October

This time of year makes me want to hike and admire the turning of the leaves, make pumpkin-flavored everything, and buy knit-hats and scarves in all shades of autumn colors. Living in SoCal, the changing of the seasons is subtle compared to other places, so I have to take notice and celebrate in my own unique way. Already camped, so next up - COOK!! Here's a start...

Pumpkin Soup

Cali-appreciation

I'm having a wave of feelings of love for California. 
We just got back from camping in El Capitan. It was beautiful, moderate temperature, lovely sunsets, mountainy and beachy at the same time! We hiked, we played backgammon, we read magazines, took photos, played with the hound, made a campfire (and s'mores) took a drive to wine-taste, had lunch of tri-tip sandwiches outdoors at a favorite biker hangout spot in the santa barbara mountains, saw shooting stars, drove great stretches of the 1 and visited our friends' campsite in point mugu. Here are some pics from the weekend:

La Super Cuca in Santa Barbara on the way up to El Capitan,
and the sunset the first night

Otis chilling out in the wood chips

Buellton for some wine tasting at Alma Rosa
and the cool/creepy deer head mantle at cold spring

The bridge on our hike from camp to the beach