Road Tripping Day Five

Yesterday was a mixed day. One full of incredible beauty, cold crisp air, red dirt and some sad news.

I want to start by thanking everyone for their prayers and let you know we felt them, thank you.

We got the call while visiting the famous Holy Cross Church here in Sedona. While walking up to the chapel, it began to snow (snow was not in the forecast for today). I'd like to believe this was sign and that she is okay. My great aunt was 89 years of age, independent and active until just the other day.

Though we all miss you already... I have comfort knowing you are now you are at peace, pain free and in heaven with the Him. I lit a candle for you while at the chapel and know we will meet again, until then know we love you. RIP

Today we are back on the road headed for Phoenix for the Music Man's gig. I'll post more about this amazing place we are leaving later as i have a ton of photos. For now a little quiet reflection and thankfulness for our drive.

Road Tripping Day Four

This morning we left Wahweap where we've stayed the last couple nights and drove south to Sedona.

            our campsite, does it look cold? It was, but beautiful.

This was our shortest drive times thus far and we made it to town and able to set up our campsite before dark. I heard that hwy 179 is one of the most beautiful drives in America and it think i heard right. Sedona is gorgeous and the red rocks are incredible. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and hiking with my camera. The weather is warmer here and day time temps are expected to be in the high 40's summer like compared to Lake Powell lol.  Here are a few photos from our drive south.

Driving through the Navajo Nation's incredible view over the pass.

Flagstaff area

The day we left on our road trip my great aunt was rushed to the hospital. I am feeling incredibly thankful for her and the time we are able to share.  We spent Christmas and attended church together with family and friends. I just received a call from my mama that she has taken a turn for the worse. She is now resting quietly but they are not sure she is strong enough for medications to work. Please include her in your prayers...

Road Tripping Day Three

WOW today was an awesome day! I can cross off Slot Canyon and Horseshoe bend from my bucket list as we did both today. The weather here in Lake Powell area is freezing cold but the sky is blue and clear.

After breakfast the music man and i went on a photography tour of the Upper Antelope Canyon (slot). I didn't realize when we left our RV this morning we would be off roading in the back of a dilapidated pick up truck and holding on for dear life.  A strange flash back to a familiar bad day. You know you really put your life in the hands of others when out exploring sometimes. Thank God we made it back safely.  Here are a couple photos of our time in the slot canyons.

I took a truck load of them and will share a few more after cleaning them up a bit. For sunset we took the brown dog and hiked out to Horseshoe bend. Holy Freaking Moly!!! This was an amazing area. Its only a short hike (less than a mile) to a 1200 foot shear cliff, no railing where people get close to the edge hoping for a good photo. By the way several people every year get to close and fall to their death. Scary right... I am very afraid of heights so this was a major challenge for me but determined to get my photo i was up for it.

I belly crawled in and up to the edge on a large rock shelf where i stretched my arms as far as i could extending my camera past the edge. I know crazy right but not as crazy as some other people that were there... including the music man who has no fear of heights what so ever.

Tomorrow we are back on the road and heading south for warmer weather.

Road Trippin Day Two

Goodbye Vegas. We're outta here, gotta go friend the Slot canyons are calling us.  Today was another really long day. Our drive was to be 4 hours but was more like 6 ugh. My back is not happy with all sitting time but we made the best of it and had fun anyways. The scenery was beautiful and we sang to the oldie moldie songs the radio was offering. Here are a few photos of yesterday drive.

Did i mention it's cold?

Road Trippin Day One

Our Christmas celebration was wonderful. We enjoyed time with family, stuffed our bellies with delicious food, open gifts and got home super late Christmas eve. In the morning we enjoyed relaxing in our comfies, our gift exchange and had a surprise visit from our Bug.

I am so thankful for my life and those who share it with me. Family and friends. Everyday is such a gift. My sweet helpful husband who busted out several moves getting our camper winterized and packed up for our trip. A Bug who knows how to make his mama smile and Monkey who is such an incredible human being. I am truly blessed to have them all in my life.

As planned we hit the road on the first leg of our trip. I didn't realize the day after Christmas was such a huge travel day and it was instantly apparent we weren't the only ones on vacation! A drive that normally would take maybe 5 hours took over 7 1/2 hours. We laughed half way in as we both though of the movie Swingers when they drove. With a couple quick stops to stretch out and move our bodies it was a loooong drive but we finally made it to Vegas baby! Woot Woot.

We set up the trailer, grabbed my camera to swap lenses and noticed i forgot my transfer cord, oops.  At least i have everything else. The above pics are from my iphone.  I hope i can pick up a cord if not I'll grab another memory card just in case.

First thing i wanted to do here is Vegas was to visit Peter Lik Gallery at the Venetian.  I am a huge fan and watched his show. I am always blown away by his work and to the extremes he goes to get 'his' shots. OMGosh i knew it wouldn't disappoint. His photos are amazing and both the music man and i are excited to get to slot canyons. If you enjoy landscape photos check him out you wont be disappointed either. 

