Hello!
Okay, so I think I may have lead you astray with my previous report about using fabric softener to help get the stiffness out of clothes that are hung to dry. Our clothes were still crunchy with fabric softener, so I did a little google research, and this is what I found...
>>For the stiffness in line dried clothes, it's not the sun but too much laundry detergent residue. My Mom worked in a commercial laundry during her summer breaks and passed along these tips.
Don't use fabric softener, cut back on the amount of detergent used and if possible iron the clothes slightly damp. Some fabric softeners react with the sun causing stiff scratchy clothes. Use plain white vinegar as fabric softener instead. If you have a home water softener, cut back on the amount of detergent or use the extra rinse option on the washing machine. A home water softener increases the potency of laundry detergent. Ironing the clothes while damp is still the best way to iron.
Run the washing machine, with no clothes or laundry, with several cups of plain white vinegar on the hottest water setting. This process assists in cleaning out the washing machine as it might have laundry detergent build up. Lift the lid a few minutes into the cycle and check for suds. If suds appear, repeat the process once more.<<
Have a great day!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Hot town, summer in the city...
Today is the first official day of summer! Living in Arizona, this is somewhat hard to believe. Since we returned to Tucson over a month ago, we have had no need to wear even a light jacket, I have probably worn tank tops most days, and our A/C has not had a break. As they all say, Tucson is a "dry heat". A friend of ours just moved here from Virginia and he has made it very clear to us that he'll take Tucson heat over Virginia humidity any day. As much as I get frustrated by having to finish my run by 7am because of the heat, or how expensive our A/C bills are, I guess it's true..."dry heat" does have it's perks. Dry heat keeps you from sweating all day (or at least if you do sweat, it evaporates before you even know it), your shower towel actually dries in the bathroom from morning to morning, and you're allowed to bring water with you wherever you go because everyone is afraid of dehydration. As I write this at 8:30am, it is currently 92 degrees outside...the high is supposed to be 110 today with only 11% humidity.
This past week I was reminded how important sunscreen is! I had to have a mole removed from back that had moderate atypia cells. I asked my doctor how that could have even happened since my lower back rarely even sees the sun, and she said that 80% of skin damage happens before we are 18 years old...so make sure all you kiddos and not-so-kiddos alike wear lots of sunscreen daily! Since we moved here I have started wearing sunscreen with zinc oxide in it, which I highly recommend since it forms a total block between your skin and the sun.
We are still totally loving being home and getting to see so many friends and family members on a regular basis! This past week we got to meet our friend's baby for the first time...David and Eileen's little girl, Kaia Lin...
Rachel came over for a day while her mom was at work. Here we are washing Cameron's car to get it ready for his return from Chicago, where he was visiting his girlfriend for 2 weeks.
We went to the Pops In the Park for a picnic and to listen to the Tucson Pops play their final concert for the spring series.
(Ryan, Chris, Melissa, Christina, Steve (Christina and Joe's neighbor), and Joe)...
My "Going Green with the Greens" this week involves a bit of a recylcing project...
I took a pair of old jeans, cut out the inner seam, and then cut up an old shirt...and sewed them all together to make this skirt! Unfortunately I don't have a pattern I could give anyone, but I could try and talk you through it if you're interested. :)
I hope you all have a wonderful first day of summer!
This past week I was reminded how important sunscreen is! I had to have a mole removed from back that had moderate atypia cells. I asked my doctor how that could have even happened since my lower back rarely even sees the sun, and she said that 80% of skin damage happens before we are 18 years old...so make sure all you kiddos and not-so-kiddos alike wear lots of sunscreen daily! Since we moved here I have started wearing sunscreen with zinc oxide in it, which I highly recommend since it forms a total block between your skin and the sun.
We are still totally loving being home and getting to see so many friends and family members on a regular basis! This past week we got to meet our friend's baby for the first time...David and Eileen's little girl, Kaia Lin...
Rachel came over for a day while her mom was at work. Here we are washing Cameron's car to get it ready for his return from Chicago, where he was visiting his girlfriend for 2 weeks.
We went to the Pops In the Park for a picnic and to listen to the Tucson Pops play their final concert for the spring series.
(Ryan, Chris, Melissa, Christina, Steve (Christina and Joe's neighbor), and Joe)...
My "Going Green with the Greens" this week involves a bit of a recylcing project...
