Shirley Road

We Had Fun Yesterday...

2012-01-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

Jake went to a figure drawing class yesterday, for the first time in a few years. And I stayed home and painted, for the first time in a few years. Turns out, we both still really like them. This is what I painted. It's the van we lived in when we first traveled around New Zealand. So many good memories.

I'm not sure if Jake wants me to post photos of his sketches, I'll have to ask him. He sometimes doesn't give enough credit to his own work. However, the argyle piece you can see on the van was something he spray-painted. We miss it.

Yep!

2012-01-22T11:44:00.000-08:00

A few Pictures of a Sunday Morning...

2012-01-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

A roaring fire...

A playful kitty...

A hot cup of tea and some creativity...

And a super cute puppy...

They're Getting Closer...

2012-01-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

...a nap in the sunshine is worth it to them.

On to the Bathroom...

2012-01-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

...got the walls closed and painted, the electrical and light fixtures in, and the window framed. Now onto the tile. Here are Jake and Austin working on the shower tile.

Looking into the New Bedroom...

2012-01-08T10:22:00.001-08:00

...I love this room.

A Little Taste...

2011-12-13T13:53:00.000-08:00

...yesterday, the light fixtures... today, the blinds.

This room is coming together beautifully. We love it!

Progress on Our New Bedroom...

2011-12-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

Looking through all the earlier photos, makes us anxious at being at that point again. So glad we're much further along, and it's looking great. We're doing paint and electrical now... final photos coming soon!

First, here's the original bedroom...

And, onto the demolition...

And then to rebuild...

Happiness...

2011-12-08T07:46:00.001-08:00

...seeing Jake this happy... with an awesome dog is my favorite thing to watch lately. She really is awesome. And she freaks out with happiness every time we take her to the park. And then Jake freaks out with happiness with how awesome she is. It's all very awesome.

I really should mention that in these photos, Jake is purposely exaggerating his excitement...
...no one runs like that. :P

Oh, and lately, Bugsy has found a new toy... Tana's tail while she sleeps.
Montana loves the slightest bit of attention from Bugsy.

P.S. Montana's Halloween Costume...

2011-11-29T09:37:00.000-08:00

...a Lamp Shade! Ta-Da!

(She fits in so well with the rest of our interior.)

Jake Wrote a Book!

2011-11-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we haven't mentioned this on our blog until now. We must be living life somewhere. :P Well, here it is, Jake's first book: Aerosol Techniques.

As a brilliant spray paint artist, he's put so much of what he's learned into this new manual for people interested in trying it for themselves. He teaches all kinds of methods to achieve the best results for whatever style of painting you want to do. He evaluates all the different brands of paint on the market, and suggests the right ones to use. It has a chart outlining the types of caps and uses that are needed for different styles of painting. It even includes really cool stories about the history of the medium and the forerunners of spray painting. It's pretty awesome!

Jake's Halloween Mural...

2011-10-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

This is Jake's latest spray paint creation.

Jake's friend Kasey just put new siding on his house, and all that was left was for it to be painted. Jake asked if he could paint something on it for Halloween. They decided it would be best if he painted it with primer, and that way the wall would be all set up for final painting. So, this amazing mural is painted only with primer. It made for a great background for their Halloween party.

A Fireplace is so Quaint...

2011-10-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted a wood-burning fireplace. There's something so satisfying about it. Well, we just opened the chimney and piled up a stack of logs, and fired it up. It's so awesome!

Bahahaha...

2011-10-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

I found this idea online and had to make one.
It's the coolest and funniest halloween decoration I've ever seen.

Sharing The Sunshine...

2011-10-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

We really didn't expect them to be this comfortable around each other so soon.

This is just cute.

What's Becoming of Our 1917 House...

