TRAVELS WITH MATTIE

Hi everyone!  It was great seeing you all for Easter last weekend for awesome company, delicious food, and another epic Santa Monica egg hunt. PLUS there was MonoBar tasting...with mimosas! The trip was too short, but Mattie and I loved seeing everyone there (and meeting baby Lucas), and had a quick and painless drive back up the coast on Sunday to get ready for early class Monday morning.   Dawn tries her first MonoBar. Historic.  Yeti and Dad in their Easter hats.  Annual Santa Monica Easter egg hunt. After what felt like a long week, with a little cold and a lot of Dayquil, we were happy to have Sam and Sara up to the cabin last night for a short walk around the river valley and dinner and wine. Sam and Sara. Around the eucalyptus grove across the river.  Then Mattie and I were back to work doing some cleaning because (drum roll)...Greg is flying in to Santa Barbara today for a 10 day visit! Which means, get ready to hear all ab...

After work adventures in the creek near Upper Oso.  This guy was BIG, and hanging out in the water. I MEAN SERIOUSLY, LOOK HOW GIGANTIC HE IS! He just keeps going! Mattie and I both almost stepped right on him while walking up the creek. There's always a split second panic before you realize it's not a rattlesnake. I think he's absolutely gorgeous. One of the greatest things about turtles and snakes is that they're two of the very few wild animals that will pose with you for a picture. They are very sweet. And patient. I love them. More buttery evenings in the river valley this spring. And WILDFLOWERS! We'll be heading down to Santa Monica this weekend for Easter - see you there! Love from the cabin porch, Allison and Mattie Dog

Today on my training run out on the river road I met a beautiful California king snake and  a gorgeous little rattlesnake. It's so beautiful in this valley on warm spring evenings, and there are so many creatures roaming around catching the leftover heat and sunshine, that sometimes I forget how much I suck at running. Sometimes. Little handsome king snake. There are always new friends in the Santa Ynez River Valley. With love from the cabin, Allison and Mattie (who is exhausted after a great visit from Nickel today...)

Hi everybody!  Well, a planned weekend at the Buttermilks didn't quite follow the plan, and due to some unfortunate car troubles the trip was relocated to Lee Vining. Which is totally fine with me, because (a) it's one of my favorite places of all time (and is WAY better than camping around Bishop); (b) the weather was amazing. In April. In fact, we were lucky to have some clouds and a few raindrops, because otherwise it was hot. In April; (c) MONOBARS, (d) Hi Elin!, (e) I'm always fine camping and climbing at lesser-visited places to avoid crowds. Or people altogether.  Greg and I met (with puppies in tow) on Thursday afternoon and set up camp at the usual home along Lee Vining Creek, got Monorritos for dinner and a Mono Bar for dessert, drank a couple of beers and wandered around in the sagebrush for a while before bed and sleep to the sound of rushing water.  We were up early Friday to do more spacing out all around the Benton Crossing Road, with burgers a...

Seriously. Mattie and I were just in the cabin melting until about 6pm tonight. But then it was a beautiful warm evening at the cabin, I got a great run in down the river road (12 more weeks until the half marathon!), and now we're relaxing with some tea and papers.  I had a great weekend hanging out with Dad and Yeti (but she had to work all the time, which was a bumma), spending a day with Danielle, and seeing all of the little crazies again when they came down late Saturday night.  Anni and Grandpa making a princess puzzle. She is not a princess. She is a total head case. It's the best.  Actually they're all nuts. A beautiful day feeding animals at the Avila Barn, then a trip to the beach. Petting sea stars at the Avila aquarium.  Helping Grandpa to take his blood pressure. I never know what Anni is doing, but it's usually amazing. Scott and Dad finding little crabs at Avila Beach. A great day :)  OK, back to work! Trying to g...

Also today: There was maybe an earthquake this morning, or a really giant truck drove by that rattled the cabin The turkeys are all still hanging out so we gave them some bread crumbs I love my job and all the people at school, even if it stresses me out sometimes Mattie and I took a mid-afternoon nap after a restless sleep last night (and it was the best) It's cold tonight and I'm drinking hot chocolate, and Mattie is sitting next to me on the couch (the closest she gets to cuddling)  I get to go home to see Dad for a few days tomorrow  I realized there's a bullet-point button on the blog Love and happy adventure thoughts from Paradise Road, Allison and Mattie Mae