I took a pair of old jeans, cut out the inner seam, and then cut up an old shirt...and sewed them all together to make this skirt! Unfortunately I don't have a pattern I could give anyone, but I could try and talk you through it if you're interested. :)
I hope you all have a wonderful first day of summer!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
"Going green with The Greens"
For the summer I have decided to have a regular post of "Going green with The Greens". We've been trying to become more and more environmentally aware and responsible, so this is to hold me accountable to trying to add a new environmental thing into my routine each week.
Our first "Going green with The Greens"...Ryan installed a solar power clothes dryer...
Here's Ryan drilling away...
Drying in progress....!
Here in AZ, drying clothes outside is wayyyyy faster than using the conventional clothes dryer. I've done several loads now, and it has never taken more than 20-25 minutes per load to dry! For those who don't like to dry things outside because of the "crisp" feeling that clothes can get, just add a little fabric softener in with the wash. :)
My friend Mira from college went with a group to Oaxaca, Mexico to learn more about the circumstances in which people cross the border, ways in which we can help their economy so they don't need to cross (micro-loans, etc), and also the dangers of crossing. After a week in Oaxaca, they spent a week actually walking across the border and all the way up to Tucson (75 miles) in remembrance of those who have died crossing the border. We went to the ceremony that welcomed them into Tucson, which was very humbling to hear the stories of their experience and long days of walking. And then Mira and part of the group she walked with, came over for showers, dinner, and to spend the night. It was so great to have them here and to hear their stories while they were so fresh in their minds still. It sounds like it was a very powerful experience that has transformed them and will continue to transform then as they reflect more and more on it.
Here's the group that stayed with us...
If you're interested in learning more about border crossing, here are some things we read/watched before they stayed with us to educate ourselves...
Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea, a true story about a group of individuals who crossed the border and the struggles that they were met with.
"Crossing Arizona", a documentary that discusses both sides of the situation when it comes to people crossing the Arizonan border.
And, just last night we saw the movie "Under the Same Moon", which is not a documentary, but is a movie about border crossing.
Last week we were in Chicago for a few days for shows. The first show, was truly one of a kind. Cameron's girlfriend is a teacher at a K-8 Catholic School and asked RH to come and play for their end of the year assembly. I've never seen so many hands waving in the air at a RH concert, or heard so many claps out of beat. :) Suprisingly the kids were really well-behaved, and afterwards there was a Q & A period, where most of the kids who had their hands raised, didn't even have questions...so fun to be around cute kids.
The second show was at Uncommon Ground. Several groups of friends came which was soo great to have their support!
The Albion crew...
(Abby, Ryan, Lewis, Jessie, Eric (mira's husband), and Mira (who was just in Tucson...and is now back in Chicago where she lives). :)
Melissa, my old roommate from Boston, and a group of her friends...
Tobi (on the far right) is a friend from Boston (that I know through Jill) who was in Chicago to visit her boyfriend Matt (on the far left).
During our downtime in Chicago, we went with Megan to visit my Albion roommate, Kelly, and her new baby!
Here's an action shot of Kelly rocking Kate in her arms...
Here's Callum, Megan's baby...
On Saturday morning before we drove to MI, we got to have breakfast with our friend Trish from Boston who recently wrote "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not"...she was in Chicago for a writer's conference. To meet Trish...check out her website: www.trishryanonline.com or her blog: trishesdishes.blogspot.com ....or read her memoir! :) Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos...oops!
Our trip to the midwest, was also so that we could make it to my 10 year high school reunion! I've actually been "that person" who has been looking forward to going to my high school reunion pretty much since I graduated high school. I graduated with a small class, 88 to be exact, and most of us had been in school together since we were in kindergarten. As we arrived to the reunion, I realized I was a wee bit nervous...kind of the giggly nervous where you don't even realize why you are nervous...but just have little butterflies about something. Luckily, that all quickly passed as we walked into the room and I realized that the cool thing about gatherings such as this, is that everyone who is there wants to be there and chat just like me...no need for butterflies! It's funny how we all probably looked a little older, but at the same time all looked exactly the same. Quite a few were from out of state...I even learned that I lived soo close to one of my classmates the whole time I was in Boston, but somehow we never crossed paths or new each other was there. ...oh if only facebook had been as big as it is now then...sigh...j/k. :) Another cool thing I learned was that the people I wasn't close with in h.s. were people I could totally see myself being friends with today.
Here's some friends from the reunion...
Bill Westers and his girlfriend...
Me and April Burke...
Here's a partial group shot...
A lot of people asked me to report back on how my reunion was because they have one coming up as well. Here are a few tips (totally subjective, but nonetheless...here they are)...
1. GO! It's literally a once every 5-10 year event, it's worth the money to travel there and for the cost of the reunion.
