Lounging in the grass, looking up at this tree. It rained last night...the grass is greener, the trees are lusher, and the world feels fresher after a good "soaking rain". I just watched Obama's speech and now I feel a little more green and lush and fresh.

8.26.08

Fair pics

We went to Valley Fair today. Brandon took this picture while on the cork-screw (which is totally forbidden in the land of VF). We were upside-down and spun around and now ready for bed. Brandon was ready for more, but the Parish girls aren't cut out for marathon sessions at places with lots of people and hot sun.

From parking garage to bus stop. I prefer the bus stop.

a haiku:

wine helps me design
gets the block out of my head
ideas flow onto paper.

I'm back to working on my "art quilt" Its a series of vases and flowers wall hanging. i have neglected it for a while (I tend to do that with projects - ahem, blog), but I've started anew! Its slow going, because there is a LOT of applique, but will be very cool at the end.

Kelly, mom and I went to Bemidji this weekend to visit the farm. My grandma is moving to an apartment after living in the same house that my grandpa was born in for over 50 years. It is sad to say goodbye to this place as the family knows it. Its easier to know that the barn will still be standing next year and the flowers will still be blooming. We helped Grandma move some things to her new place and she is so excited - I can tell its time. So even though this trip was a last visit of sorts, I know that the spirits of the activities remain. Cows and flowers and haybales; horses and gardens and pastures; playhouses and sleigh rides; watering troughs and haylofts...

08.08.08

Neighborhood crazy 8's party - Tom did fortunes. I go one bad, one good; Brandon won; Tom told Kelly to go back to bed.

8.7.08

There has been a lot of road work in the neighborhood. This picture is trying to capture the gravel they put down after a top coat. People are dumb-struck as to driving on a dirt road.

8.6.08

Flag parade! - This reminds me that the olympics are almost here! I love the olympics! When i was 4, I skated along with the figure skaters and gymnastics my way around the living room and then I made my mom interview me. Thats how much I love the olympics!

Another picture of the bridge and traffic. I am really trying to capture something you can't with a photo - the smell of the city. The city doesn't smell good and is noisy. Its something I really feel after I've returned from visiting up north. After just a few days, I will absorb my surroundings and be happy in the city - find the good smells, like lilacs and bakeries, but I'm really glad I know today that it doesn't smell good. I'm really not trying to complain - I'm trying to express my love of that crisp inhale after driving north for 4.5 hours. There is nothing like it. I see the lake and I get excited in Duluth, but the first inhale outside the car in my parents' driveway is my fix. I need that to feel like I'm home again.

7.27.08-8.3.08

When you are getting ready to go out of town for the weekend, the time just slips away. Last week, I did a lot of stuff, but didn't take a lot of pictures. We've been golfing alot - tournaments and just hitting around and that was one of the days last week. The rest of the time I was working to get everything done, running errands, packing, visiting with in-laws and...making signs for the Fisherman's Picnic parade 10 year class reunion float. Thats right - last weekend I went home for my 10 year. It was really a blast to see everyone, but not everyone was there, so I wish we could get together again with the absentees to see what they are up to. Fish Pic is a pretty big deal in town, so there were loads of other friends who weren't necessarily classmates. Brandon met a ton of people he didn't know and I re-met some that I didn't recognize (I never thought that would happen this soon).

golfing - I don't keep score because of all the 8s













The float "There's no place like HOME". The last time Hilja and I were in charge of something together, the class of 98 ended up wearing silver graduation gowns - I'm surprised they let us touch this one.









Sign.