Off Roading Through the Orchard

Earlier today I was thinking about blogging tonight with the title "Off Roading Through the Orchard". Deborah and I went berry picking at Olson farms this afternoon. Though I have seen very few u-pick farms, I have to say I love this one. It is so beautiful and has fantastic views overlooking the valley yet it's so close to town. It's positively fun to go out there. Today we picked strawberries and then moved on to the blueberries which are also now open. The strawberries I am going to mash up and freeze and the blueberries I am going to freeze whole. I love picking the berries myself. I like walking the rows, working for what I eat in a very real and direct way, and being out in nature is great too. After we finished picking, we decided to continue on the road instead of turning around the way we came. Though I am sure it was a bit stressful for Deborah, it was downright fun for me! We took the road less traveled and ended up on roads barely passable through the orchards. At one point, I just stuck my hand out and grabbed two cherries off a tree. Is that what you would call a drive by picking? Sometimes, the really fun memories are made when you take a chance and off road through the orchard.

Working so much on my computer and not getting out much, at least for me, I have been a bit lonely lately so when Randy called this morning asking if I could take a last minute head shot of a new cast member in "Comic Potential", I have to admit, I welcomed the task. I arrived shortly before they started the show and after finding the chips, soda, and pizza downstairs, felt revived and rejuvenated. The air conditioning didn't hurt either. After taking the two head shots I needed, I settled into the seats and enjoyed getting to finally see the second act. For over a week, I have been longing to find out what happens after Act 1. Like every other show I've photographed, this one has been steadily growing on me. Its so fun to watch and I loved watching what happens in the second act! Afterwards, three of the actors and I went out for something to eat and to go over two scenes. It was a great deal of fun to watch them perform the scenes and to help them with it a bit. For all it's strengths and faults, I love being a part of the Pentacle community and tonight was a perfect example of why. I have loved meeting all these fantastic and creative people, getting to create something wonderful with them, and enjoying our time together doing it. My heart beats for my writing yet at the same time, I feel like I have a place I belong to at the Pentacle. It's one of those orchard paths I wasn't planning on taking but wanted to see where it would go. And as I said, that's where some of the best memories are made. Take a chance, you never know what you'll find.














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