To Capture the Moment

 Photo taken by Laurel Powell

I love the moments in-between shots. The ones that happen naturally, unposed and vulnerable. Our true selves not prepared for the lens. I find myself releasing my shutter constantly while I shoot, just to capture those moments. I don't look for them, mostly I concentrate on getting a great shot, but by taking two or three pictures on either side of the intended I find these moments when I go back and look. These moments grab my heart, these moments tell the story.

California Knows Coffee

Am and I met Laurel in Santa Monica one afternoon. We ate a late lunch at the library, found some fun things at the thrift store (including a chevron striped dress that I love), and ducked into a little bakery for some hot chocolate when the spontaneous rain found us.

 Beth and I got up early one morning for breakfast here. Isn't that little cream elephant to die for? 

This is how I love Bethany the most--we both kinda rolled out of bed that morning. She is AMAZING and it was so refreshing to talk with her. Just like my favorite mornings on Wilson Street.

 French toast, granola, strawberries--does life get any better?? Oh yeah, coffee.

J.C. Beans in Dana Point with my soontobe brother and sisters. They spoiled me all weekend with their time and birthday presents. We laughed and talked for a few hours here before going to pick up some great dinner down the street.  

Thanks friends!!

Things I Love About

Texas.

1. My fiance lives in Texas.
2. It rains and gets foggy in Texas.
3. My bed.
4. The sky, the sky is absolutely bigger and more blue.
5. Our house is full of warmth, Christmas and family.
6. Gas is under 3.00 a gallon in Texas.
7. The air is clean.
8. I can dress however I want and not get funny looks.
9. There is space enough to garden there.
10.

Miss you guys.

11. Texas doesn't know a thing about traffic. 

Christmas Smells Sweet

This rainy afternoon I went and baked Christmas cookies with a friend. She lives in one of those amazing homes with crown molding, old hardwood floors, a cozy sage-green clad kitchen--home to two baby bunnies and a pup named Taquito-- and fantastic windows. We baked shortbread and coffee cookies, decorated sugar cookies and munched on cheese, crackers, prosciutto and raspberries.

It was lovely to talk with the girls and not have to make mocha backups or Caramel Macchiatos. To have an intelligent conversation without stopping for a costumer or a coffee timer. I made these cookies and they turned out great! I changed the recipe a little at the end, and dipped them in dark chocolate.

Coffee Bean Cookies

ingredients:

2 tsp instant coffee (please use Starbucks VIA)

2 tbsp milk

3/4 cups butter, softened

1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

process:

1. Combine the coffee crystals and milk. Stir until the coffee crystals are dissolved; set aside.

2. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, vanilla, and milk-coffee mixture. Beat until mixture is combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in four with the mixer.

3. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

4. Shape dough into 1 -inch balls. Shape each ball into an oval. Press the thin edge of a wooden spoon into the top of each so they resemble coffee beans. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

5. Bake at 350 for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned.

Their bunnies names are Asterisk and Ampersand, how lovely is that?

Happy December!

James is apart of a decorating project at work, and was sent home with this little bread man to decorate. With his limited amount of time and love for sleep, I was more keen to tackle the assignment.

Look!

I love him.

Rhythm

I recently took some family portraits here, and just bursting to show you. But all in good time. 

We've definitely got a rhythm going here. Finally, it's been so long in anticipation. As a result of me working as hard as I can at Starbucks I've earned the right to a set schedule. Working from 4am to 10am means I have the afternoons open to wedding plan, visit with friends, and work on the ever growing To-Do list. Sometimes I feel like that thing has a life of it's own. James and I work the same schedule at night and often carpool to work in New Braunfels. Just the twenty minute car ride each way makes up for the days when I can't see him at all. As soon as I get home at night I crawl in bed to get some sleep before my alarm goes off at 3:10. 

Okay... 3:25. 