2011-10-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

Being this old, a house has it's unique qualities... THIS house has scary character, thanks to Sherm, the previous owner and self-proclaimed (but highly unqualified) handyman. Let's just say, it's lucky it hadn't yet caved in. It now has studs where studs were not, and are most definitely needed. It also has a hot water heater that won't kill us. It has a concrete footing underneath a column that holds up a heavy porch roof. And, there's much more that could be added to the list of saves we've made, but you get the idea.

Things are coming along slowly. I can't wait to post "after" photos. :)

Three Batches Should Do...

2011-10-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

...this, plus the previous two batches, should keep up with the craving all winter for the best soup in the universe. This batch has fresh oregano from our garden. Oh, and our very nice neighbor shared some of her peaches with us. Awesome!

Dinner Tonight...

2011-09-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

...and it's so nice. Caesar salad and fresh, homegrown melons.

Oh, and today we added this to the kitchen...

First Watermelon!

2011-08-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

...and it's beautiful.

We grew this!

2011-08-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

...and it's so sweet and tasty

Ripening Garden...

2011-08-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

...it's looking pretty good.

Got an Early Start on Bottling...

2011-07-31T11:20:00.000-07:00

...thanks to an early-ripening Apricot tree. What you're seeing is actually about a third of the fruit the tree gave us. We spent several days in our kitchen, half making jam and half cleaning up the mess.

100+ jars of Apricot jam. Hmm... maybe we need a few more... :-P

I can't brag about growing these handsome tomatoes, but I have a magic trick to make them more impressive.

And now, to be amazed... ta-da! The best soup in the universe! It's the cure for just about anything, from the blues to the chills. This is just the first batch. Last year I didn't make enough, and I won't make that mistake again.

Our kind of Date...

2011-07-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

...in video form. This is love.

Jake & Jeni's date night. Painting a quickie in SLC Utah.

Someone's Enjoying the Warmth

2011-06-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

So, this is Bugsy. The little potted plant is her catnip. Ever since it got warm, they spend a lot of time together...

She pretty much smashes her face into it every day...

Here's the garden and greenhouse, looking sexy...

And, I just like this photo...

Want to rent our two-bedroom Condo in Holladay?

2011-05-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

Want to spend a year in a stylish condo in Holladay that has a pool you can relax by this summer?

We're renting our condo! It's great for working professionals who enjoy living in a clean comfortable space. It's located on Highland Drive just north of Fresh Market on 4500 South. The unit is a spacious 2 bedroom/2 bathroom condo with a washer and dryer, a view of Mount Olympus, a pool and spa, exercise room, lobby, indoor parking... and it's 5 minutes from grocery and shopping. Gas and water utilities are included too!

UPDATE: It's been rented. Better luck next time! :)

Birthday surprise!

2011-04-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Jake has good eyes and ears for things I wish for. He gave me these lovely weights to replace the cans of beans I was using for weight in my workouts. Yay! I'll miss the joy he got from making fun of the bean can weights. But how awesome are these? I already tested them, and I give two thumbs up. :)

Spell Check

2011-02-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

Any valid statement can be mooted by a single mispelled word.

Park City's Banksy

2011-02-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

...during the Sundance film festival, we finally got to see some Banksy!

Our Street in the Winter

2011-01-11T19:06:00.000-08:00

...isn't it beautiful?

Stitched on the Radio

2010-12-17T08:11:00.000-08:00

I was interviewed about Stitched this morning by Frank Bell on 94.1 KODJ!

Rally to restore sanity and/or fear

2010-12-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

I had to share these. HILARIOUS

http://www.funnyordie.com/articles/4e561641f4/the-funniest-signs-from-the-rally-to-restore-sanity-and-or-fear

Also, I want a bumper sticker that says 'Your boss won't notice you shaved 13 seconds off your commute, so stop driving like an impatient ASS HOLE.'

Bruce Lee wins Ping Pong with numb chucks

2010-10-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

LINK HERE

On top of that, today is Salsa day AND bagel day at the office. Could things get any better?

Halloween at the Shirleys

2010-10-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

..we think the pumpkins might be distracting from the dead guy.

