frozen frost

merry christmas from my own slice o' paradise :)

Christmas this year is going to be spent at my grandparents' in northern Wisconsin. Of course, no trip would be complete without me taking TONS of pictures :) enjoy!

Brody's Northern he caught- that thing is almost 2' long!!

my 3-year-old cousin, Raelynn, aka Goobie :) isn't she adorable?!?!?!

Merry Christmas, everyone!! :)

i have the sweetest boyfriend =)

this is what he got me fore Christmas:*smile*

random facts about erica

1. i don't mind cleaning the bathroom. really- i don't. now, i never said it was my favorite thing to do, but i don't mind it. in fact, i really don't mind cleaning in general- when i'm in the mood to clean, anyway.
2. i don't know why my pictures aren't as good as everyone else's. maybe it's just me, but i think some of the photos that win scholarships and all those big contests are boring and almost anyone can take those shots. what about the ones that i take that no one else thinks about?
3. sometimes, when i can't sleep, i get up and take pictures. or read a book. or do some push ups or crunches to tire my body out a little.
4. i have no idea why i felt the need to share these with you- i just did. =) i hope you enjoyed my photos- i took them this week =)

snow pictures

i got some snow pictures! even if they were shot through the windows of the house... =)

oh, there's no place like HOME for the holidays...

having been home for almost a week, i am still excited to be here. eventually i'll want to go back to winona 'cause i'll be sick of my family, but i'm not there yet. =) but maybe not. i'm not sure if i will be ready to go back. partly 'cause the classes i'm taking next semester don't excite me, and partly 'cause i'm back with people i know and love- back in my comfort zone. but january is a long way away, so for now i'm just going to be happy that i'm home =)

yesterday was d and i's 10 month anniversary. WOW. 10 months!!!! it's gone by so fast, it's crazy. but then again, this year has flown by, too. we watched christmas movies last night on lifetime. turns out he loves those movies =) [ ssshhhhh- don't tell anyone- he'd be mad ;) ] i also went to the w-sr h.s. band concert last night- it was weird not being in the band, but they did a very good job. i got to say hi to some friends, promising them that i'd come bug them at school sometime next week. =) heehee- i love being done with school for the semester =)

we've had lots of snow- no pictures yet, tho. =( maybe i'll get to go out and get some pics today. hmmmmm....... =)

SNOW!

it snowed (really snowed) for the first time last night- i'm hearing reports of anywhere from 9" to 1 ft. of snow here!!!! all i know is that it is gorgeous! and that i woke up way early for no apparent reason...and made good use of it by taking pictures! =) enjoy!

someone isn't going to be happy they left their bike out...

icky. =(

this past week has been a struggle- i'm not feeling 100%- heck, i'd take feeling 65% right now, but it just isn't working. i've been really tired the last few days and can't find the energy to do what i need to. my stomach has been feeling funny too- hungry, but when i eat i feel sick. i'm trying really really hard to eat better- more fruits and less chocolate and pop- but i dunno if that's working or not. half the time i can't tell if i'm hungry or gonna throw up (haven't yet, thank goodness). i'm achy too, so i think the weather's gonna change here soon.

i just have one, little, tinsy, tiny question: CAN I FEEL BETTER ALREADY?!?!?! (pretty please with sugar on top? thanks.) that's really all i want for christmas- to feel BETTER. and not have the one step up and 5 steps back thing goin' on. seriously- it sucks! either let me feel better and keep improving, or make me feel worse and keep it that way- one or the other! i would, of course, prefer to feel better, but i hate this constant tug-of-war. just pick one already.

random thoughts/update

wow. been way too long since the last post, which was pretty depressing, so here's a happy(er-ish) one! =)i can't believe how tall brody's getting- i swear he grows 2" every time i turn around!!! i don't like it that my li'l brother is growing up! i can hardly give him piggy-back rides anymore =(

