my week in pictures 59

tuesday 7/1 - sunday 7/6

All of my pictures from this week take place outside, which is kind of funny, and pretty awesome! We could never spend this much time in our yard in the valley since it was always raining (often enough in the summer too). By the way, when did summer happen all the sudden?!

Last week me and Pat spent a lot more time in the yard planting, watering, bbqing, reading, relaxing. It was pretty damn good. On the fourth we lazed around in the morning before having some friends over for a BBQ and heading down the street with our neighbors to watch the fireworks over Pilot Butte from a nearby park. It was nice to be able to just walk up the street to see them. As promised, Pilot Butte did in fact catch on fire... as it apparently does every single year. But don't worry, unlike my last fire story the trucks were ready and waiting for such an incident this time and promptly responded.

We spent Saturday and Sunday being totally lazy bums, and we absolutely loved and needed it. We laid around on the hammock, read, planted some new plants, and then ended up going out to Brasada Sunday to soak up some sun in the pool. Not too shabby for a weekend at home, and I felt much more refreshed and ready for the week on Monday because of it. Finally!

[[ sunset from last week i couldn't resist posting. crazy purple flowers. hanging in the yard as much as possible. flower print pants. pink sky. hop vines at crux. lazing around on the 4th. bbq. fireworks (and fires) over pilot butte. lighting off some of our own pat found. more pretty things popping up in our yard. sunday pool day. ]]

little ghost

On our way to Portland for Memorial Day Weekend, Pat had to pull over and take care of something for work in Madras, which is a tiny little town with nothing awesome in it... except for this ghostly and abandoned house near where we pulled off. So, while Pat took care of work, I walked down the road to take a couple shots. I just love old homes and buildings. I can't help but wonder who lived here, if they had a family, if they had a farm, where they came from, and where they went. I love the eerie emptiness and the unanswered questions.

[[ a town from another time. ]]

cotton candy

Check out this gorgeous candy colored sunset I caught today! I have a feeling I am going to be doing a LOT more posts like this from now on...

[[ cotton candy sky from my balcony. ]]

[[ panoramic, click to view larger. ]]

now the storm is coming, the storm is coming in

The weather has been a bit indecisive all day... to storm, or to sun... When me and Pat were heading in to Bend to run some errands and the sun was setting I caught some pretty interesting pictures of the two battling each other. On the bottom there is a lovely and clear sunset, and on top some mean looking storm clouds. I love the views out here, even when they are stormy.

[[ storm clouds. ]]

look up

On our Tumalo hike I took two pictures of the sky that didn't really fit in with my post from yesterday, but I still wanted to share them. First I got a plane flying above us while we were in the woods, and on the way back to the car the moon decided to make an early appearance. Don't forget to look up every once in a while, you never know what you might catch a glimpse of. Once of these days I will get a good shot of the moon at night... one of these days...

[[ air travel. the moon. ]]

snowflakes

The first morning we woke up here it was seven degrees and we noticed some real snowflakes frozen to the banister and perfectly preserved on our balcony!! I had no idea they really looked like this. So cute!!

[[ snowflakes!! ]]

the present

Presently (I could not help myself), I just finished packing up almost all of my Christmas gifts for this year. It was not an easy undertaking, since our house is a mess of boxes and packing supplies at the moment and I was buried in paper the entire time, but I am feeling pretty satisfied at the moment. Kraft paper is definitely my favorite way to wrap presents, and with some really cute free printable gift tags from Love Vs. Design via Wedding Chicks, and Kelli Murray, I was able to make them cute and personal with minimal effort. Click on the links above to download your own if you still have some wrapping to do. :)

Friday me and Pat are heading over the pass to get our Christmas celebrating started. Saturday we are having Christmas early with Pat's family in Bend, then we head over the mountain to my Dads place to meet up with all of my siblings and finalize our parents present, then its off to my Moms for Christmas Eve, and then back to my Dads for Christmas Day. That is a lot of business... I am glad that Pat is coming along with me again, and that I get to spend a little bit of Christmas with his family as well. I still have a few more goodies to wrap up, but I am feeling pretty good about my gifts this year, and am excited to hand them out!