Jeni the Hoodie

2010-10-07T15:10:00.001-07:00

Jeni is turning into a little hoodlum. And she is getting good at it too.

Save money and gas. Drive a scooter.

2010-09-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

I crunched some numbers on our scooter.

We have been spending an average of $0.46 (.16 gallons) in gas a day.

The scooter is rendering 75 miles per gallon while we average driving 11.7 miles a day.

We stop at a gas station every 8.4 days and only spend $3.72.

Accounting for scooter purchase, oil and gas costs, it costs $96 a day to drive the scooter. That doesn’t include repairs and insurance. Now, thinking about how cheep the scooter is to buy, fill up, insure and repair, can you imagine what it costs per day to drive a car?!

Aw Yeah...

2010-09-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

...we did it again. 25 bottles of the best soup, in storage!

A Sweet Sweet Harvest... and a Greenhouse...

2010-09-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

...look at the size of this thing!

...things are still growing...

...and Jake is amazing. Check out the greenhouse he's building!

Water to save the planet

2010-08-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that water bottle companies have been spending a lot of packaging space bragging about their 'green' practices.
One brand boasts that it's smaller lid and thinner bottle uses less plastic. Another brand comes in a plastic bag, boasting the smallest amount of packaging. Another brand aims to be 'carbon negative' vaguely by 'cutting emissions across [their] product's entire life cycle and supporting reforestation and renewable energy products.'

I have an idea on how water bottles can be more earth friendly. STOP MAKING THEM! It's a product that already comes in a very sustainable, recyclable container - pipe. Our cities are already littered in millions of miles of pipes that carry the same exact product right to our door steps using the most renewable energy possible - gravity.

Just another example of how 'green' and 'sustainable' companies are full of marketing shit.

Someone Has a Fetish...

2010-08-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

...she's such a girl.

Al-Pack-A the dance floor

2010-07-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

Have you ever taken an alpaca to the club? They fricken love that stuff!

The Gallery Wall...

2010-07-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is a really cool feature we put into the living room to create a nice entry place for Jake's paintings.

Frozen in Time...

2010-07-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

...well, at least for a year. :)

Remember those apricots from our tree? We had a little fun with them. First was the part where we got to climb the tree and eat a bunch of them. Then I bottled a few and made some jam with a few. Making the jam is like making candy, there's so much sugar in it. But, I did it the old-fashioned way - without the pectin - so I'm cool with the sugar. These aren't going to last long. We're going to need a bigger tree.

How the Garden is Coming Along...

2010-07-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

Apricots

Tomatoes

Green Bell Peppers

Onions

Peas

Basil

Crook Neck Squash

I can see where this is going...

Lunch!

Coffee Cups

2010-07-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

A coworker complained about me leaving some empty coffee cups on my desk. So for 6-8 months I saved all my paper cups and dumped them on her desk and in her drawers.

Hello...

2010-06-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

...she knows how to inspire awwwwww.

A little Sugarhouse History

2010-06-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

During the purchase of our historic 1917 house, I heard rumors about photographs of the residence sitting alone in fields of crops. I searched the historic database online but found nothing of our home. I did find several photos of the sugarhouse area. Getting up early this morning, I hit the streets armed with a camera in an attempt to beat the daily traffic of Sugarhouse and capture the current location of the old photos.

It is interesting to piece together the history of the young city. Only 100 years ago, nearly all of Sugarhouse was farm fields. 100 years is only a blip in written history. Assuming history began in 6600 BC (depending on the scholar), Sugarhouse consists of only 1.1% of civilization's timeline. People live their lives assuming the modern mode is the standard when in truth we are the deviation of culture.

Here She Is...

2010-06-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

...Bugsy

She's our newly adopted gorgeous and extremely loving kitty.

I had a hard time capturing a clear photo of her, because she is only interested in one thing - finding a hand that will pet her. Jake was a huge sweetheart (as always) and surprised me with her. Jake is usually not so fond of cats, so it means a lot. She's a winner though - they get along pretty well.

