...basically the hipster's dream...

Aaaaand after a long journey back to Oregon to see family (and lots of pit stops for mountain biking and general outdoor shenanigans) I'm on my new adventure.

"Abigail, please tell us your new adventure! We're waiting with bated breathe!"

Aw guys you make me blush

And guess where I just re-located to!  

If you don't recognize the structure in the photo...I can only assume you've lived under a rock far away from the Pacific Northwest.

SO here I am!  Hopefully starting my coffee shop job soon to get me through the winter.  

I know...

Coffee shop job...

In Seattle...

How much flannel do you own, Abigail?

And just so you guys are aware...the glasses are prescription. No fakes.

So bam.

I'm in the land of Grey's Anatomy.

Of the gum wall (ew)

Pike's Market

The land of eternal rain except when the sun shines and then confusions runs through the streets like the bulls in Madrid. Not exaggerating. It's fo realz. 

It's a new chapter in adulting.

Sometimes I get scared and overwhelmed by all those nitty gritty things like changing insurance to Washington state...

or the fears of how this small town girl is going to manage in the big city...

what if I hate it?

or worse...

What if I really like it?

I don't know...there are a lot of unknowns in life and we can't hold still until everything is set and organized.  Otherwise we won't live.  

There you have it.   My little update is complete as I snoop around this new place...definitely not holding still!

Memorial Day

While you all are out grilling, playing volleyball, camping, fishing, spending time with family... 

I sicerely hope you pause and realize what this day is for. Not for socializing, kicking off summer, or even just waving a flag.

Today is about remembering the amount of lives sacrificed over the last few hundred years so that you can be a free American. 

Today is also not just about one war. Too many focus on the losses from Iraq and Afganistan and forget that many generations before us have felt the blow of foreign wars and the toll it extracted from the families of those who perished.  

Think of the men who died simply for having the idea of a free country ruled by the people.  Men like Nathan Hale who were hung for speaking out about liberty and the rights of the people so long ago.

Men who pledged their "lives, [their] fortunes, and [thier] sacred honor" 

This is a day to reflect and be impacted by what so many sacrificed for you and for me. 

Things to Be Thankful For

Season started in Arizona and I'm on week 3.  Lots of training, exhaustion, frustration, and pain in these weeks as we get ready to go, go, GO all summer.  When things get really rough in life it's easy to wallow and be bummed out and lose the pumped up attitude. When performances aren't what we'd hoped or the direction you're going might need to change, or you learn a new limitation you have...well...it's the pits.  ​

When you know that quitting is the worst failure but you just can't imagine going on...how do you get your mind set to persevere? How do you keep from whining? How do you put one bloody and bruised foot in front of the other?​

Here's what I do. 

I think over the joys in my life. What am I thankful for? What have I got to look forward to? ​

My List

1. My Jesus and His Mercy to me. Without Him I'm literally just dust blowing in the wind.

2. My Mom and Dad who pep talk me when I call home. After all it's their fault I'm as stubborn as I am! 

3. The skin that is still on my feet after a massive PT hike. {So that's what feet without skin look like}

4. Essential oils for healing and soothing my sore bod. Natural healing at its best.

5. My body that can heal from the beating it takes at work. {I won't limp forever right?}

6. Getting to stand up in my bestfriend's  wedding. The sweetest human alive got married. 

7. A sweet housemate who is sharing her ultra feminine home with me for a few month. With pretty doilies on the table!

8.  A wonderful library just down the road. #booksfordays

7. A solid church with a night service so I can attend. Hallelujah!

8. Shania Twain who sings me to work and back. { "That Don't Impress Me Much" anybody?!}

9. he joy of being artsy and learning hand lettering. Oh it's fun to create pretty words!

10. My electric blanket. 'Nuff said.

What is on your list? What reminds you to not wallow and whine?

I Have Returned

Thank you for being patient while I was gone on my trip.  1592 photos later, I'm home.

Want to know where I went? Ok I'll tell you.  I was backpacking and traveling unplugged in the UK.

Want to know what traveling unplugged is? Ok I'll tell you.  

It's simply traveling without having to be the center of attention. It's traveling sans social media.  Instead of thinking "this would make a great instagram photo/facebook profile" you have the freedom to savor, relish, ponder, reflect, experience, and truly BE where you are.  YOU chose the adventure and YOU should be able to experience it without accolades and validation from anyone else.  

When I traveled in Israel last year, I did not go unplugged.  My phone was always in my hand and WiFi hotspots were like gold.  Not to say my trip wasn't amazing, it was.  But there was something so exposing about NOT having phone in hand.  

In the UK mine was in my pack unless I needed my google map app or an Uber from the airport.  Instead of a selfie in Trafalgar's Square, I ate my sandwich in the sun and listened to the musicians playing, watched the school children in their uniforms on a field trip, and soaked up the history in the ancient stones I was sitting on.  No one had to know I was doing it for it to be worth something.  

I know this might make some people uncomfortable, I was too at first, but let me encourage you to try it.  For me, it made my trip mine.  It gave me the freedom to have experiences without stopping to post/update/tweet or check who liked my photo.  In the words of Frozen...Let it go.

For safety purposes I did let my parents know when I was at my lodging most nights.  They also had a rough outline of what town I'd be in/traveling to in case there was an emergency.   Other than that I maintained internet silence.

Now obviously I'm a blogger {shocker I know} and travel is a large part of why I started this blog, to show that it doesn't take a Lonely Planet expert to have an amazing travel experience.  By showing you my blunders and successes hopefully y'all will be encouraged to try it yourselves.  

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Alrighty, well as I said...there are 1592 photos waiting to be organized and a lot of posts to be written...stay tuned.  For me...bring on the coffee...

Meet My Ranch Family

We're an odd bunch but I love them dearly!

{He's a hoot...he's my bro...he's awesome}

{This is his lovely wife who is the best thing to happen to the Ranch since...well...Dad married Mom}

The newest Rancher.  He belongs to my Bro and his wife but I lay claim to him too.  Can a face get more precious?!}

{Sweet Mom.  Dad's best decision 30 years ago}

{Dad...the man who has had the same style since he graduated high school...the most steady person I know}

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{PS TIP}

If you have family you are close to...be thankful and do not let those relationships fall into disrepair.  Don't sweat the small stuff and be gracious about the big stuff.  Respect each others boundaries and care for each others needs.  Once those relationships are gone, it's near impossible to get them back.  

Don't be lazy about your loved ones!

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My family has had some of the BEST times around fires.  Bonfires, campfires, fires in our stove...we are a bit of a family of pyros...also considering two of us are wildland firefighters I suppose it's inevitable.  

I've never really been one for New Years Resolutions but this year I'd like to set some goals to reach.  Life is busy and all over the place for me spending my winter on the ranch and traveling then summers fighting fire in the Western US...it's easy to drop things along the way or think I don't have time in the whirl of my life to send a postcard.  

BUT one of my goals for 2015

Put my family and close friends first.  Don't cop out and think "they understand I'm busy".  Make a real effort to make them my priority. 

What are your New Years Resolutions?  Share them in the comments :)