Thanksgiving was really awesome- home for 5 WHOLE DAYS!!! it was so nice to be able to spend time with both of my families- mine and D's- for more than 2 hours at a time before heading back north. we had a great time- lots of laughing, with both families. finals are next week, then we're off for "winter" break til jan. 10th =) i'm excited!!! of course, thanksgiving also means decorating for christmas, so here's on of our "favorites"- the singing, farting reindeer. (he's usually not wearing the santa hat, though)
on a down note, josh's aunt passed away sunday morning from cancer. she was only 56- the same age my grandma and cousin were when they passed from the same disease. (makes me and my family a little nervous about that age...) the funeral was today, and jordan and i went home last night for the funeral before returning to winona earlier tonight for me to take my *first* final. (it was an easy test) dustin was a pallbearer for the funeral- he's been really close to their family for awhile, and laura- the aunt- thought the world of him. i was proud of him- he shed a few tears, but did a great job.

when we got back, jordan and i found a box of 100 multi-colored mini lights in our mailbox. jordan had donated $3 to the "you light up my life" campaign that raises money for under-privileged children in return for the lights. m'lynn had given me a strand of colored rope lights that had yet to find a home, so after supper, jo and i decorated a little. =) it was really fun, and we've decided that we're going to keep the lights up all year because it makes the room seem so much more "homey". the rope lights are strung up by our beds and the mini lights are around the window.

ad.

WANTED:
TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

SEND TO:
me

you would think that if i knew about a paper 2 weeks before it was due that i would do it, BEFORE THE DAY IT'S DUE. nope, not me. like an idiot i put it off til the very last minute i could. and now i'm even further behind on a project than i was before. *frustration*

[no title]

i'm feeling a little lost. i don't have any energy or ambition to do anything, let alone be creative about it. i'm questioning if i'm at the right place for what i want to do, or if this really is what i want to do. i know i want to do photography, but photojournalism? i dunno. i don't see myself in that area anymore, but i'm making some awesome connections here, so i'm torn about what to do. i know i'm going to wait til after this year to make a decision.

i'm also struggling with figuring out who I am as a person. for some weird reason i really really want to go to colorado, dunno where or anything, i just know i want to go there.

any inspirational advice would be welcome =)

erica

ps- did i mention i wanna go home?! really missin' the fam right now. =/

logo

For my Computer Apps class, we are working in Adobe Illustrator, and our "capstone" for this unit was to design a logo for a company that existed or that we made up. I thought this would be the *perfect* opportunity to try out some ideas for my photo business that I hope to establish after college. I'll show you the one that got graded first and then the edited one (that I like better). They're basically the same, just a few changes. =) Lemme know what you think!!

well hello, there....

It seems that winter is finally starting to show his face. *sigh* I miss summer already!

Couplea weeks ago was WSU's homecoming. That was interesting, to say the least! WOW- I didn't know that beer/kegs/liquor could be used in a t-shirt design in so many ways!! Gotta hand it to the masterminds behind 'em, though, they were still pretty cool looking. (I would like to point out that the only shirt I got was for $5 and has NOTHING on it related to beer, parties, or sex! *smile* )
Last Saturday, Jordan had a choir concert, so Kelly and Joan (aka Momma Skillen and Gramma Kratchmer) came up for the day to hang out with us and see Jo perform. We had lunch at Perkins- great food, terrible service- and then went downtown and looked at a couple of the most adorable shops I've ever seen in my life! I'm kicking myself for not taking my camera!! All the more reason to re-visit them, right?! =) When we were in one of the shops I ran into one of my profs. Turns out, when she was at WSU about 10 years ago (maybe less) that shop had been a bar. Now it's a very nice little gift shop! Who knew?!

I GOT PUBLISHED!!! =D

I'm working with Kate at Winona360 on doing a series of articles on the play Sylvia, kinda like a "the road to the production" thing =) the first segment got published yesterday on the site, here's the link: http://winona360.winona.edu/winona360/article/creating-theater-part-1

This is the first time any of my photos have been published, and as you can imagine, I'm superdupertotallyouttacontrol EXCITED!!!

anyway, just thought I'd share that with y'all =)

more fall pictures

I couldn't resist...here's some more photos I took today! =)

fall, "gorgeous" style

lotsa stuff

well, I am happy to say that I was able to go home for Waverly's Homecoming this past weekend! I was so excited to be HOME!!! It was kinda weird being at the football game, seeing people I hadn't seen in almost 5 months! Apparently a lot of people missed me, 'cause it seemed like every time I turned around there was someone running at me yelling, "ERICA!!!! I MISS YOU! HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN FOREVER!!!" etc, etc. =) not that I minded- it's good to be missed =) April, a fellow trombonist and sophomore at W-SR, came running at me and literally jumped into my arms, almost knocking me over! I have missed seeing her- and a lot of people, for that matter!

