I am an artist, by Ellie.

I wonder how to draw a horse
I hear my family talking
I see art
I want to draw a horse
I am an artist

I feel my crayons
I touch my crayons and paint
I worry about my picture going in the trash
I cry when it does
I am an artist

I understand my Aunt when she talks about art
I say, “Pretty!” when I see art
I dream I can draw a horse
I hope I can draw a horse
I am an artist

(Ellie is ten years old.)

» #photography #iphoneography
#art #love #crayons #paint #horses #poetry #poem #childhood

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Home, at last, where my heart is safely kept.

Late Tuesday afternoon, our trip of over 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) finally came to an end. Hurray!

After their first day of school, Grandma took the kiddos shopping so they could be surprised upon their return home. They were well and truly delighted!

Poor little Juli, my youngest, buried her face in my neck and cried. It was heartbreakingly precious.

I’ve been holding all three, hugging them, and telling them I love them almost non-stop.

After a long drive, a blowout, good and bad customer service, too much beef jerky, and a broken foot—Ellie broke a metatarsal on the way home 😦 — it is good to be back.

I am rescued.

» #photography #iphoneography
#moving #muskegon #michigan #home #done #reunited #love

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Flagging at Black River Falls.

We were all set to drive. And I have nothing witty or even relevant for this photo. Except that I hope there’s a good tailwind. Like, one that’s stronger than the one pushing this flag.

» #photography #iphoneography
#moving #minnesota #flag #wind #cutout #colorsplash

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You Are Here.

Not any more!

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#moving #minnesota #minneapolis #map #restarea

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Under fair skies atop fresh tires.

Outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with lovely skies dotted with puffy clouds.

Good driving weather, great tires!

I’m taking a nap, naturally. Good job, Jen!

» #photography #iphoneography
#moving #minnesota #skyporn #blue

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New tirez & fresh oil @ Sears. Auto spa day!

The crew at the Sears Auto Center in Alexandria, North Dakota, were super-nice, competent (they pointed out a bushing that needs replacing), and efficient, replacing two tires and rotating the old ones in record time.

Labor Day is, apparently, a great time to fix a flat!

Not that I would recommend it. Really.

» #photography #iphoneography
#moving #northdakota #alexandria #sears #auto #repair

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McDonald’s vs. Culver’s.

Went out for a tasty Culver’s malt last Sunday night, in ND. I desired a bit more comfort food after a tough weekend and a blowout… But despite the lights being on, cars ahead of me in the drive-thru lane, & customers inside—I was turned away at the speaker.

“Sorry. We’re closed.”

Seriously? Like, just now?

“We closed five minutes ago.”

As much as I wanted the salted caramel pumpkin malt, I was happy to let McDonald’s help.

Previously, in Bismarck, I went to grab a meal after checking into our room. Everything was closed… but I saw cars in the McDonald’s drive-thru. They actually *were* closed, could not take credit cards, & could only sell a few items—they sold me two meals anyhow.

My family ran a business for decades & this I learned: a customer with cash in hand is worth more than a well-heeded schedule.

Thanks, Ronald!

» #photography #iphoneography
#moving #northdakota #McDonalds #culvers #latenight

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Comfort Food Ambience.

After a rough day on the road this last Sunday, suffering a blowout on the highway in North Dakota on our trek to Michigan from Washington state, I was in need of comfort.

Great Hunan Chinese to the rescue!

For the record, I have no idea what these glyphs represent. It could say, “Eggs roll better than foolish drivers with old tires.” But I hope not.

» #photography #iphoneography
#moving #northdakota #chinese #lantern #light

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Flattened.

So, we had a blowout. Jen was driving and handled it beautifully, coasting to the roadside onto the grass shoulder just past some barrels and orange cones.

We emptied the trunk as quickly as possible and I manhandled the tire change to our spare donut tire as fast as I could while she kept an eye out for errant holiday drivers.

A friendly trooper stopped and provided some extra coverage for us while we hastily crammed everything back into the trunk. Then we spent the next hour literally driving in circles because we thought we should go back to Fargo while I tried calling repair shops after 5 PM on the Sunday eve before Labor Day.

No dice. So, we turned around and headed to Alexandria to bunk for the night. I knew, at the very least, Costco would be open.

Sadly, this delayed us by a day.

» #photography #iphoneography
#moving #northdakota #fargo #flat #blowout #roadside #tire

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Do-Re-Mi-Fargo.

100 miles to go till Fargo!

I’ve always wanted to visit Fargo, after watching the movie and TV series of the same name. Unfortunately, we saw neither Mr. Nygaard nor Mr. Lundegaard. And there was no snow.

» #photography #iphoneography
#moving #northdakota #fargo #trees #restarea

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