Mammoth

For the past six years, my big summer party is centered in Tahoe around July 24 to celebrate Bailey. She is a close friend of mine not only because she is cool, active, adventurous, and generous but because her birthday falls right in the middle of summer. Awesome ;)  This year, we decided to head south on the 395 to Mammoth and explore other parts of the Sierras.

 The landscape left me so inspired that I kicked myself for forgetting my watercolors.  The intense heat of the valley and the dense, dry brush make a striking juxtaposition against the lavender Sierra mountains and pale, blue sky. Aaahhhh...

Found some critters in this Wild West...

 

And the birthday girl!

After a float down the Owens River and multiple hot tub sessions, we packed up camp and drove to June Lake for a dip off the rope swing.

The 21,000 ft mansion pictured above was built by the 99 cent store owners. Damn!

The feathery clouds floating over Lake Topaz on the drive home was the icing on the cake :)

Palm Beach, Aruba

I finished this painting yesterday and am ready for my Mammoth camping, river-floating, hot-springs soaking, landscape painting, mini vacation with my friends :) Happy Sunday!

Heavenly

I took my Brazilian friend Fran up Heavenly the other morning. A mere ten minute drive from my house, Heavenly is one of my favorite Tahoe hikes because of its central location in town and it's stunning views of the lake from bottom to top. Don't you agree? 

Water break ;)

View from the top ...

Ambrose

Last weekend I got out of town to celebrate with my dear friends Lynsay and Patrick: they're getting hitched! We celebrated Lyns with a poolside bridal shower followed by an evening barbeque filled with laughter, wine, cucumber sandwiches, bocce ball and sparklers.

The groom in bloom

Masks for the wedding day photobooth!

Henry and Mama. 

 The happy couple.

Beautiful Laura is making me a pair of her custom sandals. Get a pair for yourself here

Drink it in...

I've just gotten into paddleboarding and am lucky enough to have friends with surplus boards! Last week I met up with my friend to paddle from Timber Cove to the keys and back. I love being on the water early in the morning, gliding through the glass, meeting other paddlers on the way and watching wakeboarders and waterskiiers enjoy the early morning conditions as well. The ab workout is also a plus!
Recently a bunch of girls and mamas met up at my friend's place near Zephyr for a paddle that just made my week :)

Succulentas

I started a little side project drawing plants out of a Succulent book last week using remnants of left over canvas while waiting for gesso to dry in my studio. I used textile pen and marker and quite like the result. I'm still trying to figure out how to mount them. Maybe I could matt them and put them in little shadowboxes. Or use tiny nails and mount them on small pieces of plywood. Any ideas?