In Absentia

All right, folks.  Sorry things have been slow recently.  I'm trying to get motivated to blog again, but it has been really hard lately.  There are so many other things I want to do, but I still want to blog.  Trying to fit everything in, plus work, is hard.  This is gonna be a wordy post about things that have been happening around me.  Forgive the ADD.

Summer is gone.  It snowed in the mountains today.  Snow.  I found some pictures of the first tracks on Snowbird in Colorado.  Of course, I can't remember where I found them, but I started drooling.  At work.  I want to go skiing soooooo badly.  I can't even focus on fall colors yet, skiing has taken up so much of my focus.  This will be a winter of epic powder opportunities, and I will not miss it.  

I'm making a separate site for my pictures, but it is nowhere near completion.  I'm still testing the customization of everything, and I'm trying to organize my pictures into galleries.  Getting organized is hard enough when I'm procrastinating like usual, but when there are so many fun things to do around Kalispell I just can't concentrate.  I'll do better, since summer is GONE NOW.  I'm only slightly missing it.  Slightly.

I still go up to Glacier or south to Flathead Lake whenever I can.  I even went for a short hike yesterday afternoon along one side of Lake MacDonald in Glacier.  Short as in a half mile.  Wouldn't want to wear myself out, now, would I?  Ha.  I have a massive library of pictures saved up for future blogs, but I don't think I'll post as many as I have been.  I'll let you know as I determine what is going on.

I went to a Sports Bar (capitalized because I will call this bar Sports Bar from now on.  I liked it that much.) to watch the Packers/Panthers game on Sunday.  Yes, Minnesotans, I went to a BAR on a SUNDAY.  BEFORE NOON.  Because I'm in a different time zone, I had to figure out what the hell time games are on here, and I don't like it.  Eleven is too early for football, so I had a beer and a burger for breakfast.  So since the Flathead Valley is so gorgeous, there are a lot of people here from elsewhere, like me.  There are so many Packers fans in Whitefish, where Sports Bar is, that we take up the whole back room.  And they projected our game on the giant screen.  Because we're awesome.  Anyway, I made friends!  This is a strange situation for me, since I don't talk to people.  Everyone knows everyone, so I stuck out in the crowd (also strange for me.  It's a week of firsts, peeps.) enough for the locals to ask who I was and what I was doing in Whitefish.  Rainy football Sunday led to my discovery of a micro-community in which I so clearly belong.  Also, Sports Bar serves their liquid refreshments in mason jars. Love it.

I live in the mountains.  This guy is just one of many reasons:

He's (she? I didn't check) a marmot, and they are everywhere in Glacier.  I want one.  

Everyone needs to come visit me, if only to realize that I am not crazy and that the valley is a wonderful place to live.  I love it out here.

-Erika

Blogswap 2011

Shanoy, from Jamaican Mommies is taking over my blog for the day.

I'll be back to my normal programming later in the week, after I get all of my pictures edited.

When given the task of a blog swap with a very heavy photo content, coupled with the 'summer' theme, I instantly got excited...After all, I live in the Caribbean where summer means sunshine, friends, sea, fun, party, food, exotic locations, out of town treks, relaxation and the like (I'm already excited remembering the fun I had and continue to have this summer)...

In the midst of my fun though, it would be useful to note that as a 20 something mum and wife (who blogs over at jamaicanmommies.blogspot.com), summer fun often has to incorporate the family. So here goes my very own Jamaican mum's view of summer (complete with images) to maintain the essence of the My Life in pictures blog.

Also note, I'm trying to steer clear of the very 'touristy' image one gets of Jamaica from the tourist board ads, to really show some of what I think an 'average Jamaican does for fun in the summer

Also as one who resides in the country's capital and works within the 'new town' of New Kingston, this is one of the many lovely views I'm privy to from the office floor...It certainly comforts during many lunch times when I'd much rather be sprawled on the beach...

Then I'm a lover of the 'country', having spent great deal of my life in a fairly rural area of St. Catherine and being quite appreciative of the fresh air, cooler climate, animal sounds and general sense of calm, we had to make a summer trip out of town...

And what would summer in Jamaica be like without the river or beach??

So here we are on one of the many beach treks made this summer

And to balance it all out, I also journeyed with friends to this river we found along the border of St. Andrew and St. Mary (Castleton Gardens/Ginger River)

Then when we felt just a little bit touristy, we journeyed to one of the island's many All-Inclusive hotels, Iberostar Resort in Montego Bay! In a word Fabulous! Especially if you get the chance to check out the Grande Suite which provides waitered service, fully stocked ...heavenly!

and yet another

Then back to reality, there is a whole lot to do, like just jogging in the Emancipation Park in Kingston with its sometimes controversial statues.

