Phew! Made It!

Eric and I had the crazy idea to ride our bikes this weekend. From our house to Jefferson Memorial Forest. With camping gear in tow. And make a detour to Waverly.

The route was (unintentionally) 32 miles there. It took us a looong time. Not just because we stopped at Waverly (which, of course, we couldn't go in), but because in true form, we got lost. Reminiscent of that fateful trip to Cinque Terre (Sorrento, to be exact), we went in the wrong direction. It was soon corrected, though, and after rehashing a particularly nasty hill, we were well on our way to the Horine section, where friends of ours had rented a group site.

Today we rode back, and despite a flat tire this morning (we were well-prepared with another tube), we made it in record time. We ended up taking *another* wrong turn, but it served us well; New Cut Road was fairly empty, and we made the entire trip home in just over an hour. No kidding.

It was so lovely. I am proud that we made it there and I feel refreshed and like I accomplished something. Ride with us for a second...



Now we get to try another bike trip next weekend to celebrate our anniversary. Can you believe it's been six years?! Location is yet to be determined, but we decided 30 miles is about all we can do in one day without being completely useless.

And speaking of being useful, I start back to school tomorrow, getting our room ready for the kiddos next Tuesday. Wish me luck!

Freaky But Cool

I'm learning about storing seeds. Here is the seed casing for my snapdragons. Doesn't it look like a skull?

The best ones seem to have a little green still on them, or are darker with the "eyes" and "mouth" being small, still-somewhat-closed openings. Take your fingernail and open up the mouth, a-like so:

And you can then pour out the tiny black seeds!

Only time will tell if I can figure all of this out. Until then, I will try to find more portraits in nature, and attempt to bring this blog back to actual painted portraits, rather than the random stuff that amuses me. :)

Stuff of Dreams and Nightmares

I got to go riding yesterday. I still ache. But there's nothing like cantering around an open field, surrounded by woods, haystacks, wind, butterflies and sunshine. It's the stuff of dreams for horse-loving girls like me, and I am so grateful to Debbie for giving me this chance. I might not have it for long.

There's talk of developing this paradise in Oldham County. The idea makes me sick. I am starting to get quite disturbed by "progress" when it levels out our rolling fields and puts asphalt over burrows. We're becoming increasingly distant from nature, and I think we're being forced to see the implications of that choice.

I remember traveling through the Midwest and seeing all the strip malls and the supercenters. Each one looks the same as the one before. I don't want Kentucky, which I think possesses a distinctive visual portrait, to fall for that kind of peer pressure and succumb to the plastic surgery of "development." Just look at that amazing area off 64 just outside the Watterson. The rolling field and barn in the distance represent Kentucky for me. Very soon, it too will succumb to development. To see the "real" Kentucky, well, that will take you about 45 minutes from downtown. By car, of course.

Which would you prefer?
or ?

Why can't we cultivate the little greenery we have left within our county instead of leveling it? I feel like we're learning that we still have a lot to learn from nature. Let's make sure everyone has access to it.

Eric and I frequent Central Park, and I am thankful the Olmsted Parks Conservancy is such a prominent institution here. And the "City of Parks" movement (if achieved) is inspiring. I maintain that we need still more nature for more people in more accessible places.

I'll leave you with a quote that reminded me of my childhood (so much spent in trees, creeks and the magnificent Atlantic Ocean):

“And this our life exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in every thing. I would not change it.”
-Duke Senior, from Act II, As You Like It

A Little Thing I'm Doing...

Why worry about November when you can vote now?

Barnett love

These pictures are from Kristin's birthday celebration. Aren't all my nephews and nieces adorable?

I especially like this:

And (drumroll please)...Fishy's first picture!

Santa Emilita

Well, it's a little late in coming. Em and I had a blast together, despite my car not starting and the subsequent parking ticket. At Kentucky Kingdom, our Chang record has been broken - we rode 10 times successively, and then one more, just for fun. We met new friends (Broderick and Dan, especially), ate carrots and cheese, yelled "Bobbeeeee!" and, well, take a look at the pictures.

We also got us some culture, visiting Flame Run, Gallery Nulu, Derby City Espresso, Scout, Creation Gardens and 21C.

I love Em. She is sooo much fun to be around. She is considerate, intelligent and patient. Fear not the teenage years! It is possible that they could be enjoyable for everyone involved. Seriously.

Already?!

It's the first day of school today for most of my nieces and nephews. There are two becoming high school s'mores, all the way down to two in pre-school and pretty much everything in between.

Special message to the kids:
I love you guys and I've had so much fun with you this summer! I hope your school year rocks, and please call me and let me know how things are going. I can't wait to hear from you! Don't forget to be kind to everyone - even (especially?) those who aren't friendly to you. If you do that, you'll always succeed.

Oh, and don't forget to learn things.

Yay school!

(P.S. I go back to school September 2nd...*ducks and covers*)

Portrait Inspiration

The following is something my mom sent me. I love it! So many inspiring portraits.

Tastes Like Water!

Please - reuse your plastic bottles and drink tap water!