Letters to Claudia

A new theme -- one that will hopefully get me to update more often. These are directed, but they aren't really meant to be private. Anyone (Claudia included) should feel free to comment below, if they feel like it.

Dear Claudia,

I tried to write a letter like this a week ago, and my browser crashed, and I took it as a sign at the time, but I'm going to give it one more go.

Do you remember that evening that we drove to Bandera, after a long, carsick day of geodashing? I keep remembering it as I drive through the hill country, which happens a bit more often now than it usually does. Do you remember that one hill we topped just before sunset, and how the earth rolled out in every direction around us, lower hills as far as we could see? As I remember it, the light was beautiful and golden as we drove west, and the hills went on forever, and we both gasped in unison and had this one perfect moment. Do you remember it this way?

I went to Kerrville this past weekend, with a car full of photos, most of them matted, some framed, to a little art show at my grandparents' church. It went pretty well -- I got lots of great feedback and some helpful advice, and I made $75 on print sales, which is, well, better than a kick in the pants. Does this make me a professional, do you think?

Saturday was this gorgeous day, warm and sunny with the bluest sky. I went to a little park at lunchtime, behind an old church that's been converted into a museum or something. As I drove up, I saw three deer standing out in the field. I had my camera, but I didn't bring my long lens, so I didn't get any good pictures, but I had fun sneaking around them trying to get closer, until finally I scared them off. After the show, on my way home, I stopped at this little nature preserve and tromped through the woods to get to the river. In the woods, I saw two jackrabbits, and I wished you could've seen them.

The weather started to cool off for a while, though it's warming up again this week. It's perfect hiking weather. I need to find myself a hiking buddy while you're away; I went to Wild Basin after work one day a few weeks ago and read all the notices about why you shouldn't hike alone because mountain lions might get you. And really, I figured mountain lions were the least of my worries, but I hiked alone anyway.

Which is all to say that it's been quiet around here lately -- I've been talking to the kitties and my camera mostly. The babies miss you, of course. The problem with only having one person in the house is that I only have two hands, and two hands are not enough. Catherine is supposed to spend the night here tomorrow night, so hopefully, she can help me catch them up on the petting. The house is sort of a mess... I hope she'll forgive me.

Hugs,
Rachel