The Start of Our Yard Revamp

What can be more gratifying than seeing progress because of good old hard work? Labor intensive, dirt on your jeans, roughed up knuckles, and sunburnt cheeks kind of hard work. Maybe I'm an odd ball, but pulling weeds, ripping up stumps, and clearing out overgrown shrubs is something I find such satisfaction in. And goodie for me we have lots of this ahead of us in our backyard! I'd be fibbing a bit if I told you I didn't grumble when I woke up this morning, though. Even with finding satisfaction in outdoor/gardening work, and pulling up weeds like I said just a second ago, there's so much do to in our backyard. Its a bit daunting, really. But I pulled up my boot straps and knocked off the grumbling. We just went at it. Starting one section at a time. The rollie pollies and earthworms didn't know what was comin' today.

Matt's already talking about how one day, once all the messy bushes are gone and we've taken care of some big projects out here, that apple and peach trees would be nice. I was pretty spoiled having so many fruit trees at my mom's house in Thousand Oaks. I think that even though Colorado isn't as gracious with growing fruit trees like California is, I will take what I can get. And, yes, apples and peaches would be so so nice, don't you think?

We've started on the very left side of the yard, pulling up a deck that used to hold up a spa. All the other work on this side consists of tearing out tons and tons of roots, shrubs, and stumps. Yippee! Such a pile of messy overgrown plants it all is. How wonderful it'll be once this is all cleared out and I can have a little vegetable garden all along this area of the yard. It already has the framework for a great garden bed. And the soil is the really great type that you hope for when it comes to growing veggies. Remember last summer when I started my own little garden DIY style began venturing into city gardening? Gosh, we've come a long way since then. How truly blessed I feel to call this yard ours.

Study It, Love It, Stay Close To It

Kansas was good for me. It took an otherwise fast paced girl and put her in a slowed down state. The outdoors can do that to you, and I am forever grateful for its hold on me...

I can't stop thinking about this quote by Frank Lloyd Wright: "Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." I love that those words come from one of the most famous architects and interior designers of his time. Not a farmer. Not a cowboy. But an architect. I think he was onto something--that true ability to hone in on one's creativity has its roots in nature. At least, it does for me. Entirely. The more I am in the great outdoors, the more I am able to see creativity indoors. Creative or not, wide open space clears the mind, sorting out all that gunk and making room to focus on what is at the core. Have you ever had a sinus infection? They are the worst. Clarity fogs, sharpness slugs, and joy dissipates in light of annoying stuffed up gunk. We get like that in life. We get stuffed up, like a sinus infection, and our joyful, sharp, clarity of mind becomes hard to grasp. We get run down. We burn out. Yet the cure? Wide open space. Time outdoors. The sky above, grass below, the wildness of nature and all her living beings. I had that clarity these past few days. And I want to hold on to it, hold on as tight as I can.

The Rich, The Poor, & The Great Outdoors.

Working in the heart of downtown, its hard not to miss the socio-economic differences that stand out so starkly. One moment you are walking in Larimer square, ladies' at valet parking donned in fur coats, expensive lofts, and restaurants with reservations booked for months; and a few blocks down the way a man walks by hoping to find sanctuary in a warm shelter bed that night, no shower for days, and only a few bucks in his pocket which may be just enough for a warm meal. Every city has it,  this high and low, the well off and the less fortuned, only blocks apart. I find myself in the middle, seeing and knowing both, and living my life amongst the two. What I find is that apart from it all there is the outdoors, the wide expanse, the places free of reservations, free of dress codes, and open to all. I love these places, so wide and open and free (in more ways than one). And more than just a love for the great outdoors, I love that there are no opposites here, that there are no huge gaps where one has more than the other when walking through a field of wildflowers, or up a snowy pass, or near a bustling creek. Everyone has the same amount, when it comes to the great outdoors. Like it's supposed to be this way. And when everything that creates the highs and lows, rich and poor, fortunate and not--when that is all stripped away; creation is still left standing, ready to be explored, and it doesn't matter if you are donning a fur coat or only a few bucks in your pocket--everyone an have the same amount, the same sunshine, the same cricket noises, and the same wind whirling by.

