{day-dreams}

Some days were just made for day-dreams. Every one of these photographs catapults me into thoughts of adventure and romance. Every one tells a story of long lost hopes and treasures found. Every image is packed with imagination as my fancy takes flight on gossamer wings. If we must have Mondays, let them be filled with day-dreams, please!

Images via: fbcdn, flickr, milly and her..., modern hepburn, a1 pictures

Brussels {take two}

After leaving Versailles we were off in a whirlwind to Brussels. I've always wanted to visit Brussels because it was the home of the Bronte sisters for several years. I was picturing Villette the entire time I was there! 

One of the beautiful buildings on the Grote Markt in Brussels. This square is so beautiful! I did a ton of eating and shopping and wandering in the area surrounding the square. 

Flower market in the Grote Markt. 

Very attractive ;) This was probably the most delicious thing I ate on the trip, a Belgian waffle from a street vendor in Brussels.  

However, the waffles were so messy we had to sneakily wash our hands in a random fountain on the side of a building.  

I just loved pretty much every single building in Brussels. Each was so unique and lovely. 

From Brussels we headed up to the Netherlands to work. But I did manage to squeeze in quite a bit of play! But I'm saving that for next time. Ta ta for now!

Paris {take one}

I want to show you all of my pictures! But that really won't do, there are so many!

We arrived in Paris in the morning, and after a quick bite to eat we rushed off to see as many sites as we could!

 Church near our hotel. There were seriously gorgeous buildings everywhere!

 Notre Dame Cathedral was really impressive. Touring churches may be one of my very favorite activities in Europe.

 Dad napping at a cafe. I swear to you this man can sleep anywhere!

 We walked along the Seine and checked out the oldest bridge in Paris.

 Dad and I outside the Louvre. Thanks random stranger for the pic!

 Love the juxtaposition of old and new!

The one day we left our umbrellas in the hotel room was the only day it rained! We huddled under some trees for a while but then just kept trekking on. 

After darting in and out of shops along the Champ de Elysee (famous shopping, but we didn't buy anything, too pricey!) we ate dinner and went to visit the Arc de Triomphe. We climbed the stairs all the way to the top for the most phenomenal view of the city and the Eiffel Tower!

The views were seriously breathtaking. 

 The next day we returned to the Louvre. Here's the Venus di Milo.

 There was some seriously impressive Babylonian stuff. Pretty much everything was impressive, actually! We only managed to see about 1/3 of the museum, it was sooo big!

 One of my favorites, Cupid and Psyche.

 That night we went up the Eiffel Tower! We climbed stairs up the first two floors. Oof. We were climbing with a cute French couple who were all dolled up, the girl was climbing the stairs in 4 inch heels! At the top I watched them get engaged! So cute!

The next day we took the train out to visit Versailles!

 I never thought I'd see too much gold in my life, but I may have to admit it was a little...gaudy.

 This hall wasn't gold!

 Just a fancy ceiling or two...or twenty.

 Dad and I in the Hall of Mirrors.

 I believe this was Marie Antoinette's bedroom. 

 My favorite part was actually the musical gardens. There was classical music playing throughout the acres and acres of lovely hedges and grass and flowers and pools. So beautiful!

 There were lots of mazes for romantic seductions and political intrigues. I mean, I'm sure that's what they were for, right?

Fountains galore that splashed in time to the music!

And just a simple carriage house that I fell in love with. 

We rushed back from Versailles (and almost missed our train!) and were on our way to Brussels!

But I think I'll save that story for another day. Photo overload, much?

Have a fabulous weekend!

{off traveling}

I think I've been homesick for Paris forever! So I'm finally going to visit!

My dad and I are off for ten days to travel (ok, and work) in Paris and Amsterdam!

I wish I could take you along! 

Images via: time bomb baby, here, plush palate

{finally home}

So sorry for my long absence. I was busily traveling and visiting with family and friends.

My trip started with a visit to Albuquerque for my sister's high school graduation (and my birthday)!

 The graduate (and a boy, gasp!)

My birthday. Making a stupid blowing out the candles face. Nice eye circles, I must be getting old ;)

I went straight from ABQ to Tennessee with my mom, where we took a turn caring for my 93 y/o grandmother so my aunt could get a break.