Rhythm is a good word. The house I live in operates on one. It's hard to say schedule, because there is not a schedule. However the morning has it's pace, the dishwasher gets unloaded in the morning and runs at night, it's quiet here at some point every afternoon about 2:00. The laundry comes and goes as do the crowd of people each Saturday night after Zach comes over to wash the floor. I get up early knowing I'll be back to take a nap in the afternoon. 

It's getting cold again, the rhythm I like best.  

Hurrahing in Harvest

 Caleb's smile pumpkin, isn't he perfect?

Thomas and Beth in their matching soccer shirts. They rock.

Something was funny...

My owl pumpkin! With lots of help from James. 

There has been a lot of fall around here lately-- these pictures are from a few weeks ago. This week we had a fresh box of produce delivered from a group of local farmers. It was full of butternut squash, apples, grapefruit, pears, basil, lettuce and everything was delicious. The trees are nothing like Maryland this time of year, but there are some turning and spreading color on the ground. It's rainy today and as I sit inside working on all things wedding it feels cozy and I am blessed not to have to work until later today.

I'm soaking up the fall while it lasts. My dad reported that it is already snowing at our home in Northern California, and Starbucks has definitely proclaimed it is now the Christmas season. We are in full swing today for Thanksgiving, beginning the preparations to have a huge family day here. Beth is teaching me how to have a houseful of people over always. My intro courses, Cleaning Everything In One Afternoon 101 and Boiling Noodles For 15, I've mastered and now we're moving onto the important things.

Delicious Turkey Dinner for Twenty.

Future

I received an information packet today from  Emerson College in Boston. Master of Arts in Publishing and Writing. I mean, just check out these classes...

My desire to go is immense.

Celebrate Wilson!

Wilson, how old are you?

Choo choo!! I attended Wilson's 2 years old birthday party Friday. Megan did a fantastic job with the train theme! (With colorful pennant banners, yes!) There were train sets out for the kids, 'smores to roast over the firepit, and unending conversations among friends. For dinner she made some of the best soup and chili I have ever tasted, complete with grilled cheese and pb&j for the kids. It was perfect to celebrate with them and so many friends in our community. Wilson and family recently moved to San Antonio and it already feels like they have lived here always. This last picture is one I love--Ms. Jodi is a beautiful part of our family and it was so lovely to see her there.

It was a joy to celebrate such a sweet boy.

Happy Birthday Wilson!

An Update of Sorts

Wilson and Z. Caleb on a beautiful fall day at the park in San Antonio.

This morning I'm sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking out of the pot of coffee Thomas made (I told him I only wanted one cup, I guess the rest is for him) with the cool grey light from the cool fall day coming in through the window behind me. I got up this morning to be on time to work at 4am, only to arrive and realize I wasn't actually scheduled to work today.

But who isn't happy when they get to go back home, get cozy in bed, and start the day over?

The effort to balance my life between two jobs, planning a wedding, an application to gradschool, and involvement in my current community (not to mention those I've previously invested in) has proved quite a challenge as of late. I work in the early mornings and evenings and all day on the weekends--this leaves most of my afternoons free. I think my only saving grace is that James has about the same schedule as well. We've started carpooling to work.

Lots of parties around here lately. Pumpkin carving parties, birthday parties, hang-out-and-play-dominoes parties, community parties. I feel like I've settled into here a little more in the last week. Looking around last night as our whole church community was gathered together I felt incredibly thankful for everyone I was with, and the life they bring.

Beth, Levi, Alina, Sarah, Wilson and Megan. Yaay special friends!

Scenes From the Weekend

My mom and sister came to visit this last weekend. It was absolutely so fantastic. We spent our time relaxing with friends and enjoying the most beautiful places in San Antonio and surrounding cities. Tea gardens, church, family dinners, pumpkin carving, lunch in the sunshine, wedding dress shopping, a stroll through the park. Above are some of the spontaneous pictures we took-- my sister has an art for it. Lunch with my mom at Mad Hatters Tea and Coffee before she left was also lovely in every way. It was a complete blessing to spend so much time with them and my fiance.