2. I don't think I left with feeling like "I'm going to keep in regular touch with so-and-so now", but that's not the point...the point is to go and have a good time with friends that are part of your history.
3. Talk with the people you don't know as well, or didn't even know in h.s. -- for some reason, I think you have more interesting conversations b/c there isn't that relating back to expecting them to be who they were in h.s., it really let's you know people for who they are now.
Okay...that's it from me on pretending like I know all the ins and outs of class reunions. :)
Now for the part I was most looking forward to going to Michigan for....meeting Elizabeth Joy!!
And of course seeing all of the family...
Our first "Going green with The Greens"...Ryan installed a solar power clothes dryer...
Here's Ryan drilling away...
Drying in progress....!
Here in AZ, drying clothes outside is wayyyyy faster than using the conventional clothes dryer. I've done several loads now, and it has never taken more than 20-25 minutes per load to dry! For those who don't like to dry things outside because of the "crisp" feeling that clothes can get, just add a little fabric softener in with the wash. :)
My friend Mira from college went with a group to Oaxaca, Mexico to learn more about the circumstances in which people cross the border, ways in which we can help their economy so they don't need to cross (micro-loans, etc), and also the dangers of crossing. After a week in Oaxaca, they spent a week actually walking across the border and all the way up to Tucson (75 miles) in remembrance of those who have died crossing the border. We went to the ceremony that welcomed them into Tucson, which was very humbling to hear the stories of their experience and long days of walking. And then Mira and part of the group she walked with, came over for showers, dinner, and to spend the night. It was so great to have them here and to hear their stories while they were so fresh in their minds still. It sounds like it was a very powerful experience that has transformed them and will continue to transform then as they reflect more and more on it.
Here's the group that stayed with us...
If you're interested in learning more about border crossing, here are some things we read/watched before they stayed with us to educate ourselves...
Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea, a true story about a group of individuals who crossed the border and the struggles that they were met with.
"Crossing Arizona", a documentary that discusses both sides of the situation when it comes to people crossing the Arizonan border.
And, just last night we saw the movie "Under the Same Moon", which is not a documentary, but is a movie about border crossing.
Last week we were in Chicago for a few days for shows. The first show, was truly one of a kind. Cameron's girlfriend is a teacher at a K-8 Catholic School and asked RH to come and play for their end of the year assembly. I've never seen so many hands waving in the air at a RH concert, or heard so many claps out of beat. :) Suprisingly the kids were really well-behaved, and afterwards there was a Q & A period, where most of the kids who had their hands raised, didn't even have questions...so fun to be around cute kids.
The second show was at Uncommon Ground. Several groups of friends came which was soo great to have their support!
The Albion crew...
(Abby, Ryan, Lewis, Jessie, Eric (mira's husband), and Mira (who was just in Tucson...and is now back in Chicago where she lives). :)
Melissa, my old roommate from Boston, and a group of her friends...
Tobi (on the far right) is a friend from Boston (that I know through Jill) who was in Chicago to visit her boyfriend Matt (on the far left).
During our downtime in Chicago, we went with Megan to visit my Albion roommate, Kelly, and her new baby!
Here's an action shot of Kelly rocking Kate in her arms...
Here's Callum, Megan's baby...
On Saturday morning before we drove to MI, we got to have breakfast with our friend Trish from Boston who recently wrote "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not"...she was in Chicago for a writer's conference. To meet Trish...check out her website: www.trishryanonline.com or her blog: trishesdishes.blogspot.com ....or read her memoir! :) Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos...oops!
Our trip to the midwest, was also so that we could make it to my 10 year high school reunion! I've actually been "that person" who has been looking forward to going to my high school reunion pretty much since I graduated high school. I graduated with a small class, 88 to be exact, and most of us had been in school together since we were in kindergarten. As we arrived to the reunion, I realized I was a wee bit nervous...kind of the giggly nervous where you don't even realize why you are nervous...but just have little butterflies about something. Luckily, that all quickly passed as we walked into the room and I realized that the cool thing about gatherings such as this, is that everyone who is there wants to be there and chat just like me...no need for butterflies! It's funny how we all probably looked a little older, but at the same time all looked exactly the same. Quite a few were from out of state...I even learned that I lived soo close to one of my classmates the whole time I was in Boston, but somehow we never crossed paths or new each other was there. ...oh if only facebook had been as big as it is now then...sigh...j/k. :) Another cool thing I learned was that the people I wasn't close with in h.s. were people I could totally see myself being friends with today.
