Emerging From the Mountains

Song - Sugar Mountain by Neil Young

Lupine in a meadow near Fallen Leaf Lake

Mr. B, Mika and myself returned from the mountains on Friday evening.

An Evening Grossbeak

It felt like we were leaving too soon.

A female Tiger Swallowtail

After all, not everything on our list of activities had been done.

I mean we didn't even hike to Lemonade Lake or play Putt-Putt golf yet!!!!

"Mr. B can't we stay at least two more weeks?"

But I knew we had to leave, mostly because of several art commitments that I had in the Bay Area.

I cried a little.

My new "Electra"

Mr. B bought me a cruiser bike for my birthday and I had fun driving around the cabin.  At least until I had to go uphill.....without any gears.....so I ended up pushing Mika and my bike up the hills.  Andy and Mika took a spin over the weekend.

She looks like she is his co-pilot and on watch for bumps in the road!

Ashley chose to ride solo - It kinda makes you feel like a little kid again! Can't you just see it in her smile?

Butterflies were in abundance this year!

Now that I have settled in it is nice to be home and return to my own bed, my garden, friends and family but it's also quite a shock!

The clarity of Lake Tahoe near Zephyer Cove

Now the mountains at home are the mountains of laundry, dishes and "to do" lists!

Sunset from Sunnyside

As always, great memories of Tahoe!


I want to thank my parents and grandparents for having the foresight of treasuring this beautiful lake and spectacular wilderness!

            "How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!"
         --John Muir


PS - Mama Robin had 4 babies while we were there.  She was a busy lady feeding her little ones!

Hark

Song - Sugar Mountain by Neil Young

This was the view from our room at the Ahwahnee in Yosemite last week.  Mr. B gave me a gift of three days at the Chef's Holidays Sessions they have there annually.

On the way up there we drove through the devastation of the Rim-Fire from last summer.  It went on for as far as your eye could see and was so sad that I couldn't even snap a photo.

But once into the Valley everything was beautiful......

We arrived just in time to get settled into our room and then see our first Chef demo.  It was Parke Ulrich from the Waterbar in San Francisco who also made our Grand Finale dinner on Thursday night.  The other two chefs who did great demo's during our stay were Jimmy Bradley from The Red Cat & The Harrison in NY as well as Harold Dieterle from Perilla in NY.

But the best part of the whole trip was having Mr. B to myself and the beauty of Yosemite!

 

The clouds rolled in on Thursday night and it felt spiritual.  

I kept looking for a Tibetan monastery on the mountaintops somewhere.

 Occasionally a spit of sun would land on a spot on a mountain and highlight it for a moment.  Then just as fast as it came, it would then disappear. Then another place in the clouds would open for a second just letting your eyes feast upon one tiny miracle after another!

It was truly magical.

 

 Thursday morning we woke to snow.  Just a dusting of snow on the mountain tops and collecting on the trees.....my favorite.

 

Before heading home we stopped at the museum in the Village and visited with Julia Parker. She was busy weaving a small basket but she is always happy to pause and tell you something wonderful.

 Several summers ago, I took a basket weaving class from Julia.  From personal experience I'll tell you, it is hard work collecting the red bud or reeds, splitting them and making a nice tightly woven basket.  

 

She is a good soul.

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."  - John Muir 1901