I got some good time with my family and D- it's been a month since I saw my siblings or him! I was shocked/excited/sad to find that Brody is almost as tall as me! Gosh that kid is growing! (his voice is also changing- which I find hilarious) Alecia and M'Lynn haven't changed a bit, which was good to find out =) (sorry, George, but you just ain't gettin' any taller)

As for the rest of the week.....well, it's classes, classes, classes and homework, homework, homework. Next week is mid-term already- I can't believe how fast time has gone! I have been trying to take pictures as often as I can, but some days it just ain't possible. Although, I did take the tripod from home- Mom, you weren't using that, right?! =) - so now I can take some night pictures- and believe me, there's some cool possibilities! Winona is starting to look absolutely gorgeous- the leaves are turning and the days are- usually- sunny and warmer in the afternoons. Hopefully I can get some shots and post 'em on here for your viewing pleasure!

<3
erica

bittersweet

I'm writing this as the rest of mine and Dustin's families are in Omaha, NE for the largest 4-H show in the nation- AK-SAR-BEN (it's NE spelled backwards =) ). M'Lynn and Brandon are showing today, and they, along with D, competed in the fitting contest there yesterday. They are streaming live video on DVAuction.com, and I was able to watch yesterday and am watching today's show. I can't decide if this is making it harder on me cause I'm not there, or better because I can see them. (by the way- their video quality SUCKS) Either way, it's bittersweet, because although I wish I was there with them, I know that they're doing just fine without me there to help. But it doesn't make me feel any better.

I'm also struggling with a Herx reaction to the new meds I'm on for the Lyme. I knew this would happen, but I forgot how truly crappy it feels. My hands are shaking right now, and I dunno if it's from the Herx or emotions of not being in Omaha.

i've realized something....

My mom would say that i come by it naturally.
my boyfriend laughs at me for it.
but hey, at least i can admit it........

I'M A NERD!!!!

i was super excited when i got my blue laptop shell today- i was almost jumping up and down. =)

i am also a new GLEEk. watched my first ever episode last night- and i'm HOOKED. haven't seen any of the first season. christmas?!?!? ;) i dunno if i can wait that long.....

Where, exactly, does time GO?!

Fountain in the "Children's Garden"

OMG guys! it's been way too long since i posted on here! in my own defense, classes and all that homework has taken up about 99.8% of my time! the other .02% would be devoted to sleeping, eating, and getting to class! classes are going great- with the exception of history, which will probably kick my butt. all of my profs are pretty sweet and i'm excited about going to class...most days =)

we had our first home football game on saturday. what a blast! it was really fun, even though we didn't march. =( but other than that it was good- we won 58-3 against UM-Moorhead. gotta say, though, that i was disappointed in the amount of seating in the stadium- it was really small! i'm pretty sure that waverly's has more!

there is a club/organization here called winona360 ( http://www.winona360.org/winona360/ ) and i'm going to be working with them. it's kinda like an online newspaper. the best part? i get to set my own deadlines and pick what projects i work on! =) and if i don't get a story in by my deadline, ITS OK!! =) kate (the head editor/guru) is really fun to work with and very easy to talk to. she's helping me a lot! i even got a mini assignment! a local group is publishing a book called Sweet Home Winona, which is about all the cool historical buildings around town, and they need pics of certain things. kate asked me if i would shoot Somsen Hall and the End of the Trail statue here on campus!! i'm really excited about this cause i have the chance to get published!! =D i'll post some pics here.

