
Photography 101: Moment
To capture a fleeting moment….. but aren’t they all? The challenge? WordPress Photography 101: Moment Continue reading Photography 101: Moment
To capture a fleeting moment….. but aren’t they all? The challenge? WordPress Photography 101: Moment Continue reading Photography 101: Moment
Reaching the intended destination of any hike is an achievement. The best reward? Gorgeous views all to ourselves. Interested in going? You’ll find info here…. Yosemite Hikes: Gaylor Lakes *** The challenge? Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement Continue reading Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement
The challenge? WordPress Photography 101: Mystery Continue reading Photography 101: Mystery
The challenge? WordPress Photography 101: Solitude Continue reading Photography 101: Solitude
Crystal Lake, Mammoth Lakes, California Photo taken October, 2014 The Challenge? Photography 101: Water Continue reading Photography 101: Water
We’re still here, getting out and about as much as we always have. All is good! I’ve simply been preoccupied lately with getting my piano studio up and running and looking for a new house. Here are a few photos of the cool things we saw on our walk today near our home in the Dublin hills. Tomorrow I’ll post more California Poppy photos! Photos … Continue reading All is Good!
Looking for a great trail to hike with young kids in San Ramon? At under two miles, with a variety of scenery, this is one of my favorites spots in the region for a quick escape into nature! Photos taken February 19th, 2014 *** Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, San Ramon, California I’ve written about this one before… Hike: Bollinger Creerk Trail, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness Continue reading Las Trampas: Bollinger Creek Loop Trail
Photos taken January 4th, 2014 Mather Redwood Grove, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley *** This post is part of the Mamatography 2014 Project with Diary of a First Child and Momma Jorje. We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start … Continue reading Mamatography: Play in the Redwoods
The Chaparral Loop Trail at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch is a great trail to hike with kids. First, the trail starts at the Greathouse Visitor Center, which, alone would be a great destination for a family with kids. The visitor center is located within the mountain! After exploring the visitor center for a bit, head out onto the trail. The trail is … Continue reading Chaparral Loop Trail: Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Today we attended our favorite festival of the season… the Harvest Festival at Ardenwood Historic Farm. The annual ritual if picking our popping corn for the year is more fun than going to the pumpkin patch! Harvest Festival Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont, California October 12th, 2013 Continue reading Ardenwood Historic Farm: Harvest Festival 2013
Checking out the sea lions (los lobos marinos) at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, California. You can hear these guys way before you see them! The more you look at the rocks, the more you’ll see. *** Photos taken September 15th, 2013 Continue reading Sea Lions: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
I can’t imagine a climbing log with a better view! On the Cypress Grove Trail… a 0.75 loop trail, perfect for hiking with kids. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, California Photos taken September 15th, 2013 Continue reading Natural Slide: Beautiful View
“The most important thing we can teach our children is to observe well.” -Ernst Mayer, Evolutionary Biologist Learning about animal tracks and signs, and journaling their observations. *** An awesome, free, naturalist-led class! Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley *** Interested in learning more about nature journaling? I highly recommend the book, Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You, … Continue reading Silent Saturday: Nature Journaling
As my son is off at his first day of 1st grade, I’m remembering some fun moments from our summer. This moment, splashing around with his buddy in Pescadero Creek, was a highlight! *** WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus Continue reading Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus
My son asked if we could hike at Dublin Hills Regional Park today, so we did! Photo taken August 26th, 2013 Continue reading Taking in the View: From the Dublin Hills
Photo taken July 30th, 2013 Near the Wading Hole, Pescadero Creek San Mateo Memorial Park Continue reading Silent Saturday: Nature’s Balance Beam
How often do kids get to climb on a really, really large tree? You’ll find the “largest tree” on the Sequoia Trail (at less than a mile long, the trail is perfect for young kids). The trailhead is in the Tan Oak Picnic Area. See trail description and hiking map here.. Sequoia Trail. Note that the “largest tree” is the largest in the park, not … Continue reading Climb on a Giant Tree! San Mateo Memorial Park
This is another hike within Yosemite National Park that we enjoy. Due to the distance (7.5 miles out-and-back), this is the first time we’ve tried it with our son. We were afraid it might be a bit long for him, but, since the elevation gain on this hike is relatively mild, we decided to give it a try. We’re glad we did! Our son led … Continue reading Hike: Mono Pass, Yosemite
I often wonder what he’s thinking… *** WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: The World Through Your Eyes *** You may also enjoy: The Calming Effect of Nature on Children Continue reading This Beautiful World Through His Eyes
A beautiful welcome to Summer! Photos taken June 21st, 2013 Juniper Campground, Mount Diablo State Park Continue reading Summer Solstice: Sunset from Mount Diablo
Photo taken June 6th, 2013 San Mateo Memorial Park, California *** See… Camping: San Mateo Memorial Park Continue reading Joy: Camping with Friends
Oh, how I wish I could hold onto these moments. Last days of kindergarten… a school trip to the beach… Photo taken June 7th, 2013 Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Continue reading Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting
This is the reason I started running four years ago…. Continue reading So fast!
Three photos of my son from our walk through the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley last week. Can you spot the pattern? Yep! No matter where we go, he’s playing in the dirt. Photos taken May 5th, 2013 *** Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern Continue reading Pattern: For Love of Dirt
Blake Garden in Kensington may be the best botanic garden in the Bay Area for nature play. A favorite feature for my son is the Create-with-Nature Zone, which is stocked with sticks, rocks, flowers, and other nature items for kids to play and build with. The second best feature here is the bamboo tunnel sculpture. Next, fun at any garden or nature area… running around … Continue reading Play! Blake Garden
I enjoyed a fun walk around our neighborhood on Monday with my son, looking for signs of spring. My son loves to take photos, but he’s become frustrated with the quality of the images he takes on the kid camera we gave him for his birthday last year. He wants to be able to take photos close-up, and his camera simply doesn’t zoom in well. … Continue reading Photography for Kids: Fun with an iPhone
One of the great things about playing in nature is that bouts of exertion and excitement are often interspersed with quiet, contemplative time. I don’t have to recommend these quiet moments… my five-year-old sits down and calms himself entirely on his own whenever he’s inspired by the beauty around him. I often wonder what he’s thinking, but I wouldn’t dare interrupt the magic of the … Continue reading The Calming Effect of Nature on Children
Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 in Pictures Continue reading Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 in Pictures
When the tide is low, head out to the rocky, north end of Natural Bridges State Beach to explore the tide pools. Look for sea stars, hermit crabs, sea anemones, sea urchins, and more. So fun! For more information about Natural Bridges State Beach, visit the California State Parks website… http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=541 If you’re here between mid-October and mid-February, be sure to visit the Monarch Preserve, … Continue reading Explore the Tide Pools, Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz
IPhone photo of our son in Mono Lake yesterday, during our walk to see the tufa towers. What a beautiful day! I can’t wait to see how the photos I took on my Canon came out. Continue reading Mono Lake…