We're Looking for Ceremony Venues...

James grew up going to this park. His mom used to whistle for them from their back door to come to dinner. He has a lot of great memories here. I have a few sweet ones as well.

Thanks Anwen! (Big smile)

Katie and Noah

My forever friends, I love you. 

Storyhill

Storyhill--two guys with their guitars and harmonica, singing some of the most beautiful words I've ever heard put together. This folk duo captured my complete attention from the moment we walked in. James and I were invited with some friends to go see these guys at a house concert Sunday night in New Braunfels, it was more than fantastic. Simple moments of inspiration in their lives birthed songs that will stick with me for a long time. Their voices are perfect together and emotion runs through each piece. As it was a house show we had a potluck dinner and listened to their 20 song set in the host's living room. 

Live music is like leaping off an enormous rock and plunging into the cold water of a mountain lake.

www.storyhill.com

One of Ten

James (my fiance), Anwen, Rachel, Courtney (the newest), Ian, Ethan (also Billy, also littlest, also tallest) and Kate.


I'm having one of those heart aching moments where, probably I've stayed up too late, and most likely, I need to make some phone calls. But still, I miss my family.

My family is about to triple in size.

 I grew up with one sister. I still, after about two years of knowing them, marvel at the family dynamic of these eight amazing people. The Pierce family is made up of wonderfully unique individuals, all talented and incredible in their own ways. They are also all a little bit like each other. They have funny words and sayings. They all know when to come in and which part to sing when any given one begins a song from a musical. All whisper hilarious things during sermons and graduations. They all show outward happy-excitedness in the same way.

They have all become so dear to me. I literally cried the first time I met them for fear I wouldn't have the chance to get to know them. Since they have welcomed me into their dynamic with open arms. It's hard to wait to see them again. 

A Homemade Life

Working at the Library comes with some unofficial, yet fantastic, perks. The nonfictions section, as per the usual, has me mesmerized and every once and a while a great title or cover catches my eye. Currently I'm reading A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg; and I usually don't recommend books until I've finished them, but this one couldn't wait.

Molly's book developed out of her blog, and the passion for cooking she learned from her father. She recounts delightful memories that will have you giggling and connect you with the recipes she shares--she'll become your friend, and her stories inspire an intimate connection.

"For one thing, [my mother's] quite petite; barely over five feet tall. "Five feet and three-quarter inches," actually, is what she would tell you. When someone hugs her, she almost disappears, swallowed up in arms and fabric. Like those impossibly tiny lamps and teacups you find in dollhouses, she inspires a lot of cooing, and though she's very assertive, people often want to pat her on the head. Luckily, she has a special trick for times like these, when a little height would come in handy: she can trot around in a pair of high heels as though the were bedroom slippers. Legend has it that she wore them straight through her pregnancy with me, with nary swollen ankle to be seen. She may be eligible for the senior discount at the movie theater, but she's very much a fox. She also, incidentally, makes a fine pound cake, and between you and me, that's the clincher." 

A Homemade Life is the kind of book I carry around with me wherever I go. It is an I-don't-want-to-put-it-downer, chocked full of fun stories and moments tied together with food and family. Keep in mind I haven't finished it yet, but already I want to go to the market and pick up a bag of flour, and some eggs.

Molly's blog, where she still writes and posts recipes is orangette.blogspot.com.

All the Kids

 Vegetables. From left celery, carrots, peas, corn, and zucchini.

 Just look natural Zach.

This is from a few weeks ago, Zach and James came over to hang out around dinner time. The thing about Thomas and Beth's house, is you feel completely at home after just a few times hanging out. These guys got to stay up and watch a show and even though it was probably Diego or Arthur, they plopped down on the couch just the same. You bet I did as well.

Out My Window

The sun set as an enormous cloud, swirling and churning like waves in the ocean hovered above our neighborhood. Soon we heard the wind that was pushing the clouds around above us, and rain began to hit the windows sideways. The sky erupted with cracking and grumbling--for hours it continued to roar.