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.   

corner view~hot

G and I went into New York City for two days and it was hot hot hot!  There seem to be heat waves all over the U.S. right now.  We managed to have fun anyhow, walking around Soho.  And one night we went to a comedy club, which was fun.  But boy, was I happy to feel the light rain when we landed back in upstate N.Y. where we are now.

Today is our independence day.  We are off to spend it with my parents and sister.  Happy week my friends!

lake tahoe

We road tripped to Squaw Valley, California, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.  What a stunning place.  Magestic, snow capped mountains surrounding us on all sides, fresh clean cool air, the smell of pine trees when we opened the door to let in the sunshine.  The day we arrived little Miss Sky got sick so although we did get to explore this area of Lake Tahoe a bit, mostly we stayed home and perfected our homemade herbed chicken noodle soup recipe.  (Thank you Truckee Safeway, best organic produce I have seen in a long time).  Shawn was my mostly companion, assisting me in the kitchen and pretty much making the batches himself.  What a sweet brother.

Annabel wrote songs on guitar, Gary worked via iPhone and internet, and Sky ate boxes of popsicles and got caught up on the wonderful TV show, "What Not to Wear."