Happy Friday!

It seems that while I was out, fall crept in.  In fact, I’m slightly suspicious that it may have followed me home.  Hot humid days have given way to crisp fall mornings and the bluest of skies… and folks, that is just fine with me.

The only odd thing about fall in Frederick is that our county fair, which to me (have I mentioned I was once a fair and rodeo queen? that might be a story for another day) will always be synonymous with the hot summer sun, doesn’t take place until now.

But the more I think about it… caramel apples, apple dumplings, fried things on sticks… all of those things are totally appropriate for fall.  And the fair is always fun, no matter when you go.  Which if you’re us is multiple times (what? you don’t spend the whole week there?).

I hope you’re enjoying the crisp fall air and feeling the spirit as much as I am… it’s just about time to start firing up the apple cider and pulling out the pumpkins!  Not to mention the fact that it’s just about time for my wedding (!!).

Here are a few things I’m loving this week…

This DIY couple’s Maine wedding and engagements.

The audience — who booed.

Five fresh (and yummy looking) fall salads.

Chelsea and Tec’s anniversary film.

Plums in wine and honey.

Jose, with a hasselblad, in Malaysia.

One last dose of summer.

Boxes and baskets — fall feels like a time for getting things organized.

The Rich History of Wedgeport

While in Nova Scotia, we learned all about the rich history of Wedgeport, a now-sleepy fishing village that, once upon a time, hosted celebrities, trail-blazing fishermen (and women) and as many as twenty-eight different countries during its annual International Tuna Cup.  The match was held from 1937 to 1976, and put Wedgeport on the map.

Though it no longer stakes claim to the title of sport tuna fishing capitol of the world, Wedgeport is still quite the little mecca, and continues to attract Anglers from across North America to its Tuna Tournament & Festival each year.  If you’re just dying to hear more (I know you are) you can read all about it at the museum’s website, and even take a virtual tour.

This is it for my Nova Scotia ramblings, I promise, but if you ever get a chance, go… I mean it.  In case it wasn’t obvious, Wedgeport kind of stole my heart.

Letters from New Scotland

Upon landing in Nova Scotia, my first thought was that it looked, and felt, like home.

The province is reminiscent of the place I grew up, with its rolling hills, evergreens, and quaint coastal towns, but that’s not the whole story.

Nova Scotia is a place that makes a person want to stay.

We were on our way to an adventure of unknown proportions, fishing 20 miles off the coast of Wedgeport for bluefin the size of bears.  I was ready for the challenge… but let’s be real, I knew absolutely nothing.

Once I was introduced to the chair, the thick twine, the reels as big as my head, well… it was a little scary.  My stomach started to churn, and it wasn’t long before I started to hope for a slow day… just to save me from the embarrassment of the desperate, soul-sucking failure I knew I was about to endure.

But all of that fear was gone as soon as I felt the exhilaration and accomplishment of reeling in an animal so huge.  Mark still can’t stop laughing at the grin I couldn’t wipe from my face.

The stuff is crazy fun.

… and the fun didn’t stop with a little fishing.  Over two days on the water we saw so many whales, seals, and sharks it almost felt commonplace.

I couldn’t help but wonder what my mom would have thought, who used to squeal with glee at the sight of one whale miles and miles offshore, nothing more than a speck.  These guys were practically jumping on the boat.

On our last day in Wedgeport, we hopped back in the boat for a visit to the Tusket Islands, full of brightly colored lobster pots and weathered fishing cabins that serve as the perfect picnic spot in the summer, and transform into a bustling village full of fishermen (and women) as soon as lobster season descends.

Of course, in season or no, lobster is practically ground beef in Wedgeport, where the softer-shelled pinchers who might not ship so well can be set aside to feed a family for months (or maybe hungry visitors who jump for joy at the delicious-ness of such fresh seafood).

Wedgeport felt like home, and its people made us feel like family.

There’s nothing like a place that picks you up and forces you to relax, learn something new, and accomplish something great…

It was tough to leave, but I know we’ll be back.  It will be hard to stay away.

Into the wild blue…

Last Monday, as I dropped our final invitations in the mail, feeling pretty good about my accomplishments, the phone rang.

“So… if you had the chance to do something really amazing, do you think you could get away for a few days?”

(Umm… yes.)

Mark’s boss wasn’t able to make a business trip he’d had in the works for some time, and he needed to send someone in his place.

That person was Mark, but (the seriously cool news) if we were both in, we could both go.

So, business… right? I’ve been on business trips before, and most of the time it doesn’t even matter where they end up… those trips are always much less fun than I imagine… sitting in the hotel, attending a conference, or meeting after meeting… staring at the wall… never getting a chance to play.

This was not one of those trips.

On this particular trip, Mark and I were headed to Wedgeport, Nova Scotia for lobster picnics, scallops on the shore, and a whole lot of fishing… for bluefin tuna… which are, oh, about six times my size (nbd).

We were just a little bit excited.

And the trip didn’t disappoint a bit.

Of course, before we go on, I have to mention that I caught the biggest fish (It’s okay, I’m not competitive or anything).

We were on the water for two days straight and came back with a laundry list of shark, whale, and seal sightings (!!) in addition to five fish caught.

Three of five were successfully tagged (no indulging here — though that sashimi does go for a seriously pretty penny out on the market ((yum)) — we were on the ocean in the name of science) and in the end Mark and I had each reeled in two: three in the realm of about 400-500 lbs, and one (mine, hehe) about 650 lbs… which is a pretty serious sport in itself.