I see you...

2010-06-04T08:45:00.001-07:00

...he thinks he can live on our scoot. I don't blame him for loving it - his eyeballs even match it! Still, I had to move him to the garden. :)

I love it...

2010-06-04T08:28:00.001-07:00

...these sumptuous peonies have giant golf ball sized buds for weeks, and then POW! - they burst into sweet smelling bright fuschia fireworks! And then the rain makes them even more brilliant. I love having a garden.

From Soil... to Salivate...

2010-05-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

Tell me this salad is the best looking lunch you've seen. Yes, these lettuces are all from our garden, and they grow strong! Just look at them! I wish I could say we grew the beans too.

Awesome Wallpaper...

2010-05-24T17:11:00.000-07:00

...we found these dated wallpapers underneath the dated wood paneling, the dated marbled mirrors, the crusty white paint, and behind the electrical outlet. The mustard yellow and olive green one is actually velvet textured. It's awesome! There's even a full roll of it left over.

Images of a Rainy Day

2010-05-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

Three little birds, sleeping totally still under the tree.

I tried to get a better shot through a tiny hole.

This sweet thing was trying to build a nest and stay dry.

It's cool how ferns just explode when there's moisture.

A few more Beauties we Inherited...

2010-04-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Planter Box #2

2010-04-21T07:04:00.000-07:00

American Overdose

2010-04-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

If I were to tell you that this post is a comparison between the automobiles and heroin you probably would laugh it off and move on to another blog.

Well, I have some bad news. You have to find another blog to read. American's ARE junkies to their vehicles.

Now I assume you are formulating in your head the reasons that I'm wrong.

You might say 'Heroin is terrible for your health.'

-The exhaust that comes out the tail pipes of our loved autos is more potent and deadly than the exhaust of smoked heroin, and pumped out in the tons into our atmosphere. Try putting your mouth up an exhaust pipe and take a big gulp.

-People who live near busy roads and freeways are more likely to develop cancer in their lives.

-Fast food isn't the only scapegoat to blame for our American super sized big guts and over used lazy boy recliners. Drive throughs go hand in hand with auto-addiction.

-Are you guilty of driving up and down the first row of parking at the store to find an open space when the second and third rows are completely empty? That is called being really really lazy which is terrible for your health.

You might also say 'Heroin destroys lives.'

Next time you are having a conversation with someone, ask them how many people they know who have died or been critically injured from a car accident. Then ask the same person if they know anyone who has died from heroin. Odds are automobile deaths will outweigh the heroin. 42,666* auto deaths in 2001, about 400** from heroin.

Okay, that isn't a fair comparison because obviously more people drive than do heroin. But be aware that you, or a loved one, can be one of the 114* people who die every day from their cars?

Then you might argue that heroin destroys the brain.

-Within the last year, two siblings and myself were struck by an automobile, in three separate occasions. What was going through the driver's brain when they hit us? Nothing. They just weren't thinking.

-Car addiction also causes road rage, an uncontrollable emotion in the Limbic System of the brain for many people behind the wheel.

-With the invention of navigation systems, drivers are finding themselves driving into rivers, rail lines and other 'non roads' like mindless operators.

The next argument might be that cars are necessary for daily needs.

Who are you really fooling? Human's didn't lose the ability to be self mobile with the invention of the wheel. More appropriately: cars are necessary for the lifestyle that you have chosen to live. The cities you live in are built for cars because you, as a consumer, voted with your money to live in neighborhoods that require cars for transportation. You voted to live a 30-60 minute drive to your work. You choose not to walk to the grocery store. YOU decided to drive 2 minutes down the street to visit your friends. Just as a heroin user decides to use heroin.

You might say that driving is socially acceptable but heroin is not.

'just because an idea is popular doesn't make it right' - Mark Twain.

You might also add that heroin is just plain bad for society.