End of the Trail Statue

Somsen Hall

i continue to meet new people, but it's challenging because of homework and classes. more to come!
~erica

welcome to college...where they don't have air conditioning!

well, i'm all moved in!! move in day was tuesday, aug 17, with orientation starting that night and going through saturday afternoon. jordan and i are doing well in the dorm- except for the fact that there's no a/c and it was really really hot outside!!! m'lynn and dustin came up on saturday to drop off some stuff that we forgot and dustin stayed the night. bev and brian came up sunday to get him and see the campus. it was a great weekend! =) then classes started yesterday, and its just been crazy ever since!! if you wanna see pictures of my room, check out my facebook- i'm too lazy to put them on here =)

i'm meeting tons of new people here- it's really exciting!

Summer, where have you gone?

well, summer is almost over!!

Fair was last week. It was....interesting. I didn't go to State with any of my photos, which is frustrating and depressing. I don't understand what it is about my photos that the judges just don't like.

On the beef side of things, Reno did.....well, Reno did what she wanted. Because that's just the way she is. She's a sweetheart at home, but don't even THINK about putting a show halter on her- she will just do whatever the heck she wants to, whether you want her to...or not.

I move in to college on tuesday....just 4 short days away....and guess what??
I'M NOT PACKED!! we're leaving for state fair today, getting back saturday night or sunday morning...yeah, i'm just a little bit of a procrastinator!!

and the madness continues

Well, it's been crazy around here...still....what else is new, right?

last tuesday, grandpa dean took my family out to eat at Z's in cedar falls. the food was delicious and we all had a wonderful time- great grandma even made it! it was so wonderful to see her out and about- i hadn't seen her in way too long.

and fun times were had by all!! =)

this last weekend, m'lynn, jordan, ashleigh, and i went up to my grandparents "cabin"- it's really their house, but it used to be their cabin...and i refuse to call it "the house", that just sounds weird. =) anyway, we left wednesday morning and came back saturday. it was a wonderful 2 days on the lake, showing our two best friends the sights of rice lake, and just relaxing! none of us wanted to leave, but sadly it had to happen. we taught jo and ash to row- g'pa and g'ma have a row boat that is seriously awesome- and jo taught me how to swim (better). i took about 420 pictures during the entire trip! i'll post some on here for your viewing pleasure =) jo and i made our way home a different way than the way up- she and her mom (kelly) were going to spend the weekend in bloomington at the mall of america, so we found a nearby park and met there. i am proud to say that we didn't get lost once- even though neither of us had driven that route before!! this is quite the accomplishment for both of us =) i then made my way home without my trusty co-pilot, but again managed to not get lost =) all in all, a beautiful weekend!!

introducing......RIKKI =)

so a few days ago, i purchased my very first dSLR at Christian Photo in DSM =) its a Nikon D90 and i named her Rikki =))))) yup, i'm a dork! (beth- you can't say anything!!) i am SOOOOOOOOO excited about this!!! i feel like i'm finally moving forward with my dream and passion! i made myself a page on facebook, if you wanna check it out- its Photography by Erica J. =)

so much going on......

wow it's been awhile (like a week) since i updated this....but it has been super CRAZY here, so i'll try and fill y'all in =D

let's see....last week started pretty good....Monday and tuesday went by...and then we hit the fun part!

wednesday and thursday i had registration at winona =) it was awesome- jordan and i got to stay in our room that we'll be living in next year and we LOVED it!! the room is right around the corner from the bathrooms and it overlooks the sand volleyball court =) i got my laptop- its the macbook pro, which i am currently writing to you on =D not that i'm excited about it or anything. i love it- its really awesome. i just have to figure some things out and quit thinking like a pc!!

