everyone keeps asking

"What have you been doing all by yourself while Dave is on vacation???"


I am very happy to be posting this with my husband snug by my side, but must also admit that I enjoyed having my own time these past two weeks. I was able to do some gardening that I had long put off (ok, I'm still putting off the last of the seed plantings) and am proud to say we have picked our first jalepeno!

I was also able to hang out with friends in Chinle, which felt a long time overdue. I went on a hike to Mushroom Butte in Tsaile and biked to Spider Rock Overlook (my first real road biking experience - 42 miles and I LOVED IT!! Thanks Kristi!).

Summer has arrived in full force and even the dog needs a bigger water bowl.

Dave returned to a ride at the airport waiting to sweep him away to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival this past weekend. A fabulous way to celebrate the summer solstice... pictures to come!

M.I.A in May

Already I have been slacking on our blog updates, but life has been hectic (in the best of ways). Early May I took a trip home to PA to hang out with family and for Janelle & James' wedding. With each visit home I feel I have a changing perspective on family and how incredibly wonderful mine is :o) I didn't catch my nieces on camera too often, so we had a "before school chocolate chip pancake" photo shoot my last day with them. What beautiful models! HAPPY BELATED 8th BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!

Memorial Day weekend we went to Taos with Allison & Sarah, Ryan & Patricia and of course Jack and Saco. As we left Chinle Friday night the skies treated us to this sight.

Taos proved to be as unique as we hoped with it's earthship houses, Spanish influence, laid back living, and biking/hiking accessible from town. Besides how short the weekend felt, it was a perfect start to the summer with great friends, camping and outdoor living!

After just a few days home of unpacking and repacking, we left for a 3 day backpacking trip down the Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon. 8 of us total - (plus Saco, sans Tsosie and Jack who had a bum paw). Somehow sleeping in a canyon with nothing between you and the stars except cool night air makes 14+ miles in one day with 45 lbs on your back more than worth it! The all you can eat BBQ joint just a few miles from the trail head in Utah nursed us back to health (well, okay, maybe overstuffed sickness!) after 3 days on the trail.