{this moment}

an occasional post by me, inspired by soulemama's friday ritual.

road trip to vegas

Spring break sprang itself on us and I didn't have a plan. I'm not even sure how I came up with the idea to go to Las Vegas. It was a thought, then suddenly it was a phrase whispered into the ear of one of my boys, then it was a plan to see my cousin, then it was a plan to meet up with friends and my brother. It just was. And it was swell.

It was a mellow and lovely visit with Mary Ann, Bill and Michael, and of course Daisy. They were patient and gracious hosts. It's been too long since we saw them last (close to a decade). And though the trip took nine hours it actually made me feel like I have family nearby. I like that. Michael, Mary Ann and Daisy brought us to Redrock Canyon National Conservation area. What a beautiful place to hike around. Next time we visit we'd like to spend an entire day hiking there. The boys were psyched to parkour around the rocks. We briefly hiked around before we set back for a dinner with friends and Chuck in town.

Before we hit the road to go home we went to the famous Gold & Silver Pawn. There was a line to get in. Crazy, right? It was not nearly as big as I thought it was going to be, but they had some pretty cool stuff in there. If you look carefully at the building in the distance that looks a little like the Seattle Space Needle, you are looking at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, and you can jump off the top of it if you want (attached to a bungee cord). Or ride up the needle part at 45mph then plummet down. Or dangle over the edge on a mechanical spinning thingy. I tried to talk the kids into a ride, but they weren't having it. Had they said yes, I'm not sure how I would have pulled it off. Maybe next time.

Hello Again & Fairwell Summer

Well, here we are at the end of our summer break – already. How did that happen? The last time I wrote here summer was in full swing. It's been a wonderful summer, one lazy, enjoyable, lovely summer. We celebrated two family birthdays, swam, dove, hiked, climbed, played/watched football, did horseback riding, biked, entertained family, had a few bonfires, and generally had a mellow summer. School starts Wednesday, August 28th...Getting ready.

Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos

Max, Aaron and Coleman

Rope swing in The Forest of Nisene Marks - some very productive teenagers built a cool village there.

Oh so pretty Kitty.

Coleman, Sean, Aaron, Max and Nana heading up the hill to set up for Max's 9th birthday party.

Chris and Max swimming.

Max found a good size garter snake in the yard.

Max and Kitty cuddled up on the sofa.

First practice of the season, Nana looks on.

First scrimmages of the season.

Nana, Kitty and I went for a walk. Up hill.

Then we came down hill.

Coleman and Chris go to Yosemite

My two big guys went into to the woods last week. This trip was brewing in Chris' mind for a couple of months. With very little spare time to plan, Chris was able to make a pretty magnificent long weekend for the two of them.

The drive to Yosemite is just five hours. A world away in five hours. Enjoy a few of the pictures the guys took while they were there.

Grateful: Special Places & Friends

There are many things to be grateful for each day. Every day I am grateful for the friendships we have forged here in this place we now call home (we've been in CA for 8 years!). I'm sure I've said before that it has been a stretch for me, outside of New England, being here on the west coast. It's rather like another country, we speak the same language, yes. But language is a funny thing. Just because you understand the words, doesn't necessarily mean you will understand the people. One thing is for certain, though when you push your own comfortable envelope, that's when you will have a chance to understand yourself better.

This weekend we had some of the boy's friends over for a sleepover and day adventure(s). One little trek we did was to The Garden of Eden in Felton. It's one of those magical places for walking and swimming and just plain being. I hope to get there a few times this summer with the boys and whoever else we can bring along for the adventure. But we'll have to leave Kitty home next time, no dogs allowed. So glad we missed the Ranger giving out tickets. I think they cost a couple hundred dollars these days. Indeed I would be able to engage more with the kids anyhow without worrying about Kitty who can't stand to be in the water.

Quiet Walk

So quiet I will say no more...

Mushroom Hunters & Poker Players

In preparation for our trip to Nana and Papa's house this week we taught the boys to play poker this weekend. We figure it will come in handy to have this knowledge (in life) and will be a fabulous thing to do in the evenings (or whenever) with Papa. It was amazing how quickly the guys picked up the concept of the game and how to build a winning hand. We love cards, they're simple and portable.

Also this weekend we found ourselves hunting for mushrooms in The Forest of Nisene Marks. Mushrooms are one of the foods our family agrees not to like - even Chris. However, Coleman is in a nature class and has been hunting for mushrooms each week. Last week he brought home a King Bolete mushroom which we cooked up and ate (except Max). The fun part is just looking for them and trying to identify them, photographing them and walking through the woods together with the collective mission of discovering something new. We met another mushroom hunter while in the woods tonight, his name is Michael. What a delightful individual he was. We chatted with him as we walked and he took us to a big jack-o-lantern mushroom near his home in the woods. He recommended the book, All That The Rain Promises and More by a local guy, David Arora. The most important thing he told us was "when in doubt, throw it out". In other words don't eat if unless you are absolutely one hundred percent certain what it is. Coleman said he learned 60% of mushrooms are poisonous. Yeah, I'm not gonna just eat any old mushroom we find. . . Did I just say I was going to eat a mushroom? Wonders never cease.

Jack-O-Lantern Mushroom - Poison

We think this to be a Death Cap - Poison

Another view of the Death Cap.

I wish you all a wonderful week...I will be traveling with the boys and mostly absent from this space for a couple of weeks. I will return with some fabulous New England images and family stories. Happy Thanksgiving.

Hairy Bag of Bones

Look what we found – an owl pellet!

It was a fascinating little project in the woods.

This owl pellet was choc-full o' bones.

The Forest of Nisene Marks holds so many little treasures, such a variety of trails and creeks and different ways to approach each walk. I write little bits about it now and then, and when you see pictures of the redwoods, that's probably where the shot was taken. It is our favorite classroom, gymnasium, temple. There are days we walk into that forest feeling restless and bored, run-down, irritated, confused or sad, but we always walk out of it feeling healed, refreshed, inspired, even if just a little. 

That dead computer of mine was not the worst thing that could have happened to me. I will figure out a more permanent solution to my computer problem than this here computer of Coleman's. Meanwhile, we are going about our business using the public library and doing more off-line things. I highly recommend it to those of you who have your ass velcro'd to your chair or sofa - for everyone! It feels good to move your body, it's what it's meant for. Go climb a tree.