Have you never researched the path oil takes to get to your gas pump? You might not see the negative effects but societies in third world oil producing countries have to clean up the mess that oil producers leave after their done drilling.

And what about the negative effect that our non social behavior creates from isolating ourselves from one another?

You argue that Heroin is highly addictive.

I bet nearly 100% of people drive regularly immediately after owning their first vehicle. According to 'The Tipping Point' only around 2% of people who try Heroin actually develop an addiction.

You can probably stop driving any time you want anyways, right?

If you drove half as much as you do, you might just double the quality of your life.

-Jake-

*www.unitedjustice.com.

**www.druglibrary.org

A Place to for things to Grow...

2010-04-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

...the great planter box.

And a place for things to die and prepare to be reborn...

It's a compost bin. :)

And the Shed was gone...

2010-04-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Before...

Kasey visits just in time...

Going...

Defeated...

And underneath was a nice little surprise of tunnels, walnuts, and shredded orange plastic bag.

Its maker poked his nose around the corner of the shed right before we started hammering. He was a cute little fella. He wiggled his little whiskery nose to me like he knew something. I felt bad - we thought we'd left him homeless... until our neighbors said he had plenty of other places to stay in their deck and roof. He works pretty hard to store walnuts in every little space he can.

A few Photos of the New House

2010-04-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

House and Scoot...

The nice flowers from all of you...

Our new lawn mower...

New friends. They visit regularly...

A few tree additions...

Ever seen the "Houston" sign?

2010-04-12T13:48:00.001-07:00

...well, we think this is way better. Jake made it.

Thoughts from an Urban Designer

2010-04-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Recently Jeni and I moved into Sugarhouse, a SLC suburb well known for it's charm and bungalow style homes. It may not be the cream of the crop but it has held it's real estate value very well over the years. I was fortunate enough to walk to work through the quiet streets while everything was muffled in fresh snow, giving me a perfect environment to fall deep into my thoughts. I compared the old suburb of Sugarhouse to the suburbs that we design today. By 'we' I mean myself, the architecture firm I work for, developers and other people in the industry. We try so hard to create quality homes and neighborhoods that are affordable, and profitable, but ironically do the opposite of what has already been shown to work.

I want compare Sugarhouse to the suburb's that are created today.

1. We block connections. Sugarhouse creates connections.

Today's suburbs are deathly afraid of strange vehicles wandering onto their project. Only the bare minimum connections to the outside world are allowed (2). Sugarhouse has no cul-de-sacs or dead end streets. People can drive and walk any direction they please, and they do. It is great.

2. We predetermine personality. Sugarhouse expresses it's own personality.

Most new suburbs predetermine their style and are fearful of any single person breaking the original 'theme' or 'built in personality'. What is beautiful about Sugarhouse is it's eclectic nature. During Sugarhouse's creation there were cookie cutter homes placed on miles upon miles of land and every home owner is allowed to change the homes appearance to their own desire. Neighborhoods need to be able to express themselves.

3. We create quasi public homes. Sugarhouse created private homes.

One thing that is great about old subdivisions is that land is divided and sold. Owners get their land. We create PUD's (Planned Unit Development) which basically means you own the inside of your home and a HOA manages the rest. This is great if you don't want to take care or participate in any yard work. However it comes with additional private taxes and fees. It creates an additional level of bureaucracy. PUD's have signs at their gates which encourage a sense of 'us' versus 'them', a mentality that often generates mistrust and misunderstanding of others. PUD's remove a sense of ownership and personal responsibility. PUD's are not a part of the community, they are a removal from it.

4. We build garages. Sugarhouse built homes.

New suburb streets are lined with garage doors and little else. Most Sugarhouse homes have detached garages hidden in the back, or no garage at all. People would probably vote for a Sugarhouse in a beauty contest but buy into an ugly street full of garages. Funny how people don't realize they prefer ugly convenience over beautiful homes.