I hope everyone likes their presents!
(I will post pictures of a few after the holidays).

[[ wrapping christmas presents. ]]

wet streets & oil spotssss

Sooo... I sort of slacked on posts last week as you may have noticed. I got a little too busy and those last few California Adventures took a really long time to get together, so I figured I would give myself a little break. Obviously with Thanksgiving on Thursday, this is a short week, so I will only have a few things for you, but I thought I would start with this pretty little thing...

Back in April I came across a glorious rainbow display left by someones leaky car... and a few days ago when I was returning to work after lunch, I found another beautiful oil spot pattern in the parking lot! Check it out. Why are wet streets and oil spots so mesmerizing?

[[ oil spots & black boots on a rainy day. ]]

year two.

Johni, 

It is hard to believe it has been two years,
but I am kind of getting used to you being gone.
Although, I don't think I like it...

I am getting used to seeing the picture of me and you that I have framed in my room, smiling, and then going on about my day knowing that my few treasured snapshots and items are all I will ever have. I have gotten used to speaking to you through writing, always with a brief and wishful thought that you may actually be able to perceive my words. Occasionally I even utter things out loud with the same small wish. You continue to influence my thoughts and actions as I often step back to consider what you must have gone through, and that my hurtles, in comparison, are extremely minimal. Indirectly you have made me a better person.

Your name draws more happy memories than sad ones these days.
I suppose that is part of griefs evolution through time.

I still get choked up when I hear your name,
but your memory brings a smile to my face most of all.
I hold on to my memories of you tightly, they are small treasures.

[[ one of johni's tree paintings. an unused playground shot from my old photography project. ]]

I still have not picked up a paintbrush...
Tonight will be my first attempt to revisit an old hobby that we shared. I think I will start with a Johni Tree, just for you, or maybe just for me? Things we did together before help me feel connected to you, and i feel like its the right time to start up again. Especially on this day. I may not be able to blend acrylic backgrounds like you, but I will try my best to come up with something reminiscent of your work. Wish me luck.

((( more johni posts. )))

I miss you so much. 
Every damn day. 

♥

farm fresh

I am starting catch up mode now...
but definitely going to start it small... really small... with eggs!

Our friend gave us some eggs from his parents farm and they looked like they had been colored for easter, so I had to take some pictures, of course. They are pretty little things.

[[ "easter" eggs. ]]

4th of july fireworks

Last night after work me and Pat headed to Albany to watch their fireworks show over the river. Tony was there with his cousin, so we met up with them, had a few beers, and watched some fire in the sky. I  was rapid fire taking pictures throughout the show... below are some of the good ones, though not even close to all of them... I went a little crazy.

[[ 4th of july fireworks show. ]]

game of thrones

I am pretty sure that by now everyone and their Mother is as addicted to Game of Thrones as I am, but in case you have not started watching yet, you are definitely missing out.

Me and Pat were introduced to the first season of the HBO series sometime last year and although we were initially a bit thrown off by the pilot episode/prologue we decided to keep watching and realized how incredible everything about this "show" really was. From the set design and costuming, to the amazing acting and character development, to special effects and shooting locations, the quality of this television series is truly incredible. However, to praise the success of the show we must first praise the author George R. R. Martin for coming up with such a detailed and twisted plot and describing it in excruciating detail over what will be seven books in A Song of Ice and Fire series. These are not any teenage novels. Love, lust, deception, betrayal, black magic, secret plots, twists and turns around every corner, opposing royal and lorded families, war, vengeance, sex, murder, the undead, and of course, dragons.

The books mainly follow four houses throughout the series (although many other characters and families are introduced along the way): the Starks, the Baratheons, the Lannisters, and the Targaryens. Although I will not trouble you with the details of each house, I will say that you are initially prompted to fall in love with the Starks, and then find yourself torn among them all as you begin to side and sympathize with other characters as well. Because the books are not written from one perspective but switch back and fourth between characters (as does the series), it is hard to simply choose one favorite character. I initially was drawn to Arya Stark and Daenerys Stormborn (Targaryen), but have found myself sympathizing with Jon Snow (Stark), and Tyrion Lannister as well.

