Do you know the way to Santa Fe!?

Hi friends of the studio! My name is Audrey and I am one of Susan's designers. Susan asked if I would write a guest post on her blog of my recent trip to Santa Fe.

If you are a lover of nature or art, or both (like me!), this is the city for you! I left Santa Fe with a calmed mind and an invigorated, creative spirit. In this post I hope to share some of that inspiration with you!

New Mexico's landscape is breathtaking - driving across west Texas and then into this state, we quickly understood why it is called the "Land of Enchantment." No wonder Georgia O'Keeffe fell in love!

The plants and flowers that grow in this cool and dry climate were also beautiful. The streets were lined with sunflowers in bloom and the sweet scent of lavender greeted us at every corner.

I also fell in love with the adobe architecture. The brown and terracotta tones with soft curves and corners mimicked the landscape perfectly. It was amazing to look over neighborhoods that blend into the mountains with such purity.

And, did I mention there is an entire street devoted to art galleries!?? Canyon Road is a must-see for any lover of art!

Needless to say I am anxious to return to Santa Fe! I hope you have enjoyed my photos of this beautiful place!

Catching Up on the Summer

Hello Friends! I hope that you are all having wonderful summers. My summer has been so busy at home and at work – I have a lot of catch-up blogging to do! This summer I took several trips to Bray’s Island – including one big trip with our extended family. My family, my mother, both of my brother’s families, and a few good friends were all there – 19 people total! We had a great time exploring the reserve, kayaking, horseback riding, and enjoying one another’s company. I’m excited to go back soon to share some of these experiences with my daughter Erin when she returns from the mission field.

The Love of Horses

“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.” ~Sharon Ralls Lemon, Editor of Horse Illustrated magazine

This past weekend I headed to Brays Island to spend time relaxing and riding horses with my family. It is a beautiful island full of historic southern architecture to visit and endless nature trails for riding. We were thrilled to take our own horses on this trip; my daughter Erin drove the trailer down herself! I love to ride horses- it’s an exciting way to explore a landscape and I feel more connected to God’s awe-inspiring creation everytime I saddle up! Everyone in my family appreciates the strength and beauty of these amazing animals, as we have raised several horses on our farm. We love them as members of our family, are grateful for their help on the farm and enjoy riding whenever we can. Erin is especially drawn to horses and has fostered special relationships with each of ours. She is involved in every aspect of riding from basic care to elaborate dressage training and sees horses as a catalyst for healing in children and adults. I love watching her ride and am amazed by her control and agile grace as she does so. Erin’s connection is a joy for me to witness and I am so proud of her many accomplishments in the equestrian field. Horseback riding is much more than a hobby to her, it is a passion that I know she will use to touch the lives of others for many years to come.

Susan