Mixed-up Valentine

> A good graphic designer always makes her own valentine cards, right? I admit I didn't for a long time, but I've done better since this blog post a couple of years ago. 
> I started with a "Valentines Eve" surprise (and boy was it a surprise!) After I made the bed yesterday morning, I taped several cut-out hearts to the sheet under the covers on Gene's side of the bed for him to find as we went to bed last night. After I finished washing my face, I found him sitting on top of the covers, and I started scheming in my mind about how to make sure he got under the covers before turning off the light. I pulled back the covers on my side of the bed, and couldn't stop laughing. He had moved all the hearts to my side of the bed (who does that? he's so funny!) Here's where I got my idea...he came up with his "response" all on his own.
> For his valentine today, I made a mixed up message that he'll have to unscramble then assemble. I used a different font and background color for each word so it won't be too tough to unscramble and put the message together—it IS supposed to be more fun than work ;-) I printed the letters onto pre-cut label stock and left the backing paper on. I attached each sticker to a Hershey Kiss, which I used to make a "trail" leading into Gene's office. As he decodes each word, he can adhere the stickers to the marks on the accordion-folded card, which will spell out my valentine message. I'm kind of excited and hope it's a fun way for him to get his chocolate (well, what's left of it...there were a lot of leftover kisses! Maybe I should have made a longer message...)

Mind the Gap

> Gene and I love to hike. We're not majorly outdoorsy, nor are we impressive when we hike, but we really enjoy doing it. We usually go on a couple weekend trips a year in spring and fall (my favorite seasons for hiking) and we take advantage of the beautiful state where we live. On a recent trip, we went to Kolob Canyon and we explored a couple trails we hadn't hiked before. On our way home, we decided to take a detour and we went to see the Parowan Gap—where an ancient river cut a 600-foot deep "notch" through the hills, according to this article. (After seeing it though, is "notch" really the right word??)

> The Parowan Gap is neat as you come upon it. At first, it feels like you're on the wrong road—you're out in the middle of nowhere—then all of a sudden you turn, and the road points you right into the middle of it. It's awesome! I took a bunch of pictures, but I don't think it can really be photographed in a way that gives you a sense of what it's like to come upon it. It's big, and there's nothing around it. So if you try to capture it with the vast nothing-ness it's surrounded by, you lose the sense of its size. If you try to get its size, you lose its isolation. It's a neat juxtaposition. You just have to see it yourself. 

> Then there are the petroglyphs. The guidebook said the place was covered with them. Being a designer, I LOVE petroglyphs. I mean, they're neatly designed, they were made to endure, and to communicate. As far as I'm concerned, the people who left these visual messages years and years ago are my design predecessors. 

> Once we parked, I was disappointed to see all the fences. (It always makes me sick to realize these fences HAVE to be put up in order to remind some people to respect something that's irreplaceable). Anyway, the side of the mountain is covered—I mean covered—with petroglyphs. It's so cool to look around at all the different designs. As you walk on the road through the gap to the back side of the hill, it appears that part of it has crumbled down, and there are boulders, again, just covered with more petroglyphs. 

> It's not a big place, but we were there for quite awhile—looking, taking photos, and just enjoying an amazing little place with a lot to see. (And no, I didn't digitally retouch the sky, it really is that blue).

Car Craze

> Last summer, my family reunion was at Lake Tahoe (GORgeous!) and one day, some of us drove to Reno to visit the National Auto Museum. My sister and brother in law had been a few years before and knew I'd love it. I love a nicely-designed car. In fact, when we're driving somewhere, I say the words "nice car" as often as Gene does. So my dad, a car-loving nephew, Gene and I hit the road.

> It was awesome! So many beautiful cars, and in such amazing condition for their ages. I took SO many photos...unfortunately, it was hard to get great shots—the cars were extremely shiny, and there were really bright spotlights everywhere, but the other lighting was not very good, so no matter what I tried*, some of the shots have really bad glare. Also, there are so many cars that most of my shots have other cars or signage in the backgrounds. But still, it was amazing, and I had fun taking photos and have enjoyed looking at them since (*my "trying" is limited since I'm no pro when it comes to photography).

> The photos I'm sharing here are front-views of several cars—I love how "styled" they are. The grills, hoods and fenders seem to have a lot more "going on" in these old cars than cars do now. I know there are logical reasons for the changes, but it's still fun to enjoy the details in these classics.

> I had a lot of favorite styles and features, but my favorite—just because it's SO odd—is the last car, shown in the last 2 photos in this grouping. I can't remember what it is, but it's awesome, yet there's no question why you don't see anything like it on the road today!

Merry Christmas!

> I love Christmas tree ornaments! I actually have some "ornament" traditions. I buy at LEAST one new ornament for our tree each year, (but it's usually more than one). One of my friends and I live far from each other, and each December, we exchange an ornament. It's a treat for both of us to find the "perfect ornament", and also to receive it—and I've learned that her kids love being a part of selecting what gets sent to me, and get just as excited to see what I send for their tree. With another friend, we digitally share ornaments for every day in December until Christmas. We started doing this a couple years ago, and I LOVE looking online for funny, cool, unique ornaments to email to her, and I'm excited to check my email each morning to see what she's sent to me. In fact, once Christmas day passes, I kind of have a let-down feeling, knowing the digital ornament exchange is over.

