Twins?

Saint Anthony

Saint Anthony is the patron said of lost items.  I had never heard of him until Anna explained that she always said the prayer, below, to Saint Anthony whenever she lost anything.  I love this tradition and wanted make sure I captured it as part of our family history.


St Anthony, St Anthony
Please look around
Something is lost
And cannot be found

Point Reyes - Wildcat Camp Backpack Trip

We got lucky and got beautiful weather after 2 days of storms!    Susan (from Washington), Jim and Susan's friend from college, Liz, and I went for an overnighter at Wildcat Campground in Point Reyes National Seashore.  

It was a beautiful 5 and a half mile hike in to the campground.  It was about 70 degrees.

Susan and Liz

Reunited one year later!

Jim, me, Susan and Liz

We got to the campsite and immediately had some lunch because we never found a place to stop on the hike in.   Once we ate and set up camp, we walked down to the beach.

The waves were HUGE due to the storm we just had - we were lucky it was low tide because the beach buts right up against cliffs and if the tide was high, you couldn't have walked it.

We walked a mile down the beach to see Alamere Falls - a waterfall that lands right on the beach.   We all were greatly amused by the topless girl doing cartwheels! 

After our walk on the beach, it was time for our traditional trail tea time!  I brought banana and pumpkin bread (thanks Heather) to share!   We sat around and moved directly to happy hour (wine, dip, cheese and crackers!).  And then while we were at it, we moved right on to dinner!  The ladies and I tried a bunch of the Outdoor Herbivore foods I had ordered to try.  One was ok but one was a no go!

When having tea, a coyote walked thru camp!  And a little while later he started yipping with a bunch of his buddies!  We saw lots of wildlife: gophers, snakes, lizards and tons of birds.

After the sunset, we went down to the beach and had a bonfire!  That was such a treat for us because most places we go, fires are not allowed.

Our campsite!

Breakfast

Everything was really damp when we woke up in the morning.  But it warmed right up.

After breakfast, we took a morning walk to the bluff (about 300 yards from our campsite)!

This is where the campsites were - they are totally hidden

Susan is in the background rescuing her tent that had flown away!

We had a nice hike out until one of my shoe laces from my right boot caught on the hook of my left boot and I went down like a ton of bricks!  I landed on my knee, shoulder and hands.  I wasn't seriously hurt but I sure am sore.

Overall, it was a great trip and a place we will visit again!

Bark Beetles

Before

 Unfortunately, we just had to have 5 dead trees removed due to bark beetles.  Jim went up for a couple days to remove our baby trees and manage the process.  The guys did a great job and were really quite remarkable in falling the trees right wher they wanted them to go.

During

After

Derby and Maisy

Derby is on the left and Maisy is on the right.  They are 15 weeks old.  Maisy goes to her new home in the Los Angeles area on Saturday and Derby will be living in Palm Springs with a retired gentleman, so he will have a lot of time focused on him!  They are both super sweet and super smart.  Just like their mama!

College Reunion

Kirsten, Jill and me

We were so busy chatting that we didn't even eat until 2 pm - but then we pigged out!

I spent a warm October weekend at the cabin with two dear friends from college.  We have each gone our separate ways and lived busy lives for the last 25 years, only being able to see each other a handful of times.  But we were able to make up for all the missed years in a marathon session of sharing and laughing.  It was good to celebrate our successes and joys and commiserate about some of our hardships.  Things like this are incredibly fulfilling and remind me of what life is about.

Hops was one of the girls!

Cathedral Lakes

We had a cousin weekend at the cabin with Bean, Richard, Eric and Susan.  The highlight of the wonderful weekend was a hike to Cathedral Lakes in the high country of Yosemite.

We hit the trail at 10:21 am and returned at 4:15 pm

We hit both Upper and Lower Cathedral Lake and hiked about 8 miles - starting at 8500 feet and ending at 9600 feet.   It was so beautiful and such a great day catching up with everyone!

Cousins - Jim, Bean, Eric

Susan and Eric

Lower Cathedral Lake

We looked over Tenaya Lake

Snack break

Upper Cathedral Lake