My Ode to Otoño

I think I have decided that Autumn is my favorite season. I love the freshly fallen snow, the warmth of summertime, and the flowers of springtime, but I don't think anything compares to the brilliance of fall. Keats calls it

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun

I call it pure splendor! The trees are ablaze with color that sweeps over the mountains. My feet are warm in my brown leather boots, my scarf hangs stylishly over my sweater, and the crisp cold air blows leaves off the trees in a swirling dance around my body. Romantic isn't it? I think so. Another great thing about fall is that it always brings my family down for a visit. Going to see the leaves up Provo canyon has come to be an annual occurrence. We usually stop at Bridal Veil falls on our way up to the Alpine loop.

Me, Tammy, Grace, and Kevin

It was the perfect day to see the leaves. I cannot think of anything more lovely than spending time with my family in the beauty of Provo Canyon.

We stumbled upon this spectacular aspen grove. If I were a tree I think I would be an Aspen. They are white, tall, and skinny (like me!) and when the wind blows through the branches the leaves rustle as if the tree is singing. I also just love the yellow brightness of their leaves. 

If seeing the leaves was not joy enough, we paired it with Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Shakes and Burgers from Sammy's and a phone call from my best friend informing me that she is finally engaged to the most amazing fellow. 

CONGRATULATIONS MEGAN AND ANDREW! 

Autumn has brought me endless joy with its falling leaves of reds, yellows, and oranges. Thank you for coming, even though you came later than I expected. I know you cannot stay long because Jack Frost is already planning his morning runs, but maybe it is your brief stay that makes me cherish you so much. Please come again next year!

The start of a beautiful relationship

I'm currently in a relationship.

I haven't been in too many romantic relationships recently, but this new relationship will hopefully stick around for a long time.

RELATIONSHIP #1 = My Body! I've been enjoying a lot of "me" time lately, especially in London, where I developed an awesome relationship with myself. I'm learning a lot about me - the way I think, the way I feel, the dreams I want to accomplish, etc.

One of the biggest things I've found in my relationship with myself, is confidence! Especially confidence in my own beauty. Before I headed to London, I was not too happy with the "freshman fifteen" that had somehow come a year late. I came back from London about 7lbs lighter and feeling awesome! How was I going to keep this weight off and also continue keeping myself healthy?

EXHIBIT A - WEIGHT WATCHERS

My Mom has been doing Weight Watchers (I am so proud of her) and I knew if I joined we could be an awesome support group for each other. I know what you are thinking..."Jenny, you DON'T need to go on a DIET!" True...but it is not so much of a diet as a way of life. I'm realizing what I eat every day and learning to make healthier choices. Not to mention...I've now officially lost all of that unwanted Sophomore 15 and I did it by eating everything I love.

I had a pair of Jean shorts that were so tight at the beginning of this summer. I mean REALLY TIGHT! I had to unbutton them every time I sat down because they were uncomfortable.
I tried them on the other day, and now they are a bit too big! (Yes, I did a little dance down the hall of my apartment in my new perfect fitting shorts!)
So I am developing an awesome relationship with my body!
RELATIONSHIP #2 - My Food
I've started really enjoying cooking and finding new recipes. As sad as it may sound, cooking is my getaway from the craziness of homework and working. My coworker asked me the other day if I had any fun plans for the evening...I responded with "I am going to cook Lemon Herb Halibut and maybe make some zucchini cookies!" So I've started a new relationship with my food and discovered that I am becoming a pretty decent cook!
EXHIBIT A: My Success

 

My Next Achievements:

Three Berry Scones and Butternut Squash Soup

RELATIONSHIP #3 - Me and My Hair

It was time for a change. I decided to pull a "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and chop most of my hair off! I'm starting a brand new relationship with my hair as I discover how to style it in its new length. Mostly I just switch from curly short hair to straight short hair, but I feel like the sky's the limit now.

