If you're interested in ghost towns or California Gold Rush history, you might want to check out a place called Bodie for your next road trip. Located east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and a long, winding, 100-mile drive past beautiful Yosemite National Park (or 200 miles from Sacramento), the ghost town of Bodie … Continue reading Weekend Wander: The Ghost Town of Bodie, CA
Weekend Wander: Monterey Bay Aquarium
The city of Monterey, California is full of fun things to do, delicious foods to eat, and beautiful things to see. One of the best things is the Monterey Bay Aquarium! The Monterey Bay Aquarium opened in October 1984 and quickly became world-renown. The space in which it resides was once the Hovden Cannery, which … Continue reading Weekend Wander: Monterey Bay Aquarium
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Weekend Wander: Mission San Juan Capistrano
Let's explore one of the most well-known Spanish missions in California: Mission San Juan Capistrano. Mission San Juan Capistrano is known as the "Jewel of the California Missions." Founded in 1776 in present day Orange County, this mission was the seventh of 21 missions built up and down the state of California. Like the other … Continue reading Weekend Wander: Mission San Juan Capistrano
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Weekend Wander: Forestiere Underground Gardens
Looking for a unique spot to check out this summer? The Forestiere Underground Gardens may be just the place for you. Located in Fresno, California, the gardens were created and designed starting in the early 1900's by a man named Baldassare Forestiere. Forestiere was an eager and hard-working immigrant from Sicily who had purchased 80 … Continue reading Weekend Wander: Forestiere Underground Gardens
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Weekend Wander: Solvang, California
The little village of Solvang is a true delight. Nicknamed "Little Denmark, USA" and "The Danish Capital of America," Solvang was founded by three Danish immigrants in 1911 and is located in sunny Santa Ynez Valley in sunny Santa Barbara County. In fact, the Danish word solvang translates to "sunny field," which my mom and … Continue reading Weekend Wander: Solvang, California
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S’mores
It's that time of year again: summer time! Time for barbecues, hammocks, lots of wonderful fresh fruit, traveling, ice cream, and lounging by the pool. Many people go camping during the summer or find other ways to explore the great outdoors. It seems to be an American tradition. With that being said, summer and camping … Continue reading S’mores
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Thoughts on a Good Day
Here's a sort of poem in free verse for today. When my heart speaks, I listen and write. The world is an amazing and beautiful place. God is great, grand, and magnificent. Life is a miraculous adventure with many forks in the road. Good conversation is flowing, swirling energy. Happiness is little things and big … Continue reading Thoughts on a Good Day
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Being a Teacher
Since maybe the beginning of humanity, teachers have certainly had their hands full and have been held to ever-increasing standards. The past couple of years have been especially rough for us. Teaching on Zoom was no fun. School shootings are a frightening reality no one ever wants to face, and my heart breaks again and … Continue reading Being a Teacher
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Reading
I think we can all agree that there's nothing quite like the laughter of children. The joyous sound brings so much genuine warmth, and lightens one's heart. The laughter might also be contagious, and suddenly you find yourself giggling right along with them. It's a wonderful phenomenon! There's also nothing quite like hearing your child … Continue reading Reading
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Hummingbird
It's interesting, and oftentimes curious, just how significant something small and unassuming can become in our every day life merely by its unexpected presence. The same can be said about something such as a splinter, but this post is about something much more beautiful, elegant, and delightful: a hummingbird. Symbolism doesn't play a huge part … Continue reading Hummingbird
Mommyhood and Moxie 