I took this photo while sitting in the park this afternoon. Stress is setting in a little and I'm trying to decompress and enjoy the fall.

Tomorrow I have my 30-day evaluation with my project committee. I'm hoping they have positive things to say about what I've done so far, but I'm preparing for a reality check. I haven't been working and focusing nearly as much as I should, and I need to seriously buckle down for the next month and make greatness.

Fingers crossed I can make it work!

quite the distance

When I see this picture — taken today — I feel as though I can look straight past 15 years and see myself at eight years old again. I can imagine what I'd be wearing and how greasy my hair was and how my voice sounded. I remember what I looked forward to then — recess and running around the neighborhood, building forts and reading Goosebumps books. I remember who I looked up to then: my family, my older sister, my second grade teacher, my next door neighbor. 

Yet it is so hard to believe that I am the same person. I was eating dinner at home last night and had this strange moment where I wondered, "How did I get to this moment?" Trying to backtrack through each year and decision that lead me to last night, eating my spaghetti at a house in Moorhead while typing a paper. I remembered at eight years old I never bought my own groceries, paid my bills or had a real agenda past school getting out at 2:45, now I have all these amendments and appendages to my life. I guess it was just a moment of awareness, a realization that while I feel stuck in these past few years, I've actually come quite the distance.

But isn't this the common thread of each day? To look back at those days before it?

BDOML / London, 2009

Feel like reposting a photo from one of the best days of my life —

In front of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, 08 April 2009.

*  *   *

So many beautiful memories.

better every day

Flowers from boyfriend…

Beautiful best friend coming to visit…

and meeting the sensational, inspirational Dr. Tammaro for lunch!

Just a few things of late—things get better every day…

so this begins

So begins the whim
of dates and grins
story-swapping
morning coffee
glory wrapped
interests, tapped
lunches and
bunches and bunches of ways
in which
I am happy.


• • • • •

This is my 1100th post. Wow, wow, and wow  — what nearly four years can create!

x
j

back to you, monday

It was a super laid-back weekend. We always have a flux of visitors at our house so things stay interesting. 

New developments in life that I may have to introduce soon…until then, I am happy and productive and things are smooth and calm…

Time is a wonderful healer and seasons have a way of revival.

 xo

j

wind, snap, wind, snap : baby disposables

BEFORE MOM & DAD headed to Ohio to visit Kacy, Matt and little Scout, I requested that they bring along a disposable camera to document their time at the hospital. 

There is something about photos from disposables that is so fun and true — not similar to a stark digital image. Enjoy.

 

Love to all —and word is that Scout it out of the hospital at long last! 

xo

j

 I wish I could look forward to someone this cute every day! 

It's exciting to see what the days will hold…

xo

j

**SPECIAL DAY ALERT**

Today is a very special day.


Today my sister became a mother, my brother-in-law became a dad, my parents became grandparents, my brothers became uncles, and my sister and I became AUNTS!


Today, after many days (or two extra weeks) and much anticipation, we welcomed a handsome little man into our lives!


Please meet and welcome to the earth Scout Minot Ferrara, my nephew!

I am learning little things about Scout every hour. He was over 8 pounds and 21 inches. He has brown eyes. And he has a full head of dark hair!

Kacy and Matt, I am so thrilled for you and your new, cute little family! I am looking forward to years of getting to know Scout and watching him grow up!

My parents get to fly to Ohio tomorrow to see Mom, Dad and Scout, but photographs will have to do for me!

Wow! It's been a special day. I am so thankful. How beautiful. How lovely. How wonderful.

xo

jenny

of labor-day's weekend

This past weekend I decided last-minute to make the journey back to my parents' house in Minot for a few days. I hitched a ride with my good pal Paul, and we took the scenic route through small town, ND. Usually when I go to Minot, I'll head north then west, or west then north — but we took the backroads, clear-cut diagonal route.

From our stop in Harvey, ND — payphones, roast beef sandwiches, and the most delicious and gigantic ice cream cone of the decade — for just $1.50!

 Me & my delectable treat. Drooling thinking about it.

A farm in Harvey, ND


• • • • •


I was invited to attend the Black Eyed Peas concert with family and we had a blast. Good music and great company for such a worthy cause — Minot flood relief. Josh Duhamel made an appearance and some heartfelt opening remarks, then Fergie and her crew rocked the stage. It was unforgettable!

 My sister & I before the Black Eyed Peas concert

Waiting for the concert to begin…with thousands of other people! The turnout was unbelievable.

BEP lit up the sky with lasers and confetti! **WOW**

 Aunt Kelly, me, cousin Lindsey and Uncle David after the concert!  

• • • • •

There was plenty of family time and relaxing — grilling, games, and good company! I was never bored, hungry, or tired. Just right.

Mom & Grandma ponder garden things. Wish I could have gotten a soundbyte from this conversation.

After dinner, a ginormous and somewhat competitive game of croquet occurred. No one was hurt.

Croquet champs, "Team Alice" 

Olive: still cute, still doing Olive things

• • • • •

I am back in the studio — which isn't too far, since I just converted the garage at my house into my studio space! (!!!!!) I am so excited about this. I literally walk 25 feet from my studio and I'm at my house. Can I get an AMEN to NO MORE DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL AT 3am?!? 

I hope you enjoyed Labor Day Weekend as much as I did. I am so happy to be in a new place (finally settled) and loving the season. This. Is. My. Favorite. Time of year! Fall, fall, fall, fall, fall.

best,

jc