Autumn

I don't like when it gets dark at 6 at night. But I do like that it's cold outside and that trees are losing all their leaves and it feels appropriate to drink tea. 

I haven't really liked most of my pictures lately. I snapped this one today on my way home.

Lately

Yesterday I went to my brother's soccer game and found that along my way there was an old pioneer cemetery. It was so beautiful and park like I was tempted to come back for a picnic. I feel that might be too morbid, to have a picnic in a cemetery, but I still wanted to do it. There were old gravestones with hidden stories buried in the names on them and a beautiful old building that looked like it was probably a mausoleum (that's what that picture is of) as well as some really great trees. I've always felt that I would like trees to be near my grave, if I have a grave. And really the best kind of tree to be buried near would be a really great climbing tree... Ok I'm done being so morbid... Later while I was waiting for the bus to go home, I realized that autumn really is showing up, the leaves are starting to change and even though there have been a few sunny days lately the rain and gloomy clouds have started to come back. 

On another entirely unrelated note, I got new glasses. I'm still not entirely sure what to think of them... is that bad? I mean I did pick them out, I just am not entirely sure why I like them or if I really do like them all that much. 

August

I can't believe it's August already (and 9 days into it!). It's already started out as a hectic month for me, I have to find a new place to live by the end of the month, my classes are finishing up (I have finals this week) and my work schedules have been conflicting (which was entirely my fault). The good thing about August though is that it means my birthday is coming up (yay! I'll officially not be a teen anymore, that's about all that's exciting about turning 20) and that autumn is almost here (which is my favorite season) although the weather seems pretty determined to make August into an autumn month this year. 

Strange

I'm missing the colors of autumn. Maybe it's just because it's been raining so much here. I just want that feeling back (not that I think I really felt much of autumn this year).

In other news:

Have you seen the movie Amelie? It's adorable, I watched it over the winter break and I would recommend it to everyone.

While I was gone...

Lots seems to have happened since I decided to take my break. I caught the flu-cold thing that's been going around. Shawn came to visit, as did my family. I also made some chicken noodle soup that turned out fairly well. I've finally managed to get over being sick and I'm excited to see my family some more during Thanksgiving next week. Taking my break from the world of blogging made me realize some things about what I want this to be in the future. I also managed to catch up, for the most part on the giant and seemingly ever-growing pile of homework in my life. Anyway, I'm loving the cold weather right now and I can't wait to see snow soon.

Enjoy these bits and pieces...

My warm sweaters and cozy scarves are out again and ready to be worn, it must be getting close to winter. There was ice out today, my shoes felt slippery on the frozen water as I walked through the crisp air of late October. November is coming soon and with it first snows and bitter winds. A ring of ruby and gold surrounds the trees, it is soon to be lost and their bare branches will be left to stand starkly alone in the cold landscape. Only their reflections on the frigid ponds and lakes will remain to keep them company, and one day even those reflections will be lost to the ice that allows no thoughtful penetrations into the depths.

Sleepy Times

I'm alone again, there isn't anyone here to make me rice anymore. But the weekend was glorious and fall is out in full colors. I have a not-so-busy school week ahead of me, hopefully I'll take the time to have lots and lots of fun.

I got up at five this morning and am feeling quite exhausted (I've uncharacteristically not taken any significant naps yet today). This week I don't have much going on so I plan on doing a little bit of cleaning, taking some photos of the foliage, and perhaps finding some new places to enjoy that are nearby.

Distractions

I've discovered, in my search for something to distract myself, that my windowsill makes an excellent place on which to take photos. I had a peach today, it was like I was trying to hold onto memories from the summer and bring them back. It's funny how peaches are the color of summer and autumn. They are most definitely one of my favorite flavors, and that flavor just screams of summer to me.

Happy Weekend!

