Juneau Plays with Seaweed
Juneau loves to run on the beaches where we live. We took him to Pudding Creek beach in Fort Bragg and he had lots of fun chasing and dragging this big piece of seaweed at the water's edge. He looked pretty silly "fighting" with the seaweed. I think he must've thought it was some kind of sea creature.
Island
After climbing down into and back up the sinkhole, we walked along the top of the bluffs out to the coast. This beautiful island view awaited us.
Sen on Fallen Tree
Sen was monkeying around on a tree that had fallen into the sinkhole. Behind him is the cave leading out to the ocean. We climbed down to explore this interesting place on a beautiful summer afternoon.
Sinkhole from Above
This is a natural "sinkhole" with a cave that leads out to the ocean. Water fills part of it during high tide times. It's very deep and steep, but we managed to climb down into it with the help of climbing ropes that had been tied to trees along the edge.
Little River Cemetery
This cute cemetery is just down the coast from us in Little River. We had to walk through it to see the "sinkhole" just behind it.
Big ol' Brocoflower
This broccoli-cauliflower hybrid was our favorite vegetable of the garden because of its unique fractal patterns. And no, this isn't frankenfood (GMOs are illegal to grow here in Mendocino county, thank goodness), it's all organic! We got the starts from the Mendocino farmer's market and got two huge heads of broccoflower.
It tastes more like cauliflower than broccoli, and we used it in soups, salads, curry, stir fries, steamed with other veggies as a side dish, and in just about anything else we could think of. Mmm!
Garden Growth
By the time we got back from our summer road trip, our plot in the community garden had become quite a jungle! We had some harvesting and cleaning up to do. We were amazed at how fast everything grew in the summer sun while we were gone. We missed our garden!
I'm Much too Small to Hug a Sequoia
On our drive through Yosemite, we stopped to hike to a grove of sequoias, the world's most massive trees. It's humbling being in the presence of these ancient giants. Being the tree hugger that I am, I attempted to hug a bit of this huge Sequoia. I think it would take quite a few more of me to give the tree a full hug!
Sunset Over the Sierra Nevadas
We entered Yosemite National Park and the smoky Sierra Nevadas in time to catch the sun setting in these beautiful mountains. It was forest fire season, so the stunning views were hard to come by since visibility was so poor. Luckily we've seen Yosemite before. This was our last National Park stop on our way home from the Rainbow Gathering in Wyoming.
Death Valley Landscape
We drove through Death Valley National Park, the lowest point in North America and the hottest and driest place in the US. It wasn't a good idea to go in July because of the intense heat, but we managed to get out of the car long enough to snap a couple pictures. It's a very surreal place with interesting geology like sand dunes and salt flats. I wouldn't recommend visiting in the summer, even though we made it through ok.
Majestic Mountain in Zion Canyon
Zion Canyon is a unique place where colorful monoliths like this one tower over a lush and varied desert landscape. We drove through Zion National Park and caught a too-short peek at this beautiful work of art.
Entering Zion
We did a quick drive through the beautiful desert landscape of Zion National Park on our way home from the Rainbow Gathering. This view of contrasting textures and layers enticed us to keep going.
Checkerboard Mesa
Checkerboard Mesa is an interesting sight that greeted us as we drove into Zion National Park in southern Utah. The surface of it has a checkerboard of cracks and lines where nature's extremes left their marks.
Exposed Roots
Bryce Canyon is constantly eroding, slowly exposing the roots of trees like this one along the canyon edge. This tree is clinging on the edge of Bryce Canyon at the Fairyland Point lookout, our last stop in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Natural Arch
Even after visiting Arches National Park, we can't get enough of these interesting formations. So of course we had to stop to see this natural arch in Bryce Canyon National Park. I love how the bright oranges contrast with the green trees visible through the arch.
Endless Hoodoos
Another breathtaking view of Bryce Canyon, with endless hoodoos and layers of color.
Fuck Hummers!
While visiting southern Utah's beautiful National Parks, we saw way too many Hummers. This picture describes how we feel about them. Gas guzzling oughtta be a crime!
We submitted this picture to
FUH2.com. :)
Bryce Canyon's Amphitheater
Here's the famous view of the Bryce Canyon's Ampitheater. It's so immense and unreal, a picture can't even come close to capturing it.
Gnarly Roots
The gnarled roots of bristlecone pine trees like this one are exposed slowly by erosion. It's amazing they can still cling to the cliffs! This tree had a great view of Bryce Canyon.
