Weekend Reading

This weekend I finished two books that I highly recommend.

The first was a nonfiction story of Hmong culture in Merced, California colliding with the culture of western medicine. The story centers around a little girl with epilepsy and how cultural difference between east and west influence her life story. "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Faridan.

The second, now a movie that I want to see with Emma Stone starring, is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. Started it Saturday, did not stop reading until I was done with it on Sunday. Wonderful read.

House currently smells like vegetable stock which is cooking on the stove, and blueberry muffins which I baked this morning. My back is killing me, not because I have been working too hard, but because I have been reading in bed for nearly 24 hours straight. I feel like my muscles atrophied over that course of time.

Fall is definitely my favorite time of year because I start to settle in to my house to be cozy and warm. And its football season. Who knew I would be the one excited about football season. Wow how we change and grow throughout our lives!

Dan and I went to Yachats in November to visit our family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Usually the Oregon coast is dismal in the winter, but this particular trip it was unbelievably gorgeous. We lucked out big time.
That feeling hit me again today when I realized that I have been going a mile a minute since Monday. I thrive on stress. If I have 12 gazillion things to do and 3 days to do it, I will get it done. If I have two things to do (i.e., dishes and laundry) and a whole entire day to do them, I guarantee you that I will definitely be adding them to the list of things to do "first thing" the next day.
Some day I will learn to even out these two dichotomies and find a balance like other 30 year olds have already mastered. Instead of dishes and laundry, today I embroidered a Yoshitomo Nara painting in a blackwork embroidery style on muslin. I'll post a picture once I have it framed. G'Nite all

First Craft Project!!

Dan, Spoon, and Blanket
Originally uploaded by sierra.hovdey

This is my first completed crafty project of 2010. I think I may have started it sometime in 2008. It felt really good to finish something crafty. Hopefully this is just the beginning of an unending streak of creative productivity. Time will tell. This photo was taken while Dan and I powered through the entire season of The Sons of Anarchy Season 1. I recommend it, it's good stuff, very Sopranos-ish except with Bikers. Yay.

Bowling Night

Bowling
Originally uploaded by sierra.hovdey

Bowling at Emerald Lanes with friends. I bowled an 87!! Believe it or not, that is actually good for me. My bowling name was Slow Pin. Fitting....

Christmas Day

Christmas Day
Originally uploaded by sierra.hovdey

Well, it was a doozy, we had family visits all day long, and friends in the evening. I have to admit, I am glad the holidays are nearly through, though it is always an adjustment once the traffic dies down again....

I--Da--Ho

Yep, we went to Idaho. To Nampa, just outside of Boise to be exact. We watched the Duck/Broncos game there. With a bunch of Idaho fans. Brutal. But we're related to them, so we're still friends. Here's a shot from before the game:

After the game:

After Nampa, we ventured a bit further up north to McCall, which is definitely in the top 5 of most beautiful small towns in the Northwest. Also in that list would be Lorane and Sisters in Oregon, Whitefish in Montana (Dan's suggestion), and La Connor in Washington.

Em Cat Burrito