U-pick blueberries [Wenatchee photography + design]

Indie and went out to Sleepy Hollow Nursery, between Wenatchee and Cashmere, and picked blueberries. They have a u-pick farm and while the berries are always good, this year they were the biggest berries I've ever seen. The diameter of quarters and as big as cherries. And, as always, so sweet. I can't get enough blueberries this summer.

A slightly big weekend [Wenatchee photography + design]

My baby Shade got married this weekend. We are equal parts happy for them and sad at the passage of time (well, I am, since my 45th birthday was also this weekend.) Forty-five, being ALMOST middle age, ya know. And I plan on going at LEAST to 100.

Congratulations my sweet, sweet baby, and of course, my new son-in law, Eric. We love you, we love you, we love you.

I'm sure I'll have a FEW more pics to come. It's not like I didn't have a 15 lb. camera hanging around my arm the whole day :)

Three random things right now [Wenatchee photography + design]

The fan, set to medium, is whirring to my right. It’s my constant desk companion, never going off, even in the winter, but often being demoted to low or cranked really high after a workout. It cools me down but blows my hair into my eyes while I try to work, equal pats refreshing and annoying. If I do turn it off, the silence is audible.

I have a stack of fresh yellow sticky notes on my desk. Their cherry color makes me want to write notes. Like witty one-liners left on a friend’s desk, a birthday gift scavenger hunt, “Hey Janelle, I hid your birthday gift in the cafeteria, you’ll have to go find it” and scrawled phone numbers and cryptic notes I won’t be able to read later, but am also unable to throw away. Someday I might need that number I can’t even read!

The smell of onions from my own breath is so strong it’s overpowering the 2 pieces of extra minty gum I’m chewing to try and hide it. I had camerones appretalados at El Agave for lunch today. Bacon wrapped prawns over a bed of grilled onions (the offender!) and peppers. I mostly eat them like that, eschewing all grains, but I did have one small corn tortilla stuffed full before coming to my senses and finishing the rest off with a fork. We were celebrating the last day of 7^th grade with my youngest daughter. The long, easy summer spreading before her in that wavey line rising from the hot pavement kind of way. All freedom-ey and sleep-in-ey. I remember that feeling. I miss it. Adults need summer breaks too.

What's grabbling your attention right now?

And because I like to include photos, this is a recent favorite, me trailing behind my husband as we hiked up above Beehive reservoir, presumably at the top of the world, based on what this looks like.

Apple Blossom 2012 [Wenatchee photography + design]

Friday 5 [Wenatchee photography + design]

1. We have a new Army Infantryman to be proud of. Shade’s boyfriend, Eric, graduated from basic training last week and is headed to his first post in Ft. Knox, Kentucky. I’m a Navy brat by birth and a long time ago I was an Air Force wife. I know the life of a military family can be full of equal parts pride and fear. We are thinking of you and all your brothers and sisters serving on our behalf.
2. Been hiking a couple times a week and seeing views like this, literally, in my own backyard, makes me so grateful to live in this valley. The best decision I ever made on my own was quitting my job in Seattle and giving “two weeks notice” so I could move here. I didn’t even have a job, but somehow it all worked out.
3. Our little valley lost a super young man this week. I did not know him personally, but both of my older daughters were close with him and I’ve heard many funny stories over the years. JD, you are loved and missed by SO MANY PEOPLE.
4. Funny thing about Larabars. I tried one a couple years ago and didn’t like it. Then I got mostly serious about eating right (I try to follow a paleo lifestyle now) and after awhile it’s like my tastebuds reset themselves. Foods I would never eat before (most vegetables) are now delicious. My sweet tooth, GONE. Like many of you, I thought that was impossible, a genetic joke I was born with (baked goods and ice cream were the best tasting things on the planet to me,) but I can attest that it can change. I don’t crave that stuff anymore and am rarely tempted, indulging only very infrequently (and often feel sick afterwards.) I heard about Larabars and thought I’d give them a try again, because they are (usually) made from only 2-4 whole food ingredients, like dates, nuts and fruit. Maybe they changed their recipe? I don’t know, but they have a lot of flavor varieties and I’ve loved every one I’ve tried. Apple Pie and Cherry Pie are my favorites. (ETA: Unrelated to this, but related to Paleo, I just found this AWESOME story at Mark's Daily Apple, a main paleo blog. This young man's story is so inspiring: A Primal Comeback.)
5. Things are clicking for me right now and weight loss has seemed almost effortless (almost.) I don’t get how I can do the same activities and eat the same foods and then suddenly it seems to melt off, when earlier weeks went by with hardly a budge. The human body is a big mystery to me, but I’ll take what I can get while I’m gettin’ it. Fifty-five pounds is now in the rearview mirror and 60 is fast approaching.