artsy forager

Tag: Mt. St. Helens

  • This Artsy Life: So Long, 2013!

    This Artsy Life: So Long, 2013!

    I don’t know about you, dear Artsies, but I am ready to say goodbye to 2013 and get to the good stuff that I just know is waiting in the New Year!  All in all, 2013 was a pretty good year for me and Mr. Forager.  For today’s This Artsy Life post, I put together a little look back at some of our favorite moments from 2013 [ in case you’re wondering about the song choice, it is “our song” and still fits Mr. F & I so perfectly ]–

    No life is ever perfect and ours, though exciting and full of adventure compared to most, is no different.  We learned a lot this year, about ourselves and each other.  We each went down new roads, sometimes things worked out and sometimes they didn’t.  But in the process, we grew and we feel like we know better now what we want and where we’d like to be.

    You can catch up on the specifics of our year in the This Artsy Life archives.  Starting in 2014, I’ll take a break from doing these features each week but will be posting scenes from our life on Instagram and will pop in here on the blog with an occasional This Artsy Life post when I have something special to share.  Meanwhile, I’m excited to begin a daily creative exercise that I’ll be posting on Instagram each day!  More on that later this week!

    Mr. Forager and I wish you all the very best in the New Year!  Thank you for coming along on this journey with us.

    All images by Artsy Forager.  Video created using the Flipagram app.

  • This Artsy Life: Weekend 43 [ Dear October, We Love You ]

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 43 [ Dear October, We Love You ]

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 43  I’m so with you, Lucy Maud Montgomery!  Mr. F and I were talking this weekend about how October is just the perfect month.  The crisp air is such a welcome change following summer, the turning leaves are in full glory ( it’s been exceptionally colorful here in Western WA! ), and for us in the Northwest, the winter rains haven’t yet set fully in.

    We took advantage of a clear, crisp day and made a beautiful drive to hike at Mt. St. Helens.  We both hate getting up before the sun, but I love our day trip ritual.  A stop at Urraco Coffee for a latte & croissant for the road, trees barely visible through the morning fog and NPR on the radio as we chat about the week past and future plans.

    October feels to me like that last wonderful hour of a party.. you know, the one where the people who really love hanging out together are just kind of sitting around, chatting and basking in the afterglow of a fun time together.  No one wants to say goodnight.  Because once you break the spell, the magic is gone.

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 43

    [ norway pass hike, mt. adams in distance ]

    But then, there is something equally lovely about that post-party feeling.  Taking off your shoes, climbing into a warm bed and snuggling.  Sometimes we need that recovery day as much as we needed the party.  Following its eruption in 1980 ( I was in the 3rd grade.. 3rd grade was big for me, St. Helens erupted, I won the spelling bee and my little brother was born ), acres around the mountain were devastated.  Within just days, new seeds of life had already been planted.

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 43

    [ old destruction, new growth ]

    We need that, too.  To slow down, sometimes to destroy in order to rebuild.  And although things may not look exactly the same ever again, we emerge, perhaps even more solid and strong.

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 43

    [ mr. forager, mt. st. helens & spirit lake ]

    As we move into this season of hibernation, I’m sad to see October go.  But I’m looking forward to cozying up to November, to entering a quieter season, a season for thinking and planning, for resting and renewing.

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 43

    [ homemade seafood chowder ]

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 43

    [ fall decorations at urraco ]

     How does this change of season make you feel, Artsies?  Do you get as excited as we do?  Or were you bummed to see summer go?

    Want to see more from this artsy life?  Follow me on Instagram!  I’m finishing up the #foliophoto project, too!