EXHIBIT A

Rite of Passage

There is a certain rite of passage that every true BYU student must go through before they graduate. 

HIKING THE Y!!!!

The Y has always been a beacon for me, telling me that I am in fact almost at my destination of Provo. I love to play "Spy the Y" in the winter time because the white Y hides spectacularly in the white snow. But, I had never actually hiked to the thing.The fact that I am a third year student here at BYU and I have not hiked the Y appalls most people. Well, you can all rest in peace now because I finally hiked to that stunning white beacon on the mountainside. 

The hike is not too strenuous, but it is more difficult than I had expected. It is basically just one switch back after another, but accompanied by a beautiful view of Utah Lake and the Oquirrh Mountains. 

I hiked it with my FHE family at Sunset. The lake was absolutely glistening in the glow of the setting Sun. Once at the Y, you have the option of hiking to the bottom of the Y or the top part of the Y. I went to the bottom and hiked right up the middle of the Y, so I could boast that I truly hiked the whole Y.

Up close, the rocks smothered in white paint that make the Y look like melted marshmallows. Similar to when you make rice krispe treats and the marshmallows have not completely melted yet.

They say that if you lay upside down on the Y it feels as if you are falling off the Earth. I had to try it. I must admit that I was a bit scared of lying upside down on this huge slope, so I asked my roommate to hold my ankles. As I leaned back, I saw the sky and the stars and then the city lights. I was upside down on a mountain and it did feel a bit like falling off the Earth.



This is me falling off the earth!



The FHE FAM!
 

Instant Relief

I started thinking the other day about all the things in my life that provide me Instant Relief.

I decided to make a list of them and this is what I came up with:

1. Letting my hair down after wearing it in a high ponytail all day long

2. That first moment when your head touches your pillow

3. Finding a bathroom when you are in DIRE need

4. Putting ice or cold water on a burn

5. A hug (long and tight)

6. Massages and back scratches

7. Drinking water when dehydrated 

8. Sinking into a hot bath

9. Pushing "print" on that final draft

10. Seeing "words" at the Testing Center (acing a test)

11. Crossing off that final thing on the To-Do list

12. A quiet moment after a hectic day

13. A "O mio babbino caro" type melody at just the right moment

There are probably so many more items I could list, but I guess this is a start. I never gave these moments of blissful sighing  much thought before, but I'm glad they happen. 

10 Years ago today...

Ten years ago today, I was in the car with my mother heading to my weekly morning piano lesson. We were listening to the radio, when an announcer came on saying that a plane had hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Being an innocent girl in fifth grade, my immediate response was that this must have been some terrible mistake.

I remember saying something like, "Oh my gosh. That is terrible. I wonder if the plane was somehow flying too low and the pilot didn't see the tower until it was too late. Those towers are the tallest buildings in the world, i'm surprised nothing has flown into them before."

I don't believe I heard more until after my piano lesson...maybe my piano teacher ended up canceling or letting me off early because of the event. I don't actually remember. I just remember when I heard another plane had hit the other tower, I felt that disgusting pit in my stomach. I realized this was not an  accident. 

I felt stunned and confused. Every fiber of my body wanted this terrible act to be an accident. In my world, people were genuinely good. How could I have guessed that there were people out there who Wanted to kill all of these innocent people on purpose.

When I arrived at class, the televisions were on and they stayed on for the entire morning. This was unheard of. Those screens only ever turned on for announcements or educational movies. One of the kids pointed to the screen and said, "the tower is falling!" We all watched in complete silence, not understanding exactly what we were watching. I don't think my innocent heart and mind could completely grasp the reality of this event. It just couldn't be real.

We tried to go on with our day like any other day, but the truth is, it was not any other day. This was a day we would never forget.

It's been ten years since 9/11. Sometimes I wonder how different life would be had that day never happened. Thousands of lives would have been spared, maybe I would be able to carry liquids on planes and say goodbye at the gate instead of the security line, would we be fighting a war in Afghanistan and Iraq? I don't know. I can't live my life wondering "what if."

