnomah Falls Lodge architecture only add beauty to the Falls.  The Benson Bridge was built in 1914, by Italian stone masons, to replace an existing log bridge (if you can imagine!).  This allowed visitors to cross the falls between the lower and upper sections of the falls.  The Benson Bridge was named after Simon Benson, the owner of the falls at the time and a prominent businessman.  The 300 acre site was given to the City of Portland by Benson but the final ownership was given to US Forest Service in 1943.  

The Multnomah Falls Lodge was built in 1925 by A.E. Doyle.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Inside the lower level of the Lodge there is a USDA Forest Service Information Center, a gift shop and snack bar.  The ice cream is delicious and there is a wonderful coffee bar located just outside the Lodge. The upper level of the lodge has a restaurant that serves delicious northwest cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner complete with a view of the Falls.   The Lodge does not have overnight accommodations and is only a day lodge. 

The Falls are located about twenty minutes east of Troutdale, OR in the scenic Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area.  There are only two ways to get to the Falls by either using Interstate 84 or the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway.  If you have the time to spare, I would highly recommend taking the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway if you are coming from Portland.  The drive is simply breathtaking in the Fall as you wind your way through the trees in their full autumn glory.  Along the way to the Falls you can stop at the Vista House at Crown Point as well as other viewpoints to take in the majestic views of the Columbia River Gorge. 

A truly beautiful site to witness for yourself!

Finding My Light Again...

Lately I have been trying to focus on the true blessings that I have in my life.  How truly blessed I am to have such a caring and wonderful family and some fantastic friends!  Sometimes, I think it can be all too easy to get caught up in the daily humdrum of life and forget how truly fortunate I am.  

The last year has been quite an adjustment for me to be honest.  I heard recently that it can take up to two years to adjust to a move.  I can see how that can be true.  Trying to figure out where to shop, adjusting to new jobs and just meeting new people can be hard.  You can feel like an outsider for a while.  I have known people that thrive on moving and exploring new places.  In ways, I wish I could be more like them.  I have discovered that I tend to be a creature of habit, whether I like to admit it or not.   

I have focused most of my energy in the last year in selling our old house, buying a new one, getting kids adjusted to new surroundings and to new schools, saying good bye to my old job and learning a new one all while trying to learn the ways of a  new town.  One of the hardest parts of leaving Vancouver was saying goodbye to all of our friends.  (Thank goodness for facebook!). There have definitely been some times along this path that haven't been easy.  So what do I think a year out from making a decision to make a big move? 

Honestly, I can say that I don't regret the decision to move.  Sure, there are lots of things that I miss about Vancouver.  But I think our experiences here have been some wonderful gifts to us.  Kendall and I have learned a lot about ourselves and each other (i.e. how much I MISS Burgerville! ).  We have met some wonderful people here in the Tri Cities who have made us feel very welcome. I think it has helped our kids to grow as well. They have had to adjust to making new friends and going to new schools.  They just finished their first year at their new schools and as hard as it was in the beginning, truly, I have seen many more smiles than tears.  They have come out on the other side excited about going back next year and they seem to feel good about their experience.  

On a personal note, I think that I have had the hardest time adjusting. That was a hard one for me to admit. Photography which has been a huge passion of mine has been set aside more than I would have liked. Sometimes, photography takes energy that I felt I didn't have to give.  My friend nailed it on the head the other day when she told me that I "needed to find my light again". I haven't been out searching for my "light" like I should have been. It is time to find that energy again and not let the excuses get in the way. Photography is a great form of expression for me.  I need to be expressing myself more! 

Marni and Ira's Wedding ~ Oceanside,CA

I had the honor and the privilege to stand up with my little sister when she got married on April 10, 2009 in a beautiful sunset wedding held on the beach in Oceanside, CA.   It was an absolutely gorgeous evening as the sunset was breathtaking, as were the bride and groom.  I have never seen my little sister so incredibly happy; she was completely glowing.  Her groom looked so handsome in his military dress blues.  It was a picture to behold; the two of them standing together, Ira in his dress blues and Marni in her white flowing dress, lots of smiles and happy tears, as two hearts joined as one as the waves crashed behind us. It is memory that I will not soon forget.  

