I'm not going to lie, owning my own business and working a lot from home is really hard. The 'owning a business' part is of course a challenge, but the thing that gets me the most is having a lot of time in my head. The weather hasn't helped. I'm not complaining, it's a lot warmer then it should be this early in March, but it's not Summer time either. I thrive on sun.
I recently went to Moab with a good friend of mine who is also self employed. We figured we would take advantage of that and go on a little trip right in the middle of the week since we can! Moab was amazing. I have been many times before, but it has never been like this. I don't know if my eyes are a lot more open since I last went, but for some reason I saw so much more. The views everywhere are unreal. We went on the perfect days too, right before spring break started, and on the warmest days before the rain clouds came. We hiked in only tank tops and shorts, we got some crazy tan lines. We hiked over 25 miles in the 2 days we were there. It's literally all we did. We would wake up early, eat, then go hike, hike, hike! Only stopping to eat on the trail or stare at the fantastic views. I think I could live like that forever.
Arches National Park- Delicate Arch (Thats me in the center of it)
The trails in Moab are the best too! It's so much different then your typical mountain trail hike. The trails in Moab are not trails, they are just climbing rock after rock. If it weren't for the cairns (the little piles of rocks to mark trails) you would be completely lost and end up who knows where. We climbed so high you literally feel on top of the world. The birds flying around were even below or at the same level as us. The entire time hiking you could look in any direction and just be in awe. I feel like in the mountains that is not as easy, lots of large trees and hills in your way. Another huge difference that I noticed was the silence. If you just stood and listened you would literally hear nothing. No sound of cars, no birds (except the occasional Raven's caw) not even any wind rustling through leaves.
Arches National Park
Somehow, even in such silence, my mind was able to stay quiet. Even at times when my mind wasn't completely quiet it was still calm. I think in that environment it is impossible to have a negative thought. I felt as though if I were to feel any more positivity I would start floating up into the air and fly, all I was missing was pixie dust. Ha.
Canyonlands National Park- Murphy's Overlook (My favorite place on the planet!)
I always thought the desert was ugly, even after being in Moab many times in the past. I thought forests and mountains were my thing. They aren't. For the first time ever I will admit, I am a desert child..the beach is right up there with it, though.
Canyonlands National Park- Murphy's Overlook
Canyonlands National Park- Island in the Sky
Canyolands National Park- Mesa Arch
Canyonlands National Park
(NONE of these photos do the views justice!)
I need to hike more. Weather it be in the desert, forest, snow, whatever, it's the best feeling. It would be so easy for me to take my dog and just go hiking every single morning, however, I am scared to death of going alone. Too many things can happen, you just never know. In fact, a good friend of mine fell off a cliff and died while hiking up in Provo Canyon by himself. The anniversary of his death was yesterday. It has been 4 years.
Crazy.
Since coming home from Moab I have actually had an idea in my head for a new painting. If I ever get around to painting what is in my head I will show you.
Speaking of painting, I miss it. I used to paint a lot when I had my own space to do so. A space where I won't be interrupted and can make a mess without having to clean it up right away and not be judged for it. I have always been the kind of artist who, for some reason, likes working on the floor. I had an easel and would never use it. Even sitting at a desk won't work. I like the floor. It's the only place that I have enough space to sprawl out and be surrounded by my paint and brushes. I like to be close to my work, lose myself in it. Living in little apartments it has been very difficult to do that. I have tried, but for some reason not having my own little area completely throws off my groove. Especially in my apartment now with a big dog begging for my attention 24/7.
Burt is always asking me to paint. He knows it's something I love to do and I think it bothers him that I am not doing what I love and have loved my entire life. But good news! I will soon have my own space. Burt and I are in the process of looking for a home. I am unbelievably excited! Already the process of looking for a home has been so much better then the last! Last time I was in the market for a house I didn't have much say in what I wanted. I ended up buying the third home I looked at and didn't even love it. Burt and I have similar taste when it comes to house style. (mine may be a bit more particular, but he is ok with that.) We have already been looking at many homes online and talk about houses with each other, and of course, watch HGTV too much. We will be going out and looking at homes as soon as this weekend or early next week. I am excited for Burt and I to have our own spaces to create, him with his music and me with my art. I can't wait! I have been getting so much inspiration I know that as soon as I have a space to unleash it I am going to explode.
Look at that, I always start a post with absolutely nothing to write about and somehow I always end up with way too long of a blog post. I'm sure I could still go on and on but I won't. I'll save the rest for next time, which hopefully will be soon. No promises.
Oh! ..I finally have a logo for my photography business. I am so happy about it! I told the artist creating it that I need a photography logo and I love happiness and sunshine..she did an excellent job combining the two. It couldn't be any more 'me'.
There it is! A shutter as a sun.
Genius.
(Here is a little video I made from our trip!)
RIP- Porter Fisher
This is one of the last photos ever taken of Porter..if not the very last. I took this picture with my old point and shoot digital camera at Kilby Court. This just shows how important a picture can be to someone. He had this photo set as his profile picture on Facebook and still to this day everyone reposts this photo of him. He was so excited about it when I sent it to him. I'm so glad I was able to capture something so special for him to enjoy and now his family and friends to remember him by.
<3
