Category: photo

  • from the archive…


    Park pose, 1990, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    This photo, taken 17 years ago on a day like today–sunny clear and spring-ish. Me and my about-to-be missionary man in a park near the home where he was renting a room.

    Could we see then, who we are now? No way! Did we even think after two years of separation (during John’s mission to Japan) that we would even end up together? We hoped so, but at that time that was much too far away to anticipate.

    This picture brings back much of that longing I felt when we were first dating–the hoping that John and I were meant to be together, the brightness of the possibilities that lay ahead for us, and the desperate affection I held for him. Even then the world seemed to spin around us while we were safe in each other’s arms. As if time was stopping for us, as the rest of the world moved on.

  • mari-golds and reds


    mari-golds and reds, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    I am just thrilled by what happens when I use the macro setting on my camera. Aren’t the petite curled petals on this marigold just lovely?

  • leaves


    peach leaves, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

  • berry good


    berry good, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    Had a few friends over this weekend and one brought a plate of chocolate covered strawberries. Yum!

  • lights for peace


    lights for peace, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

  • seeds


    Eating some leftover risotto for lunch–made of my favorite rice blend that has small radish seeds mixed in. Such a perfectly satisfying crunch each time I eat a mouthful!

    Thinking about the seeds sprouting in my garden and on my back porch right now. And of my newest nephew who was born this morning at 3:59am, just 18 minutes after his parents arrived at the hospital.

    I’m amazed by seeds. By their potential to grow into sunflowers and babies and tomatillos. As Thoreau wrote, “Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”

  • John and Jana (in bed)


    A quick snapshot of us, sitting in bed and working on our laptops. :)

  • vintage


    Harvard-bound, 1990
    Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    John and I in the doorway to my Hobbiton dorm room, circa Winter 1990.

  • short and stout


    short and stout
    Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.


  • John in white jeans



    This was one of the candid pictures from our engagement photo shoot.
    What makes this photo even more interesting is that John is wearing my white jeans (because he didn’t have his own pair)

  • because the bulbs, they are sprouting :)


    sprouting bulbs
    Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

  • Six things I learned from going to the beach on Christmas


    gameboy at sunset
    Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    1) Going to the beach on Christmas is not a novel idea. Big Corona Beach was more crowded than in the height of the summer. With LOTS of tourists. Bleh.
    2) Heading down PCH a ways to Crystal Cove State Park is a much better choice. Plus they don’t have a ranger charging $10/car on Christmas Day. Cool.
    3) The downside of CCSP: the 1/2 mile hike, mostly downhill, through nature to get to the beach. I was on crutches because my new prosthesis isn’t yet completed. Yah. So 1/2 mile (each way) on the armpits is pretty raw (though it’s a fine way of working off the Christmas calories)…
    4) The water is just was just as cold/warm on Christmas as it was in mid-summer. Lovely. Just lovely.
    5) Hiking back to the car just as the sun was dropping out of sight on the horizon. The native desert-y plants all around us exuding the most lovely scent–like cinnamon and vanilla and lemon. Wow. Unlike anything I’ve smelled before.
    6) We’ve got to do this again next year. And the next. And the next.

    Click on the photo above to see more pics from our beach day.