a succinct little sentence

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

This saying was attached to a tea bag in my cup of tea I drank while in North Carolina visiting Ocean, Raine, and Lakye (pictures to follow). I really enjoyed this saying. It reminds me no matter what the situation is, there is always a right choice to be made to better myself.

Other pictures not yet posted

Joey's Birthday

For Joey's birthday I made a very tasty vegetable Lasagna and fruit cheesecake. I have never made lasagna on my own before, it was very fun, and it turned out wonderfully. It was a weekday so we just hung out at home and watched a movie. His big birthday present is our trip out to visit Ocean, Raine. and Layke. in North Carolina, which is coming up soon.

Hanging out in Corvallis

Every year Corvallis has a Fall festival, this year we attended since we were in town. We rode our bikes to the festival, there was music, food, and LOTS of people. Living here I have become used to the quieter life of a smaller populated area. It is events like this that I really notice how unaccustomed to Salt Lake City I now am... We enjoyed the music and danced for about an hour. We stayed for awhile, then headed to the disc golf course at the south end of town. We were happily surprised to find another music festival at the skate park that we stayed to enjoy, catching the end of it. It was a fun weekend, and very fun to enjoy Corvallis by bicycle. We stopped by our favorite Chinese Buffet, which just so happened to be directly on our way home. A very nice way to spend a Saturday.

Climbing Middle Sister

View of Middle Sister from the D. Wright Observatory

We did this about a month ago, but it is definitely worth posting late.

September 20, 2009 we summited the middle of the Three Sister Mountains, near Bend, Oregon. Elevation of 10,047. For Joey and I this was our third attempt.

The first attempt we had a long ways to hike in because the road that provided the most direct approach was closed. We hiked in Friday night, and basically hiked continuously the whole weekend, totally about 30 miles. We were about an hour or two from the summit, but because it was getting late we as a group, we went with two other people, decided to turn back so as not to descend in the dark.

The second attempt was Labor Day. It was just Joey and I. We took started at the Obsidian Trail head. We had a good time, despite the weather - rain and wind. Camped at about 5000 feet. When Sunday morning we awoke to snow, and more bad weather so decided to turn back, vowing that we would be back.

The third attempt was the successful one. The weather was decent, only a small amount of rain. It was even warm enough we found a small lake and went swimming. It was Joey and I, and Joey's father, John.

Here are some pictures:

Dinner at Base Camp

One of the stunning views while climbing

Nearing the Top. If you look closely you can see John on the trail below the glacier.

Hiking on a glacier

Pictures from the Summit

I will go ahead and be honest. This was really hard. I hated it while I was doing it. But there is something to be said about doing what you view as nearly impossible for you. More than the physical, it really pushes your mental limits. In order to make it to the top I had to shut my brain off. I used all my energy getting to the top. The problem with that is that the summit is only the halfway point. It takes a lot of mental strength to continue, even when you don't want to. Now that it is all over with, I am very glad that I did this. I encourage everyone to try something you think is impossible. It is a very powerful experience. Like us, it took three tries to summit. Its not always about whether or not you succeed, but what you learn along the way, and that you keep trying.

Another thing I love

The Farmers Market. Basically the Farmers Market is awesome anytime, but is less busy and seems more relaxed during autumn. We are lucky here due to the temperate weather, the Farmers Market runs through most of November. And after that they have a indoor winter market.

My cute wonderful husband and I bought something from every booth. It was so much fun, and very tasty. We bought a wide variety of squash, many I have never had before. And several types of potatoes. It will be challenging to eat all the fruit and veggies that we got, but we are up for the challenge. Winter is coming, so why not enjoy fresh veggies why they are still around?

I loved this sign, and it reminded me of my good friend Anna.

2 for 75 cents, plus a cute sign, we couldn't resist.

Beautiful Farmers Makret flowers, cheering up our bedroom.

Autumn

I love autumn. I think this is the first year that for whatever reason I was looking forward to the transition to autumn. I also love the word Autumn. I vow to never say Fall again.

Things I love about autumn:

Knitting. I have developed a new passion for knitting. Hats and scarves is what I am starting out with, but the possibilities are endless.
Autumn food. Squash, soup, pumpkin bars. I love cooking and having the aroma fill the entire house. I love trying out new recipes.
Reading. There is nothing better than curling up with a husband, a blanket, and a book. Currently I am reading Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck. A great read.
Going for Walks. The weather is crisp and sunny, and perfect to wear a comfy jacket.
Autumn Leaves. The colors are so magnificent. It is so fun to see the trees get all dressed up for the season, as if going out to a fancy dance.
Socks. I didn't wear sock for the entire summer, with only one exception I can think of. That being hiking where there was snow and glaciers. I greatly under appreciated socks. Socks are comfy and warm, and just the right addition to a crisp autumn day.