“Real Dogs”

The baby boy, Gus Gus having some alone time with his bone.

My friend is visiting from Flagstaff with her dogs. We have been noticing how people are very vocal here about how a dog should behave. Flagstaff is a very dog-friendly city comparatively. People have dogs to perform important functions: work on ranches, protect acres of land, etc. Debbie’s dogs are herding dogs and, not surprisingly, her Mom’s family were goat herders a couple generations ago. In Flagstaff, dogs sleep chained up outside, even in the winter in dog houses. They are not the cutsie Yorkie type dogs that I know well and love (they are just different). Needless to say, Gus Gus and Laila are not used to being inside my house at night, but they must because my neighbor, who shares my yard, has a problem with them being outside. 

 Can you believe these two dogs are from the same litter? – Australian Shepards.

Vacation

 Melissa shooting the moon.

And I was so worried I wouldn’t have any fun this holiday…

Today was a nice vacation day with Linda and Melissa. Hike, shooting, playing with water, movies, pedicure, coffee shop time, dinner…

 

Cactus to Clouds anyone?

 I-phone photo of David-Sean

Not thinking I was going to hike far today, I didn’t bring my camera. I wish I did because little did I know that David-Sean was a billy goat and hiked so fast up the Lycken trail that we ended up going on farther towards the Tram station.  Can you see how high we are? I have never gone up that high. We were about 6 miles to the tram station. David-Sean really wants to do the Cactus to Clouds climb while he is here this week. I hesitate because there is snow at the top. Anyone ever done this hike and/or have suggestions?

Christmas Eve at Uncle David’s

Every year I have spent Christmas Eve with my Mom’s side of the family and Christmas day with my Dad’s. Christmas Eve dinner consists of homemade Mexican food: tamales, beans, rice, empanadas, chile, etc… We missed my parents and Katie this year but David-Sean, my first cousin, who I grew up with, came after 10 years.

 Like father like son. David-Sean and Uncle David getting warm by the outside fire.

 My Grandma was so excited tonight with her David-Sean.

 Here I am with my sister, Liz.

 David-Sean

 Ah – Liz and Grandma

 

Jen’s iView PS – Hiking is the way to go

Selby, Charlie and I hiked the South Lykken Trail on Tuesday. Taking my old high school friends who have become totally “citified” on a hike was great. Selby lives in San Francisco and Charlie in New York City. The hike is 3.5 miles- moderate difficulty. The beginning elevation is 560′ and the ending elevation is 900′. I love it that this hike is one block away from where I live and downtown Palm Springs.

This morning, Selby joined Linda and me on our usual Rimrock hike off of highway 111 near Cathedral City. Linda and Selby hit it off because of their shared interest in photography.

Lightroom Shmiteroom

 I spent too much time tweaking this photo to hit reset and find that the original photo was better. HOLY MOLY!!!

This gate represents the inconspicuous entrance into a world of big skies, numerous trails, unique views of San Jacinto and San Gorgonio, and the most amazing colorful sunrises I have ever seen.

No Shame

There is so much freedom in being a beginner. I am sure this photograph, for instance, isn’t very good but I like how the shrub looked with the sun coming up this morning.

Tomorrow is day one of my two week holiday vacation. Yay! I am excited to focus on organizing me rather than my students. I already feel more free today. I danced tonight and was fully present with the people around me because I wasn’t worrying about assignments, prepping, etc.  The relief I feel at the beginning of a break shows me how much stress teaching is without me knowing it.  I hope to dance, hike, take pictures, do yoga, meditate, run, clean, organize, and be at ease and loving with the people around me, including myself. Please bless everyone who reads this so that their holiday is full of love.

 
 

Westerns, Winter, and Wreaths in the Desert

 Movie star homes on set on hike up towards the intersection of the PCT and Whitewater River

WordPress will not allow me to upload TIFF images tonight…hmmm. Guess the old movie colony will have to do. I walked around my neighborhood at sunset tonight shooting fancy, colorful wreaths on house doors, red roses and cacti, and big, juicy, ripe grapfruits ready to eat for winter. Christmas break is one week away and I am in the spirit!