Settling In

We moved into our new apartment at 916 Kentucky St. Apt. #2 the first weekend in August. Needless to say, it was really hot. We had the moving truck rented for 4 hours, and with the help of our dear friends Spinny and Cory we did it! Its equally daunting
and encouraging to know that everything you own (save for my blue piano) fits into a 15 foot moving truck. We're still unpacking boxes but that part is actually enjoyable. We love our new space, we both have studios and lots of natural light. We looked at this spot over 6 years ago but it was in horrible condition and since has been completely renovated. It underlines the fact that we need to trust in the timing of things and that everything eventually comes full circle.

Peaches

My friend Jen is a producer for Hallmark magazine. She just returned from the central coast of California where the magazine did a shoot at Mas Masumoto's peach farm. There was a celebration for the 40th birthday of the Sun Crest peach which is a variety that we in the midwest don't ever see, as they are tree ripened and do not travel this far. Jen came back full of stories and inspiration. She also came back with a box of peaches. Words do not describe these beautiful delicious gems. They taste like pure, sweet, sunshine. Ah, California.

A Day of Cake

On the 4th of July one of my best friend's father and his twin brother celebrated their 70th birthday. I was asked to make a cake for the party. I made a coconut cream cake with lemon lime curd between the 3 layers, "frosted" it with lemony whipped cream, covered it with toasted coconut and decorated it with citrus colored zinnias from the Farmer's Market and fresh basil from the garden. While I was in the kitchen, Aaron was in the basement making his own cake....out of cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls which he painted. It barely fit in the car. Sparklers gave it a birthday candle effect and it was really awesome! Happy Birthday Twins and Happy Birthday America!!!

Climbing the Ladder

After a move across the country, there are pieces to fit back together in order to determine the new shape of our lives. We are thrilled to be back in Lawrence and although it is familiar and comfortable in many ways, we are commited to creating new challenges, habits and patterns. We didn't travel this far to land right in the spot we left. As we search for jobs and opportunities to set the pace and flow of funds, I have to face head on the reality that the only ladder I'm meant to climb is the one right here in front of me. Its an imaginary ladder of sorts but its all about me setting new standards for my art, and seeking ways to sustain a lifestyle built on integrity and expression of spirit and soul. The universe is pushing me to walk my talk and TRUST that when you are doing what you really need to be doing, opportunity knocks.

the whole truth

Okay everybody, now that we've been back home for a couple weeks its time to tell the truth about WHY. Yes, we missed our families and friends. Yes, we want to contribute to the art community in the place we are from instead of being expats on the coast. Yes, we hope to actually stop renting in a year or so and buy a house which probably couldn't happen in California. Its true we almost didn't come back on account of the chiggers and the humidity. But the clincher? The icing on this cake? The midwest is the BEST place for pack rat junk collectors such as me. I've already gone to a handfull of flea markets and auctions and I am thrilled to be back at it. Keep in mind we haven't even moved into our place yet, so I've totally held back. Remember that phase I went through... wanting to be minimal? Was that really me? These pics are misleading....it LOOKS like a treasure chest. We came across this joint in Oregon, and well......we walked away with nothing more than dirty hands from digging around. I swear.

clouds

Weather is a big obsession for my family in Minnesota. Conversations often begin with "I hope it rains today." Or, "I hope it doesn't rain today." There are many variations such as "I hope it rains today....a nice gentle rain". And on and on. I've been paying attention to the clouds lately. Maybe my cloud gazing is the residual after-effects of being the daughter of a woman who (according to my dad) has a crush on the automated weatherman robot on the radio. Being with my family this summer reinforced that my parents are obsessed with what falls from the sky. Here are some of my cloud pictures I took while on the road from the west to the midwest.

We're back where we began... yet beyond...

So, its been awhile since we tapped out any stories. There have been many adventures since our last posting in April so here's the condensed version... Our dear friends Mel and Jen came to visit from Lawrence for a long weekend. In between picnicking on crab legs and cold white wine in the forest and cruising in a '66 Bonneville convertible to the coast, we had some heart to heart conversations that led to clarity. After much careful consideration and dissecting of options, Aaron and I decided we wanted to move back to the midwest. The nutshell answer or WHY? is that our families and community in Lawrence mean more to us than the jaw-dropping beauty and energy of the Golden State. So on May 2 we pulled away from our cottage in the woods and headed north. We camped out and had such a terrific journey from CA to OR. We got to Portland where we were thrilled to meet Ivan Lee Arthur Winters....all of six days old. Our friends Kjirsten and James are the proud new parents. We got to spend some special, quality time with our friends there...B&B, Matt & Britta, Jessie, etc. Aaron turned 30 and we celebrated with an over-the-top deliciously inspired feast at Toro Bravo. We came soooo close to just stopping the journey there and calling Portland home....but......we headed east and spent another week on the road. We hit hotsprings in Idaho and Montana, explored Yellowstone National Park, The Badlands, reconnected with an old friend from highschool, made perfect omelettes over the campfire in the cast iron skillet, visited vineyards, saw the most incredible double rainbow against a backdrop of mountains, spent one night camping on the side of the interstate after the Chinook's battery exploded, and on and on.......essentially we had a fantastic trip. We stopped for some 5 cent coffee and a lame piece of pie at Wall Drug, were mystified and bewildered by the Corn Palace in South Dakota, and surprised my parents in Minnesota right around dinner time. We stayed with them for 3 weeks, helping out with lots of gardening, front step building, tree trimming, planting, etc. We transplanted thousands of native prairie plants for my brother Kyle and got to spend some quality time with him and his lady Crystal. We also got to connect with my aunt and uncle, cousins, grandma, and some of my old minnesota friends. We had 2 sleepovers with my niece Haley and spent a little time with Lindsey and Will. All in all a good time. We arrived in Lawrence just in time to celebrate my 36th birthday and reconnect with many friends that night, as there were a couple of art openings happening downtown and it felt great to just jump into the stream of Lawrence life. We went to Hiawatha for a few days after that to visit Aaron's family which was wonderful...got to meet our new niece Willow Ann. So, things are taking shape & moving in new directions with more intention, ambition and inspiration than we've felt in awhile. This is beginning to feel like an annual holiday letter so before I delete it, I'm shooting it into the internet ether....more soon.