Dust & Mosquito Bites

Yup…we’ve been to the mountains!

Flip Flop Follies National Park Edition coming up…

Have flip flops, will travel!

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As always on the way up, we stop in Bako @ Sonic for a quick lunch and my all-time fave…

{Don’t bother me, I’m enjoying my Blended Root Beer Float!}

Note to self: Don’t bother me, I’m covering my grays!

Temptation:

We made it to “Camp Duke” just in time for Happy Hour on the deck.

Followed by good ol’ Camp Duke fare….Grilled Chicken, corn and salad:

S’mores for dessert!

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Good morning, Wawona!

Grilled veggie frittata:

Our annual stagecoach ride with Beryl:

Hiking to the swimming hole:

Waterlogged:

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It was a treat to witness two of the four baby bluejays leaving the nest!

Mama bird was squawking up a storm ~ I’m sure she was half yelling at us to get away from her babies and half scolding them for leaving the nest!

Sweet baby bluejay.

We cordoned off the deck so the pooches wouldn’t “harm” the baby bird!

This is the third little sweetheart that didn’t get the courage to leave the nest just yet. There is one more sibling in the nest behind him/her:

These were the most spoiled babies! They have grown up on peanuts, almonds and bread crusts thus far. The kids had fun putting the food out for Mama bird to swoop down and grab. She would go up in the trees above the deck, get the peanuts out of the shell and then fly off to feed her brood.

So fun to watch.

{She’ll eat your peanuts all day long, but DON’T get too close to her babies!}

We also caught the rear of a deer at the neighbor’s house:

The kiddos thought this was the bee’s knees.

We saw squirrels that tried to eat our lunch leftovers at the swimming hole!

Grunc saw a 10-point (5 “points” on each side) buck while walking home from the barn dance.

Yikes!

Nature is so busy with all our little animal friends.

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Next on the agenda, tri-tip dinner, more sweet corn, fresh green beans and salad:

More s’mores for dessert with the sweet neighbors, The Lowry’s!

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The next morning we took a short hike to some local waterfalls.

Holdy and I were on the “leisurely hike” plan!

He walked the whole way, though ~ bless his heart.

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Later that evening we went to our usual Summer BBQ at the gorgeous Wawona Hotel.

Holden demonstrates how to eat watermelon on a stick:

Elliott LOVES her some ribs:

Miss Elliott was also the most loved by the ‘squitos this year, unfortunately.

They LOVED her forehead!

Poor sweetie…

A true mountain girl!

After the BBQ, we always go listen to live piano music in the parlor of the hotel and sip:

…THEN, we go down to the barn dance and do a little do si do!

…and sit outside by the campfire:

Nothin’ like sittin’ in front of the horse stables at a campfire in your flip flops!

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I LOVE that we can kick up some dirt in the mountains, frolic in the sand & surf, enjoy the art at The Getty or spend an afternoon in bustling LA or Hollywood.

But we also love quiet time at home.

So great to live in Southern California and have all this at our fingertips.

After a few days away from real life, I am reminded of our family’s mission statement:

Strive for SIMPLICITY.

SEEK beauty in “the everyday”.

SAVOR these special moments.

Thank you, Unc for {again} being the host with the most with all the delicious, healthy Camp Duke fare and providing your tour guide services and cozy cabin.

Thank you, Gramma, for getting us there and back by filling up the car along the way and filling us with snacks, meals and Starbucks while on the road.

Dust and mosquito bites aside, it was another wonderful trip to Wawona!

Our Summer is now complete.

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