15 cheers for THE horse camp!

it is hard to put into words the awesome-ness of The Horse Camp. the songs, the daily rides, the games, the chores, the overnight, a special trip to the special olympics, the science lessons, of course the horses, the AMAZING staff, and most of all the friendships. so lucky to be part of this community. when I asked the girls if this was the best summer of camp ever, they replied, "the best... so far!" say rah rah rah rah...




















E was presented with the 2015 Teen Camp Zen Master award (for being her lovely chill self and rolling along happily, but mainly for riding out two lessons on rambunctious horses and not losing her cool! Very proud!)

K was present with the 2015 Camp Role Model award (she continues to grow as a leader. I am so proud of her!)

weekend to do

trip to goodwill
donations for back to school breakfast (how can that be around the corner!)
finalize bathroom redo fixtures
find shower expert!

around the house
cut back poppies

summer lovin' (part 2)

the second important ingredient for our summer is a good playlist. we spend 2 days driving up to the cottage, then 5 days down the coast on our return. the songs need to appeal to everyone. they need to sound good played loudly. and ideally, we all can sing along. (and if we are really lucky, someone can play the ukulele along to them, as well*)



here is what e put together this year...

jesus of suburbia :: green day
geronimo :: shepard
high young :: rising suns
shut up and dance :: walk the moon
budapest :: george ezra
kids in america :: kim wilde
cheerleader :: omi
riptide :: vance joy*
american idiot :: green day
want you back :: michael jackson
living on a prayer :: bon jovi
its time :: imagine dragon
don't you forget about me :: simple minds
time after time :: quiet drive
can't feel my face :: the weekend
good riddance :: green day
all star :: smashmouth
car radio :: 21 pilots
in too deep :: sum 41
for baltimore :: all time low
young and beautiful :: lana del rey

weekend to do

girls are at the ranch overnight so taking advantage of their absence and deep cleaning (at least one of) their rooms
rain in the forecast means moving all the house plants outside (rain in the forecast?! where am I?!)
a "see you later" party for dear, dear friends

summer lovin' (part 1)

in my opinion, there are two other necessities to a perfect summer at our cottage (aside from sun, sand, and sea):

good reads

mine
H is for Hawk
Delancy
Everything I Never Told You
Year of the Cow (by our neighbor Jarod!)
Station Eleven (recommended by Michael Christie - see below - with Gulf Island setting)

d's
If I Fall, If I Die (Michael and his family live on Galiano)
A Death In the Family

e's
The Outsiders
21 Proms
Read Between the Lines
More Than This
The Infinite Moment of Us
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
The Woman in White*

k's
Rain Reign
The Giver
Gathering Blue
Messenger
Son


*9th grade summer reading list

weekend to do

and we're back... (though still dreaming of sunset strolls.)

around the house
laundry (natch)
prepare for camp

back to the ranch! (two very happy girls)

stop #3 (brookings, OR)

there is something about this yearly journey that is hard to put into words. it is me, stepping back, watching these two grow. at the cottage. and on this road trip. it is about sisters (a subject unfamiliar to me, save through this lens), and about individuals. about adventure, and routine. about confidence, and about companionship.

every year. growth. all of us. xo


tomorrow night, berkeley. then home.

stop #2 (newport, OR)

stop #1 (pdx)

so very, very good.



no words.


just history. and friendship. and smiles. (love you all.)

and we're off...

it is time to close up for the summer. (too early this year, I'm afraid. but lots waiting for us to do back home.)

and of course a beautiful road trip ahead of us.

wonder / wander

we spend a lot of time here just doing nothing. it is really my favorite thing. no need to entertain the kids - there is so much for them to discover on their own. this was the first summer I allowed them to go to "our beach" on their own - a little nerve wracking the first time, but really exciting for the two of them. (it isn't a swimming beach per se - but a favorite spot to tide pooling, and sitting on a warm sandstone rock with a favorite book - which is what they did.)

k likes to go - and so bringing her bike with us is important. (its where she learned to ride.) our road turns into a fireroad - closed to traffic - that leads through a park mid-island. creeks and wildlife and a variety of forest and flowers (and blackberries if we're lucky!). there are lots of stops and starts while she gets off to explore.

it is always fun to follow...

sandy morning

this is our go-to morning beach. (montague is our late-afternoon / evening stop.)

we try to go here every day. and especially if low tide works with our timeline. the intertidal life is amazing. and the water is warm enough for swimming.

pilgrimme(age)

there is a wonderful new restaurant on island (in the old La Berengerie space - which is so special in itself) worth recording.



local fare. farm-to-table. shared plates. super yummy. touted as one of the best new restaurants by EAT magazine, it is a must stop if you are visiting galiano. (nice connection, Chef Jessie McCleary, is originally from Manitoba.)

the girls picks were marinated olives with espelette pepper, lemon and herbs and persian star garlic panisse with pickled galiano vegetables and aioli

mom and i chose galiano greens with a juliett blue, mustard and wine dressing; barclay sound sockeye with lacinato kale, brown butter and meyer lemon; and a farro special that included pesto and a poached duck egg.



and for dessert - one of everything! (dark chocolate bergamot pot de creme with sea salt, caramel and shortbread; fraser valley rice pudding with roasted chase, buckwheat and sesame; and dark chocolate truffles with berries



per the menu "We serve locally grown produce, ethically sourced meats and sustainable seafood. Our dishes are intended to be shared family-style to allow for a diverse sampling of the menu." (i'd be remiss not to add the beautiful plates and serving pieces are by local potter kasumi lampitoc.)



of course it was followed by a sunset stroll at montague...







pilgrimme
2806 montague
galiano island, british columbia