When I need a break from the summer-dry hills that surround our home, one of my favorite local escapes is Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont for a walk on the boardwalk through the marsh. Photos taken June 9th, 2013 Continue reading »
Tag Archives: nature
Joy: Camping with Friends
Photo taken June 6th, 2013 San Mateo Memorial Park, California *** See… Camping: San Mateo Memorial Park Continue reading »
Camping: San Mateo Memorial Park
OK, I have to admit, I absolutely love camping and hiking in the redwoods. There’s something about those trees… so huge, ancient, beautiful, peaceful. I already have a few favorite campgrounds located in the coastal redwoods, but now I have a new one to add to my list… San Mateo Memorial Park, located in the … Continue reading »
Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting
Oh, how I wish I could hold onto these moments. Last days of kindergarten… a school trip to the beach… Photo taken June 7th, 2013 Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Continue reading »
Butterfly Fun! Coyote Hills Regional Park
We had a wonderful time at the 14th Annual Butterfly & Bird Festival at Coyote Hills Regional Park today! The highlight? So many monarchs fluttering around the Nectar Garden. Beautiful! Related articles This Sunday! Butterfly & Bird Festival, Coyote Hills (anaturemom.com) Continue reading »
Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda
I participated in a super fun 5K run (See Jane Run Women’s Half Marathon and 5K San Francisco Bay Area) yesterday morning at Crown Memorial State Beach / Crab Cove in Alameda. What a gorgeous place to run! There’s a paved trail that runs along the bay (the beach is 2.5 miles long!), perfect for … Continue reading »
Silent Saturday: Pescadero State Beach
Pescadero State Beach, California Photo taken June 7th, 2013 Continue reading »
Squirrels: Waiting
These two are such a nuisance. Now they’ve taken to sitting on the fence, one on each wall, watching me, waiting patiently for me to leave. I’m sure the second I’m away from the window, they’ll attack the bird feeder. Looks as if I may have to try one or two of these “Tips for … Continue reading »
This Sunday! Butterfly & Bird Festival, Coyote Hills
If you live in the San Francisco area, and you’re into butterflies, I suggest you head to Coyote Hills Regional Park this Sunday (June 9th, 2013) for the annual Butterfly & Bird Festival. We’ve attended this for the last three years and always love it! See what I wrote about our visit last year… Monarchs! … Continue reading »
Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says
Sunol Regional Wilderness Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says Continue reading »
Dublin Hills: June
Photos taken June 2nd, 2013 Calaveras Ridge Regional Trail, Dublin Hills Regional Park Continue reading »
Tunnel View Overlook: Yosemite Valley
Looking for that iconic view of Yosemite Valley? Head to the Tunnel View Overlook, located on Highway 41, on the Yosemite Valley side of the Wawona Tunnel. Photo taken May 28th, 2013 Continue reading »
Floral Friday: Snow Plant
Snow Plant, Yosemite Photo taken May 28th, 2013 Continue reading »
Hike: Lower Cathedral Lake, Yosemite
It’s official… my son has truly become a hiker! While in Yosemite over the weekend, we decided to let our kindergartener choose which alpine lake we’d hike to… one that would require a three mile, a five-mile, or a seven-mile round-trip hike. He excitedly exclaimed, “The seven mile one!” We gave him a few chances … Continue reading »
Weekly Photo Challenge: In the Background
Half Dome from Glacier Point Photo taken May 27th, 2013 *** Weekly Photo Challenge: In the Background Continue reading »
Trail Run: Mirror Lake, Yosemite Valley
After spending the last two months recovering from a calf injury, I jumped back into trail running Saturday with an awesome trail run in Yosemite Valley. It was the perfect run to get me back on the trail, and it felt amazing. I was afraid to try anything too hilly, so I chose the section … Continue reading »
Weekly Photo Challenge: Escape
Escape to me means being far, far away from other people, breathing in cool, crisp mountain air, hearing only the random screech of a hawk, inhaling the scent of pine, and taking in the high alpine views. We’ll soon be heading to the Sierras for our first escape of the season. I absolutely cannot wait … Continue reading »
Darn! The New Squirrel
We have a new backyard visitor… a young, nimble, ravenous squirrel. Since this one arrived, we haven’t seen our resident three-legged squirrel. This one appears to have taken over the territory. Even worse? This one is light and agile enough to jump from our barbecue onto the bird feeder! We’ve moved things around and stumped … Continue reading »
Silent Saturday: I Love Spring!
Lake Chabot Regional Park Photos taken May 14th, 2013 Continue reading »
So fast!
This is the reason I started running four years ago…. Continue reading »
Sibley: A Volcano, A Labyrinth, & Gorgeous Views
Did you know there’s a volcano right here in the San Francisco East Bay? Yep, Round Top, a volcano so long extinct that it’s now lying on its side, is located in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in the Berkeley Hills. On Sunday, I enjoyed a fun Mother’s Day hike around the Round Top Loop Trail … Continue reading »
Pattern: For Love of Dirt
Three photos of my son from our walk through the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley last week. Can you spot the pattern? Yep! No matter where we go, he’s playing in the dirt. Photos taken May 5th, 2013 *** Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern Continue reading »
Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern
Photos taken May 5th, 2013 *** Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern Continue reading »
Floral Friday: Spring
Photos taken May 5th, 2013 UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley In celebration of National Public Gardens Day Related articles Gorgeous! Cactus Flowers (anaturemom.com) This Friday! National Public Gardens Day (anaturemom.com) Continue reading »
Connecting Kids With Nature: How Grandparents Can Help
Are you a grandparent who would like to help connect your grandchild(ren) with the natural world? Check out these great tips from Richard Louv… Grand Ideas! 21 Great Ways Grandparents and Grandfriends Can Connect Kids to Nature. What wonderful ways to bond! My dad and my son, then three, gardening together (Tip #9: Create a … Continue reading »
Gorgeous! Cactus Flowers
The cacti in the the New World Desert Collection of the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley are in stunning bloom. How have I missed this in past years? The flowers are gorgeous! All these photos were taken during my visit on Sunday, May 5th, 2013. If you live in the San Francisco area, I recommend … Continue reading »
This Friday! National Public Gardens Day
This Friday, May 10th, is National Public Gardens Day. To celebrate the event, Better Homes and Gardens magazine is offering readers a free admission coupon for two to visit participating public gardens, arboretums, and green spaces on this day. Head on over to the Better Homes and Gardens National Public Gardens Day page… http://www.bhg.com/gardening/arboretums/celebrate-national-public-gardens-day/ … … Continue reading »
From Above: Water Strider
Photo taken May 5th, 2013 *** Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above Continue reading »
Silent Saturday: California Poppy (May)
Photo taken May 2nd, 2013 Continue reading »
Neighborhood Walk: An Early Summer
Here in California, due to the lack of any spring showers, it’s already feeling like summer. That means hot weather, dry hills, and, unfortunately, an early fire season. Here are some images from a walk I took with my son yesterday around our neighborhood in the San Francisco East Bay. Photos taken May 2nd, 2013 Continue reading »
