Won't last long but we're giving it out best try. . .

There is a part of me that I feel very connected with when I am with Nathan. There is no other way to describe it. I adore him, and any adventure we have is amazing.

Nathan had to pick up an amp from a friend in Oregon, and so I tagged along for the ride.
 And our three day trip turned into what felt like 4 weeks- in a good way, savoring every element, every sensation, turning the hours into days. The different shades of  green that covered everything, the brisk salty air, the mural at the pizza place, all of it's wonder was not lost on us.

Reminds me of a line from a poem-
"To become a little bit more obsessed with this moment, and a little bit less about how it had been done before, or ever will be done again." -Buddy Wakefeild

Nathan rented a yurt on Harris Beach, very southern Oregon.
We spent two nights there taking late night walks on the beach, sunset walks on the beach, and daytime walks on the beach, climbing rocks, crossing rivers, eating food, listening to the new Animal Collective Album.

 Our yurt was amazing, how have I lived this much of my life without staying in one?

On the drive home we stopped in to see the majestic Red Woods. .
I've never been, and it's been on my to-see list for a while, and it did not disappoint.
I felt like a freaken ewok.

I love Oregon, I love my friends.

Forest Green.

Before you dive into reading this just hit play on this video and let it serenade you as you read about my weekend.



I wish I could put into words what it was like to fly solo as the only girl among four stallion men, cream of the crop men, being able to practice my submissive skills that I'm trying to develop for the time when I get married.


Drove to Jackson for the weekend, I thought I had never been there, excited to add a new place to the list, turns out I've been there. Didn't realize it until we drove into town, that I had spent a late weird night in that place.
Drove 5 hours past small towns, Utah and Wyoming countryside.
Checked out the smallest store in Utah

Got a tour of the house of the sweet little Philippino lady who ran the store, love the idea that this little lady is raising 6 kids in this small house. . .
And that when we joked about staying for the night she was more then happy when welcoming us in to stay.

We were told we needed to stop at this unproportionately sized playground, so glad we did.

Our little camp site, two nights of pure bliss spent in these tents.
Catching the giggles bad.

Ate pizza, checked out the town, drank water from the drinking fountain, did a little YSA volleyball.


"Y'all go get yourself some moos ice cream, best ice cream in town!" -Drew
"That red kool-aid, whatever it was, put me in a funk, I can't describe it" -Joey


Then it was off to the Million Dollar Cowboy bar.

Dripping in sweat, blowing the minds of everyone in the bar.
Country two-step has nothing on us.
Making lifetime friends and one night lovers.
"We are like Batman at dances- we go in, kick butt, don't disclose much and then leave" -Mason


Next day after a quick peak of the park we headed to the river.
The river was amazing. The boys knew JT, a gem of a man that guides tours of the river, and him and his wife took us down the river for free. The sun was shining, the water was clear, and the mountains had never looked so good.

I rode the bull for a good portion of the river, so mad that these pictures make me look like a pansy, I can assure you I was not.

JT's traylor, just him and his little newlywed wife living it up in the summer of Jackson, both river guides.
Working hard at playing in the river and gaining a more prominent Chaco tan line, what a romantic little life.

We topped the night off with a meteor shower, the radio said there was estimated to be about 30 shooting stars per hour, and I feel like that was an accurate account, if not more it was more then that. It was brilliantly beautiful and triggered a lot of space conversation, worm holes, traveling at the speed of light, Ben Rock.


Couldn't have picked a better crew, could have stayed in Jackson for the rest of my life with these guys and been blissfully happy. God bless Jackson.

Leeds Canyon

Kenn informed me that the black rhino beetles were flying around like crazy in Leeds Canyon (southern Utah) It didn't take too much convincing, and work was surprisingly easy to get off, so last night I went down to St. George, night collected until about 2am, and then drove home.

I think the word then Kenn kept using was "Buckets" in describing the amount of beetles.
After we had been hunting for about two hours I was confident it was a lie to get me to come down.
Kenn sears it was a fluke.
But I caught a small handful, enough to make the trip worth it.
Kenn is coming to Salt Lake this weekend, and he has promised to bring me some more.

Either way, it was a great excuse for night hunting.
Whitney tagged along, her first time night hunting, and she loved it.
I love being in the middle of a dark secluded canyon, in your lawn chair, watching the light, spiting sunflower seeds and being serenaded by the gentle hum of the generator.

Little rhino beetles climb up my braid. 

Me. Aaron. Kenn. 

. . . there is no other way I'd rather spend my summer Friday nights.

'Holly Cow, that guy looks ticked'

Last Weekend I went bug hunting in Madera Canyon Arizona.
It is the top spot in the nation to collect insects. And one of the best bird watching spots too.

The Canyon is not one for camping, the hiking trails aren't the best and it is kind of out of the way, so almost all the people you find in the canyon are bird watchers, and insect collectors.

It is a magic place, unlike any other, mostly because of the people.
We arrived after the sun had gone down and began to set up our lights and generatator and there was an Elderly couple in the parking lot. As we got to talking we found out they were there to find the rare Mexican Woot-Something (kills me I can't remeber the name) Owl.
So cool.

By the time I turn 70 I hope my husband and I's wardrobe has become similar, dressing as twins almost every day. And I hope we bird watch, sit in the mountains with a bird guide book, full rim hat and bonocoulars around my neck.

We continued to set up and they stopped us and said "Listen!" we froze and could hear the sweetest little woot.
"That is the Mexican Woot-(something I can't remeber) Owl! That is a very rare sound to hear!"

We stood in awe for about 10 seconds taking in the sound along with the fresh mountain air and life in general.
Then we started up our loud generator and forgot all about the birds.

Night hunting was not it's best, the prime time to go is late July, so I'll be back.
But we had a gay ol time.
To sit in a canyon, away from cell phone range, with a camping chair and a bag of sunflower seeds, with nothing to do but watch for insects and laugh it up- it makes for a good time, every time.

Thats a 1,000 Watt Meurcury Vapor light bulb, it is an expencive, very bright, little toy, and the bugs love it.

It felt like noon day standing within 10 feet of the light, the stars were gone, and if we wanted to we could have gotten a tan.
Dustin was happy to take part in the only activity that you needed to wear sunglasses AND a headlamp.
This picture cracks me up. Dustin was out of control.

Hawk moth and tongue

Discovered a easier way of killing the little guys, take a syringe and inject a small bit of rubbing alcohol.
They die instantly, it was wonderful.

I was very impressed with Kylee and Dustin's catching abillity, they both got into it, Dustin was the one waking me up the next morning because of his excitment with the Bumble Bees he was catching.








Kylee and Dustin took a lot more pictures, of all of us, so when I get them I'll put up some more.



Other Highlights of the trip-
Rav, in all her camping splendor, I love this car and seeing her full of camping gear I feel like a proud parent, nothing better. I love her.

Cool bugs, old friends-

Dustin wears black dress socks with his flip-flops, Kylee spills all the gas, the fumes in the car near killed Anidie and I.

Mexico, fresh fruit and chili sauce.

Kylee and Dustin bring a stray dog home from mexico. What the?

Kylee and her BS desert facts-

 The train Restaurant along Route 66 in Flagstaff

Colorado River, taking the long way home.

Staying with Juje for a night-

 And being in Rav over 25 hours with this girl-