the lungs breathe

This past weekend, I participated in the Walk to Defeat ALS. Our whole volleyball team does it every year. It really is an amazing event and I'm glad I could be a part of it. I volunteered and did face painting before we walked! It was quite entertaining especially when multiple little girls asked me to paint unicorns — and they came out looking like lopsided dinosaurs. I the photos is my friend Oceanna, on which I painted fish and an octopus.

Unfortunately I was stupid enough to not bring my camera to the actual walk (the photos were taken after.) I really wish that I had since it was such a beautiful day. If I had had it with me, this post would consist of pictures of face painting, the walk around the bay {on which I saw this super cool bird flying, and a heron,} and the afterward, of everyone together. But this will do :)

without you — rent

appologies

I apologize for the extremely delayed posting! I haven't had access to a computer while staying at my mother's house. I may be posting less frequently for a while. I am so sorry! But I promise tomorrow I will post about my adventures this weekend :)

so you say it's birthday

 so you say it's your birthday,

happy birthday to you.

So, this post is coming (more) than a little late since my birthday was nearly two weeks ago {August 22} This year for my birthday a few friends and I went out to eat the THE BEST pizze place ever: Flatbread. When I think pizza, I think of a greasy, doughy, all-the-cheese-just-fell-off-with-one-bite, kind of food. But Flatbread is the opposite. It is flatbread all-natural wood-fired, clay oven pizza. YUM.


Next we went back to my house and did the usual cake and presents. AND I AM TOTALLY STOKED because I got acrylic paints and two canvases from my mom and dad! I've already painted on both the canvases, but I also got two gifcards to the art supply store from my grandma and sister so all be all stocked up! 


I truly apologize for the ugly pictures taken with flash! I absolutely hate using flash, but since it was about 8 o'clock and my mothers new house weirdly has no overhead lights, I had to :(

 

 {a whipped cream mustache — one of my more brilliant ideas (: }

 ]

birthday — the beatles

up up & away

So a couple of days ago, my sister left for college. It has been really weird not having her around the house. I am so used to waking up and seeing her in the morning. I don't think I've gotten used to her being gone, because I still expect to see her, and then she's not there. It's the oddest feeling. But I'm happy that she's in college because I know she'll enjoy it.

We took her down to Connecticut on Monday. I'm glad that I was there to take her. But I'm not glad that I was in a car for three hours to take her. By the end of the trip, my knees felt permanently bent [I am used to six hour plane flights, but I usually get up during those, since it's summer, I'm not used to sitting.] But when we got there, I was glad that I have come because the campus was beautiful

p.s. if my new posts aren't showing up on your dashboard—  just un-follow and re-follow!

 {Dharma Initiative?! (for Lost watchers)}

By five-thirty, Sara had to go to a meeting for volleyball, so it was time for another three hour drive. The goodbyes were sad and difficult, but I know Sara will love college, and I am very happy for her. After she left for her meeting, we got back into the car, now empty of all supplies, and headed home. 

But before we got on the road to Maine, we stopped at a small coffee shop downtown. After I had gotten my coffee, I (obviously) had to take a picture of it (it make be an obsession,) and this guy sitting at a table outside started talking to me. After seeing my camera, he said that he used to take a lot of pictures, and develop them at school [in a dark room.] And that reminded me that I really want to develop my own photos at some point. So I've made a list:

my goals in life:

1. develop my own photos

2. to learn how to use my mothers manual SLR camera to the fullest extent.

 Lastly, I'd like to say good luck to my sister Sara, who is currently experiencing her fourth day of college :)

up up & away — kid cudi

i love the rain

A hurricane - probably the most exciting thing that's happened in Maine since "The Patriots Day storm," Apparently it was a huge storm that took down some trees on Macworth Island. It was a pretty big deal. 

about the video: I apologize for any excessive wobbling in the film — the wind was strong and I could barely hold a camera. (also: note that none of the film, especially of the trees, is sped up.)

However, I'm not too sure his can be considered as a hurricane, I think it may have been officially downgraded to a "tropical storm." Whatever she was, he name was Irene. Irene was not to angry, but quite moody. We didn't get an excessive amount of rain, but the wind was incredible. After the storm, some small branches and leaves were strewn about the ground, but nothing more than a little foliage on the pavement resulted from this "hurricane" (in Maine.)

We recently took my sister to college (the post is forth coming,) and the hurricane hit worse in Connecticut than it did here in Maine. The branches left around the campus made the ones here look like twigs. The damage was not pretty, especially in a small town we stopped in for gas — entire telephone poles were laying broken across the road. I hope everyone in these areas affected by the storm are able to quickly recover.


The day before we went to Connecticut was when the real storm happened (luckily not during our drive.) My dad's house lost power for nearly two whole days — even when it was bright and sunny.  Luckily, my mother's house did not lose power, so I was actually able to take a shower at some point. I'm hoping none of you were bothered by Irene. Aside from the minor damage in the yard, I quite enjoyed her. I love the rain so much [perfect song for me.] The other night before Irene came, it was raining, and I just sat outside of my deck. It was so peaceful.


LAST DAY OF FREEDOM: Yes, school starts tomorrow. And I am not happy. Not one bit. The only thing I'm excited for is that I will actually start wearing put-together outfits (for the most part) and not wearing a tee shirt and sweats like I am now (although I love my tee shirt and sweats! and as always I will put them on the second I am home from school)

i love the rain — the real tuesday weld

almond brownies

best brownies ever — update: I may be posting a little less because there is no computer at my mother's house.


ingredients:
3/4 cups sugar                                         2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla                                              1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1/2 cup flour                                            10 oz semisweet chocolate chips 

 {heat chocolate in a saucepan on medium heat}

 {add sugar and vanilla}

 {stir until smooth and glossy, cool to lukewarm}

 {add eggs, one at a time}

 {add flour and stir well}

{add almonds, and put in a large baking dish}

{bake at 350˚ for 25 minutes}

it takes me away {california part 2}

SO... While in California, I (of course) went to San Francisco. I used to live in Mountain View {my Grandma lives in Palo Alto, the next town over, which is where I stay while visiting.} Palo Alto is about 45 minutes away from San Francisco, and I love going there.

 

As we always do, my aunt and I first went to the Ferry Building. If you don't know what that is, it is a large terminal for ferries traveling across the San Francisco Bay. It is located right on the water, and inside is a bunch of little stores and markets. 

Whenever we go to the Ferry Building, we always go to this cute little chocolate place. They make homemade vanilla bean marshmallows. Usually I'm not much for marshmallows, but these are amazing! So delicious. Plus they have other great original chocolates like orange, chili, jasmine, and many more. We also go to this olive oil place, that always has many samples!

And for lunch, we always get bread and cheese. We get the cheese from the Cowgirl Creamery. They make the best cheese ever. And then and cute little bakery next door. We ate bread and cheese outside by the water while listening to a cute old man play the saxophone. 

On the weekends, across the street from the Ferry Building is usually a bunch of arts crafts. While walking around the booths, there was an awesome VW Bus — titled the PEACE VAN. They were giving out free Peace Tea: some new iced tea in a can, nothing special - but their van was awesome!

Next, we went to Crissy Field — the beach/ park right near the Golden Gate Bridge. Although I used to live there, we always sort of do touristy stuff while I visit. But Crissy Field is beautiful, I didn't get many pictures, but I took some video :)

1957 — Milo Greene