Here's some friends from the reunion...
Bill Westers and his girlfriend...
Me and April Burke...
Here's a partial group shot...
A lot of people asked me to report back on how my reunion was because they have one coming up as well. Here are a few tips (totally subjective, but nonetheless...here they are)...
1. GO! It's literally a once every 5-10 year event, it's worth the money to travel there and for the cost of the reunion.
2. I don't think I left with feeling like "I'm going to keep in regular touch with so-and-so now", but that's not the point...the point is to go and have a good time with friends that are part of your history.
3. Talk with the people you don't know as well, or didn't even know in h.s. -- for some reason, I think you have more interesting conversations b/c there isn't that relating back to expecting them to be who they were in h.s., it really let's you know people for who they are now.
Okay...that's it from me on pretending like I know all the ins and outs of class reunions. :)
Now for the part I was most looking forward to going to Michigan for....meeting Elizabeth Joy!!
And of course seeing all of the family...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Day weekend
Hello!
I hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend! Before I jump ahead to the weekend...let me back up a few days...
RH played a benefit concert last week for some of U of A students raising money to go on a missions trip over the summer. A friend of ours that we met in Boston (she now lives in Reno) was in AZ for a work conference, and came to the show! We haven't seen her in 2+ years, so it was quite a treat to have her there...and we originally met through RH, so it was quite appropriate for them to be playing a show! For those of you who have seen our wedding video, she was our lovely cinematographer! :)
Here's Rache and Cameron before the show...
We met up with Papa David for lunch...he's always sporting a RH shirt when we hang out...he's quite the supporter!
Now for our Memorial Day weekend in San Diego...
We drove out there on Saturday afternoon. Ryan's mom joined us for the trip...it was so nice to have her there with us! The show was that night at Lestats...a coffeeshop that has a listening room nextdoor. The place was packed, and RH shared the stage with Ari Hest, a super nice singer/songwriter from New York. We stayed with Ryan's cousin Traci and her husband, Joe that night...
Traci and Joe are also artists, so it's always interesting to talk with them and hear how similar it is to market oneself in other forms of art.
Friends of ours from Tucson drove out for the weekend, and came to the show. We met up with them on Sunday and stayed at the same hotel, which was a short walk from the beach. This was our first "couples vacation"...and it was a ton of fun!
Ryan, Jacob, and Chris taking a break from their game with the hot lava frisbee...
Melissa, Samantha, and me after our walk on the beach...
The gorgeous sunset...
Today Ryan has his first day of teaching guitar lessons! He has 11 students signed up so far. It's fun to watch him prepare for lessons...reminds me of when we first met!
Here he is all ready for his "first day of work". :)
I'm dogsitting Lily and Stanley right now....and my yoga class starts tonight!
Have a great night!
I hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend! Before I jump ahead to the weekend...let me back up a few days...
RH played a benefit concert last week for some of U of A students raising money to go on a missions trip over the summer. A friend of ours that we met in Boston (she now lives in Reno) was in AZ for a work conference, and came to the show! We haven't seen her in 2+ years, so it was quite a treat to have her there...and we originally met through RH, so it was quite appropriate for them to be playing a show! For those of you who have seen our wedding video, she was our lovely cinematographer! :)
Here's Rache and Cameron before the show...
We met up with Papa David for lunch...he's always sporting a RH shirt when we hang out...he's quite the supporter!
Now for our Memorial Day weekend in San Diego...
We drove out there on Saturday afternoon. Ryan's mom joined us for the trip...it was so nice to have her there with us! The show was that night at Lestats...a coffeeshop that has a listening room nextdoor. The place was packed, and RH shared the stage with Ari Hest, a super nice singer/songwriter from New York. We stayed with Ryan's cousin Traci and her husband, Joe that night...
Traci and Joe are also artists, so it's always interesting to talk with them and hear how similar it is to market oneself in other forms of art.
Friends of ours from Tucson drove out for the weekend, and came to the show. We met up with them on Sunday and stayed at the same hotel, which was a short walk from the beach. This was our first "couples vacation"...and it was a ton of fun!
Ryan, Jacob, and Chris taking a break from their game with the hot lava frisbee...
Melissa, Samantha, and me after our walk on the beach...
The gorgeous sunset...
Today Ryan has his first day of teaching guitar lessons! He has 11 students signed up so far. It's fun to watch him prepare for lessons...reminds me of when we first met!
Here he is all ready for his "first day of work". :)
I'm dogsitting Lily and Stanley right now....and my yoga class starts tonight!
Have a great night!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Elizabeth is here!
