{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

awesome.

This Tuesday evening, on a whim, Chris and I (and a couple of our coworkers) did THIS...

It's called a powered parachute... the verb would be 'powered parachuting', I think. Anyway, this amazing contraption is just a parachute with a motor and wheels, sort of like a go kart... but it flies!

And I'm not sure if there is anything in this world that is more fun or scary or awesome or thrilling or heart pounding or adrenaline rushing or crazy or breathtaking or blog worthy as soaring high in the sky on a flying go kart.



This particular PPC ran on a five-gallon tank and the air speed was around 28 MPH. We were told that altitudes as high as 18,000+ feet can be reached on one of these things, but typical operating heights are between 500 and 1,500 feet.

We reached 1,020 feet on my ride.

It was a.w.e.s.o.m.e.- that's the only way I (and the other three people who rode that night) can describe it. In fact, I loved it so much that I rode twice. But only have the pictures to prove I rode once, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Pilot B-man!



Alright, please do not be frightened by what you are about to see.

It is quite the sight... 

It's scary.

It's me.

Up close and personal.

Really high up in the air.

And reallllllly really really excited.

Ugh. This is not the greatest of looks, I know...

I wish I had a more flattering picture of myself to show you. One in which I don't look like a bloated, squinty, cheese-cake faced and balding crazy person. But my enthusiasm says it all- giddy, teary eyed and wind blown.

This, my friends, is what it looks like to be high on life (no pun intended) while snuggly strapped in the back seat of a flying go kart, flown by a man named Bernie, 1,020 feet above the ground.

Anyway, I'm glad I could illustrate this vibrant powered-parachuting glory so accurately for everyone- you're welcome.

You should try it sometime. Definitely.

It took us 45 seconds to spiral drop from that point and land safely on the ground. I was dazed and amazed, and then, it was Chris' turn to fly...

Our star

Fact: Our 'ye olde farmhouse' was quite incomplete without the lovely adornment of this perfectly weathered antique star I ambitiously bartered for last Friday in Kittanning, PA. 





Best $35 I've ever spent.

And gosh, I feel much better now.

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Like the butterfly

A beautiful, delicate creature that flutters into our lives for a colorful, fleeting moment, leaving this world too soon.

But we should not cry for the butterfly.

For while her life is short, it is also vastly sweet- saturating our world with undying joy, enchantment and grace.

Trust in and remember this always.

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Blooms among gloom

Despite the recent sad and disappointing news involving the Penn State scandal, it's still a place I enjoy visiting. Mostly because it's a place Chris truly loves- a place he once called home.

But within the past few years I've found my very own reasons to love it, too.

Case in point: The Arboretum at Penn State.

Last weekend, Chris and I attended the Young Farmers & Ranchers picnic at the Agricultural Research Center near the university with his cousin, Andy. And while the picnic offered great food, good company and some new information, my solo stroll through these gardens was the highlight of this particular trip to State College.

I was in a sweet, prismatic botanical heaven...