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It could be that I should bite my tongue, but at this moment, bolstered by the lack of failure, I am here to proclaim, my succulent pots are thriving.
It is surprising how many varieties there are available here in Kansas.
Even the dragonflies have given their seal of approval. Most of my inspiration for these has come from Sister and my visits to the fabulous gardens of Los Angeles. I have also enjoyed very much reading this book.
Warning: Family photos ahead. May not be of interest to you unless:
1. your last name is Mulvenon
2. you were a participant in the recent trip to Breckenridge (and your last name is not Mulvenon)
3. you are someone who loves to look at photos from the family vacations of others, which either makes you a great actor or a very kind person.
Prior to jumping in our cars on the day of departure, we did the obligatory shot of all the Mulvenon siblings in attendance (you really missed out John and Mary), as well as one of the side kicks.
We are none of us getting younger. However, that is no reason not to have a sense of humor about it.
Hello and happy quiet Sunday from Lawrence. Chris is downstairs in the kitchen, making potato salad to go with the ribs he is smoking out back. My agenda for the day has included garden rounds, weeding, watering, trimming, more zinnia gathering.
Adding a few fresh blooms to last week's bouquet because it still looks too good to discard.
Preparing to affix these specimens into the everyday journal. Finds from the mountains, and these wings from my front porch.
The Queen Red Lime zinnias have started to bloom. They may be my favorite zinnias. This year Tequila Lime were also planted. To go with.
A few well placed sprigs of mint, sage, and basil (or whatever herbs are available) are welcome additions among the flowers.
With chores done, and affixing completed, I am off to finish listening to the last CD of Where the Crawdads Sing. Maybe eat some ribs and break open a bottle of some bold Zinfandel. Squeezing every bit of enjoyment possible into what remains of this lovely weekend. Hope you are doing the same.
I am almost (but not quite) done with Colorado stories. Did I tell you there are cute towns there? With amazing flowers, stylish people, music, good beer or mojitos with mountain views, and places to buy a new hat?
The two cutie pies below are my new friends who were also visiting. We locked eyes and a conversation ensued. It went like this:
Me: Hi
Them: HI!!!! (with much enthusiasm)
Boy on right: I am 5!
Boy on left: I am fwee! (holding up 3 fingers)
Me: I am 60.
Them: silence.
Boy on left: I am fwee!
Me: Where are you from?
Dad of boys who was driving the car: We just came from Hawaii
Me: I was born in Hawaii
Boy on right: ME TOOOOO! (incredulously)
Boy on left: I am fwee! Have a good day!
Moral of the story: it's important to talk to people wherever you go. You never know when you are going to meet a kindred spirit (or two) who just happen to have been born at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu. Same as you, except 55 years apart.
Reporting in on all the ordinary things done in the last weeks. Things like NOT going to Colorado and NOT going to California. Staying at home stuff.
First there was this lemon cake from Cafe Europa where I went for a Quail Dinner. Sublimely enjoyable. Every mouthful. Speaking of enjoyable... we were thoroughly entertained by Yesterday. We (ok mostly me) are finding all sorts of ways to work Beatles songs into everyday life.
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, stuff at home yah
La-La-La-La stuff at home...
Zinnia bouquets, morning walks, coffee time while writing the story of my life.
And watching my blooming succulents which are crazy beautiful.
One of my nieces, stumbled upon the Fairy Forest in Breckenridge, while out on a walk, and not really looking for it. As soon as she mentioned it, my ears perked up. Of course I had to go. To see my distant cousins. Fairy cousins. That I haven't seen in decades.
So here is the deal. The fairy forest is a little tricky to find. There are no coordinates or addresses to put in your GPS. But if you are determined, do not give up easily, and run across a nice local (preferably over 65), she might guide you there. That is what happened to me.
You will wander through paths, ford streams, climb rickety stairs, cross 3 bridges, and stay right at the reservoir... then you will know you are close.
There are all manner of abodes in the fairy forest.
As well as other playful signs that fairies are in residence here.
It is important not to take or disturb anything you find in the fairy forest. Although, additions are welcome.
I might have seen a scout or two along the trail. Sentries. On the lookout for intruders in the fairy forest. They can tell instinctively if you don't belong and lead you astray.
I would like to tell you exactly how to get there. But cannot. All I can say is start under the snowflake ski lift, cross your fingers, be patient, keep your eyes peeled for signs, and if you see a really kind woman walking 2 white dogs ask her if you are on the right track. If you are lucky, she will lead you there.
