Past & Present

Last weekend was a camping weekend. Haven't been to Lahontan in years. My kids were young, my parents, sister and brothers-in-law were alive and camping was a family affair. So many memories - haven't been ready to return to the once happy scene. But I ventured out this weekend - with my daughter's family, my son's family, their friends and family. Photos tell some of the story…

 Saturday started with Brooke (my daughter) and Patrick (my grandson - son of my son) building sandcastles. Later, as Brooke and I took to the water with SUPs, Patrick had fund smashing the fortress - he's 2. 

He likes building and breaking!

This is an evening at Lahontan. 

It's in the middle of a desert, water left over from and ice age ocean that covered Northwestern Nevada. 

For many, it's charm is an acquired taste. It's sandy, dirty, hot. 

Get past that - camp in the trees, nap in the heat of the afternoon, 

put your volleyball net in the water. 

Swim, SUP, kayak - it's a lake made for water play.

It actually wasn't until the first evening that it all came rushing back. Why I love Lahontan.

My creative energy returns. The dry, sandy, mountains glow in the sunset.

Clouds become a Monet painting.

My mind soaks in the space - forgets all the negative.

I breathe deeply - I feel like writing again. I feel like I can write again.

I'm not sad for who is not there.

I'm happy that I still have a family I love to be with.

More to come tomorrow - our Burning Guy fun. Stay tuned.

headin' out

This is what we're doing this weekend - playing. Leaving in about an hour for Lahontan where we'll stand up paddle board, kayak, play volleyball, nap and read. It's a weekend at the lake. Shown above Patrick and his Aunt Brooke - my grandson and daughter. Ya'll have a great weekend.

Not yet. Not ready. It's only one Virginia Creeper leaf, but it's much too early to start showing color. I'm hanging on to the ease of summer. Not yet. Not ready.

determination

Papa was left alone with his grandson. This is what they came up with. Patrick's first jump. That's love.

busy bees

Busy as a bee indeed. 

the simple life

When 3 wheels and a steering wheel were all you needed…

cruise night

It's cruise time in Reno/Sparks - Hot August Nights. It's been happening for 25 years and this is the first year that my husband and I had a vehicle to take part. This is a line of cars on Tuesday night going down B Street in Sparks. The line went for a couple miles later in the evening. We pulled off with a group to watch the parade. Old music. Old cars. Old and young people. Some of us remembering our glory days. Others still in their prime. It's a come together.

just fun

This is my new paddle board - yes, hanging in the garage. Pretty, heh? and fun. I've had it out three times but can't figure out how to take a photo at the same time I'm setting off on the water. No, I will not take my DSLR on the board. I'm a beginner - with the board and the camera.

This is far more fun than I thought. Had never intended to buy one. Then my daughter took me out - she's a licensed instructor - and I got it. It's you, the water, the board and a paddle, and you move quietly to wherever you want on the water. See the turtles that rest on some pipes, break up the flotilla of seagulls and listen to them squawk, discover a new batch of baby mallards - late for the season. No phone. Just the water, the board and a paddle. 

And then the rain came…

Western Nevada - it's still wild and woolly when it comes to the storms setting in. They're sudden and often violent in the summer. Went to Lahontan to test out my new paddle board. Started with sun; then the clouds started building on mountain ridges. When you can hear the thunder and see the smoke lifting into the sky from lightening strikes, you know it's time to come in from the rain. We loaded the dogs, left my board and Mike's kayak with my daughter (they were camping) and headed for home. Hit this cloudburst but also had the opportunity for some interesting cloud shots from the car. There is always excitement living in the desert.