On May 14th, my 5th niece came into this world! :)
Elizabeth Joy, 8 lbs, 15oz and a head full of dark hair!
Here's Nichole (my sister) and Elizabeth...
Emma, Roger, and Elizabeth...
Nichole and Elizabeth are both healthy and doing well! In fact, the family is going camping this weekend...life doesn't slow down when you have 5 kids. :) I love their adventurous life!
I've been home for almost 2 weeks now! Being in the same bed has been nice, but like I've told some of you, my definition of "home" has definitely changed. Home has definitely become more about being with family, friends, each other, etc...even now, we are more excited about seeing our friends and family in Tucson than being in our house (though, being in our house is a nice place to be).
Tucson is already mad hot! It was 103 yesterday afternoon! I've been trying to wake-up between 6:30 and 7am to go running, which most of you know is not my typical wake-up time, so it's been a bit of a challenge. I signed up for the chicago 1/2 marathon that is in September, and even though I'm not technically training for that yet, it has been good motivation to keep me running. I have recently gotten pretty psyched about the Tucson parks and rec department. They have gyms scattered throughout the city with nice workout rooms, a pool, classes, etc. To use the facility, it only costs $1 per visit!!! And, I just signed up for a 10-week yoga class that only cost $33! I love this place! :)
My new favorite running wear, is a running skirt. Honestly ladies, it's the most comfortable thing to run in...second to buns that is, but who really wants to run along the street in buns. :)
buns...
running skirt...
boy shorts underneath...
They come in various lengths, material, etc...so make sure you try a bunch on to get what is comfy for you! :)
My other consumer report, is this bag...I think it was made just for me! :) (For those of you don't know, my maiden name was Brown.)
I got to go to Rachel's bridging ceremony for girl scouts the other night...she has gone from Brownies to Juniors!
We've gotten to see a lot of family since we've been back, and also our friends. This Friday we are going to a Calexico Concert with Lori (ryan's mom). Our friend Chris plays bass for the band when they tour in the states...they are incredible! In addition to the band...there are also 2 full mariachi bands that will be on stage playing with them. Then on Saturday we are going to San Diego for a RH concert...send anyone you know that lives there our way! And, on Sunday, RH is playing in LA.
Have a great week!
Elizabeth Joy, 8 lbs, 15oz and a head full of dark hair!
Here's Nichole (my sister) and Elizabeth...
Emma, Roger, and Elizabeth...
Nichole and Elizabeth are both healthy and doing well! In fact, the family is going camping this weekend...life doesn't slow down when you have 5 kids. :) I love their adventurous life!
I've been home for almost 2 weeks now! Being in the same bed has been nice, but like I've told some of you, my definition of "home" has definitely changed. Home has definitely become more about being with family, friends, each other, etc...even now, we are more excited about seeing our friends and family in Tucson than being in our house (though, being in our house is a nice place to be).
Tucson is already mad hot! It was 103 yesterday afternoon! I've been trying to wake-up between 6:30 and 7am to go running, which most of you know is not my typical wake-up time, so it's been a bit of a challenge. I signed up for the chicago 1/2 marathon that is in September, and even though I'm not technically training for that yet, it has been good motivation to keep me running. I have recently gotten pretty psyched about the Tucson parks and rec department. They have gyms scattered throughout the city with nice workout rooms, a pool, classes, etc. To use the facility, it only costs $1 per visit!!! And, I just signed up for a 10-week yoga class that only cost $33! I love this place! :)
My new favorite running wear, is a running skirt. Honestly ladies, it's the most comfortable thing to run in...second to buns that is, but who really wants to run along the street in buns. :)
buns...
running skirt...
boy shorts underneath...
They come in various lengths, material, etc...so make sure you try a bunch on to get what is comfy for you! :)
My other consumer report, is this bag...I think it was made just for me! :) (For those of you don't know, my maiden name was Brown.)
I got to go to Rachel's bridging ceremony for girl scouts the other night...she has gone from Brownies to Juniors!
We've gotten to see a lot of family since we've been back, and also our friends. This Friday we are going to a Calexico Concert with Lori (ryan's mom). Our friend Chris plays bass for the band when they tour in the states...they are incredible! In addition to the band...there are also 2 full mariachi bands that will be on stage playing with them. Then on Saturday we are going to San Diego for a RH concert...send anyone you know that lives there our way! And, on Sunday, RH is playing in LA.
Have a great week!
Monday, May 05, 2008
1,524 miles from home...
Hello!
