Little Coffee Beans

scenes from the big white van

Sometimes, as we're in the midst of packing for a weekend out in the big white van, we wonder: Is it worth it? Is it worth all the work? All the effort? 

No matter how often those questions arise, we are pleased to come to the answer of: Yes, it is most definitely worth it. Whether it's one night or five, finding our family rhythm in the openess provided by that van gives us all a feeling of calm. And it always, always acts as a reset button, bringing us closer together. 

Wishing you a joyful start to your week. 

finding center

Couples therapy. Family therapy. Heck, it's just good therapy, that Big White Van. And the funny thing is this - it doesn't really matter where we go in that Big White Van. It could be five miles away at our local state park, or three hundred miles away, to the desert. The effect it has on us as individuals and as a family is apparent. We find our center. We come together. And the rest is just plain ol' fun.

We love that Big White Van.

On this first weekend out of the camping season we headed for the Colorado desert. The warmth, those red rocks and the expansive view keeps us coming year after year. Early spring finds Steve and I both starting to crave the desert. There's just something so alluring about the alien-like landscape. 

Second to the red rocks, I most appreciate the plant life. It takes an unworldly strength to survive in the harsh environment of the desert and the little plants, flowers and cactus that do so are quite beautiful. 

Even after months away from life in the Van, we easily find our rhythm. Steve and I each have our list of chores that we're responsible for to make it all happen. It takes quite a bit of effort to pull it off, but it's so worth it.

A typical weekend, no matter where we overnight, finds us waking in the morning to Zinnia's sweet voice (and face whacking). After the appropriate amount of snuggling, Steve is up to make our coffee while Zinnia and I play and read under the warmth of the sleeping bags. 

Breakfast usually consists of eggs and toast grilled in the cast iron pan. After that's inhaled then our attention shifts to preparing for the day's hike. We spend our mornings as a family wandering the trail du-jour. Our trail lunch is almost always avocado, cheese, mustard and pickle sandwiches. I don't know what it is about that combo, but for years and years this has been our go-to hiking lunch.

These days we time our morning hikes with nap time. While Zinnia naps in the van, Steve heads out for two hours of solo time - this may include hitting the trails on his mountain unicycle (muni), taking a trail run or fly fishing. This break in the day gives all of us the time to find our personal center. Whether I read, sunbathe or sleep, I'm rested and ready for the afternoon. And Steve, well he needs intense exercise daily to find his center. We do what works for each of us. When we come together again as family, we've all had our needs met and we're ready to connect to each other again.

After three days out in the van we return home feeling like we were out a week. 

Yep, that's good therapy.

seven things :: desert love

 Thankful. Smiling. Laughing. Appreciating. Adoring.

Loving. Holding. Remembering. Sharing. 

Here are seven little things {about the desert} that I'm loving today.

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

:: The smallest trickle of water supports so much life.

:: The pops of cactus in bloom.

:: The colorful collared lizard, one of six we saw.

:: The mysteries of what is left behind.

:: Warm oatmeal on a chilly camping morning.

:: The green of the desert is brighter than any other.

:: Spending the morning playing in a wash.

What simple little things are you loving today?

outside eats

When you think of camp food what comes to mind? 

Our passion for homegrown~homemade food extends beyond what we eat at home. We stock our coolers full of fresh-harvested vegetables when we head out camping - chard, kale, zucchini and tomatoes. Everything is washed, chopped and ready to eat.

Here's a glimpse of what we ate last week while we were camped out in the hills.

One of our summer staples whether home or camping is fresh salsa. I can eat it morning, noon and night.

Gather, chop and mix: tomatoes, (purple) scallions, garlic, parsley, cilantro, serrano chiles, lime, salt & pepper and my secret ingredient, lemon basil. I mostly used cherry tomatoes, quartered so the consistency was more like a salsa verde.

Our first night camping we usually eat the same thing: burritos with black beans and quinoa. I pre-cook the quinoa and beans before we take off so that after a long drive we don't have to deal with dinner. We crank up the camp stove long enough to melt cheese on our tortillas, which we then stuff with beans, quinoa and top it off with homemade salsa. We actually eat this meal at least once a week, any time of year.

