The Mountains Are Calling

In the mountains of Tahoe, I am at my second home.  My grandparents, father & uncles built a little cabin here in the late 1950’s on Forest Service land at the base of Mt. Tallac.  For me it’s my heart & souls place to reconnect with nature and myself. 

Over the weekend all three of our sons and their wives or girlfriends came up to join us. My heart was full seeing them share their boyhood memories with their significant others. 

On Saturday we spent the day at the beach and then had dinner at the cabin. Sunday we drove to Angora Lake were they rented a boat and rowed around the little Alpine lake.   We had planned to go out to dinner but the traffic around the lake was so bad that I made a big bowl of Pasta Salad & we enjoyed another evening at the cabin visiting & playing Canasta!  Everyone took off early on Monday so Mr. B & I have been relaxing. 

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!

The Mountains are Calling

Sunset from Sunnyside Lodge

The mountains are calling and I MUST go.....

I am heading to the Sierra's for a few days with 5 girlfriends for our annual retreat.

Well, it's kind of a retreat, in that it is very relaxing. 

But it's not like a spiritual retreat in that there is a lot of good wine, story telling and laughter....well maybe that is my new idea of a spiritual retreat!!

We are heading for Lake Tahoe for a few days.  My old stomping grounds!  I feel it in my bones...you know that pull to be in the mountains. 

Half Dome

I came across this time lapse video on Pinterest yesterday.  It is photographed by Shawn Reeder in Yosemite over a two year period.  It is just mesmerizing to watch the clouds and stars and light pass over the mountains and landscape.  Beautiful soundtrack as well!

I hope you find some time in your day to enjoy the beauty that Shawn shares with us here.


Yosemite Range of Light by Shawn Reeder

It is funny that I never went to Yosemite as a child and yet it is so close.  My parents took me there for the first time on a day trip while I was home from college.

 

My mom went with her family when she was a teen.

Neither look too impressed.  (Love the outfit mom!)

I think Grandpa's car was giving him trouble so he wasn't too happy.

Ever since then I have gone once or twice a year. 

Sometimes I take plein air painting classes there from my mentor Marcy Wheeler.

Sometimes I go there with my girlfriends, or to take basket weaving classes from Julia Parker.

Splitting the reeds

Gathering the reeds

But my favorite time is going with Mr. B to relax and watch him fly fish. 

It is a thing of beauty.

The Awahnee Dining Room

"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