We've done it...we've played 62 shows in 24 states, driven 27,000+ miles (nothing we're proud of given the effects that has on the environment), gotten 7 oil changes, replaced one windshield, and now only have 1,524 miles to drive until we are in our own beds!!
The past couple of weeks...
We went to an Obama rally in Pittsburgh the day before the Pennsylvania primaries...
We stayed in the silos (now converted into a hotel) of the old Quaker Oats factory...
RH played in the shower of a dorm at the University of Akron for some students vlog...
RH was asked to play their song "Gardens and the Graves" for a send-off party for a family that is taking their 4 kids (ages 11, 10, 7 and 5) on a one-year "EdVenture" biking around the world (Europe, West Asia, and North Africa). The family has a podcast and uses "Gardens and the Graves" as their theme song. This families drive to learn and travel was incredible and contagious...to find out more about what they are doing check out: http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
RH played a house concert at Jana's...
We (Ryan and I) bought our first piece of "real art"!...the photo I've attached is from her website so it's of the whole page, our piece is just of the main painting...If you are interested in her art, you can check out her full site at www.silvialopezchavez.com
There is something that feels so good about buying local art...whether its a painting, a book, a cd, etc...I don't know if it's because we are artists, or if it's a feeling everyone gets.
Ryan and I saw a great documentary called "Blindsight"...a very short summary: it's about a group of children in Tibet that are blind and climb most of Mt. Everest...very good...we recommend it! :)
Our friend Trish Ryan's book came out, and we were able to go to her book celebration! We've read the book already and loved it! It's her memoir of finding faith, love, and happiness...you can read more about her, her book, and her book tour at www.trishryanonline.com
Our last show was in NYC at The Underground Cafe...a church sponsored coffeehouse with live music that takes place one a month in the Tribeca area. It was a GREAT show, filled with fun surprises...like my friend Meredith and Kristy coming! (meredith is a friend from Boston...so to see her in NYC was a BIG surprise!) :) ...thanks Meredith!
I think that's almost everything! Right now we are driving through the mid-west on our way to Tulsa, OK for the night. Then, tomorrow we'll be driving to Albuquerque, NM on Tuesday.
We've done it...we've played 62 shows in 24 states, driven 27,000+ miles (nothing we're proud of given the effects that has on the environment), gotten 7 oil changes, replaced one windshield, and now only have 1,524 miles to drive until we are in our own beds!!
The past couple of weeks...
We went to an Obama rally in Pittsburgh the day before the Pennsylvania primaries...
We stayed in the silos (now converted into a hotel) of the old Quaker Oats factory...
RH played in the shower of a dorm at the University of Akron for some students vlog...
RH was asked to play their song "Gardens and the Graves" for a send-off party for a family that is taking their 4 kids (ages 11, 10, 7 and 5) on a one-year "EdVenture" biking around the world (Europe, West Asia, and North Africa). The family has a podcast and uses "Gardens and the Graves" as their theme song. This families drive to learn and travel was incredible and contagious...to find out more about what they are doing check out: http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
RH played a house concert at Jana's...
We (Ryan and I) bought our first piece of "real art"!...the photo I've attached is from her website so it's of the whole page, our piece is just of the main painting...If you are interested in her art, you can check out her full site at www.silvialopezchavez.com
There is something that feels so good about buying local art...whether its a painting, a book, a cd, etc...I don't know if it's because we are artists, or if it's a feeling everyone gets.
Ryan and I saw a great documentary called "Blindsight"...a very short summary: it's about a group of children in Tibet that are blind and climb most of Mt. Everest...very good...we recommend it! :)
Our friend Trish Ryan's book came out, and we were able to go to her book celebration! We've read the book already and loved it! It's her memoir of finding faith, love, and happiness...you can read more about her, her book, and her book tour at www.trishryanonline.com
Our last show was in NYC at The Underground Cafe...a church sponsored coffeehouse with live music that takes place one a month in the Tribeca area. It was a GREAT show, filled with fun surprises...like my friend Meredith and Kristy coming! (meredith is a friend from Boston...so to see her in NYC was a BIG surprise!) :) ...thanks Meredith!
I think that's almost everything! Right now we are driving through the mid-west on our way to Tulsa, OK for the night. Then, tomorrow we'll be driving to Albuquerque, NM on Tuesday.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tour de tour
Hello!
This past month has been full of weather variances (everything from driving through whiteouts in upstate New York to running in shorts and a t-shirt in Louisiana)...we've met lots of people and have gotten to experience a lot of different cultures across the USofA. I don't think I thought too much before this trip about how many different cultural regions I would get to experience while zig-zagging across the country. This entire tour, but especially these past two months, has given us a really good look inside a lot of homes and how people live in different areas. I'll try to elaborate more on this throughout the blog as I post photos...
