Updating 2012 Photo Project- January

So in order to make this way easier on myself I am going to update the photos for the photo project in three big posts...the rest of January... February...and the little bit of March that I was able to do.  I was able to take photos each day but I missed some mostly in March.  Then after that I will start all over again with the beginning of April.  HA!  Does this even make sense.  Long story short...you are about to see a bunch of photos!!!

January 17th, 2012
Breakfast Time!

These film pictures were shot with a Pentax K1000 using Ilford Delta Pro 400, Black & White, 35mm film.

January 18th, 2012
 Eggs from the farm! 

These film pictures were shot with a Pentax K1000 using Ilford Delta Pro 400, Black & White, 35mm film.

January 19th, 2012
Stand up my little! This was the first time my little one pulled himself up with no help!  He was so proud of himself after he got all the way up!  This was the beginning of lots of exploring for him.  

January 20th, 2012- Puddle Jumpin'!

January 21st, 2012- 

PB&J

January 22nd, 2012

My husband is an avid snowboarder.  He lives and breathes snow!  Sometimes I get jealous!  Ha!  So naturally we want to get our oldest up to the mountain as soon as possible, so our son is comfortable with the snow and so they can ride together in the near future.  So this Sunday, we went up as a family and Ayden got use to the snowboard with dad.  Its so wonderful to see my husband so happy to be doing what he loves with our son!  

January 23rd, 2012

Sad face!  He was not a fan of bath time this Monday night!  Don't worry....I took the photo fast and snuggled him!  Pobrecito!

January 24th, 2012

Nothing is as sweet as my precious baby dreaming the nap time away.  Sweet dreams my little one!

 "Mommy woke me up with all her picture taking!  So I will give her lots of smiles!"

January 25th, 2012

My film camera!!!!  This camera is actually my mother's camera but when I was in high school and developing a love for photography she let me use it.  This camera is the camera I learned how to take pictures on.  Followed with classes in the dark room!  Now over 15 years later....I am still using it and loving it!  

January 26th, 2012

This Thursday in January, we flew to Utah to visit my husband's family.  We came to attend some family gatherings and celebrations.  We were also lucky enough to have some of our very best friends drive up from New Mexico to see us.  It was an incredible trip!  The first day we just relaxed at Grandma's house!

January 27th, 2012

 This Friday was filled with family activities but my favorite part of the day was in the morning!  Balloons and a magnified glass filled the morning!

 January 28th, 2012

For part of our trip we headed up to Park City, where my husband's uncle has an incredible home/resort.  It is literally at one of the highest parts of Park City....in fact the ski lifts 9990 and Peak 5 from The Canyons Resort are in the backyard.  We were able to stay up there for a few nights with some family and our friends from New Mexico.  The kids had a great time as they had SO much space to run around in.  And us grownups got to "escape" from reality for a few days too.

January 29th, 2012

More time up in Park City......lots of relaxing and enjoying our family and friends.  These are just some random pictures from the day.

These last two photos were taken by my husband.  It is from his hike with his best bud up from the house we were staying in.  He really wanted me to put these on my my blog....and of course I did!  

January 30th, 2012

Snow....snow...snow!  Ayden and his friend got on a board for the first time!  They both did SO well!  I am pretty sure riding runs in the family and he is already such a natural at it.  It was pretty exciting to see him have such style on the board.  Watch out Shawn White!!!!  The dads built a snow igloo for the kids and we just enjoyed our surroundings. 

I am posting the last day of January all on it's own.  I took SO many photos and I couldn't pick a few, so I am letting that day have it's own post.

I hope you enjoyed my month of January.  It was fun and challenging taking photos everyday!

Seeds & Menus

After taking some time off from writing...I am determined to get back into a rhythm of doing it daily or close to that!   It feels so good to write!  Bare with me though...I am kind of all over the place in thoughts at this moment!  I have a lot of meditation coming soon to clear and organize my thoughts!  My photo project was also put on pause....which I know defeats the purpose of the project but I can't give up.  I am starting that back up this week with a week of film.  I will post all my past month of pictures that I did get daily....there will just be a few days missing!