We spent one night in Nashville and then took the scenic back-route through the Great Smoky Mountains to visit our friend's farm in NC. 

 I can't even describe how much beautiful green we saw! 

Blair's farm is delightfully picturesque. Gardens, fields, donkeys, bees, flowers, a babbling brook, and a farmer with a charming southern accent ;)

We proceeded to Johnson City, TN, where my aunt, uncle, and cousin live is such a pretty town. I got to visit historic Jonesborough, the oldest town in TN. My cousin works there at the International Storytelling Center. I had an amazing time strolling up and down the brick sidewalks, staring at the beautiful buildings, eating in a local cafe, and then listened to a really wonderful story.

We also had the privilege of taking my grandmother to visit Milligan College. Her ancestors were some of the founders of the college and she was so moved to visit. I am so glad she finally got to fulfill a longtime dream of visiting Milligan!

Grandma, my mom, and my cousin Jenna on a bridge at Buffalo Creek on the grounds of Milligan. 

We had such a fun time with grandma and Jenna. Grandma told us story after story about her childhood and family history. She is very quick-witted and made us burst out laughing over and over.

Anyway. That's where I've been. I'm home now to a much hotter, dryer state with very little green and horrible allergies.
And it is good.

What have you been up to while I was away?

{eat this}

It's Monday. So far not a very productive Monday. But I'm working on it.

Over the weekend I tried my hand at "Balsamic Beef Wraps." I saw a picture on Pinterest (that didn't lead me to a recipe) so I decided to try and recreate the recipe myself.

I (very) thinly sliced carrots, bell peppers, and green onions. I wanted to use bean sprouts too but my local grocery store is no longer carrying them. Apparently they're a "health hazard"? Anyway, I also had some leftover cilantro that I thought would be awesome in these, but I forgot to add it. Go me. 

I bought a huge (HUGE!) hunk of beef at Sam's club and I sliced about six thin strips about the size of my hand. I threw the rest of the beef in the crock pot and made shredded beef. 

I soaked the beef strips in balsamic vinegar and a bit of olive oil while I sliced the veggies. Then I simply piled the veggies inside the beef and rolled. I secured the rolls with toothpicks and Phillip grilled them.

Boy were they good! 

I unrolled mine to eat it because it was just too fat to bite. Phillip managed to keep his rolled up. He's such a neat eater. ;)

Last night we took a lovely walk in the gathering storm. It was a tiny bit cold and windy but the clouds and views were totally worth it. 

We also worked a lot in our yard and went to see Star Trek, which was really good. 

How was your weekend? 

{You and Me}

{You and Me}

You and me, praying together on a Sunday morning

in the cool quiet church up the hill.

You and me, cooking together in the hot

white kitchen that we built with our own four hands.

You and me, playing together,

uproarious laughter over a lousy hand of cards.

You and me, flying together down a long low hill,

wind and sun in our bicycle-hair.

You and me, swaying together with our bare legs

tangled in a hammock hung high, as the night

turns cool and the first chilly raindrops fall.

You and me and the perfect spring day at last.

(photograph by Sarah Luft, poetry by me)

Friday, again

It's Friday again, and I haven't had anything to say all week. I mean, I've had things to say. Small fragments of scattered thoughts that wouldn't come together into anything coherent. I'm in a blogging slump.

This morning I'm drinking coffee, FB chatting with my pretty Brie friend, and making pumpkin muffins for small group tonight. The weather has been miraculously below 100 for the last couple days, and it made me start to crave Fall. Thus the baking and the pumpkin.

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw all about my fun weekend with Tiana and Diana. We went to a Farmer's market, had lunch at a tea house, shopped, cooked, ate, walked, talked, laughed hysterically, hiked, and had a generally fabulous time. I miss them already. 

Isn't she just the cutest Aunt?

Since they left, I've been slowly preparing for the next big adventure: 

My friend Emily is going to move in with us while she goes to the Denver Seminary to study Justice and Mission as she prepares to follow God's call to the people of Burma. I can't wait to finally live in the same country, state, and city (not to mention house)! She's coming on Wednesday, so I've been trying to get her room ready and my house a little bit tidy. 

That's all I have to say for now. I'm working on coming up with some more interesting posts. Until then....have a good weekend!