Home Is Where Your Story Begins

My Bedroom....The birds are metal and attached to wicker placemats.

The stuff in the bathroom I found on Clearance at Target last fall! I went to 5 different stores to get the items that I got, but I just love the little owl!

The living room has a bunch of items! It's hard to make everything work in such a small space, but this will work for now!

New Year : New Chapter

2010 has already taken me in unexpected directions! I got a new job title at work, Assistant Retreat Director, and a new place to call home! I can't wait to see what the rest of the year will bring!

2008 - My year in Review

My year started in Northern Iowa. I was working for the DNR, going to massage therapy school and it was COLD!




















In March, I took a trip to Michigan and got to see cool ducks and REAL lighthouses!














In May, I graduated from Massage School. Eventually I made the decision that this would be my primary occupation...for now at least! I am enjoying it very much and I look forward to learning more and more!

My class












Summer brought on some interesting challenges and rewards. I started grad school (I'm a grad student no longer) and met a very interesting fellow. We spent the summer going to car shows when I wasn't busy studying! I also made it to my very first Iowa State Fair.
























Oh yeah...and that guy...








He's pretty cool! :)














Summer flew by and we dug holes...









and planted stuff!

Fall finally arrived and we did some more dressing up...

For Halloween and the Panthers!

Winter in Iowa...

Is often cold, but is always beautiful.
It's fun too! John and I made this snow bunny the day after Christmas. It got up to 50 degrees that evening...the snow bunny didn't even make it through the night!

A room with a view....

This is the view from the patio on my second floor apartment. Luckily my bedroom window looks the same direction. As I sit at my computer and write this I can see goldfinches flitting and dragonflies buzzing around in the soggy August air. I'm finally settled in after a long week of moving! It's very peaceful and I hope it will aid the writing of my final projects for the summer courses I've been engrossed in for the past 3 months. I now have 1 year left of school before receiving my Master of Arts in Teaching. I look forward to completing my coursework and exploring the multitude of options I've lined up for myself!

My Furry Friend......

Nelson is my boyfriend's kitten. He is 6 months old and I have taken quite a liking to him. Normally I wouldn't say that I'm much of a cat person, I'd prefer to interact with a dog, but cats are a little easier to manage and require a little less attention (However, Nelson is spoiled and gets tons of attention!) so a cat was the better pet for my boyfriend to get while living in an apartment! Nelson has a wonderful personality. He's mischievous and loves to play and if you catch him in the right mood he'll cuddle for about two seconds! He's a very special little guy and I always look forward to visiting him.

] '''\; (Nelson's addition to the post)

We bought him a harness today and are going to see if he can learn to go for walks. So far he's doing pretty well! This second photo is him with his head stuck inside one of his toys. I really enjoy photographing him! He's very photogenic!

Pets are wonderful additions to our lives and I'm always happy to welcome a new one!

It's almost time...

to say goodbye to my tiny one-bedroom apartment in Clear Lake. I will soon be moving back to Ames to begin my Master's program! It may have been small with really tacky wallpaper, but it served it's purpose! I will also say goodbye to living alone....I will be moving into a 3-bedroom apartment with two other girls. I'm sure I will miss my privacy, but it will be nice to have other people around from time to time.