Mule Days in Photos

Memorial Day Weekend: Mules and Memorials

{my family enjoying typical East Coast Memorial Day parades over the years}

On the East Coast, historically (in my life), Memorial Day represents the blooming of lilacs, the official a-ok time to plant your garden, the time to pull the white things out of the closet, the beginning of grilling season...and, of course, huge Memorial Day commemorations and parades in every town.

This Memorial Day weekend, I'm in California - the other place where we hang our hats -- and, here in the Eastern Sierra, Memorial Day seems to be less about memorials and more about mules.

While I must say I'm a traditionalist and really think Memorial Day should be about, well, commemorating US men and women who died in service, I must say that celebrating the mules is pretty cool, too.

{my mom and my eldest daughter enjoying Mule Days in years past}

Every year during the Memorial Day Weekend, more than 700 mules compete in 181 events at the Bishop Mule Days Celebration in Bishop, California. There is no way to actually describe Mule Days. It is part mule show, part test of skills, and part wild west.

Situated on the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop, California, Mule Days has become an international world class event. Crowds are estimated to be about 30,000! Highlights of the Celebration include the longest running non-motorized parade (my family is full of generations of parade lovers, so this stuff matters to us) on Saturday morning, Steer roping and penning, an event normally reserved for quarter horses, and the Packer's Scramble – the wildest, noisiest and funniest event of the weekend. There are also barbecues, country dances and an arts & crafts show. All taking place at the foot of the beautiful Eastern Sierra.

We've had the chance to partake in Mule Days several times -- it is a hoot! Looking forward to sharing it this year with some East Coast friends and Baby R.

What are you doing this Memorial Day Weekend?

On Monday, I'll be sharing a bit more about Mule Days. Yeehaw!

My Weekend in Pictures

Six years ago I reluctantly put aside my film SLR for a simple digital camera. Last week I took the plunge and purchased a digital SLR (Nikon D3000 with two lenses). This weekend I took it for a little test drive. Not my best photography, but I had a ball trying it out.

My weekend in pictures...and a few words.

surprised a pair of eagles. captured a father/daughter moment. reminded that the fences of the west are not the fences of the east. stopped in our tracks by deer. celebrated cinqo de mayo with a pinata hung from tow truck. spied on a rabbit hiding under a pinon tree. discovered a giant rock that looks like an owl.  experienced snow, high desert and a lifetime of history in an afternoon drive. witnessed our baby eating cake for the first time.

Conversation and Coffee: Latte Da!

 (Photo from El Mono/Latte Da Website)

A few years ago, when I was still living in the big city and dreaming of returning to my small town roots, I had a dream of opening a coffee shop.

I even had a name picked out.

But, then, in the two places where I hang my hat, they just so happened to have perfect coffee shops.

Yup, perfect. Cozy atmosphere. Good organic coffee. Locally made baked goods. And, "regulars". (And, by the way, I think it is safe to say that I'm considered a "regular" in both.)

I know, I know, I went on this whole spiel a month or so ago about the ten best investments you can make, including making your own coffee. And, well, I do make my own coffee. More than I used to, in fact. But, for me, having a really good cup of organic coffee in a cozy place where friends and strangers gather is a critical and grounding experience for me. The conversations, the friendship, the smell of good coffee--all really good stuff.

Well, here in the Eastern Sierra, THE coffee shop (wonderfully named Latte Da) -- the best little coffee shop ever -- closes its doors at the end of October and re-opens when fishing season begins.

I've been anticipating the opening for quite some time (read: a long winter without my favorite hang out)...and, I'm so happy to report  that this past weekend marked the opening.

On opening day, I arrived shortly after the doors were unlocked (I had to drag my kids out of bed...)--and, things were just as I'd left them in the Fall. A fire was burning in the old stone fireplace, the smells of freshly baked pumpkin spice cake and good coffee beckoning and friends talking and laughing.

I was so caught up in the socializing and reconnecting that I didn't even realize that there were some folks "from away" sitting in the corner of the coffee shop.(This is particularly funny given the shoebox-size of the coffee shop!) I didn't notice them until they stood up and walked to the door...then turned around and said, "This has been the highlight of our trip. What a charming experience."

On the beautiful painted walls (Kelly, friend and proprietor, is quite artistic) of Latte Da, there is a quote, "Where coffee is served, there is grace and splendor and friendship and happiness." So very true.

I recently learned that this quote, written by Sheik Ansari Djezeri Hanball Abd-al-Kadir more than 400 years ago, goes on to say, "All cares vanish as the coffee cup is raised to the lips." Yes. Exactly.

I'm signing off to head there now -- for a little friendship and a really good cup of joe.

It's All About the Fish

I love fish.

I love to eat them.

I love fishy things (Not stinky things, but things with fish on them...pottery, paintings, etc.We even make fish prints of fish we catch -- check it out in the photo above.).

I even like to catch 'em ( I have discovered, however, since marrying my husband that I'm not a hardcore fisherperson by any stretch....I just enjoy an occasional afternoon of fishing.).

Well, it's a good thing...

Not only did I marry into a big fishing family (My father-in-law is known as one of the area's fishing gurus and actually writes columns on fishing, for starters.), but also, in the two places (have I explained that yet?) I live, it's all about the fishing.

Okay, maybe not all about the fishing....but a lot about the fishing.

April marks the opening of fishing season. Up here in the Eastern Sierra (California), where I am currently, this weekend marks the opening of fishing season. Now, I should point out, up here in the mountains it is also still ski season...and some of the frozen lakes haven't even opened up. But, nevertheless, the businesses that had shut their doors at the end of fishing season in the fall are opening up...and fisherpeople are arriving. Might be a little hard to hold that flyrod with a frozen hand, but by golly, they'll be fishing.

Me? Well, I'm sort of a fair-weather fishing person (and, I have this problem where I think like the fly, not the fish...)...so instead, I'll be enjoying a big cup of coffee on my very favorite coffee shop (more on that soon) that opens its doors tomorrow at 7 a.m. for the first time since November.