After the gallery we drove downtown to the Freemont district where i took a couple photos of the lights before hitting a black jack table. Nope we didn't win but thats okay we didnt take much and had fun anyway's and after a long day we came back and crashed.

Today we're off to find a camera cord and heading out to the Utah Arizona border.

Life is SO good!

Merry Christmas

 

I enjoy visiting your space's and am totally blown away with the all the talent and creativity you all have. I am thankful for your time, kind words and friendships in blog land.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday from our home to yours.

Love
Jen

Making Merry Progress

Usually by this time in December i am totally ready for the holiday. For some reason I haven't been able to get myself in gear this year until recently. I'm spending more time at work and haven't really felt the crafty shopping mojo in my free time but rather sneaking out to spend time with Chance. 

Oh boy am I'm in gear now! I'm checking my list and busting out serious moves. My studio slash office has been a flurry of activity from flying fabrics pieces to yarn scraps not to mention a few Ho Ho's, both in overtime the last few days and i am feeling a whole lot better about how much is left.... Thankfully not much.

Knitting gifts all done
sewing gifts 85% done
shopping oh soooo close 80% done

I'm hoping to have most everything finished up by tonight as the rest of the days before Christmas are full of parties, family gatherings and packing for our upcoming trip.   I'm breathing a sigh of relief and feeling thankful to have found my mojo and that I'm close to checking the last items off my list. Phew!

Big Truth Photo's

Here are a couple shot of the band shoot i did for the music man. I love the tractor one. I't's silly, a bit different and definitely show their fun side. They change up their get ups depending on the song. Sometimes its a hat that blinks or crazy sun glasses and sometimes it's both.

This photo is from their gig Saturday night where there played to a packed house, several hundred people came by to have fun with them. 

This weekend we celebrated the music man's birthday and my parents wedding anniversary. We got to spend time with family and a surprise visit from our best friends. I didn't get any further on completing my shopping or crafting for Christmas so i guess i better get going. Lots to do this week, how was your weekend? Are you ready for the holiday?

A storm that originated from Alaska

is visiting us and it cold outside! I'm feeling very thankful for our warm fireplace, that all of our animals are inside their dry comfy spots and for the water that is visiting my garden.

Life is SO good!

A Map, highlighter and me

A few months ago we found out that the music man and his band will be playing in Phoenix AZ for New Years. It didn't take me long to spin this gig of his into a photo op adventure for he and I and began planning our trip. With days to explore the slot canyons of Page,  a winters view of the Grand Canyon and the warm weather and red rocks of  Sedona.  I haven't been to any of these places but the photos I've seen online are amazing and I am so excited!

So I've spent some time with my highlighter pen and a map. I've mapped it several times over and included a different route in case of storms so we have a good plan B if needed. A few reservations have been made the rest,  we decided to wing. The trailer is winterized in case we hit snow and/or freezing temps that we expect to.

Of course these areas require certain lenses to capture them.  The slot canyons are very narrow and we have to hike into them. Due the small spaces I'll be using my awesome wide angle 10 -24 that i picked up last summer and hopefully a brand new lens. I have been saving FOREVER well not really but it feels like... for a 24 70 mm so i can hone in on details and swap in and out with my wide angle. I'm planning on using both lenses at horseshoe bend and the grand canyon as well and am now super close to being able to pick it up.

Since the music man always drives I'll a have tons of knitting time too. Right now I'm working on Christmas gifts but plan to make significant progress on my winters blanket as well. So with just a few weeks left before we head out i am so excited!

This weekend i stepped away from the map and shot an original artist showcase and band photos for the music man. I hope to have post production done on both of these this week and will share some once done.

How is your Christmas shopping coming along, are you ready? I'm not even close but have big plans of making progress on it this week, fingers crossed...

morning movement

I strapped on my tennies with purpose this morning and hit the road. The smell of a neighbors fireplace, the sound of birds chirping and the cool crisp air against my face was perfect. I forgot how much i love and need this time,  to pray, clear my head and burn a few calories, yep just what i needed. 

Over summer time our weather here is so hot that i stopped my daily walks.  You know that saying once you stop working out its hard to get going again? Well no doubt that's me and now I'm paying the price big time.

I have been pushing myself for the last few months and working more in hopes of achieving some financial goals for myself and my family. Unfortunately, my back is paying for this and i haven't felt well since.  The longer days sitting down at the computer have left me in a lot of pain and unmotivated to work out rendering a few extra pounds.

I'd like to think this morning was day one in getting myself back to a healthy balance. A nice reminder that my body and mind must come before other things otherwise it just gets messy and todays walk was exactly the reminder i needed to motivate myself and push forward.

*Edited
I sat down and typed this post a few days ago so fast forwarding to today...
I made it four days in and at lunch Friday Chancie stepped on my foot and broke my little toe.... I'm super bummed and disapointed that there will be no walking for a few days or monday dancing this week.  Fingers crossed that I'll be able to get my tennies back on soon and pick back up this new little morning groove I've started.