hey hey halloween!

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Paul, Brookelle (one of my lovely roommates) and I carved pumpkins last night! It was something I’d been looking forward to since the beginning of fall. When I sat down to carve, I drew a blank and carved the first thing to come to mind…

Happy End-of-October! I am spending more hours in studio than I would like, but I’ve just got to hang on another eight days…!!!
Love to you—
j

**SPECIAL DAY ALERT (PART II)**

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I HAVE BEEN KEEPING AS BUSY AS POSSIBLE LATELY. Feeling the crunch big time. But good news should never go unnoticed, and this past weekend there was good news to be had.
As if my older sister and her husband Matt welcoming Baby Scout to the family last month wasn’t enough excitement for one year (I still can’t get over how darn cute he is and I haven’t even seen him in real life yet) more happy news came along. My younger sister Heidi and her boyfriend Paul became engaged on Saturday! Wow. I had known about the engagement for about a month but had to keep it a close secret. Heidi was surprised when Paul rolled unannounced into Fargo from Minneapolis, showed up at her house and popped the question. I can breathe in relief that I don’t have to keep the secret from her any longer!
In addition to being my sister, Heidi is one of my best friends. I am so happy she found someone that will treat her the way she deserves. Paul is a special guy and I am happy to see him become part of my family!
• • • • •
If bad news comes in threes, I am hoping that good news does as well. In which case…more good things are on their way!
Congratulations. I love you two.

xo
j

for shiloh.

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I’VE POSTED MANY PHOTOS OF SHILOH in the past, but he is the most accessible subject to me and I just love his demeanor. He is always waiting by the door when I come home, nearby when I need something to talk to, and ready to crawl into bed when I do. I always look forward to walks and talks and companionship in general. He is always happy and he makes me feel happy, too. 
Thanks Shiloh. You’re not mine, but I’m sure glad you’re around! (PS. Unless you read…you’ll never read this.)
xo
j

at buffalo river

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Yesterday Paul, Shiloh and I visited Buffalo River State Park, just north of Moorhead. It was a little windy, but such a relief to walk for miles without seeing a car, building, or any sight other than nature. A great way to decompress after another week of school.

• • • • •
xo
j

the whole love

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Today I bought Wilco’s newest album, The Whole Love

Wilco always takes me back to early college days, long drives, summer afternoons and evenings, windows down just…living.
This album is no exception, except it is now — and it is going to remind me of these days, right before the college chapter closes and I begin again…
• • • • •
Also, I saw this guy today. Made me smile.


xo
j
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I am in love with these fall days — dreaming of the perpetual state of autumn.
01 :: Cute building spotted during late afternoon stroll, Moorhead
02 :: Side of our garage (my studio!) + fall colors
03 :: Spent all afternoon working on Project BFA, namely 3D type I’m preparing

Enjoy these days, they are so very numbered —
xo
j

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I took this photo while sitting in the park this afternoon. Stress is setting in a little and I’m trying to decompress and enjoy the fall.

Tomorrow I have my 30-day evaluation with my project committee. I’m hoping they have positive things to say about what I’ve done so far, but I’m preparing for a reality check. I haven’t been working and focusing nearly as much as I should, and I need to seriously buckle down for the next month and make greatness.

Fingers crossed I can make it work!

quite the distance

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When I see this picture — taken today — I feel as though I can look straight past 15 years and see myself at eight years old again. I can imagine what I’d be wearing and how greasy my hair was and how my voice sounded. I remember what I looked forward to then — recess and running around the neighborhood, building forts and reading Goosebumps books. I remember who I looked up to then: my family, my older sister, my second grade teacher, my next door neighbor. 
Yet it is so hard to believe that I am the same person. I was eating dinner at home last night and had this strange moment where I wondered, “How did I get to this moment?” Trying to backtrack through each year and decision that lead me to last night, eating my spaghetti at a house in Moorhead while typing a paper. I remembered at eight years old I never bought my own groceries, paid my bills or had a real agenda past school getting out at 2:45, now I have all these amendments and appendages to my life. I guess it was just a moment of awareness, a realization that while I feel stuck in these past few years, I’ve actually come quite the distance.
But isn’t this the common thread of each day? To look back at those days before it?