32 Hours Later...

and I finally made it home! My time in New Zealand visiting friends and family was exactly what I needed! I photographed my sister's wedding and then didn't pick up the camera again. It was lovely to get away from photography for awhile - it helps recharge your batteries and explore different things so you can come back more creative. Instead I walked a lot (they got some hills there!), went on a search for the perfect custard square (finally found one the Sunday before I came home) and spent time learning how to meditate at a buddhist monastery (was difficult to slow my brain, but I really enjoyed it). It's amazing how fast three weeks can pass - maybe next time I can swing an extra week or two! So now I'm moving slow and still adjusting to this time schedule and weather - did I mention it's summer in NZ...

See You in January

Tomorrow I leave to spend Christmas Eve with my family and then I'm off for 3 weeks to New Zealand. I was an exchange student to NZ 20 years ago and will be spending my time catching up with family and friends. I get back at the god awful time of 12:05 am at Logan Airport on January 17th. Best way to reach me will be by email at jennie@jsjursen.com - I can't promise a quick reply, just that I'll try. So see you in Jan - hopefully with a nice summer glow!

Sanna Makes an Appearance

I am an Auntie again. Last night Sanna (more recently known as Cletus the Fetus) was born! She was 6lbs 11oz with dark hair. I won't get to meet her until Christmas eve and then I'm sure she'll be smothered with family. I can only imagine what her older sister Dorrie is thinking!

My First Habitat Build

and I didn't build a dang thing. I moved and moved and moved lots of split wood. Apparently they cut down 7-8 trees on the property about a week or so ago. Today was about splitting and stacking wood - about 6 hours worth to be exact (and there's still more to go!). The funny thing is, as I was driving up to the property I was thinking that I've been spending a lot of time in my head lately and this would be a perfect way to get outside myself. Well the thing is with all the chain saws and motorized splitter going you have nothing do to but get into a groove and be in your head - I guess I needed to learn a little more. I have a friend who has been cutting and stacking a lot of wood lately - I definitely have a new appreciation for what it does for him - it's an active form of meditation. I also have to say I have to give props to my work mate Chuck - he's 77 and walking around on a bad knee. He limped more and more as the day went on - I couldn't even think about stopping as long as he was still going! He was an inspiration!

Let Snow!

I'm so excited it's going to snow today. Today is my birthday and I never have snow for my birthday. All growing up I would hope and hope for snow. It is December. My family would tease me and hint at possibly having seen a flake or two. At best I would get a dusting. To add insult to injury my sister Katie with her March birthday almost always seemed to have snow. Well today we are forecasted to get a real snow storm and it's my birthday - only had to wait 36 years!

In Honor of My Birthday

a little funny..

You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you're down there.
- George Burns

Fifes, Drums and a Bagpipe or Two

This past weekend I went to the Candlelight, excuse me - Torchlight Parade in Old Saybrook. When I was a kid we went to this parade almost every year. It's always the weekend before or after my birthday (and sometimes the day of) and we would bring our lanterns and watch the parade go by. At most it was a 20 minute affair of fife and drum corps having some holiday fun. It is no longer the same parade. This year it was an hour long - I kept looking for the end - couldn't believe it was this long. They now have floats and fire engines, a bagpipe or two, girl scouts and boy scouts - even a few elks. Not the parade of old. A good parade but I guess I was feeling a little nostalgic. The thing I missed the most was the lanterns. Hardly anyone in the crowd had their lanterns - that was part of the magic of the old parade. Will I go again next year - probably - and hopefully I'll remember to bring my camera!