Meadow on the Ledge: oh, the joys of being home

It is so great being home and finally relaxed, as I can finally do the things I cannot do while I am at school. It is also fantastic being back in the states because everything in comparison to Europe is so cheap. I walked to the UCI center today with my little brother and sister to have lunch. To my surprise, I bought 3 lunches for us for under $8.00. Frankly, it is so sad that I was in such shock. For the price of 3 lunches here in the states, I could not even but myself one sandwich in Europe.

There is so much that I have on my to-do list and currently doing list of things this summer that I will try to accomplish before I make my way over to Walla Walla on the 26th of August.

1. I am basically reorganizing my life. That basically entails cleaning out my boxes, giving away old things, throwing away trash and papers I don't actually need but I thought I did, packing boxes of things going to Whitman, and things of that sort.

2. Make Kubb.

3. Paint, paint, and paint some more. I don't know the proper way of painting, but I love it. I just started to paint about two years ago, and somehow my family inherited more brushes and paints than we could ever possibly dream of. My brother also got an easel for Christmas. How convenient. I love making art, but I am just always way too busy at Whitman (or at least I make excuses) and I don't have the right materials there, so hopefully before the month is up I will be able to produce a few pieces. With my new pictures from my trip to Sweden, I have fantastic landscape pictures that I would love to paint. Currently, I am working on a piece that is a view of Sweden from the Research Station in Skogsby, Sweden.

4. Read, read, and read some more.

5. Scrapbook. I am behind. I have graduation, Australia, and now pictures from Sweden to scrapbook. It takes quite a long time. May I repeat? A LONG TIME.

6. Teach swim lessons. This is my only source of income this summer, and I am desperately in need for a job and the money. From Sweden, I am basically broke because I spent all my money on hostels and food.

7. Clean the house. Cleaning is always so satisfying. It is also therapeutic for me.

8. Run.

9. Hang out with my siblings as much as possible before I am off.

10. Eat shaved ice. I have been craving it for about a year now. Asian shaved ice is one of the best inventions ever made. It is shaved ice, drizzled with condensed milk and topped with any kind of topping you like. I like red bean, and lots of fruit.

While I was cleaning things out of the house and looking at books to give away, I came across some old family photos. Crystal, I don't mean to copy your blog, but I would love to share them. I couldn't resist.

This was us then...