Discovery

Hello from Missoula, Montana. This is Day 5 of a six day photography workshop at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography and I am practically buzzing with all I've learned. What a great experience this week has been so far.

I have been pushed in ways I had not yet imagined...which is, I guess the beauty of putting ones self 'out there'.  The pay off of paying attention to an urge. A dream. An intuition. Of listening to what makes you happy. Of taking a risk.

The truth is that doing what makes you happy, I have found many times over, isn't necessarily easy. The fact that there are angst inducing decisions involved....that there are times I am forced to stretch and grow and see things differently....tempts me to allow my life to remain, every day, 'as is'.  The past few days I have been busy and tired and missing my home. I've gone to sleep late,  jumped out of bed early the next morning and needed an extra cup of coffee in order to make it thorough the following afternoon. I have entered a room full of strangers and made an effort to get to know them all. I've carried heavy equipment for blocks, been caught out in rain, wind, sleet and snow for hours and managed not to fall into a rushing creek.

Has it been worth it? A definitive 'Yes'! Every single moment! I have learned to see subtleties that one week ago I may not have noticed, improved my technical skills, scrawled pages of notes and asked a lot of myself creatively. I've explored options on my camera's menu I have not used before and discovered further all the places this camera of mine can take me. I have had wonderful conversations with wonderful people. Been challenged to see and compose and shoot in new and different ways. I have defined what I'm capable of...... and realized I'm capable of even more than that. I've settled comfortably into what previously seemed...... uncomfortable.

I have fallen into bed happy each night. Challenged and fulfilled and encouraged and wanting more and more and more of this. And feeling, most importantly, that the pursuit of continually learning and improving my photographic skills is the absolute right path for me to be on.

Wishing you a wonderful week of your own kinds of discoveries!

Warmly, Margaret

Their Turf

We've spent some pretty special weekends during the past six years with each of our boys on their college campuses. They've taken a bit of planning on our parts, what with arranging time off work and travel plans. The older boys started college when Joey was a high school freshman, so during those years we needed to line up places for him to stay, and rides to and from football practices and games before he could drive. There were hotel  and dinner reservations to make, football or concert tickets to secure, activities to think about and weather to plan for.  I often cooked or baked something to bring along so they each could enjoy a taste of home. We otherwise loaded the car with seasonal items such as coats, hats, gloves and boots; things they may have overlooked as they packed up during a warm week in August.

These weekends took some planning on the boys parts as well. For as excited as we were to go see them, they seemed appreciative and genuinely happy when we showed up. It was obvious that they put some thought into what we would do. They showed us around campus and around town. We were introduced to their friends, their friends parents and their professors. To good music and cool cafes. They showed us the best places to get hot dogs, sub sandwiches, burritos, steaks, burgers, pancakes, pizza, cups of coffee or great beer. We saw where they lived, studied, hiked and played. We were able to experience snapshots of their college town and campus life.

Looking back, it's been fun to see that traditions have formed surrounding these weekends. We have almost always done certain things or eaten at certain places from year to year. There are requisite parental runs to Costco, Walmart and Target. Trips to the mall or REI. Marc and I have both found things around their towns or on their campuses that we enjoy doing while the boys are in class, taking a nap or otherwise engaged.

I had kind of a lump in my throat during the last weekend I spent with Patrick before he graduated. At his school they have separate Mom and Dad Weekend's, so Marc and I were each able to have a couple days of good one-on-one time with him each year. At the University of Montana, where both Peter and Joey attend(ed), it's a Family Weekend. Last weekend was Joey's second. Just a couple more to go and I will have a lump in my throat about that campus, too. Peter was such a great sport. Although he still lives in Missoula, he kept reminding us that it was Joey's turn, allowing and encouraging his brother to make the plans and call the shots.

What a great opportunity for parents to see the adults that their children are becoming. We've returned home each time feeling so proud. I'm hoping they want to continue with some kind of similar weekend tradition, even after graduation.