So this weekend, Shawn is coming to visit. In fact he will be here in about five and a half hours. I am quite excited. I think we're going to go to a corn maze one day. I can't wait, I hope it is kind of foggy and I can convince the person driving us to go early and see the pumpkin patch or go through both the mazes. I'll take lots of pictures, I promise, but I won't be here til next week. Enjoy the lovely autumn breezes and rains! (or whatever other weather autumn is bringing your way, I hear it's supposed to be in the 70's in Bend)

Yearning

Autumn has officially arrived, but I'm still yearning for winter snows. I want some big cosy scarves and warm hats and wool jackets, but I don't want to be too warm with all of these things. Right now that is where it is.

I talk about the weather entirely too often.

Autumn

I wrote tonight. It's unusual that I do any creative writing anymore. I think it helps me keep my sanity when I feel like I don't have any left. Which is how I felt. I keep thinking that one day I will finish one of the writing projects I begin, that I will create something in any art medium that I love. But it keeps not happening. School starts again tomorrow. I have classes at eight, so I should really be heading to sleep soon, but I just wanted to share this lovely series of photos by this talented gal. They make me want to be somewhere where autumn has actually begun it's descent on the world. Oh, and I also decided that when I am finished with school, I do not want to live in the city. I'm already getting tired of it, it just makes me lonely and I don't want to be lonely for the rest of my life. I would much rather live in the middle of nowhere (as long as I wasn't living there alone) or at least somewhere that doesn't make me feel like this. I want to see woods and fields and loveliness in autumn, not city-ness. But, I'll keep an open mind, perhaps this year autumn will go better than it did for me last year. I am counting on that. I'm counting on life being better than it was last year.

Ok, enough rambling.

The Zoo

Sorry I've been away for so long, I've been moving, spending time with Shawn, and just generally enjoying the last few days before school starts. Unfortunately, I've also been on the sick side the last couple of days, but I'm feeling better today, so at least I won't have to worry about being sick and going to classes. While I was gone from here I went to the zoo, all the animals seemed very happy to see us. I actually was sitting face to face with the male orangutan at one point, but I was too stunned to take a picture, darn it. I also saw Modest Mouse in concert, it was a great concert, even if they took a while to get on stage (I'm sure they had their reasons). The last couple of days though, like I already said, I haven't been feeling all that great, so I've spent most of my time moping around my room, trying to feel better.

Tomorrow is my last day before classes start again. I cannot wait! Yep, I'm one of those nerdy people that get overly-excited for school to start again. Now if my textbooks would just get here already... why can't mail be delivered on Sundays? Oh well, I'll just have to wait.

Drifting

I know I should be sleeping, there is no excuse for why I'm not currently dreaming away. But I am dreaming, I'm dreaming of autumn, of being free to travel, of seeing everything, of doing everything that I dream of accomplishing in my life. I want it all to happen now, but that would be way too easy. I guess I won't have to wait much longer for autumn to arrive, at least one of my dreams is coming true soon.

Sources: 1 (via). 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Finished

Well, time is ticking and autumn is finally coming. Or so I thought for a little while there, the last few days the weather has been hot, hot, hot. And then today, there were thunderstorms and rain all day. Not that I wasn't happy to see some rain (wait and see if I'll be saying that in a few months). I worked for the last time this summer tonight, it was fun, and I'll definately miss the free candy. But, I need to eat less candy anyway. This week I am going to spend my time doing laundry, packing up the last of my stuff for Portland, painting an old dresser (no more bright pink or flowers everywhere, hooray!) and spending time just having fun. Hopefully the weather will cool off a bit, I like those perfect in-between days where you don't need a jacket but you aren't frying like an egg on a hot sidewalk (you can actually do that, I tried it once. I didn't eat the egg though, and I wouldn't recommend it if you decide to fry one, it just isn't sanitary).