Since we just watched the finale of season two last night I thought I would take the time to post a little bit about the series. Me and Pat are also on the 5th book.

As a visual reference for this post, I decided to throw up the opening sequence. This is a compilation of all of the castels shown on season 1, and those from the beginning of season 2, as created by Michael Delving (before Quarth and Heronhal were shown). The opening is incredible, it seriously amazes me every time I watch it, (and as with the series, it is ever changing to match the books and chapters being explored).

"When you play the game of thrones, either you win or you die."

sunday funday

This. Week. Was. A. Pain. In. The. Ass. ...I admit it. Seriously one of the busiest work wise I have had in a while, and the projects just kept coming from all sides. Heres to hoping that I get another day kind of like this one from last weekend after tomorrow wedding in which me and Pat are both in the bridal party. If I play my cards right I may even be able to see mi familia, and most importantly, my older sister Leah who is passing through town on her way to a wedding in Hawaii for approximately one day. Fingers crossed.

Here are some fancy schmancy springtastic pictures from last Sunday. I had to keep them in their own post because they were just oh so pretty by their lonesome.

[[ backyard relaxing. sandals and bare feet. train tracks. longboard ride. mini pool. sunbathing. tequilla. home made strawberry margaritas. ]] 

oil spotsss

A few weeks ago I went out to the parking lot at lunch time to find this glorious rainbow of an old spot staring at me from the pavement, so naturally, I had to take some pictures.
How perfect was it that my "Photo A Day" word was "Color" when I spotted it?

I wanted to post these before they were forgotten forever, so today it is.

[[ oil spots in the parking lot & my tall brown boots. ]]

midweek inspiration 42

This video "This is Oregon" by Shwood Eyewear is super inspiring! Mission accomplished. Not only am I dying to get outside and explore right this second, but this reminds me how much fun I used to have with a video camera, and how much unedited raw film I have yet to compile to show off my personal adventures. Maybe I can borrow someones before me and Pat are off this summer?! So many ideas...

Check out the website as well for This is Oregon, there are a ton of gorgeous Instagram photos submitted by people from all over the state that make me happy to call this place home.

[[  bdf2. fairlightfitz. dbob. shwoodshop. nicoleclemetson. nathanielyoung. ]]

midweek inspiration 36

I stumbled across this adorable little freebee on The Wedding Chicks over the weekend (brought to you by Loft Life Press), and thought I would share so that you could play as well! Ode to pretty things. Loft Life Press has an Etsy shop with lots of other lovely little prints and illustrations too. Follow the link on top to make your own flowery heart monogram.

[[ free monogram. ]]

grownups should get snow days too

This morning was gorgeous. Everything looked like it had just been sprinkled with powdered sugar. Sadly, I had to work, but Pat had the day off so he went out after dropping me off and snapped some pictures with my good camera. Check em out! (and don't be surprised if I post a million snow pics I took with my phone tomorrow because I sure do love pictures of snow).

[[ snow pictures take by pat this morning. ]]

Notice my poor lonely glove sitting on the ground? We did not find it until around noon it blended in too much!

painted sky

Well it took a while, but I am finally caught up on all of my pictures from the holidays! I think I will take a breather for today and keep it super short, but look at this beautiful sunset that was waiting to greet me when I walked out of work!! So gorgeous. It looked just like a painting, deep violet with neon pink fire. Reminds me of a book I had when I was little...

[[ southtown sunset. ]]

friday. flower day.

Today was rough, nothing seemed to go my way, so I am super excited it is Friday! This will be a bittersweet weekend, I have some fun plans tomorrow but Sunday might be a little rough, we will see. I will explain on Monday.

Anyway, earlier this week it was someones birthday at work, so I went to the local Co-op on the way in to the office to pick her up some flowers, and to my surprise they had some really beautiful and inexpensive options. I am never going anywhere else again (in season). Cheap, beautiful, and local... Yes please. Below are some images.

[[ beautiful flowers. my ugly mug. ]]