To have a baby, or not to have a baby...that is the question.

I was asked to be a part of the Young Alumni Photography Exhibit this year and after I got over my amazement I started thinking about the theme: Joy. All I could think of was photos of my precocious little niece and the joy she brings to everyone in our family. I remarked to Stephen later that day that it's kind of funny that the number one thing I associate with joy isn't something I have chosen myself. I mean, of course, having children of my own. As my childless friends and I near thirty (and let's face it, that's just a hop, skip, and a jump from forty) our topic of conversation seems to come back to whether we should embark on the road of parenthood or not. I mean, it is a really scary thing to be responsible for another human life especially spiritually. I personally don't have those motherly yearnings. And I have had friends tell me that if you are unsure, its probably best to just not do it, because it changes everything. For now I am happy to partake in the joy of being a well loved Auntie.

Kodachrome

Inspired by the colors of 1940's/50's kodachrome film. I love the way the green-y blues and reds show up in this photo. If only I could figure out how to recreate this color with my digital stuff.

Just in case you need some help

Smokey is 56 years old!

In the middle of the summer, it's hard to appreciate how cold it can get in International Falls, the coldest spot in 48 states. The self-proclaimed "Icebox of the Nation" lies on America's northern border, across from the chemically insensitive Canadian burg of Fort Francis. Canada has thoughtfully set up factories along this section of the Rainy River, spewing nonstop bad odors. Paper mills on the US side are no better. No wonder they like it cold here. The air is heavy during our July visit, as we searched for Smokey Bear and the World Largest Thermometer.

International Falls erected a 22-foot high thermometer "as a tribute to the local climate." The current World's Largest Thermometer is actually in Baker, California, a hot spot in the Mojave Desert. The International Falls Chamber of Commerce no longer makes the claim, though occasionally the mayor forgets and cheerfully refers in speeches to his as the biggest. At any size, the thermometer kept International Falls on the map, a weather PR darling referenced in countless national TV weather reports.

In January, the town conducts its Ice Box Days festival, featuring such events as the "Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run," and the "Frostbite Falls Frozen Foot Broomball Tournament," and frozen turkey bowling.

The Smokey Bear statue was built in 1954, is 26 feet tall, holds a shovel, and protects two adorable cartoon bear cubs. So why Smokey the Bear in International Falls? Well, this is a heavily forested logging area, attested to by the giant piles of sawdust outside of town. There are many beautiful fishing and sporting resorts even further out, and a stray match in the dry season could end it all. Good-bye Cold Spot. Canada would have quite the show.

Update - February 2008: International Falls officially trademarked their claim as "Icebox of the Nation," after a frosty tussle with Fraser, Colorado. Fraser had swooped in and grabbed the title after International Falls let theirs lapse. I.F. could trace their use of the name back to 1948, and won a judgment from the US Trademark office.

**P.S. Frosty Falls is a nickname from The Rocky and Bullwinkle show which uses Int'l Falls as the beloved Moose and Squirrels home but changes the name to Frosty Falls.

***P.S.S. Fort Frances smells like rotten eggs at the border so we always called it Fart Frances. hehe

I was eating ramen late at night (I know, so bad), and Stephen said his favorite kind was cajun chicken ramen. Here is the conversation we had:

Me: Where does cajun come from?

Stephen: I always thought it was American, cau-cajun? lol or Maybe it's from Quebec, quejun.

Taumi: No! Cajun starts with a C not a Q! I don't think it's Canadian. I always related it to the french Creole's in the south. Or maybe it's from Cuba.

So then Stephen looked it up on Wikipedia and this is what it said:

Cajuns (pronounced /ˈkeɪdʒən/; French: les Cadiens or les Acadiens) are an ethnic group mainly living in Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles (French-speaking settlers from Acadia or Nova Scotia, in the maritime provinces of what is now Canada). Today, the Cajuns make up a significant portion of south Cajuns (pronounced /ˈkeɪdʒən/; French: les Cadiens or les Acadiens) are an ethnic group mainly living in Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles (French-speaking settlers from Acadia or Nova Scotia, in the maritime provinces of what is now Canada). Today, the Cajuns make up a significant portion of south Louisiana's population, and have exerted an enormous impact on the state's culture.[1]

Acadia consisted mainly of present-day Nova Scotia, and included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. The origin of the designation Acadia is credited to the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who on his sixteenth century map applied the ancient Greek name "Arcadia" to the entire Atlantic coast north of Virginia.




So our seeming ignorance wasn't too far off! lol

Meet Don Diego

Actually, most of you have met this wonderfully friendly little dog that "works" at Bluestem books. They posted this picture on their website and I could not resist. I think I could handle this breed in my home. And isn't he the cutest in that cowboy hat? If we ever have a bigger place, we just might get a dog.

What type are you?

I'm Corbusier Stencil which is a specific typeface made by the architect Corbusier for his buildings. cool!
Take this interactive quiz to see what typeface you are! password is character.

http://www.pentagram.com/what-type-are-you/

Unclean?

If cows do not chew their cud anymore because they are being fed genetically enhanced corn instead of grass, does that make them unclean? I'm just sayin...

Preach it Lewis!

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the apporval of their own conscience."

C.S. Lewis

Happy Monday!

I had a really great day today. Nothing out of the usual happened. I was just in a really good mood and chatty. Probably because we had such a productive weekend, and at the same time did fun and creative stuff too, and spent lots of time with my man. I was about as happy as these girls are, eating their watermelon by the pool.