A boat ride over to one of the island's many sub-islands (cays), in this instance, the ever popular Lime-Cay off Kingston's coast proved most appropriate.

Oh and for the super adventurous, a trek to the island's Blue Mountain range is a must...I didn't dare travail this path in the summer, but did do it over the Easter weekend and so I just have to include two of the fabulous scenic shots

You can also check out local offerings such as the Mystic Mountain and Sun Coast Adventure tours which offers skywalking experiences, zipline, bobsled etc.

and with budget considerations, house parties have become a good choice this summer... a few close friends, everyone contributes to food and fun fun fun... It works!

and of course the annual Independence gala is a big to do as we celebrate Jamaica at 49..Oh my this country is starting to get old :-).. so there's a shot of us being all patriotic

and because this post could go on forever, let me just say summer in Jamaica also means cool beverages, lots of food and the like... so after all the hectic stuff and as the day winds down, I enjoy a refreshing summer mix, yum!

Alas, time does not allow me to go on, but it is my hope that you would have gotten a good enough peek at some of the interesting sites that makes for excellent summer fun in my island home...Happy reading as I prepare to watch a local play "Charlie's Angel" , which is guaranteed to provide a belly full of laughter, this following my enjoyable episode last week with the local movie Ghetta Life, now showing in movie theatres here.

Walk good and enjoy!!

Family Reunion

Last weekend was my first camping outing of the summer.  It didn't get above 65 degrees until we left on Sunday.  There were 25 of us staying at my Uncle Tim's and Aunt Lisa's place.  I'm amazed we didn't burn anything down or destroy anything other than a frisbee.  Seriously, 25 of us.

Yep.  24 in the picture and Aunt Tracey yelling at everyone to look at the camera at the same time.  Unfortunately, we all have horrible timing, so some of us aren't quite paying attention (Baby O, mom).  I don't like being in front of the camera, but I allowed it for a while.  I was a little hesitant about the whole weekend, since there are so many of us and I'm slightly agoraphobic.  It worked out, and I spent the whole weekend in flannel.  It was awesome and smelly.

Oh yeah, there are three 4 year olds and a year-and-a-half old pile of adorable little girl.  It proved to be excellent birth control.  

LittleSpencer, my cousin's son was adorable when we had him play with fabric paints.  We made a shirt for Grandpa Jerry for Father's Day, and LittleSpencer claimed the first handprint.  He wasn't sure what to think of it until my brother taught him to play with the paints on cardboard and get really dirty.  He then proceeded to follow my brother around all weekend, much to Spencer's dismay.

Uncle Tim corralled the four-year-olds and let them drive the old tractor up and down his driveway.  

There's something about the blind leading the blind in here, but I'm fairly certain Little T can see.  He loved driving the tractor and pulling his sister and LittleSpencer around.  

Look at those little faces.  They had so much fun.  Even Little M was having fun.  She usually got left out when Little T and LittleSpencer were doing boy things and she was playing golf.  So adorable. 

The last time I saw these three was last June at my graduation party, and they would not talk to me at all.  Eventually I got Little T to give me a high-five and his sister Little M even told me about her sparkly shoes.  Those twins and LittleSpencer made me realize that I do want kids some day, some very far off day.  Like 10 years from now.  

I'm looking forward to the other family reunion in August, now.  It's going to be another massive group of relatives with small children.  Perhaps I'll be more prepared for this upcoming adventure, but I doubt it.

Avoiding children like the plague for now,

-Erika

Say Uncle!

I'm leaving for a family reunion in the middle-of-nowhere Wisconsin in about negative 13 minutes.  Or as soon as my brother gets home.  I'n sure I'll have lots of stories on Monday, but until then...

Happy Birthday, Uncle Scott!  He's 50 today, and he's still as dorky as he was in high school.  According to my mom.  I wasn't around then, for obvious reasons.

Yep.  Still dorky.  I don't know why I claim him as a relative.

Terribly sorry, old man.

-Erika

Prom 2011

My former high school's prom was a couple weeks ago.  I didn't go, because that's weird.  I did take pictures for my brother and his date, though.  He graduated a year ago, so he went with a friend of his, C.  It rained all weekend, like any typical Spring day in Minnesota, so we didn't get to take any pictures outside without my brother's hair being ruined.  He's such a diva.

