corner view~flora

This summer, when we were in California I saw one of my favorite flowers, hydrangeas, and when we were in New York I saw another one of my favorites -- Queen Anne's Lace.  Where I am from Queen Anne's is acually considered a weed but I have always thought it far too elegant to be a weed. 

We are home now!  The kids have started school already and I am almost unpacked.  We are getting back into a routine and soon I will be able to post about our travels, as reflections on our time.  I will also have more time to visit you all more frequently.

A couple of weeks before we left on our trip Gary was contacted by a record company in Japan, as they were interested in re-releasing one of his albums.  Stay tuned for more on that, because the record was just released a couple of days ago!  So you can imagine how busy I was this summer, between travel and helping Gary with that.

Have a great week my friends!

corner view~grass

Santa Cruz, California foothills

During our summer travels we have been in some U.S. states where there is a drought, and the lawns have dried up.  In some states the grass is lush and green.  It all depends on the rain. 

We arrived back in California today after having been away a month.  Even though some of the hilltops there are golden brown, and northern California gets little summer rain in a "normal" season, some of the hilltops there are green.  I love the green.  When I see lots of lush green in nature, I take a deep breath every time. 

 San Anselmo, California

fairf

For a long time, maybe years, the sign that lights up the movie theater in this small town was missing two letters, the last two letters didn't light up at night.  So instead of Fairfax, it read Fairf.

Every time Gary and I drove past this sign we would laugh, and say the word Fairf out loud, because it was fun to say.  We never minded really.  In fact when they finally got around to repairing the bulbs, we kinda missed the old Fairf sign.

Fairfax is adjacent to the town where we once lived, a place where we were married, where we began our life together, where all three of our children were born in homes within a mile of one another, where we had friendships that we nurtured, where Gary was a successful music teacher, where I taught private art lessons to kids, where Gary and I hiked many miles on forest trails and around lakes, and after Skylar was born had her in tow in a baby backpack.  This is also where I befriended a lady who had a tile store and got her discarded slate and marble for free, so much of it that I was able to make a 30 foot mosaic wall in our backyard.  And where I learned how to garden and batik and grow strawberries and sugar snap peas.  It was where our love began.

So this summer it was very wonderful to revisit these beautiful places and take our children there.  We hadn't been there since 2008.   We took them to see Gary's first house, and our old house, and the redwood forest Gary took me to the day we met, and all sorts of other places.  Everything was a little magic and special.  I love that feeling. 

corner view~what makes me laugh

My goofy kids.
How I love them so.

And my husband, he can be pretty funny!!!

gerstle park inn, san rafael

Our home away from home while we spent a few days in Marin.  The innkeepers are lovely, and made wonderful breakfasts.  Since Sky is staying away from dairy they made her special yummy pancakes with orange juice.  We had a great time visiting friends and revisiting places we used to frequent.  Before we checked out the kids sang for the owner, Jim.  I have no photos of this because Mom we don't like it when you take our picture while we are singing.

Just in case you didn't know, that's not cool.

marin, mount tam

We left Tahoe and drove southwest, approaching Marin from a new angle this time, heading our way to an area we lived in years ago.   We used my iPhone map and found our way there quite easily.

We knew we were close when we spotted Mt. Tam, way in the distance, patiently welcoming us.  I half expected the sleeping princess, hair cascading down her back, to wake up and utter, "What took you so long?"  But she stayed steady and still.

Years ago Gary wrote a song called "Elemental Line."  The first line is "Traveling up the big dark mountain, we fear the longest fall."  When Sky was little she used to listen to his album.  She thought the line was "Traveling up the big dark Mt. Tam..." and so she has always called the song "Mt. Tam."

last tahoe post

 

These are some shots taken from our second walk in Squaw Valley.  Gary and I took who I call the "two littles" (Shawn and Annabel) while Sky rested and re-cooperated. 
Even the drive back to Marin was stunning.  The first photo was taken from the car window.
Next stop, Gerstle Park Inn.

today

photo by Skylar Marks

This birthday as I sit in a quiet house in Fairport, New York, listening to birds chirping, I am grateful for growth and change and strength and the ability to access inner peace.

I am also grateful for all of the people in my life who love me and let me know I am loved.  I am so lucky.  I am so blessed.

xxoo

annabel takes to the forest

"Mom when can we go to the forest?" asked Annabel.  I heard this the minute we arrived in Squaw Valley.  Sky was sick the first day so I had to get fixins for soup for her.  On the way to the store I stopped off for a few minutes so Annabel could wander in the woods.  We were just on the side of the road, trucks were flying by.  But Annabel didn't care, she was at one in these woods.  We went in about a hundred feet for few minutes.  Annabel immediately began climbing up a hillside on a fallen tree.  She wanted to stay longer but we had to get back to Sky as soon as possible.

The second day after Sky was resting with homemade soup, and Shawn was watching a movie, I took Annabel, just Annabel on a hike right down the street from our condo, on a trail that led to a waterfall.  We hiked for over an hour, taking our time, marveling at the trees, the rocks, the pine cones.  We walked up and up, slowly climbing a path along rocks and pine trees.  I never saw Annabel quite like this.  You would have thought she was in heaven.

She's just like her mama.  I too, love being in the forest.

you can't tell...

...but it actually says "peace in the chaos" and that has been my goal as of late.

Because truthfully the summer travels have been wonderful, and inspiring and exciting.  But I have stayed in nine different places in one month's time.  Tomorrow we return to a house for another couple weeks, then stop off one more place before we head home!

Every day, find time for quiet reflection.  Every day enjoy what life brings you.  Every day take some fun photos.

We are having a blast!  I have much to share from our travels thus far on this blog.  I have to get some time to go through our photos!

corner view~table

  Our family having lunch at our favorite bagel place in San Anselmo, California -- Barton's Bagels.

We sit around tables to eat, to write letters, to play chess, to make crafts, and to tell stories, long after the meal is over, the kids running around outside chasing fireflies on a hot summer night.

My favorite time around a table is when I share it with loved ones.  This summer has involved many a night like that for me.  In fact I am visiting an old friend right now and am off to share some iced tea and talk with her.

more tahoe

A glorious place indeed.  The second day consisted of making soup, feeding sick oldest girl soup, and taking the two younger ones hiking on a trail that was a walk from our condo.