La Vie en Rose

Literal Translation

English Adaption

Des yeux qui font baisser les miens Un rire qui se perd sur sa bouche Voilà le portrait sans retouche De l'homme auquel j'appartiens Quand il me prend dans ses bras Il me parle tout bas Je vois la vie en rose Il me dit des mots d'amour Des mots de tous les jours Et ça me fait quelque chose Il est entré dans mon cœur Une part de bonheur Dont je connais la cause C'est lui pour moi, moi pour lui Dans la vie Il me l'a dit, l'a juré pour la vie Et dès que je l'aperçois Alors je sens en moi Mon cœur qui bat Des nuits d'amour a ne plus en finir Un grand bonheur qui prend sa place Les ennuis, les chagrins s'éffacent Heureux, heureux a en mourir Quand il me prend dans ses bras Il me parle tout bas Je vois la vie en rose Il me dit des mots d'amour Des mots de tous les jours Et ça me fait quelque chose Il est entré dans mon cœur Une part de bonheur Dont je connais la cause C'est toi pour moi, moi pour toi Dans la vie Il me l'a dit, l'a juré pour la vie Et dès que je l'aperçois Alors je sens en moi Mon cœur qui bat

Eyes that caress mine A laugh that loses itself on his lips This is the unaltered picture Of the man to whom I belong When he takes me in his arms He speaks to me softly I see life through rose-colored glasses He tells me words of love Everyday words And that does something to me Some happiness has Come into my heart Of which I know the cause It’s him for me, me for him Throughout life You said it to me, you’ve sworn it for life And ever since I can feel inside of me My beating heart Nights of love that will never end Happiness replaces Troubles and sorrows Happiness, happiness to die for When he takes me in his arms He speaks to me softly I see life through rose-colored glasses He tells me words of love Everyday words And that just does something to me Some happiness has Come into my heart Of which I know the cause It’s you for me, me for you Throughout life You said it to me, you’ve sworn it for life And ever since I can feel inside of me My beating heart

Psst, Kate!

Supersaver is having a sale on 4 packs of Jones Soda. I picked up some berry lemonade. Mmm!

Happy Sunday!

I have lofty goals today of getting my garden planted: tomatoes (upsy-downsy style to keep the rabbits out), swiss chard, cilantro, basil, sugar snap peas, and strawberries; and then some flowers for the beds in front of our porch. Not sure what flowers we will choose but I'll take pictures when we are done.

For now here are some colorful images that have been inspiring me lately.

Mary Ruffle
Liebmarlene Vintage
JCrew
Festival of colors India
Rockstar Diaries

Sisters

Jackie and Lee Bouvier:

I have always thought Jackie had impeccable style and beauty, but her sister Lee is almost even more regal (and not just because she married a prince!) and gorgeous. Lee is more slender and her eyes are not so far apart like Jackie's, and she has amazing cheekbones. Love her hair in the sixties.

Summering in Italy



These two books Happy Times and One Special Summer are truly captivating, especially the latter. One Special Summer is written by the two sister during their adventures to and in France when they were young singles. It is also illustrated by Jackie. It includes hilarious stories of the upper class aboard the ship they traveled on to Paris. Very enchanting. In India during the Ambassador tour, Jackie and Lee coordinated their outfits and rode elephants wearing heels and elbow length white leather gloves! Lee was Jackie's fashion scout.

Look Up!

Keep your chin up

Meaning:

Remain cheerful in a difficult situation.

Origin:

This sounds like one of those rousing maxims that were drilled into the young of Victorian England - like keep a stiff upper lip. Perhaps surprisingly, the phrase is American. The first use of it that I can find is from the Pennsylvania newspaper The Evening Democrat, October 1900, under the heading Epigrams Upon the Health-giving Qualities of Mirth:

"Keep your chin up. Don't take your troubles to bed with you - hang them on a chair with your trousers or drop them in a glass of water with your teeth." - [they were easily amused in Pennsylvania in 1900].

From www.phrases.org

Rays of Fun

Some recent summer fun inspiration from my blog reading. Don't you just love that pink couch down a few photos?



Pool pics from Ginny Branch: My favorite color is shiny

Teen Vogue

Bubblegum: It's Mary Ruffle

Desire to Inspire

Sisters Hair Hell

I checked out that sexy people site Lyndsey blogged about and died laughing when I saw this:

Have you ever seen one of these?

Neither have I.

But I hope we have them in heaven.

Albino Peacock
I was going to post the text about God created birds, but it talks about the fowl of the air and I don't know if peacocks count in that capacity. Maybe they were created with the animals?

Whatsa matta with me?

I have been readin a lot about homesteading and self-sufficient living in the last year. For some reason, I want to be a farmer. Don't ask me how this wierd anomonly happened, since I've never been drawn to country life in my younger days. I know Kate and Vanessa have both voiced their desire to do something of the same. These books are best sellers in DIY homesteading right now. They have great tips on how to build your own house out of the timber on your land, grow pretty much anything, how to make soap, candles, etc a la Little House on the Prairie. Kate and I like to plan out how we are going to buy a big plot of land in Montana and have some sort of community all living there like the Amish. We will all build our own log houses, and bring our parents there when the retire. That's if I don't build a cottage up in Minnesota on Vanessa and Ryan's goat farm?! What better way to spend the "last days" than to get back to our roots and maybe the way of life we were intended for.

Free High Fives