Happy Weekend

Summer is changing to Fall, but I really hope that we can have a few more weekends that have a similar vibe to this photograph. Enjoy the sunshine and whatever great outdoors adventures are waiting for you. Happy weekend, friends!

image via Pinterest

On the Farm

Last weekend I went to Iowa with Matt's mom, aunt, and sister. Jayne, my mother-in-law, grew up on a farm in Oskaloosa, which is still run by her brothers and their families. Our day visit at the farm was filled with sweet corn, homemade applesauce, kittens, baked goods, front lawn family time, and wide open space. That wide open space part was my favorite. I didn't bring my canon along, but the iPhon caught a few moments out in the country. You can see more from Iowa on my Instagram feed (@lauren_tien). 

(more farm snippets after the jump!)

Cacti Blooms and Belonging

The cactus tells me that Spring is here, as I hike the trails right outside the door of my parents' Southern California home. After standing alone with its prickly parts all winter, blooms of yellow and pink are gracing the tops of the warding cacti.  I love how Spring looks so different here. So different than the Colorado Spring I now know. And as I'm reminded of California Spring, the once ever familiar desert terrain and the dusty trails fill my heart with a sense of belonging. 

A Weekend & A Week Off.

Getting out of town for the day is one of the best ways for me to feel refreshed and restored. Matt and I ventured out to Estes Park with our dear neighbors this past Saturday. I cannot thank God enough for creation and the way its beauty just abounds here in Colorado. Do I really live here? The day started with lattes at Kind Coffee, followed by a breathe taking hike to some falls, time spent gaping and climbing around on boulders with amazing views, Elk spotting (its mating season!), exploring The Stanley Hotel (Stephen King's Shining inspiration), and ending the day at a local brewery with Honey Wheat IPA. 

The time spent at Kind Coffee, and the heart to heart conversation with Matt, got me really excited about some things that may be happening here on the blog. November is going to be a big month. And at the same time, my day spent outdoors, inspired by silence and the little things in nature, and just being has made me want to take a week off from blogging for some solitude, reflection, and goal setting. 

I know you can probably relate to searching for that balance in life--balancing the things of this world with your desire to be in creation and away from it all. Thanks for sticking with me as I take a little time for this. I will see you in a week, lovelies, when I come back to announce the giveaway winner!

You have until Thursday night to enter the Pinkies Up Giveaway with Shabby Apple! Meander over here to enter for a $50 gift-card to this darling boutique and share about it with other women in your life!

'Round the Campfire Necessities.

photo source

Camping here we come! This weekend, sitting around the fire, the smell of toasty s'mores, a dip in the lake, and star gazing are all a part of the agenda. And of course, being in camping mode, I cannot help but post about it. Aside from the big items like the necessary tent and sleeping bag, and the items for survival like food, water, and ways to tie them high and far away from the bears (yes, bears!) here are five more items to check off the camping gear list.

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1. The Camping Chair A place to rest your camping soul and the necessity for 'round the campire sitting. If you are wanting a project and a bit of homemade, here is a DIY  for a folding tripod camping stool over at woodandfaulk. 2. Let there be light Say no more to being afraid of the dark. Grab your lantern or flashlight, and practice making your shadow puppets. 3. Dinnerware Those beans, hotdogs, and cup of jo aren't going to hold themselves. I love this set from REI, and actually picked up some mugs just like this for $3 during their big sale that is going on right now. 4. Worn in Flannel Whether it is a vintage, thrifted, or hand me down (or even new) you can never go wrong with flannel while camping out. You can see more of this flannel look over at Happily Grey. 5. Picnic Blanket A place to sit and play cards, take lake side, spread out your grub for mealtime, and stand barefoot without getting dirty and dusty. For a few more tips for camping, you can visit Beth's post over at Dot in the city-- over here. Have a happy Friday!