They're cute.  Or C is, and Spencer is a dweeb.  

Told ya.  Dweeb.  It was fun, even after I remembered how crazy parents of seniors in high school are at school functions.  I had fun trying to be unobtrusive and failing at times.  Apparently most students' older siblings aren't as cool as I am when it comes to hanging out with high-schoolers.

Yep, no one look at me.  Ever.  I'm just the weird one in the corner.  I always am.

Spencer even dragged his friend Zach into the mix, because one of C's friends didn't have a date.  Spencer and Zach have been friends since kindergarten.  Zach is only slightly more normal than Spencer.  

See?  We're not the only crazies in town.

Ladies, I am so sorry you had to deal with those two all night long.  C, your dress is fabulous.  

-Erika

I'm back!

I'm back.  My grandparents are here this weekend, so this post will be short.  All four of them are currently in the kitchen, talking about health problems and grandkids.  And more home-improvement projects around mom's house.  The weekend has been shaping up to be a great one so far.  We're going to brunch and a picnic at Fort Snelling National Cemetery tomorrow.  Memorial Day Weekend always culminates with a picnic for us.

This morning at breakfast the grandparents who are staying with us pulled out their day-of-the-week pill containers, complete with six different pills each.  

Betty Lou told me what they all were, but I forgot.  I'm surprised she can remember what they all are.  

Last night Betty Lou brought out the little Coke tin with both hers and Jerry's night pills in it.  I'm gonna have to have her write a list of them all so I can remember.  Also, the fruit rooster made an appearance after dinner, too.  He's weird.  

I still remember Betty Lou making up little sandwich bags of all the pills she and Jerry take daily.  She made them up in advance for their long hauls before they retired from truck driving.  At least they've upgraded to day-of-the-week pill containers.   

Up next, Prom 2011!!!

-Erika

Moving Day

Well, it's official.  We moved.  Saturday was the Big Move Day, including a large moving van, two trucks, a van, and my old car.  We had everything unloaded by 2 o'clock, and nothing broke.  Overall, the day was successful.  I still haven't unpacked all of my clothes yet.  That prospect is slightly terrifying, but I'll work through it.  My mom and I have almost everything in the kitchen organized and put away.  We'll see how long it stays organized.  

I need to share several things from Saturday with you.  If and when you decide to move all of your belongings (including large pieces of furniture and appliances), try to avoid having any type of engineer help you.  My grandpa helped us move, and he's an electrical engineer.  We had one of his friends help, too, who is also an electrical engineer.  Both of these men needed to oversee every part of our move, especially getting our large couches out of the basement.  This usually led to a lengthy discussion about how to move said furniture and whether we needed to take a railing or two off the wall.  It was fun to watch the first time it happened.  My mom got rather frustrated, though.  I just giggled and kept the dogs out of the way.  

Another bit of advice: if one or two of your movers has a bad back or bad knees, tell them to stay as far away from the action as possible.  Especially if they are they type who needs to help all the time.  They'll just get in the way or injure themselves more.  You'd think this is obvious, but it needs to be said.  There were some problems when Fabian tried to help move furniture.  We had to give him some pillows to carry so he wouldn't get in the way.  It worked out in the end, though.  

We all ended up sore and tired by the end of the day, but we're finally living in only one house.  The dogs are still a little confused, but they'll figure it out.  They're adorable.  They followed the furniture in and out of the house all day on Saturday.  I'm sure they didn't want to be left there all alone.  They only got a little muddy from the rain.  

They're great.  Unless you have to drive them somewhere with both of them in the front seat of the car with you.  That might not have been the best choice, but whatever.  No one died, so it's all good.

Enjoying the new house (finally),

-Erika

Easter Madness

So, Easter was on Sunday.  We had an Easter egg hunt, and I did the honors of hiding the eggs while everyone else was at church.  One great thing about where we live is that we frequently have piles of brush in the yard.  Piles of brush are really easy to hide things like eggs in.  It was pleasantly hilarious watching children (They're not really children, as the youngest is 13, but I don't care.  It's an Easter egg hunt.) scrambling around in the woods and brush trying to get eggs filled with jellybeans. 

We also have rose bushes and other prickly things in our garden, and I'm not very nice in the morning.

I would apologize, but my uncle was not the only one laughing at the egg hunters.

Spencer found a shovel and used that in his hunt.  I guess tools are acceptable.  Monkeys use them, too.

