Welcome

I’m Jolene, a Minnesota native living in the Pacific Northwest who loves travel, writing, and photography. I started this blog over ten years ago to share what I found beautiful in the world around me.

My love of traveling began when I was just a kid. Every summer, my parents packed all seven of us into our rusted van and headed away from the Minnesota farmlands. I think there’s some driving force in my family’s Norwegian blood, some remnant of Viking DNA, which never let us rest. We were always exploring. I remember standing on the Little Bighorn battlefield, imagining General Custer falling to Lakota and Cheyenne warriors, stripped of his scalp and dying in the amber-colored prairie lands. Maybe I was a strange kid, but I found something deeply romantic about battlefields and sacred grounds, like history carried a physical weight you could feel if you just stood perfectly still and quiet in the middle of a field.

My interest in photography began outside the borders of the United States. With only a little point-and-shoot camera, I flew to the United Kingdom in 2006 and captured images of castles that still hang on my walls today. Since that time, I’ve been to many places around Europe and Africa…and, like my Viking ancestors, have landed in Ireland more times than necessary. I have more than ten Irish passport stamps!! But what can I do? I love Ireland.

As far as my camera goes, I’ve used everything from cell phones to DSLRs, and I’m convinced a person with vision can create art with just about anything. You don’t need a fancy camera to take great pictures (although it can help). Some of my favorite images are those I took on that cheap, little 5 megapixel point-and-shoot in the UK. I try not to worry about what other people are doing; I shoot what is beautiful to me. That’s all that really matters. But, for those who are curious – right now, I’m shooting with a Nikon D800. My favorite lens is the 24-70 mm f/2.8. 

My mission is to inspire you to travel somewhere, anywhere. If you’re more of an armchair adventurer, I hope to bring the world to you through words and pictures. Regardless of your situation, dare to dream beyond the borders of your hometown. Travel if you can. Have adventures, big or small. Fall in love with the world and your one precious life. That’s the real ticket we should all purchase.

Latest Instagram Posts

She's kinda cute, crooked teeth and all. Perfect weather to enjoy an afternoon on the patio at Sips. Shoestring Circus tonight! I always find the aerial acts the most impressive - the combination of strength and grace and fearlessness. It's breathtaking. @klsweetpea gave me this solar light when I moved into my new house. I love the patterns it makes on my little bistro table at night. The perfect end to my weekend. What a gorgeous evening in Bellingham. My apple trees survived their first winter and are now blossoming. What a wonderful time of year. Me being super awkward meeting Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Schrute from The Office). If I could have remembered words, I would have said thank you for visiting Bellingham, and thank you for Soul Boom. If I could get more time in one place in Italy, it would be Alberobello. I loved walking through the trulli. Plus, they had the best focaccia and cheese shops.

50 thoughts on “Welcome”

    1. Thanks, Ann! It never ceases to amaze me how those monks found Skellig Michael all those years ago and build those beehive huts at the top of it. It should be on the bucket list of anyone who wants to visit Ireland.

      Reply

  2. Wow, so happy that I found you! I also love photography, travelling and of course Ireland. I’ve been there two times and will go there again one day… looking forward to follow your blog 😀

    Reply

    1. Hi Sandy! Thank you for visiting my blog. I always enjoy hearing from other people who have traveled to Ireland and love it as much as I do.

      I look forward to following your blog as well!

      Reply

  4. Jolene, the last two sentences in the first paragraph are about as true as it gets. It doesn’t matter what kind of camera you have. I hate the “you must have a really nice camera” comments I get when people look at my photos!

    Yes, a fancy DSLR makes realizing the vision in your head a LOT easier, but only if you learn how to use it. I see far too many people who’ve spent a ton of money on a DSLR and then set the dial to the green box, full auto setting and use it like a point-n-shoot.

    Beautiful photographs by the way, can’t forget that 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your comment, Jeff! Yes, I’ve seen the same thing – people invest in these pricey cameras and just use them as point-and-shoots. Good photography takes imagination. And we have to be willing to challenge ourselves.

      Reply

      1. Too many people think they can buy their way to good photography. Somehow by buying the best, they think great photos will miraculously appear from their camera. What’s a shame is that when those great photos don’t come, the camera will be tossed in a closet and forgotten.

  9. Love your photos Jolene… another thing we share: red hair, writing, photography… oh the ties that bind! 🙂 Really enjoyed your galleries. If you’d ever like to do another write-out, let me know. I’m in. Or, out.

    Reply

  11. Bellingham is the best! I used to live just up the road in White Rock, BC. We almost moved there, then just last year decided to try a little east in the city of Calgary, Canada. I often still think of Bellingham though 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you for visiting my blog, Rob! I have lived in a few places over the years, and Bellingham is definitely my favorite. It has a little bit of everything. There are some gorgeous places in Canada too. 🙂

      Reply

    1. Thank you, Jon, for visiting my blog! Bellingham is one of the best little cities in the Pacific Northwest, and I love living here. Although, Thailand is on my bucket list! Yours is a corner of the world I haven’t yet visited but am very interested in doing so. 🙂

      Reply

  21. I love your blog and I wanted to do something to really show my appreciation for all your beautiful posts so, I’m giving you this award … the Liebster Award. If you’d like to honor other bloggers with this award, you can see how to do that in the post at my blog. If you’d like to simply receive the award and enjoy the honor, that’s fine too. Just know that I think you’ve got a great blog and I thought all my followers should know it too. Have a great night! 😀

    Reply

  24. Hi Jolene, we’re almost- sort-of neighbors! 😉 I haven’t yet been up to Bellingham yet (moved to Renton in November) but I have a friend in school up there and have been meaning to get up there at some point. Heard its beautiful!
    Thanks for stopping by and following my blog, welcome! I think I will enjoy following yours as well.

    Reply

    1. Hi Abra – Bellingham is beautiful, great for taking photos (but then most places are in Western WA). Hope you can make it up this way sometime. Thank you for checking out my blog and for following as well! 🙂

      Reply

  25. Hi, Jolene. I was just wondering how you got started in Photography..I’m really into it and would like to pursue something in it. I LOVE your photos! They are super good and I hope to be as good as you or at least some what close. 🙂 Someday I want to be a professional Photographer were I can have my pictures in magazines..ect. I know I am probably still to young to be able to really get started being that I am only 17…but I was wondering if you and I could talk some more and maybe if you wanted to…help me out a little? I totally understand if you aren’t able to. It was just a thought:) thanks!

    Reply

  26. Your site is lovely, Jolene! Glad to meet you in class tonight, and glad to see your work here. You’ve got a great eye and beautiful photos. (I especially like your post about what the best camera is!) I’ll miss class next week, but will see you the following Tuesday.

    Reply

  27. Hi Jolene
    I found a great balloon picture on your website and was wondering if I could use it to advertise a kids party on my website
    thanks
    Debbie Dunne

    Reply

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