Land’s End and Muir Redwoods

Joseph and I took a trip to San Francisco this summer for my friend Genevieve’s wedding. As soon as I booked the plane tickets I made a strict itinerary that involved lots of hiking. But I made a mistake when booking our hotels and had to abandon most of the itinerary. Thankfully we were able to fit in a few of the outdoor activities I had been planning on, and as soon as our plane landed the first morning we made our way to Land’s End and then to the Muir Woods.

Land’s End is beyond beautiful. It was like something out of a dream! I almost wish we hadn’t gone there first because nothing lived up to those first few hours.

Next, we drove to Muir Woods. I didn’t even attempt to get any photos illustrating how tall the redwoods were–there’s no way I would have been successful in that, especially without a wide angle lens.

The Battle of the Beds

First, I bought Cory this bed (photo taken with my cell phone).

As soon as Cory wasn’t around, Leonardo stole it. Because that’s what cats do!

A few months later, we got a kitten, and I worried we would have fights over the bed.

So I bought Severus his own bed. It’s the perfect size for a kitten and is a little bit too small for Leonardo, but that doesn’t both either of them.

But they spend a lot of their time in the guest bedroom, with Severus on the bed and Leonardo on the vanity bench.

Severus’ First Photoshoot

Introducing our new kitty–Severus! We are finally a two-cat (plus one dog plus one turtle) household! I think Severus is just about the cutest kitten I’ve ever seen. Seriously, look at that face! He also has the longest tail in the world. We brought him home yesterday, and he’s already proved himself to be super cuddly and playful. I’m so excited to see Severus and Leonardo grow up to become old men together :)

Severus and Leonardo look so cute together. I just about die when they both look up at me with their little matching faces! Although I was a bit worried about my grumpy 8 year old man, Leonardo loves the kitty and wants to play with him nonstop.

In Bloom

Lately I’ve been thinking about two things 24/7: tennis and gardening. This is very bizarre to me, and I’m not sure how I’ve become this person. It all started last fall when Joseph encouraged me to take tennis lessons, and I fell in love instantly, even though I was/am truly tragically bad. Gardening came a few months later, when my parents visited and helped me bring a dream to life–creating an English Garden in my backyard.

I had never planted a single thing in the ground. Our front flower bed has a few boxwoods and a knockout rose the builders put in, and I couldn’t have cared less about either. But I mentioned to my parents how I’d been thinking up designs for the backyard, and they immediately drove me to a nursery to get started. And I’m so glad I did! Although my English garden still looks pathetic (so many baby plants! Confederate Jasmine and Japanese Boxwoods take SO LONG to grow!), they gave me a start that I know will pay off big time in the long run.

My mom has a green thumb, and I was hoping she would pass it on to me. So far I’ve been pretty successful, though I’m still on the phone with her twice a week to ask about gardening ;)

I initially wanted to plant only native plants, but I ventured into the world of rose gardening forums and blogs. I was immediately hooked! There’s just so much variety and history in the world of roses. And all the work to grow roses totally pays.

I could say a lot more about gardening than I already have. About how gardening is an investment into the future, yada yada yada. But instead I want to show off photos of my very first blooms.

Lastly, my babies I’m caring for more than any others (and the first roses I ever planted): the everblooming climbing Cecile Brunner roses I’m training to grow along my fence. The tiny blooms are so pretty, but I want the plants to concentrate on growing tall instead of flowering.

Wedding Weekends with Polaroids

It only make sense to group the Polaroids from these two trips together: both were trips to “San” cities (San Antonio, San Francisco) for weddings of my two beautiful, tall, blonde friends, both marrying men named Michael.

One thing I’ve learned about his camera: Joseph is much better at using it than I am! Who would have thought? His pictures turn out great, while mine are either under- or over-exposed!

I love playing around with toy cameras, even if it means each photo costs a couple dollars ;) And you can’t beat the size and weight, especially compared to my normal SLR and DSLR.