SNAPSHOT SATURDAY--All you need is love

So, this picture is from an expedition we took a few weeks ago. We drove 2 hours to nowhere in particular, got out of the car, and took a walk with camera in hand. It was lovely. 

I wanted a picture with both of us, but there wasn't anyone on hand to help out. Instead, I took one of each us on this fence and used GIMP on my computer to combine the two pictures into one. Wa-lah! We're BOTH on the fence! 

It's was my first time attempting such a feat, and pretty pleased with myself...until I noticed a few important body parts that had completely disappeared in the process. Ha! Oh well. You wouldn't have noticed unless I told you, right? And who needs hands and feet as long as you get to be with the one you love?

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY--Andrew's Kill

I got a text message yesterday with this picture and a note:

"Not bad for my first buck!"


I am so happy that Andrew is so happy!
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As long as he doesn't ask me to help skin it, that is. I'd prefer not to see the poor animal until it's neatly packaged in my freezer.
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Congrats, hon!
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A LETTER

Dear Jeff, Andrea, Braxton, Adelle, and Emmett,

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Thank you for coming to visit us in Rexburg. It was a joy to play with such beautiful, well-behaved kiddos, eat chocolate covered pomegranates, and enjoy such happy company. We want you to come back as soon as possible. Will tomorrow work? Our leaves need to be "raked" again.

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Lots of Love,
Andrew and Rachel



P.S. Thanks for letting me steal pics from your blog...

Jeff, Brax, and Andrew playin' in the leaves.



Adelle, Emmett, and I watching on

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FOCAL POINT FRIDAY--10/15/10

Well, friends, it's a new week. Let me share the focal points of the last seven days from both ends of the spectrum.



WORST:
We drove to Main Street to feed my ardent shaved ice addiction...only to find a devastatingly depressing sign posted in the window.

I immediately made Andrew drive me to Wal-Mart, where a frantic search for snow cone making machines ensued. I was eventually informed however, that the item won't be in stock until after winter.

And what a long, dark, miserable winter it will be...

BEST:

On the other hand, Andrew's sister was joined in matrimony this week. I love how weddings bring family from other states that you are rarely blessed to see. There are never enough excuses for gathering to enjoy the familial associations that make life so sweet. Especially in the temple.

TUTORIAL TUESDAY-autumn garland

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This week I made something autumn-y. I had the time off from work, and I was feeling inspired by the fall-feeling rain.

I took a cheap-o clearance garland of fall leaves....

And some of this green tulle I got for a few dollars...

And wound them both together.





Then, I took these fancy leaves that I found at a craft store...
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painted pretty metallic colors...




And randomly attached them to the garland to add fullness and give it a more formal look.
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I attached them using old twisty ties, disguised with bits of tulle wrapped around them.




Next, I gathered some fancy ribbon I had gleaned from past Christmas gifts.




And to hold everything together, I tied bows every foot or so along the garland...

...In alternating colors.

Finally, I climbed on this crazy contraption Andrew had set up for me, watched my life flash before my eyes...

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And successfully draped my new creation over the living room mirror. Kinda pretty, huh?

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The entire project cost me about 10 bucks !

THANKFUL THURSDAY

The prophet's recent words:

"My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love...

...Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.This is a wonderful time to be on earth! While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are may things that are right."

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I don't want to get so caught up in the stresses and busyness of life so much that I forget how bounteously the Lord blesses us. So, let me introduce another weekly installment: Thankful Thursday. Here goes...

Changing Seasons- Isn't it amazing the way this earth cycles in such complete, beautiful ways? Every few months, the world takes on a completely different face--just as picturesque as before. It keeps life interesting, provides an ever changing composition for my camera to capture, and reminds me all year of the fact that God is the ultimate artist.

CELL PHONE SERIES

Here I am...

Driving home from work...

Looking very stressed and tired.

A stop on Main Street.

My name is Rachel Ashmore, and I am addicted to shaved ice. I must have my daily 75 cent fix.

Turning onto our street...

Looks like that tree turned yellow in the nine hours I was gone. Which means every leaf on that tree will drop in our yard in the next 24 hours.

Walking through the front door...

Messy house, laundry to put away, homework to be done, dinner to prepare, meeting to be to in an hour.

Feeling an inexpressible gratitude for my single working mother. I mean, I have my Andrew. And no kids to care for...and I am utterly EXHAUSTED. How did you DO it??

On my Way to Work

Can you believe the view I get to enjoy every morning? I LOVE Idaho.

The Snake River

The Aspens changing into such vivid colors that I had to pull over one day and get some shots.

As beautiful as the Sonoran desert...just a different kind of beautiful.

Aspen lined swamp by the side of the road.

Sweatshirt Weather

I heard on the radio that there is a chance of rain and SNOW this weekend! I suppose that summer is officially over now. On my way to work in the morning, I drive past groves of yellow and orange trees with my heater on full blast. Our families back home are wearing shorts and flipflops and lounging in pools. Andrew is excited for this sweatshirt weather. We love Idaho's change of seasons! Arizona's seasons consist of HOT, not quite so hot, and a little chilly. The only feel for fall I had growing up was when my teachers used contruction paper cornstalks to decorate our classrooms with. It still seems so magical here in Idaho to actually have the trees outside the color of flames, leaves flying everywhere, and farmers harvesting potatos out in the fields. All of the public schools around here are actually out for almost two weeks in honor of this "spud harvest". Community members...even as young as my third graders...are out working with these spuds! Anyway, to all you poor family and friends sweating in the "Valley of the Sun"...Happy Fall! This is fall done the right way.

Harvest Bounty?

Here is the fall version of our garden. We started it out with such enthusiasm and high hopes! We sacrificed a lot to get it put together, watered and taken care of every day. I wish we had a picture of it at its prime! It was full and green and we had enough vegetables coming in to feed us for awhile. But then...life happened. Andrew started working 10 hours five to six days a week and Rachel was working 12 hours or more in her classroom and our poor garden was left to its own devices. We're surprised it turned out this well actually. As you can see we have a beautiful sunflower and cute little pumpkin...plus a lot of dead corn stalks and bean plants. I wish the hanging flower basket on our front stoop fared as well without water as the garden did. =(