Jars

It's photo time!! The new camera is in action. Here is what we have

Jars, on jars, on jars. We've got 2 kinds of Kimchi, sauerkraut, persimmon butter and bulbs!!

This is a close up and maybe my best picture so far.  

Here are two little guys I've got growing. Someday, they'll flower 

A postcard that I sent to a friend in China (fingers crossed that it makes it) 

postcard that I sent to a friend in New Orleans

Besides hiding from the cold in my sleeping bag and working, this is mostly what I've been up too. Also, writing down a story to possibly tell at a storytelling night this Thursday (if I can get over my brutally handicapping stage fright). Getting some inside plants started, harvesting the last of my tomatoes, and cooking awesome meals. Check out this one that I made here. 

Winter is coming. And, we'll have some delicious stuff to show for it. Next Sunday's crafternoon gathering will lead to grain alcohol infusions. I'm thinking basil vodka for bloody marys. It's gift making season!

Pictures

Look forward to the future photographs. I just got an old camera from a friend and while right now it is totally dead, once we get a new power cord for that baby, you guys will be seeing what I see. I know, exciting. It might lead me on even better picture taking adventures. Look ahead lovelies.

Ride Home

Here's a quick documentation of my ride home. Pretty scenery, and an eclipse upon arriving home.

The weird deserted hotel from across the street  of my bus stop

Hills 

 Water 

Bridge

 getting into Portland

Reflection of the eclipse

Photodocumentation

These pictures are from my friend's cell phone. I'm hoping that we can soon get even better pictures from our new friends but so far it's a no go. So, here's what we've got.

Sea Lion on a Buoy

 Harbor seals (we were actually much closer than all of these pictures lead you to believe)

The Coast from the water

 Sea caves that we almost went inside.

Eclipse (might just look like the sun in this picture).

The week of voluntary service

This week, I believe, I have done the most consecutive volunteer work that I've done since high school. This is what happens when you work very little. I have learned how to open and operate the Mt. Tabor Visitor Center run by The Friends of Mt Tabor. I learned how to and did, clear ground and plant trees with Portland's Friends of Trees. That was really fun and I'm trying to do it again in the future. And then, I also, am going to do my time at the Habitat for Humanity Restore this afternoon. I feel like such a productive (and underemployed) member of society!

Next week, I work 4 days and the week after I work 5 so it'll get back to normal soon. But for now, watch out, because I might just sneak into your neighborhood and do
 some good. Mwahahahaha. ok I'm bored.

Here are a couple of pictures I stole off of a friend that went with me to the Friends of Trees planting

Out in the middle of the 'burbs planting & relocating trees

This is Maryalice (my newest friend) and showing off our muddiness after planting. 

On the up side, it looks like it's starting to get back to regular 40's and low 50's temps for early winter. Hip, Hip, Hurray! Shout out: Maryalice for coming out and volunteering with me (and unknowingly letting me steal her pictures). 

Back at home: a summary of events

Today, I made it back to Portland. It was a good time I had in Breckenridge and the surrounding areas with the fam. But I am glad to be back at home to earn money and get the house ready for my the parade of guests that I'm going to be having in shortly. Here are some pics to document the good vacation times.

Petrified Redwood stump (this thing was huge)

On a pass these mountains are really high.

I think this picture pretty much perfectly summarizes the general color scheme of Colorado.

Both of my brothers got on this big rock at Boulder Creek

grasses

Statues in Breck

Mom and Dad posing with these statues

A side note that Dad and I did my long run today from Breckenridge to Frisco and it sucked. Altitude training blows. But, I'm very happy to have had someone to run it with and to have it out of the way as tomorrow is a very busy day.

Best to all.

Real Deal

Some of you may think I'm getting soft.

What with all the pictures of flowers and blue skies I'd think the same thing if I were you. But here is an update with real information.

I know you're looking for what's happening in my life. I know you're not interested in being placated with pretty pictures. Delicious pictures, on the other hand are in great demand.

I'll start with this. I got another job.

I actually got offered a few different jobs at the same time but the one I took is at a self serve yogurt shop. The benefits of this job as opposed to the other opportunities are that: A) it's closer to my house and B) there's room for advancement. This means that by summer time I could potentially be a manager there. C) I can eat frozen yogurt but not ice cream. I figure it's best to take a job where I can get leadership experience, can stand behind the product, and don't have to bike a half an hour to get there every day. Also, with this job I can keep my currant job. Which is a plus, since I just picked up another bigger money shift and am generally opposed to leaving jobs after only being there a few months.

Next thing is: I entered into a half marathon yesterday! It's at a little island that's just a bit north of Portland and it is on the Fourth of July. Really early in the morning on the Fourth of July. I'm excited because you are supposed to get Strawberry Shortcake after that race. Now I have something to train for AKA the Foot Traffic Flat. A nice bonus of this Half is that it's exactly the right amount of time before a marathon that I'd like to run for me to use it as a stepping block to get trained up for the marathon.

And then let's not forget that yesterday was Pi day. So, I went over to my friend Rosie's house and had some pizza pie.

Pizza Pi

Delicious

I'm about to go for a run now in fact. I've got to work off that Pizza and get ready for that Half.

Vanity Smanity

A recent realization: I am my mothers child and I must cut my hair. I'm also thinking about coloring it blond too. Hahaha. Thanks mom, for instilling in me the overwhelming desire to change my hair every 3 weeks. Love you!

Here are some pictures of my new doo.

short hair from the front

pretty much the back

from below you can see my tiny Mohawk sticking up right there.

So, sorry the pictures aren't that spectacular. I realized, I needed to update for my frequent readers AKA Katelyn. And so I just took them a hot second ago. Hope you all are having a wonderful time. Thanks for reading!

Sunny days.

It's been beautiful here in Portland OR ever since I returned home from Augusta, GA. It's almost as if the city is welcoming me back. The weather has made the neighborhood and surrounding area ripe for our picking. Here are the last few of my days in pictures.

My friend Jonathan and I went Hiking to Mirror Lake.

learning to be outdoorsy

Mt Hood behind Mirror Lake. Beautiful.

A tree we saw on our hike.

A sunflower I saw whilst I was walking around the neighborhood

note how clear and blue the sky is in the background

A tree with some beautiful leaves in my neighborhood

Moss growing on a wall down the street