when we got back from registration, i went outside and clipped reno for the show the next day....til like 10:15 pm. then we got in and i decided not to show her on friday, but that i would show her on sunday. (friday show- butler co. breeding show. sunday- butler co. open show) then i got up at 6:30ish to go to photograph the butler co. 4-h show- very cool. the kids were great and i had a blast. i also helped julie buss in the ring as ring help since the farm credit guys just stood in a corner (although i think julie might have had something to do with that). all in all we had a good time. then after the show was done and my pics were on a laptop in the office, i ran over to where m'lynn and alecia had the trailer parked to fit snoopy (m'lynn was showing him in the show i didn't). now, snoopy is 2 months old, still a bull, and an absolute sweetie. he also takes about 3 minutes to fit right now, cause he's so liddle. anyway, we got him ready to go, then took him down to the show ring. we ended up waiting awhile, but it was ok. when we got home, we unloaded the trailer, unhooked the suburban, gave snoopy a bath, then alecia and i headed over to robyn's to help brody and dad bale hay, since that's what they were doing earlier. i helped bale 2 and a half loads of small squares (out of 4) , then we unloaded 2 of them. now, one of them only had 23 bales on it, but still. dustin came down and helped unload and ended up crashing at our house cause that boy is exhausted (present tense cause he still is- silly boy). then on saturday, we got up, did chores, i went to work, then came home and did chores again. yesterday, we got up, did chores, loaded everything up, headed over the the fair and showed ellwood (alecia's hereford steer) and reno. then we packed up, headed home, and washed them. after that, we went in for about an hour, then did chores again and hung out at home for the rest of the night.

WHEW!!! and it's not gonna get much better, either. but at least we are slowing down a little bit.

that's all for now!!

Summer Beef Expo

this past weekend, my fam and i, along with bahlmanns, went down to des moines for the summer beef expo.

IT

.

.

.

WAS

.

.

.

A

.

.

.

BLAST!!!

dustin and i did most of the fitting on the calves- which is something i am SO EXCITED about!!! =) we have been working for a very, very long time to get to the point that we can do this. in the past, we've had to have mom, dad, robyn, grandpa, anybody that can hold a clippers and a can of "goop" to help us or do it for us when we were littler. now, we can do it ALL BY OURSELVES!! =D i'm so proud of us =)

bahlmanns took their camper down so we wouldn't have to stay in a hotel. it was really fun- except for the thunder storm last night. but even that wasn't bad.

one of the coolest things was that today i got to talk to the gal taking the photos. she did the pics at winter expo, too, and she was soooo nice! it gave me the idea that maybe this is something i wanna do, if the NG thing doesn't work........or maybe i don't wanna do the NG thing......i dunno. i've got plenty of time to figure it out. anyway, the photographer- diane hamilton- told me about this girl out in ohio that might be willing to let me do an internship with her (SWEEEEEEET!!!- summer internship, of course. ya know, with that little thing called college in the way the rest of the time....heeheee) AND she told me about the place that she got her nikon d90 (coughBETHPAULSENcough) in DSM- they have AWESOME customer service and they let you try as many cameras as you want!!!! i'm definitely gonna check it out! =)

hope you all have a great week!

erica

ps- pics to come!! promise!

wisdom teeth =/

sooooooooooo i'm getting my wisdom teeth removed tomorrow...at about this time, actually...and i'm wondering if any of you have had this oh so joyous experience and have any advice to share?

thoughts

well the grad party is over (FINALLY). not that i wasn't looking forward to it, just happy to have one less thing to stress over! now i just gotta get on those thank-yous. ;) thanks to all who came to the party- it was a blast! =D

i think i'm having a herx reaction (feel worse) which i think is a good thing. i think, if i remember right, it means that the antibiotics are working. i just know for sure that it doesn't matter if i get 8 hours of sleep or 2- i'm exhausted all the time. so we'll see.

i gradeeated =D

well 2 days ago, i crossed the stage- and m'lynn went right behind me- in the W-SR gym and received my high school diploma!!! =D it's so exciting, being done. kind of bittersweet, though too because of all the people i'm leaving behind. the thing that keeps me going is knowing that jordan and i will be roomies next year and knowing i'll see dustin (and josh) almost every weekend. =) i'm gonna miss working with janette, beth b, beth p, ryan, stacey...all the librarians. the good news is i don't leave for, like, 13 weeks =)

here goes nothin'

well, i have no idea what this will be about, or if i'll even write on it- i'm a facebooker at heart- but we'll see what happens!