color me beautiful

Could you imagine what life would be like without color? 

under the street lamp

Under the street lamp last night, sat a monster of chrome and leather covered delicately with a dusting of snow.  This machine holds a romanticized image in my mind; something I am sure is true of many woman.  Are we subconsciously connecting this vehicle with the image of a mysterious, dangerous, and strong young man - enticing us, James Dean style?  Do we flutter at the thought of wrapping our arms around a leather clad chest?  Is it the rush of wind through our hair, the feeling of increasing speed, or the possibility of spontaneous getaway?  The tinted color of the snow that night and the classic style of bike, took my imagination to a time gone by, where innocence prevailed and adventure waited around every corner.  Maybe someday a boy with a twinkle in his eye, slicked back hair and tight jeans will come pick me up for my getaway...

Cincinnati on a Saturday

 

 There is a grocery store in Cincinnati that defies all expectations for what a grocery store should be.  You can find isles dedicated to cheeses from around the world; a room full of only Swedish foodstuffs; tiny bottles of balsamic vinaigrette priced at $175 in locked dusty cabinets; rows and rows of every flavor of marmalade you could think of sold under a British flag;  ostrich, camel, and caribou meet at the butchers.  I was overwhelmed and ecstatic.

stacks

Gary always told me to clean my $%@* up because when the physical stuff around you is out of order it means that your mind is out of order - you can help the second by gettin the first in order.  If my physical surroundings are a mirror for my state of mind, I must live most of my life in a state of disorder, busyness, and frustration.  I do feel overwhelmed and conflicted a lot of the time.  I have always found comfort in organization.  I love making piles of relevant things.  I like making stacks.  And anyone who knows me at all - knows that I love making lists.  Just the act of writing things down vertically, one after the other, soothes my anxieties and brightens my day.  Its like I can finally visualize the mountain I have to climb.

 

These photographs make me happy.  It is a beautiful thought,imagining these as pictures of what my mind could be.  Compartments will little drawers.  Pertinent facts organized in groups.  Memories stacked in piles.  Knowledge stored in books.

I will be taking three of these photos to hang at The 930 gallery this week.  They are hosting a "Open Mic Open Walls" event, inviting local artists of varying mediums to show off their work and receive honest feedback from an audience.  The event is open to all...come by if you can.

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love Christmas time: Christmas music, Christmas decorations, Christmas smells.  I have already started listening to Sufjan's Christmas albums and bought quite a few presents, wrapping paper, and lights.  This window display at Scout made me very happy.

sufjan follow your heart

Oh Sufjan Stevens...how you entertain and enlighten us.  Not to mention, you have some dashing good-looks.  Jared, Margie, Matt and I drove up to Indianapolis last week to catch a glimpse of the boy-wonder and to experience first hand his artistry.  Our anticipation mounted ever higher as the day approached.  We were not disappointed.  Mr. Stevens put on a wonderful show.  It was full of space outfits, creatures, and celestial cities.  The decor and feeling of the show mirrored the artwork and tone of his newest album, Age of Adz.  Upon entering Indianapolis, we stopped for dinner (and celebration of Margie's 19th Birthday) at a funky little Thai restaurant, Siam Square.  Behind our seats, rested beautifully colored vases that reminded me of space helmets...which proved very inline with the night's theme.

can you count the birdhouses?

Being in California is always a beautiful experience for me.  The land changes so drastically and magnificently, the air feels fresh, and colors seem more bright.  But most of all, my family, the McStockers, make it beautiful.  Their personalities are as unique as the land and their home is as fresh and inviting as the climate.  Their Sacramento home is decorated beautifully - eclectic yet modern - it was like an oasis for me.  The postage stamp size backyard found room for the birds to find an oasis too.

Halloweenhead

I've got a halloweenhead
Head full of tricks and treats
It leads me thru the nighttime streets
Black cats and falling trees
Under ladders always walking
Salt shaker spills just throw it over your shoulder, babe

-r. adams

 

I look forward to my annual pumpkin carving party for months.  The thought of a huge pot of venison chili cooking on the stove, cider brewing in a crock pot, pumpkins waiting to be carved - makes me smile.  6th annual.  I cannot believe I have been doing it this long.  Maybe someday, you will get a handmade invitation in the mail to my 37th annual...

the house on park st.

