Estelle & Camille

While I’m loving my life in Colorado, I seriously miss these little girls. My sister and Dave have the silliest, sweetest girls around.

I was back in Wisconsin for Easter and enjoyed quality time at Stella & Camille’s Blue House. We hit up one of our favorite places, the Elegant Farmer (remember this place from my post Babies and Apples and Pumpkins. Oh My. back in November 2010?). The smiling barn hosts an Easter Petting Zoo, which has become an annual Kertscher Family ritual. My mom and I were happy to tag along.

Stella is now considering becoming a farmer when “her gets big” – a farmer, a mail lady and a cake maker. Camille will most likely follow in her big sister’s footsteps. We shall see.

Visitor High

Here I am. With a job. Living in Denver, Colorado. Things are good.

Work is stressful, but I am happy to be under stress. Strange, I know. But I needed some sort of obligation to feel like I have a purpose. This reminds  me – I need to talk to my retired father about finding a hobby beyond the stock market. I think he and I are identical in the sense that we need to have a purpose to what we do everyday to feel fulfilled and happy. Which is why I seriously struggled with unemployment. Thankfully it didn’t last long.

My sister Jane and brother-in-law Al visited two weekends ago and my college roommates, Chelsie, Klug and Rochelle, were here last weekend. I’ve enjoyed all my visitors. And now, I have no idea what to do with myself this weekend sans visitors. Okay, that’s not true. I’m going to a speakeasy in the Highlands tonight, wine tasting tomorrow and (hopefully) skiing Sunday. But still, I’m having a hard time recovering from my visitor high.

What I currently miss most about Wisconsin: Cabin time. Ridiculous because it’s not even summer. My family is meeting at our cabin in Rhinelander, Wisconsin for a weekend of catching up and apparently the boys are planning on ice fishing. There isn’t a whole lot else to do at a cabin in northern Wisconsin in the middle of winter besides this, eating and playing games (Oh, and snowmobiling if you’re into that. I personally am not). It’s also important to keep in mind, it is a two bedroom cabin with six adults and two children. Sounds awful to some, I’m sure. But I am sad to miss this.

So again, here I am. 26 years old. Figuring out life as it flies by. Trying my hardest not to miss my family and Wisconsin too badly. Thankfully, I live close to the mountains. Oh Ma Gosh, life is good.

Jane & Al's visit - Anna, Kyle, me, Matthew, Jane, & Al in Vail

College Roomie Visit (me, Klug, Chels & Rochelle) in Beaver Creek

My Dearest Ruth and Julie

Today is Veterans Day. And every Veterans Day we honor those who have so bravely served this country. I’m taking a blogging moment to remember and honor the people in my life who have served our country. Starting with my Grandpa Jack.

My Grandpa Jack (John) Metternich served in WWII. This August, my family and I sat down to read letters he wrote to his wife Ruth and their oldest daughter Julie in 1943, while he was at Sea. I would love for my mom to write about my Grandfather’s experience serving America. She is a wealth of family knowledge, especially regarding his time in Iowa Jima. So Mom, if you are reading this, please send me a little something and I’ll add it to this post.

I took these photos that night to capture my own little piece of family history. The first photo is a close-up of the first of many letters my grandpa wrote his wife and daughter. We figured my Gammie Ruth saved all the letters, but weren’t sure where they were until this summer when my mom stumbled upon the shoe box full of letters and photos – six years after his passing and thirteen after hers. I look forward to reading these letters again and again.

My Dearest Ruth & Julie – Feb. 18 1945 at Sea.

Cribbage, Dec. ’43 – Jack on right

His glasses

The Marilyn

Pinterest is the best waste of time since… Facebook. I’m obsessed. I created a board “Photog Inspirations.” where I pin photos that (obviously) inspire me to recreate, or remind me of photos I’ve taken at some point in my life.

 

Pinned this classic – girls doing The Marilyn. Actually, five girls doing The Marilyn. A little scandalous.

