(Taken from the blog SAIPUA, because every post should have a pretty picture with it, right?)

In trying to keep true to my goal to blog once a week I am going to share some of what I do to waste my time. Life has been particularly challenging lately, and I am ashamed to say that when this happens I very rarely gird up my loins and get to work, but rather I day dream and escape, and the internet has provided several great ways to do so.

For the record, I had wanted to post pictures of my wonderfully lovely wedding (that most of you who read this blog attended), but since I can't get the photos laid out just so I will postpone, but hopefully not for another 6 months.

So instead may I share with you some of the lovely blogs that I so often stick my nose into;

I enjoy the writing style and sincerity of Nat the Fat Rat, not sure I have the courage or talent to be so honest in what I write in a public space.

I love the beautiful photos one can enjoy on Pencil Box.

Since my wedding I have found myself really paying more attention to an old passion of mine, floral design. I've let it go by the wayside as I have focused more on landscape design, but hope for more opportunities to be creative in this way in the future. There are currently three blogs that I enjoy because of their talents in this department; An Apple a Day, SAIPUA, and Honey of a Thousand Flowers.

For my crafty side I like to keep up with Garment House, The Purl Bee and Quiet Hare. All mostly knitting, which is something I continue to enjoy more and more.

I know these things can be trivial. I have really been contemplating the place and value of blogs - I used to want to have a big fancy blog where I would share how clever, crafty or creative I am. Strangers would read it and people would want to pay me money to keep it up. But now I feel rather content to let others do so and use this little space of mine to just say hi to the world and share a little glimpse of what I am thinking about, doing, or striving for. Regardless, I do believe that if you are going to use the time and energy it takes to blog it should be used to promote good feelings. I think these few blogs I have shared do so, and I hope my little jot on my blog today will do the same!

One Day Like This

I'm blogging. I plan to do more - but for now I would like to share what is for now my theme song. I loved this video, watching how someone doing what could be a very mundane job turned it into something fun - and even entertaining for those around them. Listening to the words of the song only brings more meaning.

"throw those curtains wide! One day like this a year'd see me right."

Inspired

Matt and I have been inspired watching documentaries on our public television channel about the civil rights movement. Last night we learned about the struggle after the march on Washington.

I am inspired by the blog 2 or 3 Things I know

I often think about how South Africa inspired me. That struggle is still not completely resolved, even 20 years later.

I am inspired by the people that are protesting and demanding democracy in their countries now. It takes faith doesn't it.

Still Dreaming...

Utah State Fair 9.10

We didn't ride any rides

We were sure to not pet any animals

Best ice cream I've ever had

PS - I have some really great ice cream in my day, this slow churned stuff was awesome. So awesome it may constitute a trip to the fair next year, and I'm not sharing this year.

Let's go back shall we. To days that were warmer.

Bluff, Ut. Memorial Day Weekend 2010

While in Bluff there are few necessary things to do:

Eat

Hang out in the kitchen

Have a fire in the cauldron

Visit around the dinning room table

Do some porch sitting

Enjoy the beautiful scenery

Say hi to The Hole in the Rock

And just enjoy road trip'n it with your Man whilst listening to some good tunes.

PS - there is a little bit more that goes into visiting Bluff. One big part of going to Bluff would be to say hi to Caroline and Audrey. They are our friends, Matt helped to build them a house.

[Self portrait on the Tea Cups]

Today I am 30 years old. I was telling my sister yesterday how I have been thinking of her 30th birthday. We were in Paris together - I was a few months shy of 21. 30 seemed so far away and I thought it would look so different then it does for me. Katie, my sister, was a Mom of 3 at the time and living with her recently MBA husband in Stockholm Sweden. That's what I thought 30 would look like, then, but this is now so let's take a look at what 30 looks like for me.

At 30 I Have:

1.Been Enamored, Infatuated, and then finally Devotedly in Love

2.Realized a passion when young, pursued it to a college degree, now business

3.Devoted to a gospel of good news through reflection, pondering & faith

4.Had babies fall asleep in my arms = magic

5.Come to use the name of Hadfield as a bragging right

6.Seen beauty in the world through travel - a badge of honor

7.Been betrayed and heartbroken - and survived

8.Been broke, felt rich, then broke again

9.Sat at a table at a cafe in a strange city alone

10.Said good byes to dearly departed

11.Realized talents I have, and talent I would like to have

12.Decided my favorite color is gray

13.Come to appreciate more the sacrifices of my parents

14.Become a farmer's market groupie - if there were such a thing

15.Accepted that I don't like to make decisions

16.Realized creative thoughts come out of the blue - trick is to catch them

17.Lived alone in complete independence - another badge of honor

18.Been fired, hired and have retired from several vocations

19.Had stitches 3 times

20.Experienced a deep reverence and peace in nature

21.Navigated myself on trains, planes and automobiles

22.Done hard things - and realize I'm all the better for it

23.Come to know that my best friends are my sisters - I'm SO lucky

24.Found inspiration and guidance in the words of prophets

25.Come to see art and creativity is all around us

26.Still not let go of my desire to "have it all together, all the time"

27.Went to a college dance dressed as a super hero 1

28.Made several attempts to "re-invent myself", working on just being myself

29.Come to see cleverness and tenacity as talents rather then traits

30.Grown in gratitude for the oh so MANY blessings bestowed upon me

I am truly loved.

Footnotes

1.The dance was not during Halloween, and no one else was dressed up - my two good friends dressed up with me - but chickened out of going into the dance. I was a lone ranger.

This is being posted even though I feel it is not yet complete - but it has been waiting in the posts list for WAY too long. Enjoy and look forward to more to come (someday)!

Red-Rover, The Hadfield Clan has some Sunday play at the park.

In July the Hadfield crew ventured to New Port CA for some fun in the sun. Pretty much it is a guarantee that where this crew goes - fun is sure to follow. Ty and KT being the only family not residing in the state of Utah (living in New Port with their most adorable little boys) needed a little crazy in their lives. So we all (that would be all 26 of us) showed up on their doorstep!

After attending church to be part of Andrew's baby blessing we enjoyed a laid back Sunday.

Monday was our day at the beach - and even though temperatures were a little cooler then the Utah heat we were all happy to cool off a little in the cold water and flex our creative muscles with some sand sculptures.

Beach Faces

Daddy

Don't you just want to nibble on this face?!