We spent a handful of days in Michigan this month. RH got to play at my mom's high school (Greenville), Central Michigan, and Western Michigan. My family, friend from high school-Kelly and her husband Russ, and friend Jen (Willard) from Albion College came to the show at Western Michigan which was a super fun surprise!!
Dave, Jen, and me...
(Okay, just a little disclaimer that I started the first part of this blog post a month ago, and I'm just picking it up again now....so I might not elaborate on everything as much as I thought I was going to for the sake of saving your eyes from staring at a screen for hours...)
RH played another house concert...this one in the woods of Shreveport, Louisiana. The directions to get to the house were seriously, "take dirt road until it ends, turn left and take next dirt road until it ends, turn right and house is the only house at the end of the street". It was a gorgeous location for a house concert, right next to a lake. This was definitely one of those stops on the tour of getting to see what life in different regions of the country is like.
Ryan and Cameron rehearsing before the show...
The house concert folk...
Our next hi-light was in Memphis, TN where RH played at the University of Memphis, and then afterwards went out to dinner at this awesome local spot where everyone shoots toothpicks onto the ceiling through straws...so fun, although I did get a little light headed from doing it too much.
We spent about 5 days in Nashville...NASHVILLE ROCKS!! Okay, I wasn't the one to come up with that slogan, but it's true...I loved Nashville! The weather was great, neighborhoods were very communal and friendly, and the music was fantastic! This was another time of getting to spend time inside houses and seeing how people in other regions live.
I got to meet up with another college friend, Deania...her parents were also in town for the weekend.
We took Cameron to the music strip for his birthday...
Our favorite music was at Roberts...
We stayed with our friends Laura, Jason and their daughter Lily...they are friends that we've met in the college touring music scene. Laura owns her own cloth diaper business, and works at a camp every summer, needless to say, we became fast friends. :)
Who wants a weenie?!?
RH played a HUGE show at Cottey College, which is an all-women's college in Missouri. Out of a 300 person college, 200 people were there...we sold over 75 cds, a ton of shirts, etc...it was a really fun show to be at!
Another college was good to us and put us up at a Bed and Breakfast instead of a hotel...friends that we made in Shreveport even came up for the show!
We went to a NACA (National Association of Campus Activities) conference in St. Paul, MN for the Northern Plains Region. These conferences are where we book our college shows for the following semester. In the past we have gotten 10-15 shows booked per conference. At this conference, we booked 56 shows!! The response to their showcase was crazy...and it filled up our entire fall semester!
My brother-in-law was admitted back into the hospital for pancreatitis, and with my sister being 9 months pregnant, and my parents out of the country...I went home to spend time with my sister and her kids. It was a fun week of beautiful weather, playing at the park, staying up late talking with my sister, etc. I don't think I realized all the little daily things that happen when you have kids, i.e. throwing up at the park from going on the merry-go-round, a baseball pitch hitting the batter in the neck, etc. :)
Here's Emma hugging Nichole's belly...
Roger is back home recovering from a week in the hospital...everyone is anxiously awaiting the new baby's arrival!
We had 4 days off, so Ryan and I went to Maine, while Cameron went to visit his girlfriend in Chicago. Maine is one of our favorite places to go (we have a lot, but it really does rank high up there). My friend Jill's parents have a home on Round Pond that they rent out, but since they didn't have any renters for the week, they let us stay there! It felt like a real vacation for us. We played by the ocean climbing over the rocks, and then would come home and make a yummy dinner in the full-sized kitchen.
Here we are on top of a rock by the lighthouse...
A fun surprise was finding a place that sold fresh eggs! For those of you who don't know, I love buying local fresh food...so when we saw the sign, Ryan made a fast turn so that we wouldn't miss our opportunity!
The funniest thing, was the actual place where we bought the eggs...I'll show you with photos...
We got to visit Jill's parents for the afternoon...have lunch...go for a walk...it was wonderful!
Then for the best place to watch a sunset on the east coast (on a peninsula) we went to Pemaquid Beach...
Only 2 weeks of shows left, and then 4 days of travel to get home!! We're really looking forward to seeing all of our friends and family in Tucson...and so glad we got to see so many of our friends and family all over the country over the past 4 months!
