Sunset Moments

Sunsets are a little bit like life...

They are beautiful, they are bright.

Certain sunsets and life moments call for running and flying.

Other times you sit and simply enjoy the show.

Camping Kid

My boys love camping. We hardly made it into our site before O was up this tree and testing new limits.This tree is particularly fun to scramble around on since the branches are strong and sturdy and super long.

He has a good eye and found small sticks for the fire and this monarch butterfly during the hunt. It had already met it's match, so we just studied it and kept our eyes wide for others that still had their flutter.

I think we can all say that hanging around the campfire is one of the most relaxing and fun parts about camping- as long as you aren't in the smoke's path, in which case you declare, "White rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits..." and hope the wind shifts.

Film Friday

Fifi moves fast, so capturing her on film can be a trick. Especially when I am shooting the Polaroid.

I cherish these images of her.

Giant leaves

Sand and surf

Pouting about something on a log

Going Coastal

Last month my college roommate asked me if I wanted to go camping. It would just be us girls and the kids. Truth be told, I don't know that I have ever camped without a guy around, but this didn't stop me. I instantly said, "YES"! I mean look at where were going, how could I say no?

 

The bad news had to do with multiple loads of gear in a wheel-barrel down the very steep hill, but I got over that part pretty quickly due to the good news which included no tent or sleeping on the ground and the view that looked out directly to the pacific ocean.

So, I filled up the car, the cooler, the camp box, and the kids. We drove over the mountains and through the woods and found ourselves just outside of Stinson Beach, California.

 

Hello beautiful world.

I haven't seen my friend Amanda since O's first birthday, she hadn't met Fifi yet and we both had our fingers crossed that the kids would hit it off. Truly, we had nothing to worry about.

We hung battery operated twinkle lights and LED chinese lanterns, popped open a bottle of wine for us and a stuck a straw in the juice boxes for the kids and let the fun happen from there.

Wave jumping, hermit crab searching, running up and down, up and down the hill from our cabin to the parking lot. We managed to avoid the poison oak, a total plus since the place is covered in it and I made the mistake of telling the kids we were going on a nature hike, encouraging them to collect plant samples, oooops!

The weather couldn't have been more pleasant, especially since we had been in the 100s the week before in Reno. We giggled with the kids, they giggled with each other, we laughed our heads off at old stories and talked about new happenings in our world.

 

Every night we had an amazing sunset. It felt like the golden hour was actually an hour long. Each of us soaked up every last drop of it's lovely goodness.

I shot a ton of film, my iphone got a workout and my DSLR did the trick when the other two were out of juice. I got extra inspiration when an fellow cabin camper and I were talking and he mentioned that Dorothea Lange used to stay in these cabins. I am trying to hunt down a copy of the book, To a Cabin.

What a fantastic time we had, thanks again Amanda! You always introduce me to the coolest places.

Want more camping goodness? I am blogging about getting out with the kids over on the Reno Moms Blog today. Head on over for a fun read.

Desert Rats

On Friday we, loaded up Popup Penny and headed East for the long weekend. The last time we visited this place, O was just learning to crawl and we were braving the camping thing with a 9 month old. This time, we had two kids, one dog and three full days to play.

As soon as we crested the hill and the kids could see the big open playa, Fifi let out he biggest squeal of delight I have ever heard. I don't know if she was coo-coo from the long ride or just so happy to be camping again, but her comedic timing struck again and we all belly laughed.

 

I feel extremely at home on the desert. The playa is where I learned to drive, where I learned to watch the stars and look for UFOs. Although this isn't the Black Rock Desert (where I grew up), this smaller version is very much a happy place for me.It is called the Smith Creek Playa, located just outside of Austin, Nevada.

 

There is something truly otherworldly about being in a place so flat and desolate. It's like being at the ocean, only quieter. You can hear your heart beat, your breath and the wind in your ears. I practiced my yoga and went for two during our stay, pretty amazing on both accounts.

 

The weekend consisted of lots of time on the bicycle for O. Tons of running around trying to keep up with the big kids for Fifi. We all did some land sailing, rocket launching, kite flying, hot springs dipping, mud playing, giggling and visiting with friends.

I think I might be raising desert rats, and I'm cool with that.

Shooting with big and little (cameras)

During our first "glamping" trip of the year, I had a lot of fun switching between my many cameras. In this post I want to share images from my iPhone (the images above the captions) and my DSLR (those below the captions). I love how each camera gives me the ability to capture a moment or a feeling in different ways. I love using my DSLR because of the quality of the images I get, but sometimes it is too much to carry around. The phone is great because I am seldom without it. One of the times I like having my phone with me the most is when I am out for a run. I am in my own groove, can stop when I want or see something and it's already part of my gear for music and pace keeping. I wouldn't have gotten this first shot if it weren't for the convenience of this device.

Finding peace and love.

I found kittens in the window and on a bench

 

lovely textures where every where

I found Beach Way and my way to the beach

and spotted bright pops of color along the Board Walk.

What about you, what are you shooting and discovering these days?

eat and drink

For camping, we sure do it up right in the food and drink department....

I mean, who gets home-brewed hard apple cider on tap when they camp? The Simpson's.

Who gets fresh baked Tripple Cs when they camp? The Simpson's 

Pancakes and hot coffee every morning... you guessed it? The Simpson's 

 

What about freshly cut artichokes and that day picked strawberries? uh yeah, The Simpson's

  

And when we are out and about, finding the BIGGEST ice cream cones we can find... Heck to the YES, The Simpson's 

We also held strong to tradition and made sure the nightly campfire wasn't lonely. S'mores please!