5. We make streets for cars. Sugarhouse made streets for people.

Drive down any neighborhood street in Sugarhouse and you would probably feel like it's too small. You drive slow and cautious. It's safe for the residents. Drive down a new subdivision and the roads are probably wide with big round curves. You'll probably drive faster and pay less attention. It's not safe for the residents but it's convenient for the cars.

6. We cut the bottom line for bigger profits. Sugarhouse built their homes to last.

It is expensive to built homes and developers need to make money. Several years back I bought into a brand new condo development. Within a few years, all the shortcuts and discounted building materials started wearing out and it continually costs the condo owners money. Developers get to walk away with the money and take no responsibility for the quality of their product. The home I recently purchased in Sugarhouse is nearly 100 years old. The inspector says it easily has 50 more years in it. Will modern cheep homes last this long? Only time will tell.

The past few years I've really critiqued the neighborhoods that I am in. I would say that rarely a great neighborhood has been built in several decades.

Guess what...

2010-04-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

...our new kitchen and I are friends. It's a little old-fashioned, but the lighting through the sink window is really great, especially when making coffee in the morning. Plus, there's a great big beautiful tree right outside the window.

...yes, that's crock-pot minestrone there on the counter ...mmm.

Also, what is this thing? We found it in our dryer...

This made me laugh so hard...

2010-03-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of: Brock Davis

Bungy Jumping in New Zealand

2010-02-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

Here is linked video, that is only 1 year and 1 month old, of the Kawarau Bridge just outside of Queenstown New Zealand. SOOO FUN!

See video here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvdWJ9QbS6g

When we get a House...

2010-01-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

...this is going in it.

Today while crawling backward with a duck on my head......

2010-01-19T13:20:00.000-08:00

...I heard some mashed potatoes laughing. The brick who watched in amazement got so distracted that he tripped an elderly woman and she flew away.

That's about as much sense a filing taxes makes to me. Jake and I were wondering, which out of their mind insane person decided it would be a good idea to make it so complicated? I mean, to force us all into insanity just from spending hours interpreting the maze of gibble-gabble on all of the forms and then precisely complying to them... that's just cruel and unusual. I'd almost rather they walk into our home and take a bite of everything we've earned. At least then they'd have to face me to ask for a reasonable contribution, and maybe I'd have a chance to ask where it's all going.

What's really perplexing about it is that there is no one way to do it. There is no easy cookie-cutter way for the average person to get the job done accurately. We don't pay the same, because clueless Norman Naïve won't file the same way Amy Accountant will, nor will he know any better and probably end up paying a lot more under worse circumstances. Do we even know what we're paying for anymore, besides infrastructure and schools?

Are we doing ourselves good?

Week Two is Hard...

2010-01-13T11:09:00.001-08:00

...The Biggest Loser is right. For whatever reason, even though I've been exercizing and eating better, today's workout was really hard. I didn't do anything differently, but I felt like passing out through most of it (this is the point at which I usually slack).

And yes, I watch The Biggest Loser. It's amazing how much of a motivator it is, seeing people with much more baggage being able to go so far. So, if week two is hard for them and they seemed to eventually get past it, I will too.

How it's 'working out' so far...

2010-01-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

...I know, I am full of puns.

Well, so far the exercise plan has been going well. I usually set unobtainable goals for exercise and diet, and then get overwhelmed and slack off pretty badly. Maybe this time I set the right sized goals.

I'm just running a mile a day, but the more I do it the more it feels like I am able to push further past the mile mark. I'd love for the weather to be warm enough for outside running.

And I'm doing some minor calisthenics and light weight lifting. I feel better already, but I'm not stopping nor slowing down now. I want to be fit fit fit!

This is what the fridge and fruit bowl actually look like on a regular basis now. Mom gave us a great vegetarian cook book for x-mas, so we've been having fun making healthy recipes. Tonight we're making black bean salsa and guacamole.

Untying any Subliminal Knots in my Life...

