a postcard to you

hello from northern california! we have been traveling to celebrate this! 

we visited an ancient bristlecone pine forest in the white mountains of california

pinus longaeva, the oldest known tree species in the world. there is a tree living here that is nearly five thousand years old

i made a friend with this bristlecone. although there was a light dusting of snow on the ground, when i sat at these roots, to knit a while, i felt warmth. this tree was vibrating, it was. like prue in wildwood, i felt i might  hear it speak

knit love

celebrating

mr. and mrs.

these are the female flowers called catkins, or cones

and these are male

a magical place, this ancient forest. the snow began to melt and we had to be on our way

someone else we saw on white mountain

the long road back down. in the far distance is the sierra nevada mountain range, we're headed there next

we drove the tioga pass through yosemite...to...

san francisco

where we found a vacancy on lombard street. after a walk in the rain and a late dinner, we fell asleep to the sounds of the city

this morning we left via

the golden gate bridge

we stopped in stintson beach, marin county, for breakfast

it was blustery cold out, so we sat near the stove. lovely husband, warm food, latte, crackling fire and knitting = bliss

continuing north, we went to the windiest place on the pacific coast, point reyes

and climbed three hundred and something stairs down to see the point reyes lighthouse

here it is, point reyes lighthouse, built in 1870. it really was windy, and spectacular, and i think our favorite lighthouse in california

there were over three hundred steps to climb back up, i only have two hundred and eighty more to go

the windiest place creates bendy trees

and further north, after being charmed by every small town (population 300 or under, or much less) along the way, we saw another lighthouse, point arena

and finally, we've arrived!

mendocino, very grateful and happy to be here.
xxx lori