What I do know is that this day of terror did not destroy my belief in people. In fact, watching the fire fighters and volunteers sacrificing their own lives for the lives of others instilled a renewal in the good of people's hearts. This country banded together. I was, and still am, proud to be an American. I am grateful for those who sacrifice every day to preserve the freedoms of this country.

Cheers My London Love

Where does the time go? I swear it was just yesterday that I was flying into this beautiful city completely unaware of the adventure ahead of me. However, with all these riots going on, I'm a bit relieved to be heading out pretty soon. For my final hurrah post, I've decided to make a little list about the things I am going to miss about Britain and a list about what I'm excited for when I return to America.

Oh Britain, I will miss your...

• Public Parks full of people enjoying the sunny day
• Accents
• Fun playgrounds that don't have liability worries
• Free museums
• Student Discounts everywhere
• Mind the Gap reminders
• Tube rides
• Duvettes
• No sales tax
• Digestive/Hob nobs biscuts
• The Homeless men selling "The Big Issue" and not begging
• Bueno Bars and other delcious sweets
• Abundance of Indian and other foreign foods
• Markets
• Cathedrals and random ruins in the wheatfields
• Poppy fields
• Public pathways that cross through cow pastures
• Sheep!
• Having a Broadway musical opportunity any night of the week
• Clotted Cream and Lemon Curd
• Elderflower drinks
• Tradition
• Fish and Chips
• Rompers
• Incredibly tame dogs
• Delicious Yogurt
• Muelslie
• Crazy hats and headbands

Dear America, I am so excited for your...

• Abundance of trash cans
• drinking fountains
• Public restrooms that don't cost money
• Stores open after 5:00pm
• Wider variety of products
• Better customer service
• Cheaper everything!
• Eggs
• Real mexican food
• Driving a car
• Good tasting tap water and no weird looks when you order a glass of tap water in the resturants
• Less smoky atmosphere
• Toliets that flush completely
• French Toast
• Being loud
• Lemonade that isn't sprite

Transportation construction in the middle of the night and not the middle of the day


Thanks for joining me on my journey through Britain. I hope you at least enjoyed looking at the pictures. I am so excited to return to the States on Thursday just in time for my brother's wedding on Saturday. Nothing like a wedding to welcome you back home. I believe London will always have a special place in my heart. Hopefully, I'll find myself back in this city one day. Maybe I can take someone I love to tour these special places and London can become part of their heart as well. To all the Ladies and Gents out there - Cheers!
LAST BRITISH PHRASE - "Gobsmacked" = an expression of surprise

A most Congenial Spot for Happily-Ever-Aftering...

We just returned from our week long tour down south. For those of you who caught my reference in my title already understand that one of the main themes of the week was King Arthur. I've been singing "Camelot" all week long. Our first stop...BATH

Jumping picture with one of the professor's daughters

We began by walking around the Royal Crescent, this rounded row of Georgian houses. We played Frisbee on the lawn and then a group of us relaxed and read Pride and Prejudice out loud. Jane Austen lived in Bath for a while, but she didn't really like the city that much. I on the other hand, quite loved it.

We like big buns and we cannot lie

As we walked around the town, we found ourselves in one of Bath's oldest houses - Sally Lunn's Bun house. Basically the short story is that Sally Lunn, a young French refugee, arrived in England in 1680  and began to bake a rich round and generous bread now known as the Sally Lunn Bun. This bun became a popular delicacy in Georgian England and has become world famous. Of course, we had to get one. I ate mine with a bit of Lemon Curd...YUM!

Then we were off to the Roman Baths. The Romans actually settled in Britain before the Saxons. These Roman baths were social as well as spiritual places. This specific bath connects to a spring that was thought to have healing powers. There's lots of history and information on this bath, but I'll spare you the details for now.

