Falafel Pizza & A Random Afternoon

Nisene Marks Forest

Davenport Snaps

I have so much to tell you after this past weekend! But first I want to post the rest of the pictures from earlier this month when we tripped up Highway One to The Roadhouse for brunch and a walk along the beach. The gallery next to the restaurant has been repainting this sunglass-shaped sign for years; it's so cheesy but I love seeing it every time. Maybe they even drew out the sun, because we were lucky enough to drive out of the fog around Santa Cruz to a bright beautiful day. 

Adventure Time

During a break in the rain last weekend, Eric and I layered up and took Oreo for a long walk in Nisene Marks state park. Nisene is a forest reserve about ten minutes away that houses one of my favorite trees-the redwoods! We are lucky enough to live near lushly forested mountains and more than one state park, but this particular patch is special for another reason. This forest grows on land that had been completely clear-cut during the California logging boom that ended in the early Twentieth century; looking around, it's hard to imagine that this forest is a baby and only just beginning. After the recent storms, everything was bright green and a bit wild with happiness. Except for the banana slug, those are yellow with joy ;)

Home Sweet Home

Hiya everybody, I hope those who celebrated the holiday had a blast! If you follow my Instiegram, you might know that I've been tucked away in Southern California for the past week, celebrating life, love and luck with Eric and his family. I'm still working on all the photos I snapped, so in the meantime I'll show you a few favorites that don't even warrant editing.

As much as I enjoyed, appreciated, and needed our vacation, I must say it's really nice to be home. I have a few more days off before I go back to work, so I've already started decorating for the holidays, planning future cookie recipes, and gifts. I almost can't wait until Saturday because it's the day we get the tree!

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Earlier today, we stopped at The New Target (I don't know when I'll be able to stop calling it that) where I spotted a display of colorful ankle length trousers on sale for $20 - I'm adding the black & white pattern and these in the deep blue or green to my wishlist! I didn't try them on so I'm trying to keep calm. Does anyone have these yet?

Monterey Bay Aquarium Pt. 3

The Jellies

I absolutely love the jelly fish section, almost as much as getting to watch the penguins. The tanks are all in a darkened exhibit, lit from withing to highlight to jellies best. Didja know jelly fish are the oldest multi-organ animal on earth? They pulse and flail gently in aqua tanks that seem endless. Their translucence contrasts beautifully with the glowing accents that sometimes look like electric lights. There are even jelly fish that lie on the ocean floor and look like anemones, lifting their bellies to the sun and catching prey as it drifts by.

Sea Horses

The newest exhibit at the Aquarium is The Secret Life of Sea Horses, which I hadn't seen before. These crazy looking little creatures are so fascinating; I'm sorry I couldn't get any better photos of them, but they are more skittish than the other animals in the aquarium. The site calls tehm "shy and secretive." They always moved away before I could focus and get a good shot! There were specimens up to eight or nine inches long, and some as small as fingernails. I learned that the males carry and pop out the babies; seems like more species should try this maybe? I also learned that the tourist trade in dried starfish and seahorses, for example, is having a detrimental effect on the ocean's wildlife. Farmers harvest whole portions of live reefs, fish and all, for profit, while leaving an area denuded.

Penguin Party

I like to think penguins are my spirit animal. These are South African penguins, not the March Of The Penguins arctic kind, but they are just as funny and cute. They have their names on a little armband to tell them apart. One kept worrying the keeper's boot and pant leg with its beak, demanding treats. The swimmers looked so cheerful zipping around in the water and floating by the windows. It's almost as though they're posing nonchalantly while watching us watch them.

Check out my first two posts {here and here} from our day trip to Monterey. And if you're interested in more Monterey Bay Aquarium stuff, check out their exhibits and learn more from their site, www.montereybayaquarium.org