Bryce Canyon From Above
There are hoodoos of every shape and color as far as you can see at Bryce Canyon National Park.
We're Silly
Our silly self portrait at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Colorful Hoodoos
There are endless layers of rock at Bryce Canyon National Park, it's a feast for the eyes. We went all the way around the rim of the canyon and stopped at most of the viewpoints on our brief visit. Next time we go (sans pooch, since they're not allowed on the trails - sad!) we want to do a hike down on the canyon floor, where you can hike the maze of hoodoos and crazy formations. I can't wait to see Bryce Canyon from below!
Bryce Canyon Blue Skies
On our long detour home from the Rainbow Gathering in Wyoming, we added a couple of new notches to our National Park belts. :)
This is the amazing Bryce Canyon, one of mother nature's masterpieces in Southern Utah. I love the unique geology and colors of this place.
Hoodoos From Above
A view from the edge, on our hike in Red Canyon. The tall people-like rock formations in the foreground are called "Hoodoos" and these ones are created by erosion and the beautiful but harsh climate around them.
View at Red Canyon
We camped at Red Canyon in Utah and took a morning hike the next day. We hiked up a ridge and got a nice view of the entire area. The desert has such interesting formations and so many colors.
Driving Into Red Canyon
After Rainbow Gathering, we decided to take a long detour through some beautiful National Parks on the way home. This is Red Canyon in Southern Utah, near Bryce Canyon National Park. We camped nearby and got a great glimpse of the beautiful cliffs and formations of the canyon when they're at their best. Sunset and sunrise make the formations glow a bright red-orange.
Drumming
When night falls, the Rainbow Family is just getting started. There is lots to do at night at the Rainbow Gathering. Many kitchens serve food or drinks all night, and there are plenty of fires and drum circles where we gather for music and dancing.
This picture was taken by firelight at one of the drum circles. Sen's hands create a cool blurry effect while he drums.
Granola Funk "Mother Goose" Stage
One of the most interesting parts of the Rainbow Gathering is the temporary architecture that the family builds for the gathering. Granola Funk creates an unusual stage each year to host the variety show and other nighttime entertainment. This year, the stage took the form of Mother Goose, complete with a moving head!
Yay!
After the silent morning and peace prayer on July 4th, the Rainbows celebrate with music, dancing, and watermelon for everyone. These are just a few of the beautiful people who were celebrating in the main meadow on the 4th.
Me and Juneau in Main Meadow
After the 4th of July peace prayer, the silence is broken and everyone heads to the center of the meadow to drum, dance, play music, and eat watermelon. It's a noisy, fun celebration of life (just like the Gathering itself). Juneau and I are heading into the crowded center of the meadow, and I'm ready with my drum strapped to my back.
Main Meadow at Peace Prayer
The culmination of the Rainbow Family Gathering is on July 4th, when we silently gather in the main meadow and pray for peace. This meadow was huge and very beautiful with the Wind River Mountains peeking over the edge of the forest. But there were so many Rainbows that when we joined hands and circled the meadow, we couldn't even see each other across the meadow! Now that's a lot of peaceful people praying!
Aspens
At the Rainbow Family Gathering in Wyoming, we camped in this beautiful grove of Aspen trees, grass, and wildflowers. We had beautiful blue skies, warm weather, and a perfect secluded place to camp. What more could we ask for?
I'm Home!
The hike from the parking area into the main meadow of the Rainbow Gathering was a long but rewarding one. We passed beautiful meadows full of wild flowers, pine forest, and groves of aspen. Obviously, I'm excited to be in such a beautiful place.
Sen at the Rainbow Banner
Seneca and Juneau pose with the big welcome banner at the 2008 Rainbow Family Gathering near Big Sandy, Wyoming. This banner is always a wonderful sight to see when coming "home".
Wind River Mountains
The national Rainbow Family Gathering was held in this beautiful mountain range - the Wind Rivers - in Wyoming. We stopped around sunset to take a few pictures about an hour or so from the gathering site.
Tetons
We headed to the Rainbow Gathering in Wyoming and got a great view of the Tetons on the way there. This was taken from the Idaho side, on the way to Driggs.
Sierra Nevada - Stage
California knows how to party. There are lots of great music festivals in our area. We went to the first night of the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Boonville, CA and stayed with friends who live nearby. Michael Franti and Spearhead were headlining, and it was a beautiful night for a show, even though we got rained on as we headed in.
