Hillbillies, Sasquatch and Soul-searching

Kirk's family has an annual tradition that includes a long and beautiful drive, lots of fishing, and staying in what we like to call the hillbilly cabins near Fish Lake. Doesn't this place look like an 8-kid hillbilly family could comfortably reside here? Love it. And, as a bonus to all that, the cabin next to us was visited by a very hungry Sasquatch, who rummaged through their garbage then barged into the cabin to steal some snacks. It's too bad we were asleep when the rest of our family got a visit, because I would have loved to get a picture of that. Bummer. I did, however, manage to take some photos of those cray-cray people we love and our peaceful surroundings for your enjoyment:

It was beautiful this year, not too hot, and not too cold. The company was good, we heartily enjoyed mountain rainstorms (which are pretty close to the top of my "most favorite things ever about nature" list), saw a breathtaking astronomical display, and we gave the little sprout her first taste of the joys of boating. It was a success. (Her first taste of fishing, on the other hand, wasn't such a hit, but that's another story.

My favorite thing about being in the mountains is the peace. I have always been able to literally feel myself relax as soon as I'm out in the wilderness: my shoulder muscles loosen, my attitude becomes more carefree, my breathing is more intentional. I appreciate all of my senses much more. I discover me from a fresh perspective. I re-prioritize. I can see why great souls retreat to the mountains to do their best thinking and deepest soul-searching. The timing for this family gathering couldn't have been more perfect because this was a soul-searching trip for me. and I came away from it with stronger resolve and feeling very at peace. Escapist? Maybe. But there you have it and I offer no apologies.

Are you a soul-searcher? If so, what do you do to create for yourself an optimum soul-searching environment?

Tents are Exciting Things

Our family trio was in desperate need of a getaway with only us. Extended family overload, if you know what I mean. So, we packed our camping gear in the truck and took off toward the mountains. We found a great place off of a dirt road somewhere and set up our tent just as darkness fell. 

Little Pimienta was ecstatic about being in a tent. She literally ran circles around the tent for about 20 minutes laughing and yelling, "Mine tent! Dada's tent! Mama's tent!" Then, she brought her exclamations inside and continued her running and excitable chattering until she fell dead asleep as soon as she sat still for two seconds. Ah, simple pleasures.

Rodeo

We had a week-long break from the wee one as she was whisked away to Wyoming to spend time with her awesome aunts, cousins, and uncle. We got a LOT done while she was gone, and soaked up the one-on-one time with each other. It was like we were dating again! In fact, we went on a date pretty much every single night.

One date we went on was to a rodeo because we stumbled across free tickets...yee-haw! Note to self: tiny yellow shorts equals unintentional bum photo-bombing. Never wear.

My brother and delight of a sister-in-law doubled with us, and together we watched quite the show of raw red-neckedness. We ate the local fare, and were awed by the all-encompassing culture. I hadn't been to a rodeo since I was a kid, so it was interesting to look at it with my adult perspective. Plus, the rodeo royalty kept throwing Kirk prizes, which I can only assume is because he is a hottie. He came away with a free T-shirt, which is his favorite kind of shirt.

The most entertaining event was watching the wild cow milking contest. Yes, it's a real thing. Here's how it goes: teams of 3 chase wild cows around the ring until they corner and catch one long enough to milk it. Whoever can get a set volume to the judges first wins. Wild cows are pretty funny, but I think the guys who think it would be a good idea to chase them are even funnier: "Hey Chuck, how'd ya break yer face?" "Well, ya know, just tryin' ter milk a wild cow with my buddies." I don't think I'll ever forget the sight of three grown men being dragged along the ground by a bewildered and well-endowed bovine.

(Also, sidenote, I totally forgot I'm allergic to horses, so the experience got a little unbearable by the end with all the dust, hair, hay and poop kicked up into my face. If I ever go back to a rodeo, please remind me to take allergy medication beforehand so that I can actually see what's going on.)

Have you been to a rodeo? What was the most memorable part for you?

Hike to the G

This is one of my most frequented trails because it is pretty close to my place of employment. Every time I kick it on this trail, the lighting is different and I notice something new from my mountainside perch:

This time, there was some gross haze that actually made the evening light quite heavenly. Just trying to see the good in all that mucky muck.

What have you done lately to find the good through the haze? Do tell.

A Fresh Coat

I know things have been quiet around this ol' blog lately, but that just means that we are far cry from doing nothing. We've been a little caught up in living lately that there has hardly been time for anything but that.

Something I've been itching to show for a while has been our front room facelift. Before:


...and after:

I loved our awesome orange and bronze walls, but I was needing a little breezy freshness in my life. Although I loved how cozy and warm our front room felt, I was ready for a change and opted for a robin's egg option for this lover of light. I love how the wood floors and furniture stand out now.

 

I've also been trying to find ways to display my nature finds, and this color scheme lent itself nicely to effortlessly displaying the odds and ends I pick up on my hikes. This space is a living and breathing space now, and is constantly evolving and being added to. I'm pretty sure I've added 3 more plants and 12 more feathers since these photos were taken.

The photo above of my growing feather collection sits on one of my pianos. Fret not, no birds were killed for these lovely plumes. I (and some kind friends who know my heart) have found all of these on the ground.

The basket of huge pinecones by the sofa is filled with gorgeous beauties I harvested from my parents' yard and accented with bronze glitter. (If you decide to bring nature into your home in the form of pinecones, always make sure you bake them first to rid them of any pesky varmints.)

The shelf above the barn owl painting is filled with knick-knacks from hikes and walks, such as pinecones, dried mushrooms, wasps' nests, shells, rocks, leaves, and interesting sticks. Love it. This is always changing. My precious Pimienta likes to give me her finds to add there too.

I love that this room invites change and exploration. There's an ebb and flow to this living space. Do you have a room or special place in your house that changes along with you? I'd love to hear about it.

Helicopters and Trucks

Our little girl loves aircrafts, sirens, trains, and any vehicle, really. When our city held its summer celebration, complete with helicopter landing and emergency vehicles on display, our baby was in heaven:

I love it when people from 'other worlds' make themselves available to the citizens. It helps a much-needed humanization take place, I think. Plus, it's always super interesting to learn about a variety of disciplines. The cherry on top is that this is a great toddler activity. I think we'll try it again next year, too. (Forget the kid, I might just go on my own. Maybe they'll let me honk the horn.)

Salad from a Box

We've been enjoying all sorts of scrumptious salads from our little box of dirt:

I love growing deliciousness. This year we're trying brussels sprouts for the first time, so we'll see how that goes. Gross! Why brussels sprouts? you may ask. Because they are completely scrumptious when shredded and baked with olive oil and light seasonings, that's why. And, because neither Kirk nor I grew up on them, so we don't have scarred childhoods. Maybe you should set aside your kid-self's horrifying memories and take a second look at this delicious vegetable in your more mature years...just a friendly suggestion.

Are any of you trying new things in your gardens this year? Do tell.