What follows are random photos from my wonderful days in LA/Santa Barbara. In no particular order, with no particular purpose, other than to remind myself of what a lovely trip it was.
I am 100% in love with these works of art in the Japanese gardens. An acquisition may be in order.
Cafe Tropical in Silverlake has been one of my very favorite places to go, in all the world, since Sister first took me there about 20 years ago. Simple. Classic. No other place like it. If you are in LA you must go and get a cuban coffee and a slice of cheese/guava pie.
Imagine, reclining on this couch with your favorite book. The view from the window is a perfect painting.
Below are glimpses from The Sacred Space, Upstairs at Pierre LaFond, Franceschi park, Seaside gardens, a stop for coffee, Ennisbrook trail, and Sheffield Reservoir.
Because all good things end with dessert, in closing, allow me to present this masterpiece from Mesa Verde Restaurant. Swoon.
The next time you are in the Breckenridge Colorado area, put Hoosier Pass on your list of things to see. The views are breathtaking. Every which way you look.
It may be best to check it out once you have acclimated slightly to the higher elevation. If you are a flatlander like me anyway. It's pretty high up there at 11,539 feet.
There was snow across the trail about 1/2 way through the loop hike we selected. As you can see above, part of our group went through the snow, part went around the snow, and some elected to do an out and back hike from that point.
I asked James to take a photo of me in the snow, then I gladly joined up with the out and back group. Sister and I did a hike through snow once. Long ago. When me and my knees were younger. Any my balance was better.
Chris and I were quite content to examine the flora and fauna as we ambled back along the same path we took up.
Gosh the mountains are beautiful. Note to self: go to Colorado more often!
Our plans for the weekend are mainly centered around heat avoidance. Which means a movie. We have selected Yesterday. Please do not tell me before Sunday if you saw it and hated it because I will be spending Saturday brushing up on all the lyrics in anticipation of singing along. I selected our seats on-line, on opposite ends of a row for Chris and I. In case he is embarrassed when I burst out in song. I told him it would be awesome if we could sing back and forth across the row to one another. He might have rolled his eyes.
Cooling baths with orange and ginger bubbles, ice cream eating, and naps in front of a fan are also planned. Along with flower watering, zinnia bouquet making, iced coffee drinking, and evaluating spots in Minnesota for a trip with brother next year (do tell if you know a spot we must call home base). Serious rejuvenation in other words. Happy Weekend!
Educated is an engrossing read. Hard to listen to at times, but also hard to stop listening. It is a very compelling look into a complex/dysfunctional family dynamic. And yet, the very resilient author has presented us with a thoughtful glimpse into it all.
Her ability to reflect back on all that she has been through and still retain some love for her family seems amazing to me. I do not believe this book reflects badly on Mormonism, but rather demonstrates that concepts or beliefs that refuse to allow room for reason, dialogue, or common sense, are dangerous. Clearly, mental illness also played a role in this story.
The author did an excellent job describing in intimate detail just how difficult it can be to disentangle, or break free, from such an unhealthy relationship.
Definitely worth reading.
Hiking has been a big part of our family vacations for the past 24 years, since that first trip to Red River New Mexico in 1995.
The cast of characters has changed over the years, but many things remain constant.
Like trouble finding the trailhead, and making do with what we find.
Stopping for pictures along the way.
Playing with whatever you find on the trail.
Amazing views, peanut butter sandwiches with cherries for a snack, and specimen collecting.
In the words of John Muir ..."between every two pines is a doorway to a new world"...
Amen to that brother. Amen.
On the drive to Colorado, for the biennial meeting up of the Mulvenon clan, we made a detour off the beaten path to see Castle Rock.
It really is in the middle of nowhere, can be approached from the east or west, is on private land, and I was very glad we were in a 4 wheel drive vehicle when we encountered the deep ruts along the road there.
It's hard to believe you are in Kansas as you walk around it.
These are ancient chalk spires that have eroded over the years. Further to the west are Monument Rocks that we did not see on this trip, but plan to visit when we go to Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park when it opens sometime this year.
If you make the trek, and happen to stay overnight in Quinter, you can get a great burger or BLT and a nice cold beer at the Center Pivot Restaurant and Brewery downtown. If you need a little something to knock the dust off. Which we definitely did.
On the beaches of Santa Barbara we saw walkers, runners, bike riders, dog walkers, shell seekers, hand holders, toddlers discovering the magic of the ocean, sand castle makers, and driftwood structure architects.
But of all the things we glimpsed on the beaches of California, perhaps the most intriguing was the Santa Barbara Men's Barefoot Running and Exercise Club.