This past month has been full of weather variances (everything from driving through whiteouts in upstate New York to running in shorts and a t-shirt in Louisiana)...we've met lots of people and have gotten to experience a lot of different cultures across the USofA. I don't think I thought too much before this trip about how many different cultural regions I would get to experience while zig-zagging across the country. This entire tour, but especially these past two months, has given us a really good look inside a lot of homes and how people live in different areas. I'll try to elaborate more on this throughout the blog as I post photos...
We spent a handful of days in Michigan this month. RH got to play at my mom's high school (Greenville), Central Michigan, and Western Michigan. My family, friend from high school-Kelly and her husband Russ, and friend Jen (Willard) from Albion College came to the show at Western Michigan which was a super fun surprise!!
Dave, Jen, and me...
(Okay, just a little disclaimer that I started the first part of this blog post a month ago, and I'm just picking it up again now....so I might not elaborate on everything as much as I thought I was going to for the sake of saving your eyes from staring at a screen for hours...)
RH played another house concert...this one in the woods of Shreveport, Louisiana. The directions to get to the house were seriously, "take dirt road until it ends, turn left and take next dirt road until it ends, turn right and house is the only house at the end of the street". It was a gorgeous location for a house concert, right next to a lake. This was definitely one of those stops on the tour of getting to see what life in different regions of the country is like.
Ryan and Cameron rehearsing before the show...
The house concert folk...
Our next hi-light was in Memphis, TN where RH played at the University of Memphis, and then afterwards went out to dinner at this awesome local spot where everyone shoots toothpicks onto the ceiling through straws...so fun, although I did get a little light headed from doing it too much.
We spent about 5 days in Nashville...NASHVILLE ROCKS!! Okay, I wasn't the one to come up with that slogan, but it's true...I loved Nashville! The weather was great, neighborhoods were very communal and friendly, and the music was fantastic! This was another time of getting to spend time inside houses and seeing how people in other regions live.
I got to meet up with another college friend, Deania...her parents were also in town for the weekend.
We took Cameron to the music strip for his birthday...
Our favorite music was at Roberts...
We stayed with our friends Laura, Jason and their daughter Lily...they are friends that we've met in the college touring music scene. Laura owns her own cloth diaper business, and works at a camp every summer, needless to say, we became fast friends. :)
Who wants a weenie?!?
RH played a HUGE show at Cottey College, which is an all-women's college in Missouri. Out of a 300 person college, 200 people were there...we sold over 75 cds, a ton of shirts, etc...it was a really fun show to be at!
Another college was good to us and put us up at a Bed and Breakfast instead of a hotel...friends that we made in Shreveport even came up for the show!
We went to a NACA (National Association of Campus Activities) conference in St. Paul, MN for the Northern Plains Region. These conferences are where we book our college shows for the following semester. In the past we have gotten 10-15 shows booked per conference. At this conference, we booked 56 shows!! The response to their showcase was crazy...and it filled up our entire fall semester!
My brother-in-law was admitted back into the hospital for pancreatitis, and with my sister being 9 months pregnant, and my parents out of the country...I went home to spend time with my sister and her kids. It was a fun week of beautiful weather, playing at the park, staying up late talking with my sister, etc. I don't think I realized all the little daily things that happen when you have kids, i.e. throwing up at the park from going on the merry-go-round, a baseball pitch hitting the batter in the neck, etc. :)
Here's Emma hugging Nichole's belly...
Roger is back home recovering from a week in the hospital...everyone is anxiously awaiting the new baby's arrival!
We had 4 days off, so Ryan and I went to Maine, while Cameron went to visit his girlfriend in Chicago. Maine is one of our favorite places to go (we have a lot, but it really does rank high up there). My friend Jill's parents have a home on Round Pond that they rent out, but since they didn't have any renters for the week, they let us stay there! It felt like a real vacation for us. We played by the ocean climbing over the rocks, and then would come home and make a yummy dinner in the full-sized kitchen.
Here we are on top of a rock by the lighthouse...
A fun surprise was finding a place that sold fresh eggs! For those of you who don't know, I love buying local fresh food...so when we saw the sign, Ryan made a fast turn so that we wouldn't miss our opportunity!
The funniest thing, was the actual place where we bought the eggs...I'll show you with photos...
We got to visit Jill's parents for the afternoon...have lunch...go for a walk...it was wonderful!
Then for the best place to watch a sunset on the east coast (on a peninsula) we went to Pemaquid Beach...
Only 2 weeks of shows left, and then 4 days of travel to get home!! We're really looking forward to seeing all of our friends and family in Tucson...and so glad we got to see so many of our friends and family all over the country over the past 4 months!
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