farm day!

saturday i spent some time on my brother's/parents' farm. i went to help fix some things & do yard work. and i did a little. then, the beauty of the day distracted me and i decided to take some pictures. hehe. i had one little adventure... i was almost attacked by a 4 ft/1.5 m snake!! ok. not attacked. but we really scared each other. i almost stepped on him, and then we both ran/slithered in opposite directions! definitely a scary moment. anyway, here are some pictures from my farm day...
had lunch at a typical mountain diner. hihi. love it!


first summer pic

tonight i ate on the porch outside.
i had strawberries for dessert.
summer's on its way.
can't wait!


local nc mountain strawberries. mmm... (i'm saving some for you, my love!)

back in business

my parents returned their camera to me today! oh yeah. (i'm using theirs because mine is currently living in sweden with my love so she can have a camera, since i had access to one here). but, about a month ago my parents kidnapped their camera. and i've been going through withdrawl from having a camera, making the best of it with my iPhone (thank, you amazing iPhone! i love you). but, as of today, i'm back in business with a camera.
woo hoo!


creepin' up

i went to run some errands today. and on my way home, as i was driving with the windows down, i thought i should take a little detour to enjoy a beautiful view. sure, there were dark clouds everywhere and the sky was threatening to give us a severe storm... still i thought it might be beautiful from the cross at lake junaluska. i was right! i'm so glad i went. what i saw when i got out of the car was a picture of spring creeping up the mountains. ahh...finally. warmer air, spring storms (as long as there are no tornadoes!), green trees, and flowers.

summer is not too far away now!


welcome, first family!

on friday president obama, first lady michelle obama, and their girls, malia and sasha, will visit asheville for a weekend vacation!!

pic of downtown asheville from here

i'm so proud and excited that the obama's are visiting my home city! now, if only i could catch a glimpse of the plane as it comes in, or the motorcade of cars as they pass by...dreaming. but, the family is here to stay at the grove park inn this weekend and enjoy some relaxing family time. and doesn't everyone deserve time with their family? so, no public appearances will be made. still, just knowing that the president and his family are in my city is an amazing feeling!

welcome, obamas!!

family picture from here

y e a h

downtown asheville on the first day of spring.

a peace rally at the "drum circle"


urban outfitters is now in asheville!



in 2009, "storm shopping" was invented...today "spring shopping" was born!






spring!

even zola's been waiting anxiously for the weather to change...



think i'm gonna celebrate spring by heading downtown asheville for a few hours with a friend. yay! then, perhaps a walk to take some pictures. who knows? but, mother nature has given us a beautiful first day of spring in nc, so i'm gonna enjoy it before bad & cold weather comes again tomorrow. (thinking of all my people in sweden still suffering with snow and winter...).

happy spring!

they have bloomed


it's coming

flower buds from the farm.
they were peeking out from the snow.
proof that spring is coming. eventually.


meet my two best friends

for the first half of 2010,
i have two friends who are keeping me sane and connected.

i love 'em!

my iPhone, Sam

my close buddy...initials: MSN

my new "home"

here's a little look at the room i will call "home" for the next 6 months. i have tried to make it as cozy as possible. and it feels good to have things from our asheville home all around me... just missing my love.

a snowy december day

here's what's going on today:
snowy, windy, and cold outside
christmas market downstairs in the apartment lobby
upstairs, i am packing away...
while zola sleeps.
happy second weekend in advent!!
peace.

2 december

my advent calendar
(24 days of symbols and a tiny piece of chocolate! yummy.)
and a classic christmas tv show...rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (link) that i'm watching tonight. love it.
today:
  • had starbucks this morning (shhh...some people i care about can't get starbucks at all right now)
  • talked to my love (early) this morning and later this afternoon. (we could talk forever & never get bored. love that.)
  • celebrated that a large number of my students brought their grades up on their report card. i am so proud!
  • had a meeting on one of my kids who is in and out of jail. we are actually planning to take away some of his restrictions because his behavior is improving in some ways...yay!
  • seriously need to get some boxes tomorrow and start packing!
  • going to bed early (after rudolph, of course)
peace. g'night.

i'm back for advent!

yes, i've been gone from here for a month. needed a break, i think, to adjust to living on my own again. how did i do? well, it is not possible to adjust to living on your own when the one who is your home is not with you. i'm ok, though. making it through the days, living as best i can without my love right beside me. but, i can never really be used to living alone again. we may be separated by miles for a while, but she is always with me.
my november days were spent working, enjoying the thanksgiving holiday with my american family at the beach, and making plans for december. things are gonna be changing for me in the next month...
  • moving out of our apartment this weekend (lease is up)
  • moving back to lake junaluska (gonna save some money...big time. me like.)
  • gonna have a long commute to school/work every morning & afternoon again. gaaah.
  • headed to sweden in 17 days for a 2 week, very special, amazingly cozy holiday!! my heart is bursting!
  • all of this is because i am beginning a wonderful, new part of my life!
  • but...still teaching at t.c. roberson in asheville

i love this time of year. we know something is coming... we're full of anticipation, traditions both new and old, cozy nights, christmas lights everywhere, a feeling of hope and excitement. during advent we impatiently wait for the coming of christmas. we spend our time in the long, dark, winter nights longing for the bright hope that comes with the christmas season. there is a feeling that something big is gonna happen. we wait with hope. and somehow, during this time of year, even in the middle of all of the dark, we believe a little bit more that anything is possible, that we are not alone, that love really does win.


so, this advent, this countdown to christmas, i am gonna wait, anticipate, and celebrate with images. i'm not promising perfection (meaning i cannot promise to post something every day), but i want to share my advent through images in my life. images of hope, light, joy, peace, love. i want to capture and share the things i believe are possible...as we wait together.


tonight, i lit this candle in my window as a symbol of hope. even on the darkest, loneliest, hopeless nights one candle burns bright enough to offer a glimmer of light. the dark is never the end. there is always light, hope, love. always.


welcome, advent!