Home is Where the Garden Is

I'm missing Istanbul like crazy. But my antique bungalow home and my little garden oasis make me happy. The blossoms and birds are lovely this time of year.

On Holiday

We're off to Istanbul! It's a place I've never been before and I am so so excited. Will you be going anywhere for Spring break? Where would you go if you could go anyplace?

I had all these aspirations of scheduling posts and making sure there was something wonderful here for you to see all the days that I am gone. Alas, it just didn't happen. And without a laptop, it's unlikely that I'll be blogging much while on holiday. I will most certainly be posting photos on Instagram though. My handle is moody_is_my_cowgirl_name. Come and find me and I'll take you traveling through Turkey!

(almost) 3 day weekend

Since Monday is a holiday from one of my 3 jobs, I am feeling like I could almost go on a mini vacay. I'm not sure where to, but escaping into the horizon feels just right. Good thing I've always got that little suitcase packed.


{photo by me, again}

the way home

Part 3 of a summer road trip...

Leaving Ashland was a sad business. But I do so love a good drive, even when I'm driving away from a glorious summer holiday.

The fast changing view from my car window included snowed topped Shasta peaks, blood orange sunsets...

...  high mountain valleys & roadside cherry stands.

And no road trip down the Northern 101 would be complete without a pancake stop in Salinas, CA.

There are some really lovely old buildings and signs in that town. Marquees that look like they were there before color. 

I always think about those great American depression writers & photographers when I pass through Salinas. Although, I never have visited Mr. Steinbeck's museum.

Being There

Part 2 of a summer road trip...

Our trip to Ashland, Oregon was one of those vacations that none of us wanted to end. Some of the highlights were...  

 ... late summer gardens, spilling out over picket fences...

... the old house we stayed in with the perfectly wallpapered attic room...

... all the old houses and buildings with paint peeling character and signs of lemonade summers on back porches...

... slow spacey time spent in art filled coffee houses...

... morning mimosas at the Dragonfly...

... late night pints at the Black Sheep...

... hanging out with this gang...

... and these guys...

... lounging in Lithia Park...

... watching the grass grow.

Wandering North

Part 1 of a summer road trip...

We drove the 101 N from Ventura to San Francisco and passed by this crazy fire along the way.

After a night of r&r in the bay area, we got back on the road and made our way to southern Oregon.

Anyone who says there's nothing to look at on Interstate 5 must never have made it far enough north. That amazing highway winds through valleys and mountains, by forests and streams. It's lovely.

see you real soon...

We leave tomorrow for our summer vacation. There's just nothing like a good old fashioned family road trip to make you feel the sunshine season. Ah Americana.


This will be my first vacay in a long long time that I won't be taking my laptop. I'll certainly miss checking in with y'all but I can't wait to share all my photos and stories with you when I get home. Cheers.


{photo from the Library of Congress}

summer of love

Livin it up with my man in San Francisco this weekend. Tomorrow's our third anniversary of tying the knot. I do so love being a July bride.

{photo by Thomas Levinson}

staycation

While my folks have been vacationing on the Big Island (lucky ducks), Mr. C and I have been living it up at their house. It's enchanting here. And so quite that we have named the guest room "The Sleep Vortex." I can hardly believe our staycay comes to an end this weekend.

fly away home

In just a few short hours I'll be boarding a jet plane, heading back to sunny southern California. I do so hate to leave my northern loves, but I'm happy to go home to my man.

Hope you all are having a high flying Saturday.

no place like home

Here I am, home sweet home. My spring road trip is in the rearview and, for as much fun as we had, I'm glad to be back.

Can't wait to show you the photos I collected along the way.

missing you - day 7

Of everything I'm missing while out on the road, I pine for Mr. C the most. Without a doubt.

If you're reading this Mr. C, I'll be giving you big kisses when at last I see you tomorrow.

missing you - day 6

As much as I love the heated swimming pools and hot tubs, waking up in motel rooms every morning starts to wear on the soul. Especially since I'm used to greeting the day with my longtime companion, Uni the unicorn. Oh, how I miss Uni's smiling face and yellow velour hoofs.

Do you have something from your childhood that you still cuddle and adore?

missing you - day 5

Mr. C and I visit our local farmers' market just about every weekend. Buying flowers to cheer our house is one of my favorite parts.

While I've been loving all daffodils in bloom along the highways up here, oh how I missed our trip to market this past Sunday... the bulbs and berries... the hand holding.

missing you - day 4

Some of the things I am missing while away are the little silly things, like this guy. I miss this little camo clad dude. He protects our kitchen and watches over the dirty dishes.

missing you - day 3

There are wild flowers galore on the coastal highway routes of our roadtrip. But still, I miss our garden and all that grows there. I do so love getting dressed up in my gardener's garb and getting dirty... one of my favorite Sunday pastimes.

missing you - day 2

I miss the tiny treasures Mr. C and I have collected, especially all the photos. They decorate the nooks and crannies of our little bungalow.

missing you - day 1

While I'm away on my spring travels, I thought I'd show you some of the little details from my life that I am missing... like my favorite coffee cup and the perfectly brewed coffee that's in it each morning.

Tomorrow morning I will be having motel room brewed flavor crystals. Mmmm.

hittin' the road

My dad and I leave today for our springtime road trip. We'll be gone for about a week which is the longest I have been away from Mr. C since... forever.

Hopefully, I'll get some perfect pictures of the places we go to share with y'all.

long distance hug

On our way back from Wyoming, on our epic summer road trip, Mr. C and I got to spend some time with his wonderful mom. She is an amazing woman with a huge heart and a knack for making smoothies.

She told us some sad news yesterday. It makes me wish that I could give her a warm hug and tell her not to worry, that it will be all right. Hopefully she feels all the positive thoughts I am sending her way. And maybe some of the kisses I blow to the north will land on her cheeks.