On the website Make It Missoula I wrote about......you guessed it.....Family Weekend this week. To look at some photos and take a quick read, click here: GRIZ Family Weekend


Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,

Margaret

Home Again

A short piece I wrote about adjusting to the fact that my children are now adults was published at www.mamalode.com yesterday, which was kind of funny timing.  It was posted on the day we were returning to a newly 'emptied nest' after a trip to Missoula to visit Peter and Joey. The day a moving van picked up the rest of Patrick's things, and that he boarded a plane to go live in Indianapolis 'for good'. Timing......

Here is the link. Hope you will check it out:

http://www.mamalode.com/blog/2011/10/17/almost-there/#more-7647

After a couple stops, one at Hudson's Hamburgers in Coeur D'Alene for lunch and one to visit with my parents, we returned home tired, but happy nonetheless. It was a great trip but good to be home. The dog was so happy to see us.

We have heard mention of Hudson's quite a few times and have often talked about stopping in to try one of their famous burgers. On this trip, however, we were actually hungry at the same time we passed through! 

If you decide to stop in, this is what you will get: an uncomplicated menu, a good burger and 104 years of family tradition. There are few choices and I believe the current menu is the same as the original. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and egg or ham and egg sandwiches. Burger patties are formed and cooked, and pickles and onions sliced on the other side of the counter......the only seating in this small place. I loved it. The cook was the original owner's great grandson.

Good. Simple. Family.

The drive home from start to finish was beautiful. Fall colors on both Lolo and Fourth of July Passes were stunning. Aspen shimmered and glowed golden, and underbrush flamed shades of red and orange. At this point, the larch are barely beginning to turn......just a few shades lighter......but by next week the hillsides should look like a massive a quilt of green and gold.

Once we hit central Washington, the sunset seemed to last forever. The trees, old barns, horses, cattle and farmland that we passed were set against a backdrop of deep blue and pink. Long wisps of clouds looked painted onto the evening sky and we watched the foreground turn into black silhouettes against it.  No time to stop for pictures,  just enjoying the memory.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead......

Warmly,

Margaret

The Way It Goes

We're planning a Road Trip to Missoula to visit Peter and Joey. Life has been somewhat of a whirlwind these days as far as our family is concerned.....our front door seemingly in constant motion with all of the comings and goings. No longer is the time we spend with each other predictable. Gone are the days with schedules; knowing what time the boys will get up, leave or come home on a daily basis. When I know exactly when or if  they will be able to show up. Jobs, school, opportunities......It's a different stage of life and any attempts at predictability are futile..

We see each other when it's possible with no expectations. Each visit will be made the best of.  As it turns out, the one who now lives the farthest away will be home for a few days while we are in a different state visiting his brothers. When we return, we'll see him for just a few minutes, if at all.

We're home, they're not. They're home.....we're not. Our relationships are about love, priorities and timing. Appreciating each visit for what it is. Being thankful that we live in an age where long distance communication is fast, inexpensive and easy. 

And that's the way it goes......

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

XO, Margaret

PS. You can read about my love of a good Road Trip , specifically our trips to Missoula MT, here!

Lovely, Colorful Autmn

It's the first day of fall, sunny and 80 degrees and I've been knitting. I know the cooler days will be here soon enough and just the thought of them puts me in the mood to work on a  project. I knit a hat for a friend earlier in the week, finished the baby sweater I started this summer and got started on a baby's hat today. I should mention that I started it three times. The first time I lost count of the rows and the second, when I was nearly finished, noticed a mistake.  It's knit with a snowflake pattern in blue and white, and when I was nearly through I noticed that one of the white stitches was where a blue one should be and vice versa. It is a fun project......and small and quick. I don't mind trying to get it right.  

You've probably noticed......I love color. So you can imagine what it's like for me to walk into a store that sells yarn: I practically get dizzy. I couldn't stop admiring this sweater I photographed. (The view is from the back.) I have a few too many things I want to finish first but then I think I need to go back and find the pattern and the yarn. It was soft and bulky and I especially love that mustard color and those big stitches. It would look great with jeans and I can think of a million reasons I'd wear it. OK.....I think I'm convinced.

 The piece I wrote for Make It Missoula this week was about my visit to Loopy Knit/Crochet, a lovely yarn store there.....and about fall and knitting. I've provided the link here and hope you'll take a look!