Such a pleasant group of fellows (and one dog), who did not object in anyway when I let them know that I could not pass up the opportunity to document this activity, and would therefore be taking their pictures.
In addition to running, there were stops along the way for push-ups and lunges...
... power lifting
...squats
and scissor kicks (pretty sure that's what we called them in gym class... way back when).
They seemed like a group of guys that had been through stuff together, and would continue to count on each other. At least that was my impression. Had I been braver, I might have asked questions. Which would totally have spoiled this encounter. Some things are just best left to wonder over.
We interrupt this recap of Santa Barbara for an update from Colorado. Where the flowers are dazzling, snow covers the mountain tops, and family hikes are being taken.
We are playing Farkle, cooking, and feasting on new taste treats like the roasted peaches with honey, topped with burrata, pistachios, and mint below.
At the end of the day when I lay my head down to sleep, I look up and see the stars in a dark purplish-midnight blue sky.. and to my right, out the window, the lodge pole pines sway and whisper in the breeze.
And everyone lived happily ever after. The end.
There's a lot of interesting things to see hidden on the back lanes of Montecito and Santa Barbara.
Everywhere you look. Oh, "but wait, did you see that?"
It helps to have a tour guide who will drop you off to take pictures, point at things as she takes off, and wait for you at the end of the lane.
Someone who knows where all the good stuff is, comes in very handy.
I hope all these people know how much I appreciate the "sprucing up of their yards" they did in advance of my visit.
I was going to tell them, but I didn't see anyone out and about.
It's a garden lover's paradise.
There were also great places to see on walks right in the neighborhood where we stayed.
Cute, cozy, colorful.
It was just like walking through a magazine. Only better.
Oh the joy of having like-minded friends, who at the drop of a hat, will arrange their schedules to sit around a table with you and play.
I include this photo of Sharron and Joyce because it's a perfect reflection of their friendship, but also so you can see what they really look like. In my renderings of them I have taken artistic license and chosen to stray from reality.
Making art with others, while you laugh, tell stories, and look up to see the ocean before your eyes, surely is what heaven is like. If you believe in that sort of thing.
There must always be blind and semi-blind contour drawings.
In her usual easy-going manner, my sister, the artist who nudges me by example, enticed me on this trip with her trees. So I had to try. The presence of a chief tantalizer is important in any art retreat. Someone to encourage you past the point of struggle to that one small success that pushes you onward.
Then I went back to other things. Cherries in bowls, birds, treasures from the sea, a study of eye glasses.
And then, for some reason, on Sunday, after reading the NY Times and seeing the amazing Wendy McNaughton's work, I somehow go the idea that I was not only completely capable, but likely could excel at capturing my whole body in a sketch.
It's all in the eye of the beholder, but seriously, that is exactly what my knees look like.
What follows are my favorite quirky pictures from California. Opinions, loves, fashion, art. All statements. About something.
You add the commentary. Or not.
Whatever else you have planned for your 4th celebration (if you have one), include this.
Or some semblance of this. Brownies would do. So would a root beer float. This was Chris's idea. When he had a craving for white cake with white frosting with sprinkles and came home with a jiffy cake mix and a can of Betty Crocker ready to spread frosting. He is not a sweets lover. Hence this choice. That I will admit to eating my share of. So he wouldn't feel like I was a dessert snob. Which I most certainly am not.
The Douglas Family preserve is a nice spot for sunset viewing. And lots of moments leading up to the setting of the sun, then continuing after it sets, and if you want to peek over the edges of cliffs, see wildflowers, meander on a trail, sit on a log, or spot some owls. These things can all be done there.
We went on one of the few evenings when the sun was out. Oh. It was beautiful. There were other people meandering around too. A lovely way to spend the after dinner hours. I wasn't kidding about the owls. We (ok it was sister who noticed them) spotted one adult with 3 fledglings. Owls in trees, screeching, at night, in a darkened wood. It was one of those perfect capsules that will be sealed into my memory, easily retrievable, for all the years to come.
Sister says it's a law (punishable by a steep fine if broken) that the jacaranda trees MUST stay in bloom for all of June, in LA.
Overhead or underfoot, they were in compliance during the days I was there.
In groups or single blooms, they are spectacular.
Ever since we went to San Miguel de Allende in 2007, at the height of their blooming, I have been a fan of the Jacaranda. That's also the trip where I became acquainted with the divine creme de frijole soup, learned that "mala payasos" means bad clowns, and figured out how hard it is to flip over a 5 gallon bottle of water without spilling it when the cooler jug needs to be changed. All stories for another time.
