Mt. Baldy is bald
Posted: 04/14/2013 Filed under: environment, health & fitness, photography, travel Comments OffWe had the privilege of hiking with our friends Joel and Frances to the top of Mt. Baldy near Los Angeles, CA. Having climbed the likes of Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft.) and Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft.), they are much more experienced hikers that we are so it was great to have their guidance during our first high elevation hike. At the top of Mt. Baldy we reached 10,064 feet. The weather was perfect, the view was spectacular, and our legs were sore for three entire days after the hike (it was totally worth it!).
Joel brought his GPS watch to track our stats
Below is a mix of photos taken by all of us at various moments towards the summit of Mt. Baldy.
Donald and Joel…always a few steps ahead
definitely feeling the elevation at this point…taking it slow.
it was really hard to keep up with these two mountain goats
Frances and I at the peak of Mt. Baldy, 04/07/2013. Giggling was making me lightheaded up here…
Frances and Joel posing for one of their many peak photos
Standing on top of Mt. Baldy’s bald head, 10,064 feet
Happy New Year!
Posted: 12/31/2012 Filed under: dreamland, environment, photography, travel Comments OffThe sky was definitely showing off for the last few days of 2012. I picked the top 12 photos that Donald and I took during the sunset in Southern California on December 30th, 2012 (yes, we both could not stop taking photos of this amazing cloud/rain/ocean show).
Here’s to a peaceful, mindful, healthy and prosperous 2013. And many more days of cloud watching!
Merry Christmas!
Posted: 12/25/2012 Filed under: environment, family, photography, travel Comments Off
A few outtakes from our 2012 Christmas photo below:
essential: home-made-gold-glitter-star-tree-topper
near Anza-Borrego desert
waiting patiently for lighting that is “just right”
it gets cold once the sun goes down…
The Christmas tree made it safely back home.
Hotter than Mojave in my Heart
Posted: 10/23/2012 Filed under: environment, photography, travel Comments OffRecent trip to the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave National Preserve, October 2012
The drive started out like this…quite a contrast from the desert landscape.
He’s so far from home.
That’s the 650 ft Kelso Dune climb behind me
sand compasses and lizard tracks
view from the bottom of the Kelso Dunes
man of the desert
I’m so glad I brought my ripped-up hat. It was only a high of 83° F but you can’t hide from the sun in the desert.
view from the top of the Kelso Dunes, Mojave Desert
We had to take a few breaks to catch our breath and slow down our heart rate, but this time we didn’t need to use our hands to climb at all. Gettin’ strong.
We found the quietest place in Southern California. The loudest noise is from the insects that buzz by.
Donald about to run down…
Sticker shock in Amboy, CA. Make sure you fill up your tank before you drive out into the desert. We only bought 1.5 gallons here and moved along…
Amboy, CA
Amboy, CA
Bumper clouds in Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs, CA- sun lava
Palm Springs, CA, more sun lava
airstream
Posted: 06/24/2012 Filed under: travel, vintage Comments Off
This is looking pretty good to me right about now…
but I’d have to do some major downsizing (+ add a bicycle rack).
Spring time in the desert
Posted: 04/16/2012 Filed under: environment, hair, photography, travel 1 Comment »
Making good use of Theda's props.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
We found the Cabbage-Patch-Butt-Rock!
Transforming into a Wookie in the desert
Victor, what was the name of that movie again?
View from Ryan Mountain= 5,458 ft or 1,664m
Cholla Cactus Garden, Joshua Tree National Park
Nice catch Theda!
Theda instructs me to "be more graceful"
cross-country road trip
Posted: 02/27/2012 Filed under: family, health & fitness, photography, travel 1 Comment »A death in the family, followed by a birth, sent us on an unexpected, cross-country road trip.
With very little time to spare we covered the grounds from Jacksonville, North Carolina to Chicago, Illinois (by way of Asheville, NC) in one fell swoop.