We also have lots of places to hide eggs that could possibly be out of reach for a 13 year old.

Not so.  My cousin did indeed get that egg, even with Spencer trying to tackle her.  We're slightly competitive.  

Another fun place to hide Easter eggs is where no one would normally look.

Yep.  I did.  Also, from this angle, you can't tell how banged-up my car is.  It's win-win.

With all these children running around, someone needs to supervise them.  Right?

Enter Grandpa Austin.  He's just doing his job.

Penny needed to supervise, too.  She was busy watching the other dogs to make sure they didn't eat any eggs before the kids found them.  She failed in this job, though.  I found three broken-open plastic eggs with dog slobber all over them.  Clearly she couldn't be bothered to get up.  

After our eggs hunt, we decided the dogs needed some Easter flair.

Yep.  She was as mad as she looks.  She got her bandanna off within seconds.  She hates having anything on her.

Sniper, on the other hand, didn't even notice.  She was a little confused when we tied her bandanna on her, but she went right back to jumping all over us to get a jellybean.  

She slept with it on that night, too.

Hope your Easter was as fun as mine was!

-Erika

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Or is it April showers may bring flowers?  Our garden is rather depressing still.  Even the flowers look sad.

Yes, daffodils are sad.  They really didn't like the snow this week.

Seriously, they look really sad.  I don't really like daffodils, but I still felt sorry for them.

The hyacinths were a little better looking, but they were still angry with the weather.  It has been raining for the past week, with the exception of the one day of snow we got.  I'm so glad I live in the upper Midwest.  Hopefully the weather will warm up after Easter.

Speaking of Easter, tomorrow is also my little brother's birthday.

This kid is going to be 19 tomorrow.  I can't handle it.  He's only 8.  I swear.  He's not old enough to be 19.  I'm not old enough to have a 19 year old brother.  What am I going to do with him?  I'm terribly ill-prepared for this.  I still haven't gotten him a birthday present.  Sorry, Spencer.  I'll make it up to you on Monday or something.

Happy Easter, and Happy Birthday Spencer!

-Erika

Easter Preparations

For everyone that didn't already know, Easter is this Sunday.  I'm not religious, spiritual, or whatever, so Easter is more about getting together with family for me.  This means I get to make the house pretty and smelling delicious while everyone else is at church in the morning.  Yay!  We've already started putting decorations around the house.  

This bunny is somewhat terrifying and hilarious at the same time.  He (it has a bow-tie, so it is male) squeaks when you squeeze him, and he's three feet tall.  I think this is a little excessive, but we've had him for years.  The dogs think he's a new friend to play with.  I like hitting people with him.  It's win-win for everyone.

For Easter dinner (dinner? brunch? I dunno.) we're not having ham or lamb.  My brother wants steak, so we're eating a lot of beef this weekend.  It's his birthday, so I'll let it pass.  My job for this feast is to bake bread.  I tried out a recipe for Irish soda bread to see if I could actually make something passing for bread.

The final product actually turned out!  It's delicious and perfectly dense.  One tiny loaf is like 2 pounds of bread.  I'm excited.

Penny's job is to look pretty.  She's doing a pretty good job practicing so far, dontcha think?

I wish I had her job.

-Erika

Muddy Dog

I'm still in the Badger State.  They haven't kicked me out yet, which is a good sign.  My cousin and I took her dog to a nature reserve today.  It's named after some guy named Schmeekle (pronounced shmeeklee). 

The drive to the park was fun for the dog.  She got to stick her head out the window and smell things.  And sneeze on me.

You could at least say "excuse me."  Thanks, Xena.  Oh yeah, the dog's name is Xena.  She's a fearless warrior.  Unless she finds herself in water deeper than 4 inches.  Then she hides.

I think she was trying to get a stick out of the puddle.  Everywhere was a puddle today, because of the snow melting and the rain we had last night.  We were soggy.

Xena's chin was soggy too.  Just look at the mug on that mutt.

After we finished our walk we realized Xena probably shouldn't have come with us.

Whoops.  I'd like to note that there was no sign posted at the beginning of the trail.  This was at the end of the trail and we apparently walked it backwards.  Oh well.

Here are some nature-y pictures I took when Xena was being boring.

I almost fell over trying to take this picture.  Ice is slippery.

I like moss.  Don't know why, but I do.

More mushrooms!  They kinda look like coral this time, though.

My trip in Wisconsin is coming to a close.  I might get a chance to post again before they kick me out.  

-Erika