A Fond Farewell

I must wish summer a fond farewell today, there was truly a chill in the air that I must say was autumnal (although that is apparently debatable). I wish I was flying away tonight, somewhere exciting and new, because that is what this summer felt like, it was something exciting and new, I rediscovered so many old loves of mine, and also found so many news things in life to enjoy just as much or, in some cases, more. Autumn, however feels overly-familiar, like something I have experienced time and again. It feels as if nothing exciting can come of it, though I am sure there will be plenty of excitement. Like tonight for example, I went to see Brett Dennen, who was even greater live. I know that there will be plenty of things going on in my life in the coming months, what with school and possibly working, but at the same time I feel as if my future is uncertain, like my life right now is at an important point where I need to make a decision. That feeling is just making me more indecisive than usual, which I'm sure is beginning to annoy the people that have to deal with me on a daily basis. I also feel like I am wasting all my time doing nothing, I need to start being at least a little more productive because, at least in my mind, summer is over with, and with it all of it's laziness needs to go away. However, I am holding on to it, but not anymore after today, tomorrow I am going to begin my new productive time as autumn once again enters my life. And at some point I'm going to figure out something more interesting to tell you all about and maybe figure out where my life is going because right now I feel like I have no direction behind my actions. I need lists.

Sorry that was so long, rambly, and uninteresting; I'm tired and restless at the same time right now, I need to go to sleep.

Apologies

I'm sorry I have been missing for the past few days, I have been busy working and just having fun (which I must say is one of the best things to be busy at). Anyway, yesterday, I spent the day in Eugene, helping Shawn to move some of his stuff over into his new place. It seems that while I was gone, autumn officially and completely arrived here in Bend. I'm going to have to go through the boxes I've already packed and find some jackets now, I was thinking the summer weather would last at least until I moved up to Portland again, but that is Central Oregon for you, you never know what the weather is going to do. I was also excited to see when I got back this morning that the mountains got at least a dusting of snow, they look even better now, and much cleaner. Anyway, I for some reason am not working much this week so, hopefully I'll be able to spend my time cleaning, packing, and having fun (I'm hoping for mostly that last one).

P.S. Aren't the counters in Shawn's new kitchen adorable? I love them.

Busy

I feel like I have been much busier than I actually have been. But, I suppose, I have been busy, just not in a very productive way at all... generally speaking. Mostly I spent the last five days or so (I'm too tired to actually count), celebrating my birthday. Which I wasn't even all that excited for. But it was nice, my mom's family came over for lunch on Sunday, then on Tuesday I went out to dinner with my mom and had a nice dinner with my family. On Wednesday I got my friends together for a picnic and croquet, which I felt was quite sucessful, then to finish it all off, on Thursday I drove, with Shawn, up to Portland and watched Built to Spill and The Flaming Lips, we then spent Friday wandering around Portland. I even got to see my dear friend Nicole! I don't think I could have asked for a better week. But I can tell that summer is coming to a close, my brother has started soccer practice, and I have begun thinking about school again. I keep on wishing I could just disappear into this summer like it is starting to disappear into autumn... but then I couldn't wear all my autumny clothes, and that would be a tragedy.


I have also decided this week that I am a little too interested in fashion, I feel slightly ridiculous about it.

Toast

I am itching to get into some autumn-worthy clothes. I think that because autumn is my favorite of all seasons I have, unwittingly based most of my wardrobe on autumn weather. It is frustrating that the weather has been cooler lately but not cool enough to pull out some boots, a light scarf, and a sweater. That is what I am dreaming of. And this post on Unruly Things today has got me itching to go and buy most of the Early Fall collection from Toast. Don't they just have lovely things? It's all full of patterns and stripes and boots and oxfords and trousers and cozy sweaters and buttons and jackets and trousers and leather bags and nice belts and yumminess. Or at least that all says yumminess to me, just add a few ruffles and I would be in heaven. Oh dear, I really need the weather to turn just a little bit colder in a couple of weeks, but not for this weekend, cold weather and camping would be disasterous, or just lots of fun minus some possible swimming. Probably the second one. And now I need to stop looking at yummy clothing and go to sleep, before the idea of toast starves me anymore. ( I actually have become literally hungry)