Hope you enjoy a wonderful fall weekend!

Warmly, Margaret
 

A Couple Favorites

A few things have gone on this past month and I wrote about a couple of them for the website Make It Missoula.

First, we moved Joey back to Missoula for his second year at the University of Montana. I love that place. The school is such a good fit for him and he's happy there. As a parent, I couldn't ask for more and am so thankful. Hard not to think about This Time Last Year when we moved him in for the first time. Always a little hard to let go.....

I also wrote about a favorite place we've been visiting for years, Big Dipper Ice Cream. Super tasty scoops, homemade in small batches......and the flavors range from the traditional to the very nontraditional. Always fun to check in with them when we're in town and see what they've come up with! A couple of my favorites: Tangerine Sorbet and Chocolate Espresso Chip. Thank goodness we walk a lot while we're there!

Hope you'll take a quick read! I've provided the links.

Cheers!
Margaret

Nineteen

I had a few things going on last week, not the least of which was packing up the Suburban to help my youngest settle into his sophomore year of college in Missoula. He moved in to a rental house this year and unlike the small rectangle of a dorm room he inhabited last year, there is quite a bit more space. Quite a bit more space meant traveling with quite a few more things in order to help furnish a kitchen, a living room, a back yard and a bedroom. We got out of town at the time we planned (somewhat unusual for us...) and moved across the state carrying clothes in a suitcase, in bags and on hangars. We carried sheets, towels, mixing bowls, kitchen utensils, plates, cups, bowls, chairs and his bike. There were important items from Costco and Target runs we had made before the trip, as well as a few things from home we managed to fit in for his brother who lives there full time.

What we couldn't find room for greeted me in the entry way as soon as I returned home and will have to be carted over next time. They are items that aren't necessary at this point in the year anyway...like his snowboard gear and a couple more chairs. We did forget and leave the cardboard tube of posters behind, however. He thinks it's pretty urgent that they are sent over ASAP.

You know how you can learn a lot about a person when you're in a bit of a crisis? Like how they handle their emotions under pressure. How they think on the fly. Whether they fall apart or keep it together with a cool head. If they tend to think of themselves first or whether it is just natural for them to reach out and take care of some one else.

My youngest is just an easy going and pretty helpful kid by nature, so when the fuel pump gave out as I hurtled across the state at 70 mph....I was fortunate he was in the seat next to me. Although I had to wake him from a road trip induced slumber, he quickly snapped to and figured out what was going on much faster than I might have with a sleepy-foggy brain. As my car lost speed he reminded me to turn on the emergency flashers and motioned to those passing on our right that we needed to make it over to the wider right hand shoulder of the road. Once safely parked (if it is ever safe to be parked on the side of an interstate!), he used his smart phone to look up hotels and repair shops in the nearest town while I was on mine with AAA. He helped me talk through the decision to be towed all the way to Spokane, which although it would be more expensive, would work out best in the long run since we could stay with my parents for free.

What really did this mom's heart good however was when after digging around in the back seat for a minute, he pulled out a small towel to keep the 90+ degree heat off my head. And that he shared ice cubes with me from the one fountain drink we traveled with. And when he unzipped his guitar from it's case, sat on the edge of the back seat and started playing one of the few tunes he knows so far. Those things.....they make a difference.

We arrived in Missoula the following day and met up with Marc and Peter a few hours later than originally planned. It all ended well. Our car is driving great. He's moved in and settled, and we had a lot of fun during our stay.

Something else that does this mom's heart good: I'm pretty sure he's OK without us. He hugged and kissed us as we left and reminded us not to be strangers....as if he needed to. Last I heard he was spending a lot of time with his friends floating the river and barbequeing in the back yard during this week before school starts. Ahhhhh......19.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Margaret

Missoula Saturday Morning

One of the things I love about Missoula is the town's seemingly endless variety of food, art, music, people watching and ways to spend time outdoors. We spent Saturday morning strolling downtown with Peter and his dog, Lewis. After a stop at the Missoula Art Museum to view a ceramic exhibit, we sipped coffee in the warm sun outside of Hunter's Bay and listened to music. The brew was deep, dark, aromatic and wonderful. The music, a soul filled concert on lap slide guitar and churango by a musician who I had heard play around Missoula in the past.

