16 Years

It's been 16 years since we've been to one of our favorite camp spots, Salt Springs. Originally, all of my children and grandchildren were to join us...sometimes things just don't turn out the way we had hoped. I'm hoping that soon, everyone can be together for a large family camping trip.


This place is so huge, I can't begin to explain how vast! We use to camp here often with my older two children and built so many wonderful memories. We had gone three times after my third child, Emily was born, created more memories, then no more. I'm really not sure why we never went again, perhaps I was to caught up in life...I donno!

Two years ago we took a family camping trip with all my children, grandchildren, and siblings. Sadly, it wasn't what we had experienced in the past. It was special because so many of us were together.

It's camping to the core...no electricity, no running water(except the streams), no bathrooms (except for an out house, and my own personal potty.) I love being in the midst of Gods creation, it's so beautiful. With my new hearing aids, I was in awe over all the sounds I could hear(leaves, birds, streams, rushing feet of the squirrels)...so thankful!
Enjoy the photos

Our Favorite Camp Site

White Azalea

All set

Stream at our site

Love sleeping to this sound

Another view

Yet another

Perhaps a new site for next time

Stream at new campsite

another view
yet another

Roads for driving or hiking

Another beautiful fishing spot


These flowers blanket the sides of the road...

Beautiful

Love these clouds!

Calming, don't you think?

This bird was at our camp site.
I love how I can now hear them clearly!

5am

I love this photo, but it also makes me sad. You see, my other children and grandchildren were to be camping with us as well. There should be 8 others in this photo. Something else I realize, soon my boys will be on their own as well, and it will be back to just my husband and I. Enjoy every moment with your children, time really does fly!

Breathtaking...Yes?!

Desperately needed weekend away!

Last week my husband and I decided to make last minute plans to escape from our world into fantasy land. No, we did not go to Disneyland. Instead, we chose a small Bed and Breakfast Inn located in Cloverdale, California (just outside of Napa).

After quick arrangements with my parents to watch my two boys and two dogs, I made reservations at the Inn. We left mid afternoon Friday, arriving around seven. After receiving a tour of the Inn, we settled in our room in front of the fire with a candle lit picnic for two. We were the only couple there that first night. It was unbelievably quiet. No TV or arguing teens... just us. This was the most relaxing night we have had together in a long time.

The next day we were served a delicious breakfast made by the owner, my mouth waters just thinking about it. Then, wine tasting at recommended wineries. We toured four wineries, tasting about 25 different wines. You must be thinking, 25 wines! Yikes! Don't worry, most places served sips not a full glass. We then stopped for a quick sandwich and headed back to the Inn for a desperately needed nap. Dinner that night was a Thai restaurant recommended by the owners, yummy!


This was a beautiful Inn. The owners have a great eye for detail. Many antiques were throughout the Inn. The rooms are fabulous and beautifully designed, again with careful attention to detail. Our bathroom had a claw tub/shower combo. The shower was a bit small and the curtain had a tendency of sticking to you. No worries, I quickly figured out how to roll the curtain over the tub so the water could pool there. No sticking for me!

I highly recommend a weekend get-a-way for all married couples, regardless of how long you've been married. Our lives have been so caught up in work, raising kids, homeschooling, and other responsibilities, that we lost sight of each other. It was so nice to not have to worry about stuff and focus on one another. Alone time with your spouse helps you to reconnect on a different level...a more private, personal level. This was so refreshing for both of us we are going to try to do something like this at least twice a year.


Hope you enjoy the enclosed photos...eat your heart out!

Vintage Towers Inn

Our room.





Our picnic.

His and Her robes.

The famous shower.

Breakfast (photo from their website)