"Spring is when life's alive in everything" --Christina Rossetti

I love Spring. I love the feeling of renewal, of hope, of life. It reminds us that everything comes full circle. From the dead of winter comes rebirth. This is a great opportunity to start life anew. A lot of people make New Year's Resolutions. I vote we made New Season Resolutions! It's much more inspiring to put your whole heart into something when it seems everything down to Mother Earth is jumping on the bandwagon.
I see a sky like today and I wish I could paint. Maybe I should take a class. But where?

Even though Spring is a fickle filly in Utah I do love the three days that it lasts. I feel so energized. Like I could bike up a mountain .
Now that I've finished my little "Ode to Spring," I have an embarrassing moment to share along those lines. When I was in 9th grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Fraser, required us all to write some original Shakespearean type sonnets. Of course, being the studious, disciplined, non-procrastinator that I am (psych!--remember "psych!") I was busily scribbling something down in the class before english so I would have something to turn in. It had to be in iambic pentameter and have rhyming couplets and all that Shakespearean fodder. Little did I know, that EVERYONE had to read our "sonnets" aloud to the class. I just about died. Let's just say, I could barely even make it through the reading I was giggling out of embarrassment. Which only served to add to my abashment. It was a really sappy, sentimental, satirical, stupid homage to spring.To give you a little taste, the only part of my writing that I remember was along the lines of:

Late at night I sit on the roof

Hearing comfort in my little dog's woof

Mrs. Fraser even commented at the end, "Well someone's excited for Spring, isn't she?" 

Yeah....the whole thing was pretty much like that. At the end of the year our class gave out awards and mine was "Sonnet Superior". As excited as I was for Spring and rebirth and all that, I have never wanted to wither and die more than I did then.

Can anyone top that embarrassing moment?

Cardiac Hill: Arrested

Today I rode this:

Up this:

Otherwise known as a little thing called Millcreek Canyon. (The picture is from a fall hike we did, right now it looks pretty bare.)

I just have to say that it is a testament to P90X that I made it up this mountain (without resting!). My endurance has increased tremendously.

Last year, I made it up Cardiac Hill after stopping 3 times, and had to lay down when I hadn't even made it to the top because I was so out of breath. I was certain I wouldn't make it out of the canyon without a helicopter. This year, it was tough, but I breezed by and didn't even stop. Then I stuck Church Fork. Outed Millcreek Inn. Blazed past Log Haven. And went all the way up to Elbow Fork. Then, as if that wasn't enough, I even did the Pipeline Trail with Brett. I admit that I walked a few downhills (I'm a wimp!) but for the most part made it through. My legs are jelly. But I did it. Can't wait to do it again.

First ya take a Graham

Put the Chocolate on the Graham.

Then you roast a Mallow. When the Mallow's flaming, you put it on the chocolate. Then cover with the other end. Then you scarf.

Thanks, Ham. Without you, I never would have known the intricate art of S'Mores-making.

Adventure, Sun of Moab

Brett & I spontaneously decided to go to Moab this weekend and get our adventure on. We've both been feeling a little overwhelmed and stressed out lately and it was great to get into some blue skies and sunshine.
We camped in a "princess" spot (or so Brett calls it because it had flushing toilets, showers, running water, etc.) and made that our home base for the weekend.

We went 4-Wheelin'. Old Russ was a champ. Almost didn't even overheat. 

Visited our license plate's roots.

Had my first mountain biking adventure. We went on the Bar M Loop--for families, the brochure said. I only panicked two, maybe three times. Brett was a champ---totally talked me down a few hills. Didn't even laugh when the little girl on a pink and white bicycle passed me while dinging her little bell for me to get out of the way. The bell may have been my imagination, the little girl was not. She was with her elderly grandmother and she had to keep up with her, so of course I let her pass, graciously.

Brett makes it look easy.

A lot of hiking, and a little romance.

Summer, I miss your warmth and sunny disposition, and can't wait for you to be here!

A little Rest & Rockreation

Yesterday we went bouldering at a place called Rockreation. (Yeah, I went there once so I can use the term "bouldering" like a pro.) Our friends Scott & Sarah invited us. Here it is a few days later, and I still have sore forearms and no grip. Let's just say P90X does not sufficiently prepare you for this kind of workout.
Brett learned how to Dino (when you jump like a frog from one grip to another one) and I learned that it hurts when you fall. I kid.

Here is a speed shot of Brett Dino-ing:

Now what?

Sew Simple

So I've been looking for a new hobby, and decided I wanted to take up sewing. I bought a sewing machine around Christmas time, and have had fabulous daydreams about how I am going to hand-make everything from our curtains to our future daughter's wedding dress.
My sewing machine looks really childish...I'm not a fan of the stupid flowers, but it was cheap. I will invest in a really nice one once I'm ready to make that wedding dress.
So, my first ever by-myself project, with no help, and really not much knowledge of sewing machines, was completed over the weekend. I decided I want to make slipcovers for some throw pillows for our couches. I got the pillow inserts at IKEA and got an awesome deal at JoAnn's for some fabric. The stars really aligned for my project because they were having a huge sale and I still had a gift card.
Anyway, I had to guess on the measurements because I didn't have a pattern....how do you measure fabric anyway? I used a ruler....I think that is wrong. I even made button holes for the first time ever...although I misjudged their placement so they are partially under the seam.....but that's on the back anyway, right?
Anyway, the finished project looks like this:

Cute little buttonhole (These are really hard by the way!):







It took several hours, but hey, one down and two more to go! I just need to get some more fabric. And more time. And a renewed interest in clean language. (jk)

April Fools

Yes, my last post was a joke. No buns in the oven. Although I have to say, I'm surprised at all the interest in my uterus.

Has anyone ever noticed that awkward questions are always conversation starters?When you are dating a guy, the first thing anyone asks you is when you are going to get engaged/married? Especially in Utah, if you've been on date two this topic is often introduced. After you get married, everyone immediately wants to know when you are going to reproduce. The past 2 1/2 years I can't say I'm feeling tired, sick, or ornery without people asking me if I think I'm pregnant.
I was at my mom's house for Sunday dinner a few weeks ago and I made the mistake of saying, "I have an announcement to make." You should have seen how everyone perked up! I was merely announcing that we had beat my little brother and his fiancee at raquetball.
My womb is like a ticking time bomb. Everyone thinks the fuse is lit, they just don't know when to expect the big ka-boom!
Anyway, I digress. I am not pregnant. End of story. 

December 9, 2010