Have you ever noticed that old houses always have so much more character than newer homes?  My first apartment was a house in downtown Bowling Green that dated to 1903.  A sense of history permeated the space.  My friends and I loved that house with its crazy wallpaper, drafty windows, creepy basement, and peeling paint.

the haunted bridge

There is a bridge on Old Richardsville Road in Warren Co. Kentucky that has a reputation of being haunted.  If you drive out onto the bridge at night, stop in the middle, and put your car in neutral, the ghost of creatures past will push you along, either to the other side or to your doom.  We liked doing this in college.

 

For some odd reason, we always reached the other side safely.  

A is for apple

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
- Psalm 17:7-9

I was super-lucky to be able to go back to Jackson's Orchard this season.  Marissa and I were able to get apple slushies, fried apple pies, and caramel apples. And, just like school kids on a field trip, we became mesmerized by the apple conveyor belt.

cinderella needs a coach

Ever since I was a little girl, the coming of Fall has always meant a trip out to Jackson's Orchard.  I have been on countless field trips where I was able to pick apples, eat a caramel apple, and drink apple cider.  To enter the orchard, you drive up a large hill, wooded and cool.  You pull out at the top amidst rows of peach and apple trees in the bright sunshine.  Past the rows, you see a modest family home sitting near a large, blue pond.  You pull in and park.  Farther back is the large red barn that houses the orchard store, greenhouse, and a few farm cats.  Pumpkins surround the barn, and red wagons wait to be pulled.  Hot apple pies, cider slushies, and fresh peach ice cream call your name.  But first, and most important, you must find it - the best pumpkin, the one who will carve well, the one who is magic.

waiting for lucy

Babies are everywhere.  It seems like everyone just had a baby, is pregnant, or talking about having a baby.  I was anticipating this time of my life to be just as depressing as when everyone was getting married and I wasn't...but surprisingly I feel wonderful about all the babies.  I really like them.  They are fun to hold.  They smell really neat.  Sometimes they smile at you.  All around, I think they are a good idea.  I am very excited about meeting Lucy - one of my best friends soon-to-be-born little girl.  Marissa, the soon-to-be-mommy, is super-crafty and has decorated Lucy's room in a very fun way.

Well, Lucy won't be able to actually see this stuff really until a few months after she is born (bc. her eyes don't quite work that far)...but when she is able to get a good look around, I think she will be very excited by all the wonderful colors.

owning stuff

One of my close friends likes to do the "100 Things Challenge" every once in a while.  He goes through everything he owns, decides which 100 things he wants to keep, and then gives the rest away or sells it.  I think this is a marvelous idea.  Wanting to follow in his footsteps, but not ready to go all the way, I recently gave away half of certain categories of things: half my books, half my clothes, half my jewelry etc.  It truly felt freeing to give away objects that meant something to me, but was also completely unnecessary for me to have or feel attached to - like my 1999 Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds T-shirt.  I mean, it is just a t-shirt.  It was a big step.  I started to make my list of 100 things.   What topped my list?  My 1920 Gibson Mandolin, my Alvarez Guitar, and my hard drive with all my photos.  The following images are of my gibson...the one thing I own that I don't think I could lose.

I feel that my attachment to this object is ultimately negative.  I don't want any earthly object to have any sort of hold over me.  Truly, the love of this mandolin has little to do with the music it makes (which, by the way, is most glorious), but has everything to do with what it stands for.  It was a gift from my uncle who owned a music store.  I have so many beautiful memories of listening to so many musicians playing in that store.  That store and the tradition of playing music in my family makes this instrument a testament to my heritage.  It represents my home, my history.  I think it is the memory, not the mandolin,  that I really don't want to leave behind.

the joys of a three day weekend

One of the benefits of being a teacher is the observance of all national holidays.  This year held no long lines of tourists needing to buy a t-shirt or teenagers salivating for a frappuccino (in my world anyways...).  I mean, what's the point of "Labor" day if some people just end up working more?  I was so blessed to have 3 glorious days to spend however I wished, with whomever I wished.  The weather was in the mid-80's and everyday produced some pretty radiant sunshine.  The following are a few moments from my weekend - almost like little praises.

my beautiful friend, Kelsey, decided photographs were more important than frisbees

time spent at cherokee park is time spent well

caught Matt's game of rugby 

walked through the neighborhood

played at the waterfront

spent time with family

How often do you really get to REST?  Sometimes, when I get overwhelmed, I have a tendency to find distraction in movies, television, and naps.  But I found that a little bit of friendship, sunshine, frisbee, babies, and laughter can be more than an amusement - it can be the real thing.