Camping 2009

Some forgotten photos I found, from Big Sur this past summer. It seems like so long ago...since Tim & Jill's baby has arrived, Douglas & Al's baby is due any day, the camping equipment is all packed away, and Brian & Susan have returned to Chattavegas. (sigh)

Part of the crew:
Douglas, Annalaura, Smeadie, Susan, Brian, Jill, Tim, Mumsy, Lady D.

Smeadie & Aunt Alyce greeting each other...

Brian & Uncle Earl greeting each other...

We attempted Bocce Ball in the dust field. It didn't last long, and neither did our willing / dusty ball retrievers...
Smeadie & Kona. Smeadie was so careful to not touch either dog after careful instruction by her parents (they were worried about poison oak). Smeadie was so great, talking a lot about how she couldn't touch the dogs and why, and then crouching as close as she could she would coo over the beasts. It was so adorable.


Don't bikes come with warning stickers for pregnant ladies on them...or is that just cigarettes?

We spent a whole afternoon watching the dogs (Kona & Cali) play fetch in the water. It is always a treat to get to be with my brothers at the same time! Here they are conferring on proper photography settings for the animals.
We laughed so hard as Cali (Diane's little black dog) inched closer and closer to the water. She had a strong aversion to the water (freezing & wet), but was obsessed with Kona. Kona was obsessed with catching the ball and impervious to the effects of the water. It made for a fun afternoon. Kona is mesmerizing to watch when she is playing catch. She is focused, persistent, and wet...

The water at the creek was low this year, but the sand was sparkly, so I got over it. Instead of mourning the changes I decided to allow myself to be influenced by my brothers, which meant I took a ton of photos of some things I thought were cool.


No camping trip at Big Sur is complete until we make the trek to the store for our ice cream. The ice cream trek may not be as arduous or impressive as the "man hike" few attempt and even fewer complete, but it does seem to be drawing people in, like people are drawn to ice cream. HAHAHAHA!

Here are our newest recruits, Yvonne & Kellen...
Big Sur feels strange when people who belong are missing. Here are who we missed: Julie, the Hawks, Stacy. In honor of them I will make a moment of "silence" which I interpret to be a blank spot of white on the interweb...

smallish things

I am delighting in small things lately. One of which is the upcoming arrival of my very first nephew. To say I am excited, would be a gross understatement. So, I won't say it...I am going to, however, show you the invitations I made for a shower we are having in honor of his mum.
Here's something you may not know, or care to know... I love quotes. Not insurance quotes, people's quotes. I keep a collection filed meticulously under "quotes", and I can loose myself for minutes at a time (I read quite fast) reading through them.

Here's something else you may not know or care to know... I keep quotes of people I know, not just dead people or poets or politicians. I have a rather large section, in the "quote" file dedicated to my sister Jules. I am sure those of you who know her, know that she does & says the most hilarious things. She also says the most thought provoking and meaningful things. She actually has the best variety of all my quotables.

So, I used two quotes on the invitation, because more is...well...more!

Another small thing I have delighted in lately is Rudy. Rudy is my elfish cousin who answers to many names. It was her birthday recently and I finally saw her in person to give her the gifts I had slaved and giggled over whilst making.

To understand my giggling you need to understand that she and her friendboy found this indescribable painting of a poodle at a garage sale and somehow knew that it was intended for only one person...me.

Unfortunately, I have expressed to my sweet elf-cousin my prejudice towards little dogs and poodles in particular. (No, I am not going to explain myself because it will bring up dark painful memories that I prefer to deal with on a couch surrounded by a counselor and lot's of "how does that make you feel" questions. All you need to know is I loathe them). For those of you who share my aversion to these beloved (really?) creatures, you may want to cover your eyes...

This is me & the first painting I received from said elf-cuz
This is me & the second painting I received
I like to think that I am gifted at mimmicking, and I now have a whole series of photos where I am trying to perfectly mimmick these painted pooches.
The purpose? you may ask.
Ah well, yes, all will be revealed. I might respond

I found this great old phone at the thrift store. I bought it, brought it home, and spent an afternoon cleaning & photographing it.
I also found a superb little do-it-yourself keepsake necklace at Michael's, and decided to share my appreciation of Rudy's thoughtful gifts with some birthday gifts of my own...

side one
side two
It's scary how people can start looking like the things they hate....er, I mean own.
I was so pleased with how they turned out. And I am pretty sure Rudy will wear the necklace, and, thinking fondly of me, will call me on her poodle-cuz telephone.