The Coming of Autumn

Ahhh... autumn. This season has always been my favorite. The scenery gets better, so does the food, I can finally layer clothing over my already faded tanned skin, and people always seem to walk with purpose.

This autumn's purpose is school. I'm finally back in school as a full-time student. This first week has passed and I'm already overwhelmed with homework, luckily found a good job working for ISU soybean breeding program, and have become an official DNR water quality volunteer. Not bad for one week.

Otter Creek

Tama County Lake Park

Toledo, IA

This is where I took the certification class for the DNR. It was really a beautiful park. I wish I had taken my camera. These pictures really don't do it justice at all.

Where to go?

Why is it sooo hard to find a perfect place to go on a vacation? Cities are too expensive, camping gear is too expensive, food and gas are too expensive; all of the places you can afford you're pretty sure are either diseased or dangerous. You could stay with friends but then it's not really a intimate trip with your significant others. You could go on a group trip, but you run into the same problems.

So after hours (and we're not done yet) these are the places that we've found. Nothing like wine and the outdoors.

My dream, but maybe not the best idea: Going to Oregon and doing a wine tour to this man's vineyard. David Lett, the first individual to grow pinot noir in Willamette Valley in Oregon and the first person ever to grow pinot gris in America. A true wine pioneer.

Loon Lake kayaking in California

Edisto River kayaking in South Carolina

Superstition Moutains in Arizona

Greener Grass

Ahhh... Oregon... Well a girl can dream can't she. Some people work out when the want to relax, others clean, I often day-dream about land in beautiful places and one day living and working on that land. Don't get me wrong New Zealand is still first on my list for day-dreaming, but for some reason I couldn't get the pictures of the vineyard properties that I pine for on the blog.





This property is about 64 acres in the middle of the Willamette Valley. Beautiful and surprisingly pretty expensive. Of course, fresh water often is...

My friend Judee would kill for this property. This small cabin is so cute and rustic. It sits on about 11 acres of land with a pretty creek running through it. Of course it's far from any kind of civilization which would make finding a job very hard, but it's closest to Eugene. I imagine myself retiring on a plot like this. And I'm sure, if Judee would see this, she'd probably quit her job right now and move to Oregon just for the cabin.

After the Blizzard

Well after being stuck in Ames for three days, I realized how lucky I was that I owned certain items of clothing. Mainly, water resistant pants, a down jacket, wool socks, and a great outer shell. But naturally when you find yourself facing the elements you come home when its all said and done and immediately go to the computer and start looking up items that you wish you had had for the second worst Iowan blizzard on record. These are what I had and what I wish I had had.

This Marmot shell was worth every penny. It has a nice fleece linning around the neck where sweaters and coats may not go.

The North Face Summit Series down jacket. I was sweating. For being such a light-weight down jacket I couldn't believe how well it held up to negetive digits under my shell.

Snow shoes was the first thing I was praying would magically fall out of the snow-filled hurricane I was in. It is now on my Christmas wish-list.

A nice Smartwool sweater was my second choice, however since they are less expensive than snow shoes I went ahead and bought it was soon as I got back to my cozy, warm home.



A friggin' six pack of Belhaven ale was needed to survive the entire event. Especial the crazy Iowan natives driving like they were born driving 85mph in the snow. On my way back to Des Moines I counted no less than 112 vehicles on the side of the I-35. "Maybe one day I live in a place with decent drivers, until then I'll take another pint, bartender."

Day One

A colloboration of all things I love, look forward to, enjoy, etc. In posts to come I hope to introduce ideas and products along with myself to you.