There are three separate Saturday Markets that span several blocks (The Clark Fork River Market, The People's Market and The Farmer's Market) so we made the rounds. Unfortunately, we had to pass on the  many fruits, veggies and other fresh offerings, because we weren't sure about them surviving the long drive home. We did end up with some yummy apricot pepper jelly and a couple of CD's, however. And a rocking chair. I deliberated for awhile about the chair and loved that while I was deciding, the artist sat down and played a tune for us on one of the cigar box guitars which he also makes and sells. I was tempted to get one of those as well, just because I thought they were so interesting and couldn't get over the fact that he made a guitar with amazing sound out of a box. But I passed. I don't even play the guitar yet. Luckily, the chair fit in the car with everything else we thought we needed to bring on this road trip.

I think Marc was seriously concerned I would bring this chicken home, too......although I'm pretty sure it was for display purposes only and not for sale.

We're back home now and looking for a place in our house for that chair, carrying it from room to room and up and down the stairs until I find out where it was meant to be. It was a good break and a great visit with Peter. I'm so proud of him and of all my boys. I could go on, but will save that for future posts.

Hope you're enjoying summer now that it's here!

A Favorite Place

There is a favorite place I love to go.  A place that alternately relaxes and energizes me. Where I become lost in thought. Encouraged. This weekend I had the chance to spend time there again, along the banks of the Clark Fork in Missoula. I love to look beyond the river at the university. To soak in the endless possibilities of being engaged in its presence. The current of hard work and direction cross over the water. The opportunity of those who just-aren’t-sure infects me. It is the kind of multi-leveled, multi-sensory atmosphere that those who are committed to learning create. 

We were in Missoula to be with our sons. One celebrated the transition from full time student to building a life there….at least for a while.  We helped another pack up and move home for the summer. The third took a few days to hang out with us before exploring his options after his own graduation last week.    

Will they put their degrees to use? Will they choose a job according to what their diploma says they studied? I’m not sure and it doesn’t necessarily matter to me.  My own degree is in Microbiology and Public Health. I worked for years in a field that was directly related….and then for years doing something else entirely.  I do, however, use what I learned every day, in everything I do and with a perspective that I may not have had otherwise.  I know that I ask different questions, dig deeper, and I hope the same thing for my boys: That they continue to want to learn.  

Along the way, we’ve heard the typical complaint questioning the necessity of taking one class or another. ‘I’ll never use this......’, to which I encourage ‘Tell me what you think in a few years.’ I enjoy art, music, history, writing, photography, cooking and travel. I have raised three kids with my husband. I can truthfully say at this point that, although I may not have wanted to take every class that was required, I do appreciate the time I spent exposed to them. They all apply….those classes that at one time I thought would not be useful.  

I don’t think I’ll ever tire of spending time looking across the moving water of the Clark Fork. It is running high……higher than I've seen it yet…….and was a little frightening in its swift transport of logs and entire trees.  This weekend instead of normally crisp, blue green whitecaps, water thundered past in softer waves, muddy and brown from churning and heaving. From collecting the input of small streams along the way. A flood watch is currently in effect and it all depends on the weather and how fast the northern Rocky Mountain snow pack melts.  Most times I find the river serene but this time it rumbled. Its rush and noise lulled me to sleep at night, but while I watched above its banks in the daytime, I was fully awake.

Everyday Finds

This week I had a self-imposed photography assignment to find beauty in everyday objects. Ordinary things I work with, pass by and use often while moving about my space. The ones that are practical, commonplace, necessary and an organic part of my day. I thought it would be good to see them as more. To give them a second look.

What I found were colors and patterns that at some point I've made a conscious choice to bring into my home. Tones of blue and green and gold and red. Patterns that echo nature and organized stripes. Ones that spoke to me, or better yet......ones that someone else chose because they thought I would like them. It became easier to find items to photograph and more difficult to decide which ones. The lesson was in narrowing down the field.  So I focused on an area where I spend a lot of (most of?) my time: 

mmmm......morning coffee, cream, syrup......