In college, my roomie Molly and I jumped on the opportunity… er Lake Street air vent… (around bar time) to do The Marilyn.

And of course, so did Jones.

October Snow

I thought I left the crazy weather in Wisconsin. So wrong!

I wandered around Cheesman Park (my new hood) Wednesday afternoon post snow fall. Crazy to see the gorgeous fall colors covered with a thick coat of wet white snow. Crazy, but beautiful. Enjoy!

10 Things That Make Me Happy

One of my favorite photo bloggers, Color Me Katie posts the “10 Things I Love…” every so often on her colorful photo blog. Seeing as imitation is the greatest form of flattery (and I did something similar last fall), I am going to create a monthly post with the same concept, “10 Things That Make Me Happy.”

Living in a new city, away from family and friends, I am not all that surprised by the things that make me happy. And you probably won’t be surprised either…

Stella's 1st (incredibly sweet, yet awkward) preschool photo,

every second of Wisconsin sports - Go Pack! Go Brewers! Go Badgers! (Photo via Sconnie),

timely quotes that prevent me from hitting send on that crazy email I wrote late last night,

randomly moving into the same house in Denver Eric lived in,

free iPhone app (My Sketch) that turns photos into pencil drawings (back in the day I paid $10 for this at the mall) and Camille in Marisa's cocoon at the cabin,

photos of my dad and Dutch playing ball in Starin Park,

new mom Leanne showing off her sweet baby Zoe,

the new Starin Road extension off Hwy 59 into Whitewater (makes the Blue House to Brick House commute that much quicker),

"Matroyshka" anything - reminds me of my mom, Marisa & Camille,

and the creepy Zombie Barbie photo Chelsie emailed the Barbies.

Oh! Hey Denver.

I quit my job and moved to Denver.  I’m writing this post to remind myself why I did such a crazy thing. Well, first off, I wasn’t happy. And I am a firm believer that you are the only person in control of your happiness. My job wasn’t necessarily what was making me unhappy. And it wasn’t the amazing city of Madison, either. It was all sorts of personal things. Starting with this girl’s inner self. Deep down I knew I wanted to experience living outside the Midwest. And July 2011 seemed like the best time to make that happen.

With Matthew on my First 14er - Mount Elbert

Why July 2011? This was about the three year anniversary of my big girl job. And I always said (because I’ve been told repeatedly) I need at least two and a half years under my belt before I move on. Holy lord did I learn a lot in those three years. And holy lord did I need those three years of real world experience.

My adorable Doty Street apartment lease was up July 31, and my roommate (and almost domestic partner) was moving to Salt Lake City to start her clinical rotation for PT school. We were both full of emotions that last month living together. As great roommates, and the best of friends, it was really hard to say goodbye to almost seven years of memories in Madison living together.

I put in my two weeks notice, moved out of our apartment.  And just like that I was homeless and almost unemployed. Luckily, I have amazing people in my life so I wasn’t actually homeless, or unemployed. My last couple weeks in Madison, I bunked up with one of my best friend’s Vicky in her very nice one bedroom apartment in downtown Madison. I moved all of my belongings into the “blue house” – my sister and her husband’s house in Eagle Wisconsin, and stayed there two or three nights a week, commuting an hour to Madison. The commute was one hundred percent worth it because I was able to spend more time with my sister, brother-in-law and adorably naughty nieces.

Why Denver? My interest in Colorado peaked my junior year of college during a group ski trip to Steamboat. I returned to different areas of Colorado to ski every winter after that. After being sold on Colorado, I opted for Denver because of the big city feel, with an outdoor lifestyle. A certain boy helped with this decision as well. Matthew and I had been doing the long distance thing for a while, so living in the same city should be a very nice change.

I’m settling down in Denver – living alone in the Cheeseman Park/Capitol Hill area. Getting comfortable with living alone. Getting acclimated with my new neighborhood and city. And I’m on the job hunt. So please send good vibes and any marketing connections you may have