I just got back from visiting my sister in Washington D.C. I had a wonderful trip. Some of the highlights:

• Meeting my niece Lucy for the first time.
• Taking my niece Jane trick-or-treating for her first time. (She thinks Halloween means candy.)
• Seeing the amazing fall colors in Virginia’s western country side.
• Experiencing the difference of being in a "swing state" right before the election. (So many ads and lawn signs!)
• Becoming a card carrying member of the Library of Congress.
• Visiting Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello. He is such an interesting man.
• Hanging out with Tiffany and Donny until the wee hours of the night.
• Hiking along the Potomac River on the Billy Goat Trail.

I may try to post some pictures later…if I feel up to it! And, yes, this is my last vacation of the year.

Tags: Places I Go by Tricia
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I realize it has been well over two weeks since I last posted…but there are no apologies here! I’ve been having a blast on vacation and then been gettin’ back into the groove of things. Here are a few pictures (and captions) from my trip.

Me, Seth, Kristen and Rob (great friends and good travel buddies) in front of the gorgeous Spanish fort El Morro in San Juan.

Rob, Kristen, Me and Seth looking down on Puerto Rico’s East side from El Yunque, Puerto Rico’s rain forest.

Me and Seth in front of one of El Yunque’s gorgeous waterfalls.

Seth basking in the healing waters of El Yunque (which happens to be the only rain forest in the US National Parks System).

View from the condo we rented.

We went scuba diving on Culebra Island, which is about an hour and a half ferry ride from Puerto Rico. I was sprawled out across four chairs in the middle of the boat and woke up to Seth sitting like this.

The boys got along so well that they went home wearing matching dive shirts. So funny!

I’m sad my break is over, but am excited to be back! When I left it still felt like summer, but I definitely came home to fall. I’m going to break out the few fall decorations I have. I love the warm autumn colors. They make my house feel so cozy.

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I am happy to announce my traveling is done until August! Vacations are such necessary things, but it is nice to get back into a routine. So it’s back to workin’ 9-5 and dreaming of having my home remodel done soon! (Sigh. If only I could use my kitchen.)

When we were in San Francisco we biked across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was the highlight of the trip.

This was the most beautiful lavender farm in Oregon. But it really don’t compare to the lavender farm I work for right here in the state of Utah! We are lucky.

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I’m off again! I’m going to the Oregon Lavender Festival this weekend to get some ideas for next year’s Lavender Days. I’ll make sure to post some pictures on Monday.

From their website:

"For a day or two, leave the world of hustle and bustle, computers, and chaos to soak in the delights lavender has to offer. Sometimes simply standing in the midst of a lavender field with its overwhelming beauty and aroma can be medicine enough to restore calm and recharge your spirit."

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Lavender Days is over! Sad for all of you who missed out on the fun, but happy for all of us planning it! We spent A LOT of time, blood, sweat, and tears helping the festival get going and now I’m getting out of the office for a few days…(it’s the least I can do for my nerves after working 95+ hours last week!) I just wanted to brag a little bit about the hotel I will be staying at in San Fran. Isn’t it beautiful!

Tags: Places I Go by Tricia
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I just booked a trip to San Francisco. We are leaving the Wednesday after Lavender Days , and I am so excited. I am in major need of a vacation! This is the first trip where my husband and I will be staying in a hotel and not with family or friends. I think it will be a blast.

I think my posting will be a bit sporadic the next couple of weeks. I’m going to be working hard (I didn’t get home until 8:30 today!) and then hangin’ by the bay. So bear with me! I’ll be posting regularly again after July 4th.

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I love going to big cities. It is funny how they pull my emotions two ways. I love them because they have so much history. They have big beautiful buildings with all those little architectural details they never take the time to do anymore–or more likely don’t have the money to do anymore. But then they are also so dirty! As I was walking to the train I was pretty sure the stairs I was using would crumble underneath my feet (they were halfway gone already) and I would land right in a puddle of sludge. It makes me so grateful for my little Pleasant Grove. And Pleasant Grove does have some great architectural gems. Just not quite on the level of Chicago.

Photo is Spudart’s via Flickr.

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