Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea, a set on Flickr.

A beautiful stop along the old #1 (or PCH) headed to see Joel in LA.

Trails of Marin County

Marin is mostly park land with a small network of towns scattered along the coasts and through the valleys where the former rail line used to be. The older homes are craftsman cottages whose early owners were probably from San Francisco and likely used these in the Summers. Many of these places were never insulated and don't have proper foundations. The next influx of development was in the '50s which spread the California bungalow style through the area with the slanted roofs and hardwood floors and giant floor to ceiling windows. Lots are small and most back onto steep hillsides. For many people in Fairfax, San Anselmo, Mill Valley and other quaint little towns, residents have direct access to hill top trails that connect and spread out across the county. The trails are actually fire roads and once on these roads you can get all the way out to the coast if you just keep going.

Many of our neighbours are long distance trail runners, mountain bikers and road cyclists. I'm not much of a runner but I have started to do a walk/run on one of our closest trails. I took my brother up this hill on his visit at sunset. Not a bad view!

A weekend in LA

LA Spring 2008, a set on Flickr.

BBQ in March

The weather has been brilliant this week with temperatures in Fairfax reaching the beginning of the sundress index. Luckily Jessica and I were equipped with such apparel and braved the warmth without fear. 

We decided to invite our neighbours and some friends over for a BBQ tonight to celebrate the end of Winter (yes I know we really haven't suffered enough to celebrate but if you were here, wouldn't you?). It was a great evening and is hopefully just the first of many. 

Home is where the furniture lives

I've been home from my extended Christmas/January (hey why not) holidays for three weeks now. Joel is still working in LA with no clear end to that period in sight. Despite the easy three day a week school schedule, and having my friend Jessica here to help out, it's been a chaotic time. Joel and I have flown or driven back and forth every weekend. He flies up every weekend he can and I drive or fly down for the ones he can't. Often this means I spend four days in LA and then three up here and then go back again. I've hardly spent any time in either place, I'm always just unpacking when I have to pack up again. 

Weekend in LA

I flew down to LA for the weekend to celebrate an early Valentine's day with Joel. We had dinner together overlooking the water at a great restaurant called Cafe del Rey.

I also visited the Getty Museum where I mostly took in the Graciela Iturbide photography exhibit. I'm starting a black & white film project this Wednesday so it's a great point to pause and take in some amazing work. 

Sunday walk

We took a walk along the ridge behind the house today. What a beautiful day!

DMV adventures

Some of you may know that you have to take a written test and a road test when you move to California from Canada. It's a slow process, four week waiting list for a written test then another four week wait for a road test and then 2-6 weeks for the actual thing to show up in the mail. All the while I have to carry my passport and BC driver's license around because every time I'm asked for ID people accuse me of carrying fake ID. I can't buy a bottle of wine without my passport. Word.
So naturally I was eager to have my full license and took the road test early this morning. I passed with NO demerits! Unlike another member of the household of the opposite sex... not that I'm keeping track. One does have to take into account that Joel had the Dwight Schrute of examiner's doing his test. I still am keeping my test on the fridge for added 'nah nah nah nah nah'.

Lazy Friday

Jessica and I went to Stinson beach today to shoot some film and frolic in the very cold waves.

Day two commute

We tried out the Larkspur ferry option for the school commute today. A pretty nice option though it's not really a time saver.