dear camera:

Monica: I've missed you. I walked to work for the first time in months and was thrilled to hop over little newts ambling slowly along the trail. The plum and nectarine trees are beginning to bloom in front of the hotel. I am so excited for spring...

Catch Up - Nov 10

So Delicious is Life.

Catchup - Sept 6

A Bit of Luxury

Evelyn: I was invited to a Brazilian restaurant by a close friend of mine... the food in layers, meat beyond meat sliced for you as requested, and a buffet surrounded by flowers, of veggies and cheeses. It was delightful, both in dining and conversation.

Bright Spots

Evelyn:  Pito's flowers. I spent the weekend working... going since the 2nd of July and through to the following weekend. A bit exhausted, but at least an early rise to a bright sunshine stop on Pito's flowers.

Flowered Hope

Reds

Evelyn: Jamie & Steve's wedding was filled with flowers, paper, real, cupcake... dalias everywhere. 

Small Crowds

Evelyn:  This little crowd of red flowers bloomed in my patio - which to me is always a miracle, since I don't know much about gardens, dirt, or making things grow. I do, however, love the plants to grow in spite of me.

Thai Bribe

Evelyn: Sometime the only way to get the kid to follow me to a Hillbilly Swing Band is to bribe him with Thai. Orchids are sort of sweet.

Yellow

Big to Little

Evelyn: One of the parting gifts from the shower was a little plant with yellow flowers. I have been enjoying how they open and shut like California poppies.

Reptilian Beauty

Evelyn: I only have a few days left, and we go for a hike in the late afternoon to the top of a rocky, grassy hillside. The flowers are astounding, and sometimes the smallest ones the most amazing under the lens.

Impossible Challenges

Evelyn: I had a portion of the day to myself, and I took the opportunity to hike and sunbathe. My hike led me up the "power trail" to a little grassy knoll at the top. The poppies are everywhere... and again, my camera captures a tiny beetle covered in pollen, making his way back out. I feel a bit like him, but shaking off the pollen of my life right now.

Monique

Evelyn: Before we headed out of town the next morning we had to stop for "clover" coffee which was, by far, one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. Later, we made our way to Davis for "supplies" and explored the shops. They were having some "picnic day" type event at the college, which one Gelato shop described as an excuse for "wanton drunkenness and partying" refusing us a second taste. Apparently drunk college students come into the shop and their second or third taste results in a barf-fest... so their policy on Picnic day is one taste per customer. However, I applied my super-powers and we managed to get a second taste of something so we were well educated on the flavor to pick.

Happy Birthday

Evelyn: It is Monica's birthday, and at the Gulfport Swing, Katy's friends & Family have brought Katy a cake. I think of Monica living among a new community of people, and wonder how she celebrates. I think of her all day - all the things I love about her... and I am eager for the 20th when I fly out to see her.

Growth

Evelyn: This weekend was particularly difficult for me, a push to expand and heal some untouched memories. I feel exhausted, and still somewhat unanchored to my body, a bit shaky, and full of processing. Getting back into my being, I find I am drawn to nature as an element of connection.

(On behalf of Monica) I recently (in late April seeing that we are behind in our postings) visited Monica at Wilbur Hotsprings, and spent a week of healing and sisterly support. Monica & Michael's current nest (due to be moved again) is on a hillside filled with Poppies. It is one of the loveliest parts of the walk down to the hotel, that 40 foot skip down a wave of yellow poppies whose heads open when the sun is brightest, and who tuck themselves away at dusk.

Blossoms & Sunlight

Evelyn: An late afternoon drive, and I am always taken by the sun making itself known despite the clouds and obstructions.

Curves & Squares

Evelyn: We have an upcoming P3 Weekend, and my days are a bit longer so I can get moving early on a Friday. Justin is doing the usual after study; cubing and discussions on forums. I sneak in - because all the cubes scattered across his desk always look interesting whether solved or not.

Wooly Lambs & White Flowers

Monica: We took the afternoon off to run some errands in town and I remembered that today was Friday and the farm stand would be open at Full Belly Farm. The sound of bleating sheep greeted us when we arrived. We learned that the farm is one of the biggest and best suppliers of organic produce to the Bay Area. They raise their own chickens, sheep, goats, and cows, as well as grow fruit and nut trees, produce their own honey, flour, and wool, and sell fresh milk and eggs. We strolled around the farm for awhile and by far, my favorite part, was visiting the wooly little lambs chasing each other around the base of an oak tree.

Evelyn: Walking out of work there are often piles of leaves gathered by the wind along the edge of the building. My attention was caught by these flowers mixed in with the brown leaves. Someones costume must have dropped a few faux flowers...

Hearts and Webs

Moncia: Starting from here. It's been a little over a month since we moved here and to be honest, it's been a challenging transition to this new life. Ever since packing up and moving from Caspar, I have neglected my daily photography practice, maybe out of a need to just be in the present moment rather than capture it. I've been missing my practice, though. My life feels out-of-sorts, unsettled, disorganized, drifting. It has been too many months living out of boxes, not having a space to settle into and make my own. I see the beauty around me, this new landscape of rolling hills and vast golden valleys. There are incredible vistas and colorful flowers I've never met before, an infinity of stars in the night sky and a jackrabbit who crosses our path and leads us home each night. I will do what I can to settle myself and practice going with the flow.

Evelyn: Hiking during the mid-morning through John Chestnut Park. These colorful, iridescent, and busy spiders were strewn about along paths and foliage. Quite lovely, really. The company just as colorful and curious.