WanderLost.

nice.

Today as we shared a cup of coffee on the porch I was reminded of our time in Nice. 

After over 30 days of backpacking through Europe we finally made it to the French Riviera. 

Almost completely out of money we lived off of two loaves of bread, Nutella, & a bunch of apples for four days. 

We let the sun break our appetites as we laid on the beach laughing at all the speedos & free spirited Europeans. 

We spent our nights walking around the city and listening to old men play the accordion.

We walked along the promenade as the sun began to set and watched all the locals fish, roller blade, or run as if training for a triathlon. 

We would sit on the beach and share drinks laughing about the crazy adventure we had been on, 

telling stories about our past, and missing home with the comfort of a bed that was big enough for the both of us.

greenhouse.

Have you ever thought about using chickens to heat a greenhouse? 

Not only do the chickens' body heat contribute to keeping the greenhouse’s temperature up but 
they also help the plants grow by exhaling carbon dioxide. 
In a tightly closed space like a greenhouse, CO2 can run low as plants suck it up. 
Best idea ever! 

greenhouse
chickens
12

breathe.

happy garden.

my garden has been happy lately.

“Odd as I am sure it will appear to some, I can think of no better form of 

personal involvement in the cure of the environment than that of gardening. 

A person who is growing a garden, if he is growing it organically, is improving a piece of the world.

He is producing something to eat, which makes him somewhat independent of the

grocery business, but he is also enlarging, for himself, 

the meaning of food and the pleasure of eating."

-Wendell Berry

The Art of the Common Place: The Agrarian Essays

allen konigsberg.

“We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. 

Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. 

But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. 

We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. 

Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human

 happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. 

It is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. 

And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying

 and even try to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work,

and from the hope that future generations might understand more” 

-Woody Allen.

photo

quote

ships.

road trip. wedding. chicago. community. ringos.

destination. train. walk. north. slevins. macchiato.

feet. ca. streets. sleeps. friends. el. ginos. love. leichhardts

intelligentsia. dog. grace. mel. bristol. dill butter. 

the best ships are friendships.

jackson.

Self Portrait

Bucolic Beauty

Over the past 5 months I've had the privilege of getting to know Karrina over Instagram. 
I am inspired by her & her simple lifestyle daily. 
She often cans her own veggies & makes her own jam.
Has an amazing eye for photography & the simple beauty found in the everyday.
A wife & a mother of two, I'm encouraged by how well she loves those close to her.
Karrina O'Neal

Age 31

Elkton Oregon 

***

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

Back home in Hawai'i, we had this beautiful old Okinawa tangerine tree in our yard. 

It seemed as though it bore fruit year round and my sister and I 

would spend hours perched up in the tree, reading, talking, and gorging ourselves on its sweet, wonderfully easy to peel fruit. I miss that tree (and my sister).

If you were an animal what would you be? 

I'd love to be a Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin. What joyful creatures! And they get to surf all day long. I miss surfing.

What is your favorite childhood memory of your dad? 

While I was a child, I didn't know my dad very well at all. He raised me, alone, until I was six years old and then I was sent to live with my aunt in Hawai'i. My dad had (and still has) a great love of the Japanese culture. In fact, I consider myself a by-product of my dad's great love of the Japanese culture - my mother was Japanese. During his years in Japan, he developed a palate for the cuisine and would often take me to his favorite sushi bar in Japantown. The memories are dim but still good.

What are you obsessed with?

 I could write a short novel on that topic. I guess I could say that I'm obsessed with the everyday beauty and all the little things that make life beautiful; dusty old books, the way cream swirls when poured atop a steaming cup of coffee, the sound of my children laughing, dappled sunlight, conversations that take place between midnight and three in the morning, the smell of transpiration in the evening after a long, hot summer day...the list goes on and on...

Most poignant goal for the next five years? 

To really be able to capture the the world, in photographs, as I see it through my eyes.

What is your favorite item of clothing? 

Any one of my cable knit sweaters.

If you could stop only one injustice what would it be? 

Greed. It's a black hole and the cause of so much destruction, both literally and figuratively.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 

It's a tie between England and New Zealand. I've never been to either but feel a strong kinship with both places. 

What is your favorite thing to chew? 

Salt water taffy. I love it!

If you could only do one thing every day for the rest of your life what would it be? 

Besides being with my beautiful family? Read. I'm a book worm.

What is your manifesto?
Despite that there is so much evil, injustice, greed, hate, and violence in the world, there is yet so much good and beauty, if you choose to see it. Don't let the former cloud your vision.

When you think of adventure what comes to mind? 

Each and every day! No matter how carefully and meticulously we plan and schedule, we never really know what will happen next. 

Disclaimer:
This post is part of a series. The questions are designed to provoke
memories and thoughts that will expose the subject’s sense of self, 
and the pictures are always going to be self portraits, contributed by the subject, 
therefore showing them just as they wish to be shown.

happy wedding.

We are all on our way up to Chicago to celebrate love. 

Can't wait.

photo by:

Scotty Perry

smoky heights.

Fall is on its way.

It reminds me of the times we would pack up & head to the mountains.

Eager for fellowship with the wilderness.

A rough 40 mile trek on the Appalachian Trail, through stream crossings, steep climbs, & unsteady bridge crossings.

We grew so close.

Staying in shelters with nothing but a hammock.

Looking forward to the simple conversation.

Meeting the thru hikers who were on just another day of their 2,184 mile journey. 

Being encouraged by the quiet rush.

Pushing forward to know we'd accomplished something great.