And then we took the southern route from Chicago to San Diego, California in two nights/three days. We discovered healthy food options at every stop, did planks on the side of the road, got to hold an adorable newborn while she slept, and now we have a new-found love for Albuquerque, New Mexico and northern Arizona.
We also had our jar peanut butter taken away from us by a TSA agent on one out of two flights when we flew out East. Gotta’ love that consistency.
150 pre-flight push-ups
A couple of hours before their new baby sis arrives!
Chicago, IL
Totally under-dressed for an 18-degree Fahrenheit day in Chicago
Delayed flight = extra playtime with Logan ;)
Twiggy
Luna
Luna with aluminum foil toy
Luna attacking aluminum foil toy
Beautiful pines in Jacksonville, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina
$2 trigger-pull mittens, 100% wool
Twiggy
Undercover Piggly Wiggly
Pawn shop purchase in NC
Smoky Mountains in NC
I don’t know how Donald manged to drive all night through this….
but he did.
One of my favorite store fronts in Chicago, IL- Uncle Nephew's Clip Joynt on Division.
Borinquen! One of my favorite landmarks in Chicago, IL.
Chicago's very own...
Kathleen Maeve meets Maeve Kathleen...
Audrey, Gavin, Emma = adorable!
Gavin
somewhere nasty in Illinois
Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MO
An unfortunate name for a chain of gas stations in Missouri & Oklahoma
Forward Foods in Oklahoma City, OK. Good coffee & healthy groceries!
Cadillac Ranch by Ant Farm in Amarillo, TX
Cadillac Ranch by Ant Farm in Amarillo, TX
Northern New Mexico- so pretty and 6,000+ elevation!
Albuquerque, NM Brick Light District
Northern Arizona near Flagstaff
Arizona, south of Flagstaff
Saguaros in Arizona
AZ
AZ
All-American Canal in the Southern California desert. This water travels a LONG way...
United States / México border fence, California
We bounce along the US/MEX border and finally make it “home.”
Southern California
Posted: 01/20/2012 Filed under: environment, travel Comments OffSouthern California– simultaneously the prettiest and the ugliest place on Earth.
post for mom
Posted: 01/10/2012 Filed under: environment, family, mom, photography, technology, travel Comments OffHi Mom,
I know you liked seeing the last set of iPhone Instagram photos so here are a few more for you to enjoy.
xo (exponentially),
Encinitas, CA winter swell, early morning January 2012
I've been waking up super early lately. Early meaning that the moon is still out. It's wonderful...there's so much to see.
This lil' lady looked amazing in her 1971 VW Karmann Ghia. I told her so and she gave me a cute smirk.
I love his bike to work outfits...
Self-Realization Fellowship founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, Encinitas, CA decorated for Christmas
Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve, Escondido, CA. That's a tiny Donald @ 9 o'clock. I can barely keep up with him.
On my lunch break I watched the busy bees gather as much pollen as they could from this divine orange tree.
♥Like
Posted: 01/05/2012 Filed under: environment, photography, technology, travel Comments OffI like Instagram. It’s a free app for the iPhone that allows you to instantly share photos with friends as well as use a variety of filters to alter your images.
I find myself pushing the ♥like button for so many of the photos that my friends post. Given that many of my friends live at least 1,000 miles away it is a total joy to have a glimpse into their day and send some hearts back and forth. I’m sharing some of my Instragram photos here so that my friends and family that remain loyal to their very first cell phone can share in the fun. You know who you are and yes I’m referring to that same cell phone that starts beeping immediately after a 5-minute conversation to alert you of a dead battery . I’m not knocking this at all. It’s totally fine. Call me back after you recharge your phone and know that your devotion is exactly what I love about you.
This first photo cracks me up. Donald is on his way to go surfing and I’m learning not to put my finger in front of the lens.
One a side note:
Dear USPS-
I know that you’re experiencing financial hardship and sadly the post office depicted above is one of the many that has recently closed. If you find that you are going to sell the letters on this building I would be delighted to place the first bid.
Signed,
Katie
Good guess but it's a Renault 8S.