  

 The hardest workers.

Each of these aprons was a gift. I love that someone thought of me in this way. Knowing how I like to spend my time......and that a pretty apron makes a difference......

The bowls that sit on the counter next to the food processor. The ones used for almost everything. I realized how often I look at their colors, stripes and specks. There is a little flower shop in Missoula that sells the work of Montana potters. I hope they're still there.....we haven't stopped in for awhile.

Hope you enjoy your day! It's so sunny here that most everything outside my window is showing up vibrant blues and greens. No overcast grays skies to mute the colors. If it weren't for the bare branches on the maples I would probably be fooled into thinking it's spring already. Love that sun streaming in and the few crocus blossoms popping through!

Act On It........

A Singer/Songwriter and an Embroidery Artist

When I was fresh out of college I had what I thought was a great idea for a restaurant. It would be a lunch place with....OK....so I'm not going to tell you just in case I ever get to act on it. Then when I knew I wanted to quit my job and stay home to raise our three young sons, I was pretty sure I'd spend some of that time writing children's stories. Somehow with both the fun and work of Momhood, that didn't happen either. I don't regret not pursuing those things. That's not the point because I'm proud of, and happy with, what I did spend time doing. However there was still a creative itch bugging me, so a couple years ago I signed up for a photography workshop in a small Montana town I'd never been to before.  After entering my info into the computer and clicking 'submit', I felt like I'd just done something ridiculously impulsive. It took a few minutes of doubting to remember that I've carried a camera around most of my adult life. In fact it was the first purchase I made right out of college. That, coupled with the fact that someone, well meaning I'm sure, wondered out loud to me what I would ever do when my kids were grown up and out of the house.......as if there might not be much.......encouraged me to take a chance. I know there are plenty of options and plan to spend some time exploring. So let me just say: I've always had kind of a soft spot for those who act on dreams at any age. A soft spot for those who know when whatever it is that makes them want to get out of bed in the morning feels right to pursue. For those who know when it's time. Those who take advantage of it.
  
That's how I felt when I met Darah Fogarty, a friend of my son Peter. I was in Missoula last October and saw her perform twice in the same week. The first was 'open mike' night at a local winery and I was impressed. She played acoustic guitar and sang mostly original songs. Her music and lyrics were soulful and authentic. Her voice earthy, sweet and a bit haunting all at once. When she performed, I knew I was listening to a piece that belonged to her. She did a couple cover tunes as well. I'm just going to go ahead and say it. When she sang Bob Dylan's Make You Feel My Love, I spent a couple minutes trying to hide tears that kept forming.

Although I enjoyed her show at the winery, a couple nights later when she opened for David Boone I was in awe. I made the switch from rooting for someone brave enough to put herself and a dream out there, to fan. I think she sang five songs.  I'm not a music critic but I know what I like, what feels real and what moves me. And I like her even more because of how dedicated I hear she is. Getting exposure. Working hard. If you want to listen to some of Darah's music and read more about her go to http://www.reverbnation.com/darahfogarty.  Best of luck, Darah.

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Hey....... if you have a little time and you're around the Greenwood area of Seattle, in the next week or so, stop in at Assemble gallery and take a look at their fiber art show. The theme of the group show is "This Will Be Our Year." My sister Michele, accomplished embroidery artist extraordinaire, has two pieces showing. This is what she says about them:
 

“ My thought was, this is our year--our time--and, good or bad, it is built on what has come before us. So, my pieces are new stitching over old, anonymous work. The first one is over a stamped pattern of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep prayer, and it's called Text Message. It's hard to see, but the colored lines between the letters are SOS dots and dashes. The second is new stitching over crewel work lions, and it is called Lions and Lines.”

And here she is with her lovely pieces. Awesome! Don't you just love them?!

http://www.assembleshop.com/  (Photos for this post were generously offered for my use by someone else....thank you!....not taken by me.)

Happy Friday all!
Margaret

PS....Comments: Feel free to comment by clicking on 'comment' below. Would love to hear what you're thinking about these artists, the posts.....anything else that comes to mind!