But really… the most amazing thing we encountered in Wedgeport was the people: folks that made us feel like family from the second we landed and left us dying to come back… to visit their small town and maybe even steal their lives… because seriously, guys, we’re kind of super a little jealous.

What an amazing, wonderful place… this Wedgeport, Nova Scotia. Really — even now — I’m not even sure where to begin.

But I have plenty more to share, so be sure to check back!

Have you ever been fishing for big fish? Or up to Nova Scotia? It was an amazing experience, to say the least.

Sometimes, life has a way of surprising you… in the very best of ways.

This Place

It was perfect.

Spontaneity

We’re off to Nova Scotia today (she says, as if this is totally normal).

No really, we had no idea on Monday morning that we would be doing this today, but it was an opportunity we just couldn’t pass up (and a free one at that) so here we go! I promise to return with tons of pictures of this crazy adventure… goodness knows that with two months of planning to go, I could use a little break from the day to day.

In the mean time, be sure to follow my Instagram feed. I’ll be posting as we go.

Oh, did I mention it’s a tuna fishing trip?

I sincerely have no idea what to expect.

Photo: New York Times

Two Months Out

Two months. I’m not even sure what to say about two months. I can barely believe it, but this time we have left will be gone in the blink of an eye!

The past week has been full of little accomplishments and final touches: We picked out our rings and mailed our final invites, and now I think I can officially say that we we’re down to the details!

Here’s what our checklist is looking like, two months out…

Happy Long Weekend!

I swear to you, it’s the weirdest thing, but just taking a few minutes to set a really specific goal can make all the difference in the world.  Remember my lists?  Well I’m happy to say that over the past week and a half, I really do feel like I have been so much more productive!

I’m fully aware, of course, that it’s all a mind trip.  I made a conscious decision to be happy with each individual item I was able to check off my list, rather than strive for an empty slate, and ta-da!  Jedi power.

I’m not sure if it’s just that I have myself so completely fooled or if I really have gotten more done, but it really doesn’t matter.  I’m feeling a lot better about my accomplishments, and a whole lot better about myself, just in time for a nice long weekend.

Do you use any little mind tricks on yourself to accomplish your goals?

** Also, you guys, thank you for the big boost of confidence you have all given me this week.  Your comments have been so wonderful and supportive.  I hope you know just how much love I have for you all.  xoxo **

Here’s an extra long list for your extra long weekend…

That picture up there?  That is where I want to be this weekend.

This beautiful pottery.

Queen Elizabeth, rollin’ in her Range Rover.

Basically, this looks like the tastiest mimosa ever. Yum, Rhi!

I need to see this movie.

Pure. Genius. Lena, I die.

10 little things that will make you an exceptional client.

A refrigerator-free kitchen?

Emerson. Fry.

How to stage a strong comeback.

Girls, you have me so inspired to get organized this week!

I’m not sure I agree with everything in this article, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

Good advice.

I was really moved by these words (this is a little older, but I just came upon this blog this week, so it’s new to me… and maybe to you, too).

I ❤ New York

When I was 18, I moved to LA.

I moved from a small town on the coast of Oregon that nobody (save a few fans of Pre — who I also ❤ in case you’re wondering) had ever heard of.  That little town was filled with trees… and clean air… and nice people.

I hated LA.

I hated it with a fiery passion and felt like the concrete was about to swallow me alive.

And then, one day… without notice… I fell in love.

That big grey city stole my heart.  Its food, its culture… its big dirty polluted self seeped into my soul and made itself a little home… and today, even though I know it’s crazy, I miss it like hell…

And it’s not just the surfing and the sun, though those two might serve as a couple of easy targets if you really think I’m nuts.

I do miss surfing, next to the smoke stacks… and I miss the sun.  But I also miss the creativity, the freedom of the people… the feel of that place that never leaves once it’s got you by the soul.

The first couple of times I visited New York… I was not impressed.  It was big… dirty… I couldn’t see the sun.  But the more I go… the more I realize that New York, like LA, has begun to seep in.

We’re still getting to know each other, New York and I… but despite our rocky start, I don’t know… it might be love.

Is it Monday already?

This weekend we headed up to New York for Mark’s first suit fitting and to see a friend’s show (Her last before it heads to Scotland for Edinburgh fringe!) and since Mark was busy playing with other, fancier cameras… I got a little time behind the lens.

Pepe and I are still getting to know each other (what, you don’t name your inanimate objects?) but we’re a whole lot closer than we used to be.  Honestly, I’d say I’m about half a step above point and shoot, but hey, anything’s an improvement.

Mark was pretty excited about his fitting (I can’t wait to see!) and it gave us a good excuse to grab some tasty brunch at egg before heading into Manhattan to get ready for the show — which was amazing, and echoed a lot of important issues I’ve been thinking about lately (especially while reading this book).  I’m so proud of that kickass playwright friend of mine… but that’s nothing new.

On Sunday we squeezed in a tasty bagel and a trip to the High Line before heading home to our cozy beds and our happy puppy.  I love trips out of town, and especially love the chance to see friends, but it’s always nice to come home, too.  And I know Mr. Lennon is pretty pumped.

How was your weekend?  Was it as super hot as it was in the east?  We nearly died.