Night two we used the last of the salsa over a penne pasta with sauteed garlic, onion and garden zucchini with a side of chicken & feta brats. After a long day of hiking at altitude, we inhaled this meal.

For dinner on our third night I made a chard & cous cous nest.  Sauteed onion, garlic and chard served with israeli cous cous and topped with tomatoes. Simple and delicious. 

For our fourth dinner I made pad thai (from a box) with tofu, garlic, onion and kale.

Too bad I didn't take pictures of breakfast because Stevie hooked us up with goodies like breakfast burritos with eggs, beans & salsa and chard & tomato omelettes. But, I gotta tell you, photographing before breakfast requires a morning gusto that I just don't possess. 

Here's to good, healthy eats at home and in the hills...

Cheers! 

 

 

savoring summer

 

We've just returned from a six day camping adventure, back to our super-extra-wicked-favorite spot hidden in the hills outside of our favorite mountain town. Aahhhh. I'm still breathing the cool mountain air, still hearing the babbling stream in my mind as I try to ignore the distant sounds of traffic and the neighbor's barking dog on this Wednesday morning. 

This valley is so very good to our family. In fact, it brought us together as a family three years ago and we return to this exact place every year to celebrate each other. It's hard to articulate what this place means to us and how it feeds us. Zinnia can feel it too - the magic of this valley - and she did her own bit of savoring all its goodness.

 What else can I say? Life is so very sweet, indeed. 

And can I tell you a secret? There's a hint of fall in the air up there, above 10,000feet. It's in the morning's dew, it's in the evening breeze, it's in the foliage that's hinting at a golden hue. It's coming. Slowing drifting down the hills.  We're savoring every last breath of summer, but I have to say, that fall(ish) air sure felt nice.

 

This is where

Where van wheels meet dirt road.

Where open spaces lull us - alone and together - to wander, further.

Where home grown combines with wild caught to make the most perfect meal.

Where mother nature does her thing with swollen moon, thunderous hail and colors so, so bright.

Where dirt finds its place on face, hands, feet and all the in-betweens.

Where four wheels meets one on a foggy, wet morning.

This is where all good weekending things happen.

 

 

Wildflowers, wildflowers everywhere

It was another one of those weekends. Colorado bluebird skies and alpine wildflowers. Everywhere. Oh, and there were lakes. Lots and lots of lakes.

We have family visiting from afar this week so we all headed up for a long weekend in the woods. I love that after 17 years in Colorado there are still places that are new to me. 

We hiked and swam and fished and played games. And we laughed. There was a lot of laughter.

And did I mention the wildflowers? 

Zinnia's word du jour is "Wow!" And she would light up every time we'd turn a bend on the trail and she'd see something interesting. "Wooowwww, wa wa (water)" as she points to the lake and squeals. This little girl loves water.

Now that was a good weekend!

It was one of those weekends

One dirt road {blocked by snow} led to another and to another and to another.

And to still another.

This is our most super-wicked-extra-favorite valley and we come here every year to bask in all its wildflower glory. Well, do you see all that snow in the distance? Yep, that's where we usually camp when we make our annual July trip. This year we came in June. 
 

Locals will tell you that this region has three seasons - July, August & Winter. 

Well it might not still be winter up there, but it is most definitely early spring.

So, we changed location and found a place to do our thing.

 

 

 

 

 It was one of those weekends, where nothing went as planned, and you know what? It was all right anyway. 

Gratefully celebrating the bestest Dada I know!

Weekending {up at 10,000 feet}

Friday afternoon we packed up the big white Van

And headed way, way, way down a bumpy dirt road

To one of our favorite high alpine valleys

 Where we walked and we jumped

And we read

As we watched the sun set.

When the next morning came, we walked through the trees

 To the Wilderness up high

Where Dada fished for rainbows

And Mama and Zinnia played in the dirt

And smelled the wildflowers

Then we hiked back down through the aspens

Back to our sweet camp spot by the river

And we ate some yummy homegrown food

And drank our new favorite IPA

And we kept track of it all in our little camp book.

Then the next morning when we woke up

We did the same thing

All over again!

Hope you had a beautiful weekend too!