2014 in Review

Today I scrolled through hundreds of pictures, reviewing the past twelve months of memories. First of all, where did the time go? Did we really experience this much in just one year? Second of all, I'm amazed at how many more pictures I take with a phone/digital camera versus "old" cameras with actual film. We didn't waste any shots back then and now we click and click like we've got no memory bank.

Anyway....here is the year in review. I cannot believe how much went down. What a stressful, yet wonderful transformative year. Let's begin with New Year's Day. SNOW! Winter 2014 brought more snow than usual, which was just fine with me.

Next stop....my 29th birthday in March. That month was so stressful I didn't even want a birthday. But then my mom arranged for some of my closest friends to be present and it turned out to be a perfect day.

Shortly after, I took 40 high school musicians to New York City for a music tour. Here my cousin and I pose outside the Majestic Theater after seeing Phantom. Last time I saw this production I was also on a high school music tour....as a 10th grader. :-)

Next came my graduation from James Madison University. I now have my Masters of Music in Music Education. It was a long, hard road but I am so glad I took the plunge. The cherry on top was having three generations together for Commencement. My grandmother went in the hospital over the holidays which makes this moment and this picture even more special to me right now. She was so proud to be able to attend and wear purple. (Go Dukes!)

My dad and I finally bought kayaks! My grandmother already had canoes at her house so now our whole family can enjoy time on the water. Here I am kayaking with a friend from elementary school I reconnected with over the summer.

As summer flew by, the long anticipated west coast/cross country adventure arrived. What a trip. One of the best days was the one my brother and I spent in San Francisco. How I miss that gorgeous place and the lovely family members who gave us the grand tour.

Along came autumn. From visiting the Edgar Allan Poe museum in Richmond, Virginia to hammocking in the Blue Ridge Mountains it was full of new experiences.

And here we are. Can't think of a better way to end the year than being at home with these buffoons (aka my brothers).

Goodbye, Fourteen! Thank you for teaching me how important family and friends are, that down time is crucial to efficiency in the work place, and how travel is the best way to hit the internal reset button. Perhaps the most important thing I learned in 2014 is best articulated by Christopher Robin speaking to Winnie the Pooh.

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you imagine, and smarter than you think."

Fall in Love with the Shenandoah Valley

For our family, no autumn is complete without time spent exploring the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. It's like walking through a postcard and the crowds are proof that when the color comes out, so do the tourists. We are lucky to live so close. Several weekends back, my brother, cousin, and I hit up the pumpkin patch and then my dad joined us for a short hike on the Appalachian Trail through the Shenandoah National Park. Near perfect day.

Okay, so I might have dressed up for the pumpkin patch. I threw on this denim jacket (JC Penney circa 1999) over an Old Navy corduroy dress complete with my L.L. Bean boots.

Loving my brother's L.L. Bean vest, Levi's, and Timberland boots.

My cute-as-a-button cousin jazzing up her jeans with a blazer and scarf.

Shenandoah National Park was absolutely breathtaking. The pictures do not do the colors justice.

I AM Katniss Everdeen.

Big leaf. Small leaf.

Perched atop the bridge by the entrance with a bird's eye view of the mountains. 

Ended our day back home with friends around the fire. MmmmMmmm good.

Road Trip Part II: Portland, Chicago, HOME!

Here is the second and final installment of this summer's road trip with my brother. I wish I had more time to write! Perhaps one day. There was SO much to see and I'm grateful for the locals (our family and friends!) who took us to the best of the best-both off the beaten path and to tourist traps.

Ah, the glorious Northwest Coast. I had no idea how magnificent it is. We have family in Tillamook who took us to the various beaches, showed us tide pools (and star fish!), and bought us ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. 

Had the pleasure of visiting TWO dear friends in Portland. Liz and I roomed together in college and Andrea and I worked together in Chicago. They were excellent tour guides. Here are Liz and I visiting the Japanese Gardens and then Andrea and I enjoying the downtown Portland.

Famous Portland sign. Based on our observations they are doing a fine job. 

If you go to Portland, consider the following:

(1) Powell's Bookstore: A book lover's PARADISE. Multiple floors filled with dozens of categories (including steam punk and a section for each member of The Beatles) and thousands and thousands of used books.

(2) Eat Vegan! Portland is bursting at the seams with healthy dining. I'm not vegan but both times I ate out I went to vegan restaurants and they were fantastic.

(3) The Bubbling Water Fountains. Everyone I know who has been to Portland gets this picture.

(4) VooDoo Donuts. They really are that good. Our favorites were the Arnold Palmer and Tang donuts. We splurged on a dozen and were set for snacks as we drove back across country.

We left Portland at 9:00pm. This was taken about 8am. We did not stop until Fargo, North Dakota at 9pm. 24 hours in a car together and we still get along. Is there an award for that?

Pausing for a moment of silence in the North Dakota badlands. 

Stopped in Minnesota for some local coffee. Dunn Brothers Coffee's specialty is 24 hour cold pressed coffee and is the strongest brew I have ever tasted. We still had a lot of driving left so naturally we bought the 64 oz. growler. OOFTA!

Spent our last day in Chicago. Some good friends of mine recently acquired a boat and took us out on Lake Michigan to watch the sun set over a city dear to my heart. (I lived there for 3 years.) Nothing quite like the Chicago skyline.

 And then....HOME SWEET HOME Virginia and reunited with our better third. :-)

Road Trip Part I: California Dreaming

As promised, here are some pictures and stories from an incredible road trip I had the privilege of sharing with my younger brother this past July. It was an incredible adventure that forever changed me and ultimately inspired me to begin this blog.

Storybook Wedding of two lovely folks just outside of L.A. This is the event that inspired us to plan a trip. First dance shown below.

From LA we headed north by way of the Central Valley. True story: Every person that asked where we were driving to after LA....."So where are you headed next?" Us: "Bakersfield." Them: "Um.....WHY?" Us: "It's on the way to family." Them: "Oh, okay. Because you couldn't have been going there voluntarily." Below are the beautiful desert hills....before we arrived at our hotel in the hot ditch known as Bakersfield.

Had to show off the appetizers our cousins had waiting for us. DELISH!

Next Stop: SAN FRANCISCO!!!!!! Crossed off several bucket list items: Ride a cable car, visit Alcatraz, see the Golden Gate from up above.

Cable car line was so long we almost missed the ferry. Brother can attest I was about to stroke out.

Direct quote from brother: "I'd rather go to solitary than share a cell with my sister."

Pure. Bliss.

I could not stop smiling. This place has mystical powers.

As if we had special ordered it.....the fog lifted enough for us to watch the sun slip behind the Pacific. A crowd gathered. When the sun set they applauded. :-)

On the edge of Chinatown lies a lovely little nook known as City Lights Bookstore. A literary treat!

From San Fran we headed to our aunt who lives near Bodega Bay, filming location of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Enjoyed lunch at The Tides where I fulfilled a foodie fantasy: lemon sorbet in a lemon!

Tune in next time for our next stop: Oregon!