So the water hasn't been touched in a very long time, so that is why it looks so grossly green. However, I kind of find the color beautiful in some ways. This picture is for my sister Tammy. She showed me a picture of her at the baths and I chuckled because she was pulling a "model" pose. I decided I had to do one as well...here is my best Roman bathing pose.

One of the things Bath was known for was its supposedly healing mineral water. People would flock to Bath for the social scene and the chance to heal from illness. Sadly, the mineral water probably made them more sick to be honest. This belief in the water began with some Duke who noticed that the pigs with skin disease would roll in the muddy spring water and miraculously heal. He decided to try it himself, was cured, and decided to start the city of Bath. Oh the things people used to believe!

Our second stop was Glastonbury, where we toured the abbey that claims to have found the bodies of King Arthur and Guinevere. After this, we headed to the beautiful coastal town of Tintagel. We walked a 6 mile hike along the beautiful cliffs of Tintagel. It was breathtaking to say the very least. The salty air felt so welcome on my skin. I felt like Kierra Knightly in Pride and Prejudice, out on the cliff feeling the wind in my hair.

There is an old ruinous castle on one of these cliffs that people like to believe King Arthur could have lived in. The Arthurian legend does not have much historical evidence to it, but I don't know if that matters much. I believe it is the ideals of Arthur and his chivalrous knights that people cling to. I think people always need a hero like Arthur to believe in - he brings hope for peace.

Hanging off the cliff while walking around the castle ruins

Our next big adventure took us to STONEHENGE! Because we are a school tour, we were able to go before Stonehenge opens and walk right up to the rocks. This isn't allowed normally, so we felt pretty lucky. Stonehenge is mysterious to me - what were they trying to do with all these rocks? How did they transport them 150 miles? How is it that they've stayed preserved like this so long? I may never know.

After Stonehenge, we headed to the beautiful man made Stourhead gardens. These gardens are famous for the Apollo Temple, which they filmed the Proposal scene from the Kierra Knightly Pride and Prejudice in. Of course, we whipped out our copy of the book and read that scene out loud and envisioning the whole thing. The Gardens were truly lovely.

The Proposal Scene

After our trip to the Gardens, we caught a ferry to the ISLE OF WIGHT. Alfred Lord Tennyson, the poet, spent much of his time on this island. He would climb the downs, the grassy topped chalky cliffs overlooking the ocean, for pleasure and inspiration. These downs are now named Tennyson Downs and they are magnificent. Their chalky appearance sets them apart from the coastal cliffs of Tintagel.

We read a bit of Tennyson's poem about Ulysses and the Lotus Eaters. I kind of feel like Ulysses, journeying and stopping at beautiful islands and grand adventures. But, like Ulysses, I am beginning to realize my need to return home. This dream-like life that I have been living here in England has been my relaxation from reality. I've loved it. It is my lotus-eating experience, but dreams always lead to waking up. Reality and the real world waits for me to return with my new knowledge. My home and family are calling to me from across the ocean. I think i'm reading to finally go home.

Our last stop for this tour was Victoria and Albert's Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight. Of all the houses and castles i've seen over these last 8 weeks, if I had to choose one to live in, it would be this one. I think it is because it feels more homey in a lot of ways. It was a place for Victoria and Albert to spend time with their children away from the royal scene of London. I love the Victorian lovey-doveyness and ornate details. Sadly, I was not allowed to take pictures of the beautiful interior of the house. I go weak for a good romance and Victoria and Albert's is one of the best. The way I imagine their marriage is exactly how I hope my own marriage will be one day. They loved and adored each other so much. Here are two quotes from Victoria's journal that gives you a little peak into their relationship:

"It was with some emotion that I beheld Albert who is Beautiful"

"My dearest Albert put on my stockings for me. I went in and saw him shave; a great delight for me."

Please watch "The Young Victoria" if you get a chance...you'll go weak at the knees!

BRITISH PHRASE OF THE POST - "Dodgy" = shifty