2010-01-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

...first with eating healthy

...second with a little more exercise (okay, a lot more than usual)

...and now by Feng-Shui-ing the Bedroom

I know hardly anything about Feng Shui, but I am happy to take a tip every now and then.

The idea here for me is to reinforce unity as a couple, by decorating using pairs of objects. To add artwork that inspires intimacy (Jake painted this one). And to keep the area under and around the bed free of clutter, to avoid distraction from stuff that is irrelevant to the bedroom.

I'm pretty happy with a clean and clutter-free room.

New Year... New Balance...

2010-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

...the next step to holiday recovery

I decided that a new pair of running shoes would be a good motivator for getting in shape the way I want to be. It's a step (har har) toward feeling good about myself. I'm starting with running a mile per day, no need to overdo it.

Love to Stumble Upon...

2010-01-01T21:41:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of: Chema Madoz

To good friends...

2010-01-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

...happy new year!

Holiday Recovery...

2009-12-31T10:16:00.000-08:00

...starting by eating healthy

(Like my imitation of the cereal box?)

Happy Holidays Everyone...

2009-12-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

...from Jake and Me

A few ornaments from our tree, for your viewing pleasure...

...yes, yes those are googley eyes. A googley-eyed disco ball, made by Jake himself.

To the Best Architects...

2009-12-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

This is JSA Architects' custom Stitched 2009 Christmas card. Looks like they're happy they got snow for Christmas. Their passion for skiing is about as great as their passion for architecture, and they excel at both.

New Clouds?

2009-12-04T17:09:00.000-08:00

Check out National Geographic here for info on these possibly new classes of clouds. I just love the photos.

It's a wonderful time of year!

2009-11-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

Here's to weeks and weeks of beautiful fluffy snow!

To a huge appreciation for socks and undies fresh out of the dryer, and hot showers. To tubing... snowballs... soft mittens and scarves... hot chocolate... snowboarding (or skiing, if you're into that)... ice skating... noticing evergreen trees and pine cones more than usual...

What are you excited for?

To 6 Years!

2009-11-19T07:21:00.000-08:00

We are great together. :) We spent our anniversary in Zions national park this year. It's a beautiful time of year to visit - autumn leaves brilliantly displayed, brisk air, and even a sudden snowfall during our hike into Hidden Canyon. Amazing! Plus, Jake totally spoiled me the whole time. <3

Mmm... coziness...

2009-11-02T17:41:00.001-08:00

I'm loving the way the changing season is making me feel. The autumn colors, the woody smell in the cool air, all the great soups and baked goods I get to make... total sensory comfort.

It's comfy in our home tonight.

Thank you, autumn.

And on that note, a very nice set of cards for which I am window shopping:

Courtesy of: StoriesDivination

My husband is awesome...

2009-10-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

He carved a Christopher Walken-O-lantern. You can't get cooler than that.

Timpanogos...

2009-09-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

..a physical and mental accomplishment.

The black and white photos were taken some time in the late forties or early fifties when my grandmother and her dearest hiked Timpanogos. She hiked it often and loved it.

I found solace and family ties in being able to touch the ground they touched, and see the spectacular view they looked upon. And I must say, it was a lifetime achievement in itself just to make it to the summit of this [11,749 ft. elevation] beauty.

The sky couldn't have been more clear or blue. It took us four hours to hike 7.5 miles with a 4,579 ft. elevation gain. We saw a herd of goats climbing up a steep rocky cliff - always astounding. The leaves turned to brilliant autumn colors before our eyes. My ankles and knees were pushed to the limit, and my muscles THANKED me for giving them exerting, invigorating LIFE!

Why would they hurt Charlie?

2009-09-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

Charlie from Always Sunny in Philadelphia is probably the coolest character on modern TV comedy. Why would anyone want to hurt him?

Rats

2009-09-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

...I confess, I think they're really cute

...and totally mistreated

...and, why does being a rodent mean getting kicked out of, well, everywhere?