I truly believe that some people come into your life when you really need them to be there.  I don't think that this happens by accident. I think that is very true with Marni and Ira.  It is rare to find two people who are so complimentary to each other, so accepting and encouraging of one another.  Marriage is something that you have to work at each and every day, there are going to be hard times along with the wonderful ones.  As long as you can lean on each other and always be partners and ultimately best friends, I think that any storm can be weathered.  I have no doubts that this will hold true for Marni and Ira. 

In addition to the wonderful ambience of that evening...the tiki torch lined walk way complete with rose petals strewn on the sand, the sky painted with brilliant pinks and oranges as the sun was setting and all of the friends and family that gathered to share in their special moment, there is something else that I will not forget that happened after the ceremony was over.  As we were walking to our cars to leave a gentleman and his wife, who were watching the wedding ceremony from their beach front property balcony, came up to my sister and Ira and gave them a bottle of champagne and told them how beautiful their wedding was.  A complete stranger! But I will never forget the next moment as he held out his hand to Ira and shook his stating "and thank you so much for your service to our country".  I thought this was such a wonderful gesture by a complete stranger!

As for me, I am so excited that I was able to be a part of their special day.  I not only gained a new brother in law that day but a friend and a wonderful addition to our family.   I am so excited for what the future might hold for them as they grow together in love, laughter and experiences.  

Congratulations Marni and Ira, we love you!

I-D-A-H-O, Idaho, Idaho, Go, Go, Go!

A week ago our whole family made a trip over to our alma mater, the University of Idaho,  for a volleyball tournament that was being held there.  Our oldest daughter, Kaitlyn has been playing on a club team all winter long and this was to be her very last tournament for the season.  We were so excited that it was going to be held at the Memorial Gym on campus.  We had been planning for months to go and had been counting down the days.  Some of you may remember from an earlier post that we had also gone back in September for a brief visit.  This time we were able to spend the whole weekend.  We spent a little more time looking around campus and saw  all the changes that have taken place.

 It was a bit strange though as all of the college students were away on Spring break. The campus almost seemed lonely.  It gave us a great excuse to check out some of the new buildings on campus as well as visit some of our old favorites. 

But one of the most exciting parts of our visit was that my dear friend Misti was able to come, all the way from Alaska I might add, to watch Kaitlyn play!! It was so awesome to see her and get to spend some time with her.  As we sat there watching Kaitlyn play, we couldn't help but to think how amazing it was that we were actually sitting there, on those same wooden bleachers that have been there for a century, in the Memorial Gym, watching a game. Never in our wildest dreams would we have ever thought that would happen.  You see, both Misti and her husband went to the University of Idaho which set the events in motion that led to our friendship. Isn't life incredible?

As I reflected on my weekend away at the University of Idaho I couldn't help but to contemplate my life, the places I have lived since I left U of I, all the experiences I have had and the people I have met,  how my life has changed but has yet still stayed the same. Sometimes, I wish I would have accomplished more by now.  Sometimes, I wish I would have gotten my Master's degree. But the things I am most thankful for and proud of are my family and my friends.  They have always been constants in my life, especially a few of my dear friends.

Once in awhile those dear friends can truly become part of our family.  We share in their joys and their sorrows.  In return they are there for us when we need them the most.  Sometimes a dear friend can be brutally honest with us when we really need to hear it or just be there when we need someone to listen.  They can lift us up when we are feeling low and give us strength to carry on.  That is, at least in my mind, what a true friend is.  You know, the kind where you don't care if there are some dirty socks on the floor and a few dirty dishes in the sink when they come over.  

I feel truly blessed to have Misti in my life.  We may not even live in the same town but she has always been there for me.   Thanks again for coming...all the way from Alaska...we love you!

  

Rattlesnake Mountain

Unfortunately, I haven't posted in quite awhile. The demands of being a volleyball mom, chaperone and part time employee have kept me from getting out there to shoot anything in several weeks.  Oh, how I have missed being out there taking pictures and having my "me" time to stop and contemplate the world and the beauty that surrounds me. It has been my quest since we moved here in August to get out there and find the new type of beauty that surrounds us here in the high desert. Regrettably,  I have been lacking in that pursuit so I was determined earlier this week to get out there and get after it.  

