Spring update

Thought I'd post some pics from the most recent Strawberry Music Festival (held over Memorial Day weekend). Like the fall festival, I helped build the stage again, and like last spring's festival it was very chilly (even with frozen precipitation again)!

Just before arriving at Strawberry, Ediza graduated from preschool. She started gymnastics class this week to help keep her active during the summer (not that she really needs any help with that).


Memorial Day was mine and Amber's fifth wedding anniversary. Apparently you're supposed to give your spouse something wooden on a fifth anniversary so I stopped at Mountain Sage in Groveland on the way home from Strawberry and bought her a candle holder made out of manzanita. It's made by a talented local artist. Check out his blog at yosemitegoat.blogspot.com

Amber is still nonstop roller derby. Her team, the High Country Hellcats, continue their 3-0 winning streak. They have another home bout coming up Father's Day weekend.

On the home front, we continue working on projects (inside and out). We now have some llamas living full-time at the ranch!

I'll end with another Strawberry picture (because I think it's funny). Ediza was more traditional with her olive pizza, while Amber was experimental with some tasty pesto pineapple pizza!

Exploring the coast

We took a little trip to Monterey earlier this week so thought I'd post some photos. This time around we camped at this great city park with easy access to everything Monterey has to offer. Our friend who lives there, Maggy, set up her VW Vanagon named Brownie for us to camp in. Here's Amber and Ediza in the camper van and Ediza climbing a tree at our campsite.



Monterey is such a family-friendly place with so many fun activities for kids (which I'm in the process of writing about). While at the elaborate Dennis the Menace Playground we were approached by a couple we met in China (he ran the Great Wall Marathon with me). They had just moved to Monterey with their kids four days before. Once again, it's a small world.


Of all the things we did in a short amount of time, Ediza was probably most impressed with the beach. She ran around chasing seagulls and collecting sea shells. We also saw jellyfish, sea lions and lots of hermit crabs in tide pools.




We hope everyone has a great Earth Day today and a Happy Easter this weekend. We'll be having an egg hunt with all of our chicken eggs!

Goodbye winter, hello spring

After almost three months, we're getting more and more settled into our new home. We still don't have the Internet and we don't have any plans to get it installed (as usual, we don't have a television either). Surprisingly, we've been getting by just fine without having the Internet at home (after all, it's available just about everywhere else). Instead of being a distraction at home, we've found more time to read books, practice yoga, and just hang out.

Speaking of going online, please check out my new L.A. Times travel article, "Where to stay when visiting Yosemite."

Above is a family pic of us in Yosemite that was taken by my parents when they were visiting last month. In addition to ice skating in Yosemite Valley, we went wine tasting in Murphys (we highly recommend Presidents Wine Weekend) and worked on some projects around the house. Below is a picture of Amber in the backyard with our rooster (named "Mike" by Ediza).


Amber had her first roller derby bout of the 2011 season this past weekend, where she made her debut as a jammer. Her team, the High Country Hellcats, beat the Monterey Bay Derby Dames before singing karaoke with them later at the after party. Next month they travel up to Redding to take on the Angry Beavers!

Well, spring has finally arrived although it feels more like the dead of winter with cold temps, strong winds, rain and even snow. Hopefully March showers will bring April flowers.

New year, new home

I know I haven't posted much here lately, but I have a good excuse: we moved. Yup, after several years at the llama farm we've moved to a nearby house on a beautiful 110-acre ranch. This photo was taken at the base of a huge oak tree in our new backyard. We have plenty to keep us busy -- house projects, building a chicken pen, putting in a garden, preparing a llama pasture, etc. I will try to update our progress here. We hope 2011 is off to a great start for everyone!

Better late than never!

Here's some pics from our Halloween party we hosted a few weeks ago. The photos were taken by my friend Sarah (who is pictured below). We first met in Australia, worked together at a summer camp in Missouri and now live near each other in California. She's a professional photographer based in the Bay Area. Check out her Web site at sarahcrossphoto.com.




At the party, Amber went as a sorceress and I was a sorcerer. I wore a fancy kurta that was given to me earlier this year in India along with some fake star tattoos on my face. Amber — who made my staff from last year's manzanita Christmas tree — wore a $3 thrift store dress combined with lots of costume jewelry, a labor-intensive tulle and a hair piece.


As midnight approached, I led groups on a haunted llama farm tour...


It had rained earlier in the day so everything was damp and cool. Detailed decorations — including a spooky graveyard, dozens of lit pumpkins and even dried flowers spray painted black — provided the perfect atmosphere. There was a bonfire next to the keg and live music played in the background. And, of course, plenty of interesting characters were roaming about...

Happy Birthday Ediza!

Our little pumpkin turns 4 years old today. These are just some of the pumpkins Amber grew in her garden:

Weekend getaways

We spent last weekend up at Lake Tahoe because Amber played against the roller derby team there. It was a good bout, but the slippery outdoor track and altitude gave the home team the advantage to win. We stayed at a nice time share, got to explore the lake's shore a bit and had some amazing food (including toasted coconut french toast for breakfast)!


This weekend we plan to head back to the Eastern Sierra and camp at some hot springs. Speaking of the East Side, please check out "Hiking the Sierra with three llamas and a baby" online at travel.latimes.com and in this Sunday's L.A. Times Travel section. Thanks:)