Au revoir Snoqualmie Valley (for now)

Our North Bend home's back yard

While I know that brevity is always appreciated, this is one entry that simply cannot be condensed.   After many years of talking about moving home to the New Orleans area, it finally became a reality.  We’ve talked about moving so much, it became a running joke in my mind and I finally accepted that this is home for now.  So I stepped out of my comfort zone and created Joie de Vivre, allowing me to share my passion for unique floral design with others.  Of course, once things are moving along peachy keen, the opportunity to move for a year presented itself.  That’s how life is, don’t you think?

So we’ve moved and Joie de Vivre will move as well—to an area where people can easily pronounce it and also appreciate its meaning.

Olallie Park, our daily hike

Leaving the valley was a bittersweet move.  Saying goodbye to friends is never an easy task and saying goodbye to the place we’ve called our home proved to be difficult as well.  But this blog is about flowers and the majesty of nature, so I will stay focused.

Over the past nine years, I have slowly been converted from city girl to outdoors girl.  The most expensive pair of shoes I own to date is a pair of hiking boots!  While happy hour is something this girl still enjoys, I have come to appreciate scuba and snowboarding and hiking, not to mention simply adoring the view in my own backyard.

Becoming a floral designer has opened my eyes in so many ways to the beauty of nature.  Part of me wants to say that this is God’s country, but you know, God’s country is everywhere.  You just have to adjust your perspective and open your eyes.

My budding flower girl

I’ve had the pleasure of walking two to seven miles a day with my puppies, husband and now my daughter.  It’s been fascinating to observe the rhythms of nature.  From getting soaked in the never-ending winter drizzle and gazing at the mountains trying to peak out of the dense clouds, to getting covered in snow, struggling to walk in snowshoes and hunting for Christmas trees in the forest (with a hot toddy of course), to observing the cherry blossoms of spring and hearing the birds chirping happily in the mornings, to the graduation to summer and the flood of vibrant foxgloves and daisies along the roads, to finally, the colorful leaves and berries of fall, there’s always something beautiful to behold. (My apologies for the never ending sentence.)  I am eternally grateful for this wonderful gift I’ve had to live in such an amazing place and the eyes to appreciate this myriad of gifts we enjoy on a daily basis.

Our first adventure in our new state

My blog is titled Ramblings of a Flower Girl for a reason, right?  Well, I am happy to say that my ramblings will indeed continue as I continue my journey with nature and exploration with flowers.  I hope that you will join me.