Eternal Summer

It's been a busy summer. Although it's already October, the weather in Los Angeles has been so hot, for so long, that for many of us in LA, it only just starting to feel like autumn. 

But, overall, the last four months have felt like a long "Welcome Home" party.

There were visits from dear friends. 

And times of exploration. 

There were several birthday celebrations...

...and good times spent with the family.

Cool decorations...

....And baseball games.

There were hot dog extravaganzas. 

And trips to northern California. 

Matt and I celebrated our third anniversary. 

And we were foster parents to three tiny, abandoned kittens. 

Who are not quite as tiny now...

All in all, it was a wonderful summer. 

Glad to be back, California. 

Embracing orange!

My friend Stephanie came to visit us in June and we decided to put her to work...helping us paint our kitchen wall orange!

Before

After!

We were initially concerned because the paint color appeared alarmingly similar to the colors of the Home Depot logo. 

But, as we started putting it on the wall, the paint looked pretty good. 

The guy at Home Depot (who mixed up the paint) told us "...well, you won't need coffee to wake you up in the morning. Not with that in your kitchen." 

I don't think he approved. But I felt pretty confident that we would love it. 

I have been embracing orange a lot these days. 

 

Thanks for all of your help, Stephanie!

We love our new kitchen!

The Move to California, Part III: Road Trip Across the U.S.A...again

For those of you who don't know already, I graduated! You can read about the ceremonies here.

After graduation, Matt and I still needed to drive my car from New Jersey to California. 

Depending on your personality, this could either sound like a wonderful opportunity or a total bummer. I felt like it was a wonderful opportunity. 

Matt and I had already driven across America with a giant moving truck (while towing his Jeep), so I was sure that this trip was going to be MUCH easier in comparison. And, thankfully, it was.

Rather than go through all of the details of our trip, I thought I would post some of my favorite photos from our travels. 

Ohio

Making our one and only stop in Ohio. After years of waiting, I finally got to try Skyline Chili!

You know it. 

Aw yeah. 129 percent pure awesome-ness.

Illinois 

 

Adorable display of settlers traveling by wagon at the Museum of the Grand Prairie. 

The dairy cow was my favorite. 

 

A nearby garden. 

With beautiful lotus flowers. 

A covered bridge. Obviously.

A dude rocking overalls on a motorcycle.

Missouri

Our first view of the St. Louis Arch. 

A wise command. Also, drink CocaCola!

Matt taking a pause while exploring the slightly disturbing City Museum. 

Matt and Drew sampling the famous St. Louis pizza. We were not impressed. Sorry, St. Louis.

 An avian friend of whom I took far too many photos. 

 A stunning wall of windows at the Washington University of St. Louis.

The best pecan pie I have ever eaten. It was chocolate pecan. I know we ordered other things but this dessert is what made the strongest impression. If you are visiting St. Louis, I command highly recommend that you go to Winslow's Home.

Listening to the incredible Kim Massie perform. Amazingly talented lady.

Kansas

 Stopping for lunch at an idyllic barbeque restaurant. 

  Although I felt like I was in an Alison Krauss music video, we discovered that THREE cars were broken into while we were eating our meal. Appearances can be deceiving...

Colorado

Visiting wonderful friends in Denver. 

Matt and Isaac having fun.  

Catching glimpses of buffalo as we drove through the state.

Utah 

A picture says a thousand words.

 If you look hard, you can see a tiny speck of black clothing...that is Matt in the distance!

 Being up early enough to see the sunrise. 

Small town Main Street. 

The staggering beauty and strangeness of Bryce Canyon. 

The cutest tourist I saw the entire trip. 

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. I think the talented Mr. Guthrie can articulate what I feel after driving across the US for the second time: 

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California, to the New York Island;

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters: 

This land was made for you and me. 

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,

I saw above me that endless skyway:

I saw below me that golden valley:

This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;

And all around me a voice was sounding:

This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,

And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,

As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:

This land was made for you and me.