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December 12, 2011 by Anya Elise

And just like that || San Francisco vacation

SAN FRANCISCO — I blinked, and just like that, my San Francisco trip was over.

I have had a lovely time being with my family out here. Talking with them, and laughing with them, and sharing memories with them. I always hate to go.

This trip wasn’t quite long enough – as it never is – and I wasn’t able to hit some of the other iconic San Francisco destinations. But we did make it to the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday, and drove through the city to and from the Bridge.

I love this city. And I love the people in it and our family history here.

I’ll have a few photos and a video for you later this week, but for now, I leave you with this.

To the San Francisco branch of my family: I love you all very much. And am already happily anticipating my next visit.

Love — a.e.

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November 29, 2011 by Anya Elise

the hunt || Christmas tree video

the hunt || Christmas tree video from anya semenoff on Vimeo.

Every year, my family and I head into the mountains to a section of the forest that has an open season on trees. Trees to be cut down that is. (See evidence of last year’s trip here.)

We decided long ago, before my memory fully latched into my brain folds, to make it a tradition to cut down our tree in this manner, rather than either (a) getting a fake tree, or (b) getting a tree from the local supermarket or nursery. (Though, if my brain folds serve me, there have been occasions over the years where we have gone a different route due to various conflicts.) When all is right in the world however, we make this annual trek.

It is magical and predictable and team-building and character-affirming and season-greeting and altogether perfect fodder for a video. Which is posted above. I hope you enjoy it.

(The song is: “Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag” from Shedaisy. Theirs is one of my favorite Christmas albums. The songs are quirky and offbeat and not very traditional really. But that’s just the way I roll. Buy it here.)

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August 30, 2011 by Anya Elise

the twin-face || a brother’s birthday

On this the day of my one and only brother and twin-face’s birthday, I have a few things to say.

As a baby, in order to teach Chris to crawl (which he apparently refused to do), my parents placed M&Ms in a line in front of him. This technique is still necessary to get me to do anything. (Gummy bears are good, too.)
I am three years older than my brother, but regardless of the biological impossibility, we are twins.
It’s just a fact.
No really.
His head will become detached from his body if he forgets to wear the baseball hat. That’s why he looks so concerned in that third photo.
A few summers ago we took a road trip to San Francisco, just him and myself. On the return drive, we stopped at every single 24-hour drive-thru Starbucks we could find en route to purchase large iced coffees. I won’t tell you what happened on that 17-hour journey. It wasn’t pretty.
He’s a wonderful letter-writer. Eloquent and passionate.
He takes care of us three sisters and our mom. You’ve never seen a better fellow.
He’s 21 today.
Happy Birthday, buddy. Love and coffee and Klondike Bars to you.

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August 4, 2011 by Anya Elise

this gal || siblings

This gal is the leader of the sibling clan of Semenoffs.

This gal is an archery fiend.

This gal is a genuine graduate school survivor.

This gal is compassionate.

This gal is supportive.

This gal is a wonderful traveling companion.

This gal is a giver and carer.

This gal is a master of tea brewing.

This gal is opposed to my coffee habits.

This gal is an ethereal singer.

This gal is a voracious reader.

This gal is brave.

This gal is my sister.

This gal is my friend.

This gal is my sister-friend.

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July 6, 2011 by Anya Elise

the fourth || holiday adventure video

Location: Fort Laramie, Wyo.

Date: July 4, 2011

Characters: My family (And those guys up there. I don’t really know who they are.)

Goal: To celebrate Independence Day. And drink sasparilla sarsparilla sarsaparilla. (Though first we have to figure out how to spell sarsaparilla. Seriously, who spells a word like that?)

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