I had heard about a place called the Hanford Reach National Monument.  I decided to take a drive out there and see what it was all about.  Boy, I was not disappointed in what I saw.  It is an amazing place that seems to stretch on forever.  There is a highway that meanders its way through the sagebrush, shrubs and grasslands like a river.  The sky is so big and bold, it reminds of the saying "big sky country". You almost feel like you are in a giant snow globe!  Along one side of the highway there is the Saddle Mountain Wildlife Refuge and this is where I saw this beauty called Rattlesnake Mountain.  The very top of the mountain was dusted with snow, almost like someone had sprinkled the top with some powdered sugar!  The late evening sun was starting to cast the lovely golden tones along the sagebrush and grasses as we drove along the highway.  We found a place to pull over and the image above was one of my favorites from that evening. The road in the picture is an access road that is closed off by a gate and I imagine that the park rangers are only ones allowed access.  This is definitely an area that I would love to explore more fully. I truly get the sense that I only scratched the surface as to what the Hanford Reach has to offer in beauty and splendor.  

This long over due outing made me remember why I love photography so much.  It is so hard to describe how getting out there and capturing a moment in time, of seeing this beauty in person and actually smelling the sagebrush and grasses as they are drying out from an earlier storm in the day, can rejuvenate the mind and the soul.  

Cannon Beach

There are days that I miss living close to the coast. I think I took it for granted when we only lived about an hour and half to two hours away from the coast. I always knew in the back of mind it was always near by, waiting for a visit from us.  I remember loading the kids up on a whim and taking them over to the beach for the day.  Even now I remember the smell of the salt air and the feeling of the sand on our feet as we walked along the beach.  The water was freezing no matter what time of year it was but it was always a refreshing break. 

There is something magical about the Oregon Coast.  It is a wonder to behold.  It is a very rugged and wild place.  The intense energy of the waves crashing on the beach is palpable at times.  I have always loved to drive along the coast line and watch as the scenery changes.  At times you are driving through the forest only to emerge around a bend in the road and see the wide open expanse of the ocean.  It really is an awe inspiring sight.  

The picture above was taken at one of my favorite beaches to explore along the Oregon Coast. It is called Cannon Beach.  It is a very popular place to go but there is still a wildness about the land there. This particular day it was very foggy and overcast, which is common along the Oregon coast no matter what time of year it is.  We had taken a walk along the beach.  The tide had gone out revealing these rocks covered in seaweed.  I really liked the composition here of the smaller rocks in the foreground with the big huge rocks in the foggy background.  The fog can really add a mystical feeling to the beach.  The next time I go back here I will savor every moment of it! 

A Hidden Gem

I just recently finished a slide show/video that I made as a Christmas gift for our extended family.  It has become a tradition for my little nuclear family to make one of these videos every other year.  The grandparents and aunts and uncles really seem to enjoy getting these videos and have almost come to expect their next installment, so to speak.  The slide show/video is usually set to music and is comprised of our favorite pictures from the past couple of years.  Originally, our thought was that this would be a great way for the grandparents and extended family to see what we have been up to and to be able to watch as our children grow and change. 

Every time we have put one of these videos together it has become a labor of love, at least for me.  It takes a lot of time to sift through all the pictures that were taken in a two year time span. ( Especially now that I am a photography NUT! ) I usually agonize over what music I am going to choose.  But this year I decided to pick two of my favorite songs from the past year. So that made it a lot easier to decide.  This year it was a complete joy to put the video together.  I decided to have pictures of the kids, Kendall, myself as well as some of my favorite photos that I have taken. Some of these consisted of flowers, some were of landscapes, a few were from some weddings I had shot...each and every image was special to me in its own unique way.  I was extremely happy with how it turned out and I hope that our extended family will like it as much I do! 

I really wanted to share this photo above of Maggie.  This was one that I found while looking through the hundreds of images that I had taken.  This has become one of my favorite shots of her.  And to think that I had forgotten that I had even taken it! Amazing!  In my mind, it has become a hidden little gem,  just waiting for me to find it.  Sometimes it pays to take the time to slow down and sift through those "old" memories. You might just be surprised what you find.