Today it will be about seeds and what I want to have blossom in my backyard soon!

It is that time of year again where we bring out the gloves, seed packets, and till up the compost that has been cooking all fall and winter.  The past two years we have been growing our vegetables, herbs, and flowers at a farm about 45 mins away from us.  We decided that we wanted to grow in a more sustainable manner this year by staying as close as possible to avoid using the car too much.   Our backyard, my parent's huge garden (which is .5 miles away from my home), and a friend's huge garden will be a "farm" this year.  Chickens may even be in our very near future!!!!  Which excites me way too much!  One day we will have our dream farm house on a couple acres but for now we will make due with what we have.

As my husband and I blaze a path towards a sustainable life....growing as much of our own food as we can has been a huge priority.  We do this not only for our bodies and our children's bodies but also for our planet!!!!!  So much good comes out of growing your own food.  It is one of the most rewarding things we have done, especially with our children learning along with us.  But it does come with lots of challenges and I will continue to share all of our little families up and downs while we travel down this sustainable path!

I am going to bore you with a list of what we are growing this year....I love lists...So I have to!

• Beans- Bush & Pole 
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collards
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Kale
• Lettuce- Valmaine & Tennis Ball
• Peas
• Peppers- Sweet & Hot
• Potatoes- Blue & Red
• Pumpkins
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Squash- Zucchini, Summer Squash, and Butternut
• Swiss Chard
• Tomato- Oregon Spring, Oregon Cherry, Jersey Devil, and San Marzano Roma
• Tomatillos
• Melons
• Blueberries
• Basil
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Oregano
• Thyme

I am beyond excited to get my fingers in some dirt!      

What are you growing this season?

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Back to my menus!!!  This is a short week because I am traveling!  But I still wanted to share the few things I am making this week!  

MONDAY:  Baked Miso Tofu and Kale Salad with Quinoa, Tangerines, and Roasted Almonds

TUESDAY:  Dinner party at a girlfriends home!  We are making fish tacos.  I am bringing a mexican coleslaw for the tacos.  

WEDNESDAY:  Traveling during dinner time...so we are having a heavy lunch.  Hummus & Veggie Wraps, cut-up fruit, and leftover kale salad!  

Peacefully,

Alyson

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” - Margaret Atwood

Losing & Remembering

I have been gone from this part of my life for the past month.  I debated whether or not to share this on my blog but I decided that since I use this as a journal in a way it would be therapeutic for me to write about this.  This past month was one of the hardest months I have been through.  I lost a long-time dear friend in a tragic car accident!  It hurt...I was sad...I was confused!  It was something that I had a hard time even comprehending.  My heart ached not only for the loss of a friend but also for the horrible pain that his family, sweetheart, and loved ones felt.  It was a very raw heart ache and one that I haven't felt that much in my life.  It brought up so many life questions!

My dear friend was such a kind soul and I still question why it had to be him that left so early.  I find some peace knowing that he is all around us now.......in the rivers he use to fish, in the mountains he use to hunt, in the music he use to dance to, and the town we all live in.  I hope one day to understand all of this.  And I hope even more to get a warm hug from him again.

I have learned some lessons from him and it has also opened my eyes to some things I thought I knew before but I truly didn't.  I have been holding my two sweet boys and my amazing husband even harder and longer, I have been making sure to tell my loved ones I love them more than usual, I have been reaching out even more to friends old and new, I have healed some relationships that were stronger than I thought, and I am just ready to live life to it's absolute fullest.  My dear friend lived his life better than anyone I know....and I strive to do exactly what he did.

My dear friend.....I miss you!

"Those we love can never be more than a thought apart, for as long as there is memory, they'll live on in the heart." -Unknown