Just LOOK at this face. And the little hands... just LOOK at the little hands! <3

Let's all get along...

2009-09-14T19:14:00.000-07:00

......YES!

Courtesy of: Threadless

This weekend

2009-09-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

My beanbag shot lazers at Jake's beanbag,

so he wrote "poo" on my fish and gave him a goatee and mohawk

...it's only fair

Sweet...

2009-09-04T17:17:00.001-07:00

...what more can I say?

Courtesy of: V1 Gallery

ha-HA!

2009-09-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

...brilliant

...seems like everyone needs a pirate cupcake!

Check it -- here.

60 cans of happiness

2009-08-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

...he calls them highly concentrated pressurized canisters of awesome.

Stress relief...

2009-08-25T07:17:00.001-07:00

...enough said.

Wow! Cool!

2009-08-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

...wishing and hoping

Courtesy of: Toms Shoes

Getting in touch with my roots...

2009-08-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

We went on a nice camping and river rafting trip up to Alpine Wyoming. The highway runs through acres and acres of farm land. My family history research has been taking me here mentally, and it was nice to be surrounded by it in person. It helps to put everything into context, and feel closer to it.

Some of the little sheds looked ready to collapse, and the style of the little houses were so quaint.

Summer Succotash...

2009-08-11T14:59:00.001-07:00

A few years ago when I expressed a big interest in cooking, Jake bought me a lovely cookbook. This is where I got my refreshing succotash recipe that I've modified a little bit. Many of you have asked me for this wonderful recipe, so I'll just give it to you all here.

1 cup corn

1 cup cooked lima beans

1 cup green beans

1 cup peas

1 cup cherry tomatoes

1 medium red onion, diced

1/3 cup cilantro, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 jalapeño, minced

1 Tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped

2 teaspoons salt (add more to taste)

Drizzle of sesame oil (can be left out)

Freshly-ground black pepper

Serve cold.

The trick is to just throw everything together in a bowl and add or subtract whatever you want. Also, a little-known fact is that legumes + grains = complete protein, so if you are vegan this is perfect for you. Let me know if you want a list of legumes and grains. I also have a really good lentil stew recipe from my mother.

Set for winter...

2009-08-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

...a stock of the best homemade tomato soup in the world.

A combination of things influenced me to buy a whole bunch of fresh local tomatoes and bottle them like I did with my mother two decades ago. There's nothing better than finding the good sweet tomatoes, doing rewarding work, and saving the best food of my life for the perfect cold day.

Arsenic and Old Lace...

2009-08-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

What I love most about old movies is how quirky they are!

My shoes went hiking today... and took me with them...

2009-08-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

It smelled as great as it looked! (not the shoes, that's just silly)

...finally, my legs moved after sitting inside and writing all week.

We found an unidentifiable object in the sky...

2009-08-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

...on the extraterrestrial highway. Want to see?

View Larger Map

Touch your mouse to the middle of the image, and pull it so that you can see the sky behind the REAR end of the car (keep both the car and the orange cow sign in the frame, and pull up a little). Then zoom into the sky until you see the shiny dot. I know, it looks like nothing... but it's something! :D

Can we retire here?

2009-08-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

...I think yes.

Photo courtesy of: HDRcreme

If you eat food... you must go see this...

2009-08-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

> Visit the Web Site

> Look for Show Times and Tickets

For any of you hopeless romantics like me...

2009-07-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

...I recommend this sweetie.

This little guy was in my dream last night...

2009-07-29T07:48:00.001-07:00

... except he was turquoise, transparent, and full of fluid like a water balloon.

He crawled up on my arm and just wanted to sleep... so I let him. He slept contently for a while and then I looked down and realized he had transformed into a small box with a tiki wand in it. I thought it was magic, and then I turned it over and it had a barcode printed on the back.

Reasons why I get hooked web-surfing...

2009-07-29T07:11:00.001-07:00

How whimsical... and yet completely functional.

Photos courtesy of: Archinect