Permaculture Experiment
We planted sweet corn and snap peas together in the same area in our garden plot. The idea is that the peas fix nitrogen in the soil, which corn uses a lot of. As they grow, the peas can use the corn stalks as a trellis. It turned more into a jungle than a neatly trellised area, but both plants did very well.
Freshly Mulched
We mulched our garden plot with straw to help retain moisture and keep weeds down. In this photo are fennel starts, newly sprouted zucchini, and our asian greens that are flowering. Rick and the garden shed are in the background.
View at the End
A perfect summer blue sky is mirrored by the blue Pacific at one of our favorite view points that we call "The End." (It's named after the sign perched on the edge of the cliff that announces the end of the road, and of the earth).
Rick Found a Crab
Our friend Rick enjoyed trying to find all the crabs in the tide pools at McKericher State Park. The crab charmer even managed to pick a couple up, but they skit away pretty quickly. Luckily, he didn't get pinched by any (though he probably deserved it for disturbing them).
Salt Deposits
MacKericher State Park has lots of tide pools and coastal oddities like these evaporated pools of salt water that have left beautiful and interesting salt crystals all over the rocks. It's enough to make me want to "grow" my own sea salt! :)
Hi!
McKerricker State Park is a great place to spot Harbor Seals. They usually lay around on the rocky islands just off the coast. If you make enough noise, they might perk their cute little heads up and look at you like this one. Seals are so cute!
Windblown
The wind blows through Mendocino Village and these banners on a foggy summer day. Water towers like these are all over the village.
Growing Community
The Noyo Come-Unity garden is just as much about growing community as it is abut growing plants. We have met many wonderful people at the weekly garden workdays, and we now make quite an efficient team!
Freedom!
Our friend always brings "Bob" to the drum circles in the form of this Bob Marley flag. I thought it looked cool against the sky with the rising moon peeking out. The spirit of Bob is with us every week when we drum. :)
Edge of Big River Beach
Trees against a colorful sky at sunset, as seen from our drum circle on Big River Beach in Mendocino. It's pretty sweet to be able to watch the sun sink into the ocean any evening we want. Ah, the perks of living on the coast. :)
Hard Work Pays Off
The beginnings of our garden plot, planted neatly and steadily growing. We had no idea until we had a jungle on our hands that we could've probably spaced everything out a little more! Oh well, jungles are cool.
Veronica is Not Afraid to Shovel Compost!
Work days each week in the Noyo Come-Unity Garden mean anything from planting to weeding to shoveling poo. We do all the jobs with a smile, of course, as Veronica demonstrates.
First Harvest from Our Community Garden Bed!
This bag of greens was the first meager harvest from our community garden plot. This was just the beginning, of course!
Pooches of the Sea
We went for a hike at MacKerricher State Park one hot day recently, and out at the end of the trail is a rock that the seals love to sunbathe on. They're quite lazy, although some of them were body surfing in the waves. They like to pop their heads up and then hide as soon as I bust out the camera.
Since they're such cute and curious creatures, I started calling seals the pooches of the sea. They act and kinda look like man's best friend, so why not? Aren't they adorable?!
Watering Our Garden
We finally got our little plot of garden double-dug, amended with compost, and planted! In our little 8' x 20' plot, we're growing corn, sunflowers, peas, beans, brussels sprouts, broccoli, mixed greens, spinach, zucchini, cucumber, fennel, carrots, radishes, green onions, walla walla onions, leeks, cabbage, eggplant, and probably some other things I'm forgetting. We also have a few pots outside in our yard for herbs, peas, and cauliflower, but since we don't get much sun out in the redwoods, it's nice to have a plot at the community garden that gets full sun all day. Grow, little plants, grow!
We try to eat locally and organically, so this is about as local as you can get: growing your own organic food! We've definitely caught the gardening bug and want to have a much bigger one someday.
Pretty in Pink
Rhododendrons grow wild all over the redwood forests around here. They're more like trees than bushes. This is the first one to bloom in our yard. They start off bright pink and have been slowly fading into lighter pink as time goes on. Whenever it's foggy and I can't see the ocean, I just remember that rhododendrons and redwoods wouldn't be able to thrive here without it, and then I don't mind it so much. I'll take the fog as long as I can look out my window at sights like this! :)
