Fall Update

So many things are happening! I've been so busy at work that I haven't had much time to blog. (Ok, by "busy at work," we all know that I mean I've been watching too much fall TV to have any motivation to do productive things, right?)

So here are some notable things that have happened:

1. I met Joanna Brooks! This is real. She spoke at a "Mormonism and the Election" panel at Seattle University, and I went with my brother and his friends. And one of my brother's friends knows JB! As in she came up and talked to us before the panel, and she knew my brother's name! And he introduced me as his sister, and she said "Hi, sister!" To me! She even texted my brother's friend after the lecture asking why we didn't stick around to chat. Pretty big deal. Side note: Ken Jennings was also there (Jeopardy!).

2. Since I used my daily allotment of exclamation marks in number one, I'll list the change in missionary age as number two. Notably, I first found out about this on Twitter because I'm the worst at watching Saturday sessions of general conference. While I didn't have the emotional response that many had, and I'm not sure how much this will actually improve gender dynamics (though I'm curious), it's nice to see a substantial policy change. Keep 'em coming.

3. A new Target opened 4 miles from my house. I celebrated the election news on Tuesday by wandering the shoe aisles and buying a new pair of flannel pajamas.

4. I have been killing this autumn. Pumpkin scones, caramels, apple cider, pumpkins, biscotti, pot pies, soups. In related news, I have gained three pounds. Nope, I lied. It's five pounds. Totally nailing it.

5. I went to Utah, which warrants a photo collage. For obvious reasons.

6. And, most obviously, I have been watching fall TV. All of the usuals, of course (Ben proposed to Leslie! Cristina and Meredith reunited!? Tyra needed to send Victoria home at least four episodes before she finally got nixed because she is cahrazy. Is Glee really still on television? Kristina Braverman has cancer!? And Tina Fey is still the funniest woman alive--but really, did you see the "Stride of Pride" episode?).

I've also picked up some new shows. One of which is Emily Owens, M.D. on the CW, which is noteworthy because I thought it was going to be terrible, but it is incredibly endearing. You should watch it. But I have to say, the best new fall show is The Mindy Project, without which we would be deprived of TV moments like this:

Autumn

Autumn is here, people! I bought pumpkins. I went to a corn maze. I have a "Harvest Welcome" scented candle burning 24/7. I made a pumpkin roll. I'm drinking cider daily. And I'm getting mentally prepared for the best Halloween weekend ever, which I'll be spending in Provo. Delicious.

Autumn pictures from my photo excursion to Catherine Creek!:

Cedar Creek Grist Mill

This morning I went with some friends to the Cedar Creek Grist Mill for their annual cider press. The unwelcome sound of my alarm at 7:30am was almost enough to make me stay in bed, but I'm glad I went. Apparently this is a well-known event in the area--the place was absolutely packed with people and cars. They cleaned the apples in this fascinating contraption and then pressed them with hand presses (maybe? I don't really know, but that sounds quaint). The cider was absolutely delicious. On the way home we stopped at a small bakery that had the most amazing donuts. They rival Provo Bakery. And I don't say that lightly. Good morning.

Panther Creek

My dad took the afternoon off from work, so we drove East on Highway 14 to Panther Creek to spend the afternoon taking autumn nature pictures. It was a lovely drive up the Washington side of the Columbia River. We spent our first chunk of time at the creek and then drove further to the falls. Employment has its benefits (money, people don't judge you, and . . . ?), but you can't beat the flexibility of unemployment.

You thought you'd seen the last of my autumn posts . . .

My mom checks on a family friend's house every so often while they are living abroad. Today I tagged along and found this amazing tree in the yard. I had to take a picture. I hope they don't mind. Couldn't you sit on a porch all day long and look into this backyard?

Pumpkin Pie

Delicious. (My dad was in charge of the whipped cream :))

Did I mention I love fall?

My mom and I harvested the garden this morning! (Well, my mom did all the work, and I bounced* around in glee, taking pictures and basking in the fall-ness of it all.)



*No actual bouncing took place.

I love Fall

My sister Em flew in for 36 hours this weekend to attend a wedding, so naturally we had to make time to visit our favorite fall location. This is Joe's Place. It is 8 minutes from my house. They sell amazing homemade pumpkin pie fudge. Heaven.

Day 14: Flowers

I've been excited about all of the photo themes for this September challenge until today. For some reason as I walked around my house searching for any sort of "flower" inspiration, directly relevant or not, nothing seemed like a good fit. Every photo opportunity seemed to say, "I'm a flower, so you could take a picture of me and no one would notice that you're not really into today's theme." But nothing seemed to attract my attention as anything beyond a photo that happens to relate to flowers. So, I halfheartedly present this squash blossom from my mom's garden as my "flower" offering.

Day 12: Close-Up

Pumpkin!

Day 10: Something I Made

Apple pie! I can feel fall slowly settling in, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than an apple pie. An "A" for apple/adultery is carved on top.

Sitting this one out

BYU started classes on Monday and the Evergreen School District starts classes today, so I'm officially beginning my first school-free fall since the above picture was taken. I think I'll walk around all day with an information sheet pinned to me to appropriately come full circle. Luckily, I can cross out "Teacher: Mrs. Wright" and all of the info will be the same.

Thanks giving

Maybe this is a little early, but I'm feeling grateful so I'm going to make a list of the things I'm grateful for.

My "A Wonderful Day" mix. 5th graders who write about wetting their pants and fishbowls. Having jobs (even though I want to quit Joe's every time I work there). My wonderful family. A roommate who makes an effort to wear pants (actually she doesn't, but she does make an effort to be a good roommate). My coworkers at Cougar Creations. Chum 230. Going home for Thanksgiving. Fridge cold water. Running into Lindsey outside the library and talking for 45 minutes. Christie Anne Peterson. Walking in the crisp autumn air. Sunday dinners. My little sister coming to BYU next winter. Vancouver, WA. Being weird around Kathryn (three more paragraphs coming later). My ipod, which I'm listening to right now. Eggnog. Bare, dead, brown trees. Christina and her facebook messages from Romania. People who make me laugh. The Lone Reed. Addictive TV shows (Felicity, Grey's Anatomy, etc.). Chicken broccoli. London! Trips down memory lane.

I'm going to go right now. But this will be updated.

A Poem by me

The Pumpkin Patch

crisp crunch leaves break and soak
into the grass under
small feet plodding among the golden pumpkins
that will fill the empty pages
of spiral bound wide ruled paper
covered in wax scrawls

chilled air laps bare hands and neck
a red scarf grasped by dirty fingers
gathers bits of hay and leaves
trailing, winding through vines
soft dirt passing golden mounds
searching for what will become a
flickering toothy grin

Autumn

I love this time of year! No other time of year brings me this much joy. I can't wait for the leaves to change and the air to get crisper. I can't wait for the pumpkin party (Lindsey, remember Meghan's delicious cookies? I'm such a liar). Every time I step oustide I smile a little bit to myself. Fall makes me want to play soccer in the rain and then take a nice long bath, put on wool socks and have tomato soup. It makes me want to get out the halloween costumes, try them all on and leave trails around the house—cat ears in the living room, a witch's hat on top of the tv, a clown wig under the kitchen table. It makes me want to get off the bus after school and read the boxcar children on my back porch with a blanket wrapped around me. To rake up all the leaves in my yard and lie in them, to drink hot chocolate outside in my pajamas, to carve pumpkins even if I hate pumpkin slime. I just can't get enough of this.

Oh, autumn.