> In fact, it was while I was searching for some of the digital ornaments that I got my inspiration for this year's holiday promotional gift. A few years ago, I created business card sized calendars printed onto thin sheets of wood. I wondered if they had a precut shape in my budget that would work well for an ornament—they did!

> Both of my ornament-loving friends—as well as clients, vendors, family and friends—received a custom-designed ornament. I still have a few left...if you love ornaments and don't mind a little bit of branding on it, send me your address and I'll get one to you.

The M Wall

> The "m" wall is finally complete! (well, I shouldn't say complete—because there's always room for more m's—but, the ones I have are now hanging). I STILL haven't picked up my art from my parents' basement, so the walls in the rest of the room aren't complete yet, but this is the most important wall!

> Check out the transformation—you can see how badly the walls needed a fresh coat of paint! and bam!! that bold spring green (aka Maralee green, but WAY bolder than I've ever had before). Then, m's and finishing touches. Totally in love with it.

Did you notice:

- the "O" (a tribute to my maiden name)

- the "N" (serendipitous! I found it at an awesome antique store in Seattle, before I was a Nelson. It was the only letter they had, and even though I had no reason to think I'd ever need an "N", I was in love with it so I got it anyway. Now it's perfect!

- the empty cubby in the cube shelves (you can see it in the last photo). (I have 2 kitties sharing my office space, and I left it open thinking it would be fun if they liked to hang out there, but I have yet to see either of them enjoying it, so it'll get "repurposed").

> The arrangement is quite a bit different from my last office—but I love the super bold color, and I really love how much more space there is for adding to my collection!

Gargoyles on Green

> Last time I posted, we had just spent a month with my sister and brother-in-law after having sold our house, while waiting til we were able to move into our new home. And now we've been in our new house for a month. 

> Despite 2 unexpected surgeries for kidney stones and way too many days on serious pain and anti-nausea meds, and trying to get the anesthesia out of my system, almost everything is put away. 

> I feel pretty good about that progress because it turns out we have a LOT of stuff! We're down to decor, and art. Sounds like we're really close, but if you could take a peek at the room in my parents' basement where the art is all being safely stored, you'd realize I've still got a pretty big task ahead of me. But the hardest part will be choosing what things NOT to hang. Turns out we have less "hangable" wall space in this house than our last one, and not everything was hanging there either (hubby says maybe it's time to sell some pieces...however, we disagree!)

> Luckily, some things don't require much thinking...like some of the small things in my studio. The m's (of course), and these "office gargoyles". Aren't they awesome? Several years ago, my family had a reunion on the Oregon Coast (I'd love to go back!) and there was this wonderful eclectic shop that had a wall covered with these hand-crafted little clay faces. Some were creepy, some were funny, and some were just sweet. These guys have hung in my office—wherever it's been—ever since.

> I've had a few people ask for before and after pics of my studio...I promise it's coming! Once I get the art hung in here, the "after" will be complete, and I can photo-document the awesomeness that is my new, really green office.

Remember

> I've already written a couple of posts about our trip to New York City last year (here, here, and here), and still have lots more photos to share. I hadn't specifically intended on saving these pics for today, but since I finally carved out a little time to devote to a post, and considering that today is 9-11, well, what could be more appropriate.

> There was a lot on our to-do list while there, but we both agreed we HAD to visit the 9/11 Memorial. We had to pre-arrange for tickets since they only allow a certain number of people in the area at a time—which is actually great so it's not over-crowded for the space. It was easy to take the photos I wanted, and while there were lots of people, there was still such a feeling of peace, reverence, respect—which I was glad for. I hope it always maintains that kind of feeling. It means people still remember.

> For me personally, I still get emotional when I think about that day, and the days that followed. In my personal life, my own world was coming apart at the seams. I had found out just weeks earlier that what I thought was "solid ground" was not only not solid, but that it hadn't been for a long time. As I was exposed to my new reality more and more each day, it became harder and harder for me to do more than simply function. Then came the early morning phone calls from friends on the east coast who called to tell us what was happening in Manhattan. All of a sudden it felt there was no solid ground anywhere, and I wondered if things would ever be okay again—for me—for all those people who had lost loved ones—for anyone.

> All these years later, I still avoid watching any news that shows footage of what happened, or the emotions of that time seem very close again. Some things will always be "too real". You know? But thankfully, time helps. And healing occurs. And we are able to do things that make the ground a little more solid again.

> I was so glad to be able to visit the Memorial (the museum was still under construction at the time—it's the building that looks like it's on its side. Appropriate, right?) There was a lot of building going on in the area. Regrowth is a good thing. The memorial is  beautiful. It's peaceful. And it's on very solid ground.