Along the Sacramento

Redding is the closest actual city to Mount Shasta, at 60 miles away and around 90,000 residents. It has most of the necessary amenities, but isn't exactly a cultural center. It's known for pretty much two things: 1) staying really hot for most of the year, and 2) the Sundial Bridge. I appreciate Redding most in February and March, when it's likely to have beautiful spring weather (not too hot yet) while we up in the mountains are still slogging through winter. On such spring escape trips, the Sundial Bridge over the Sacramento River and in fact the entire 16-mile Sacramento River Trail make a great stroller-friendly destination.

Our latest escape to Redding was in early March. We had a couple of errands to do in town, and afterward we walked from the mall to the Sundial Bridge and back. I don't necessarily recommend this stretch of the trail, as it's too close to major roads too much of the time, but we still enjoyed ourselves along the way. Carson devoured his first Push-Up frozen treat, and I bared my arms for the first time in months. We moved pretty slowly because there was so much for a two-year-old to investigate...

Rubble to climb:


Flowers to marvel at (in Mount Shasta these were still a couple of months away):


Rocks to throw in the river:




And of course the bridge itself. Carson LOVES bridges. This one is really big AND has cables to climb, which makes it extra fun.

Around our place lately

Over the past month, many signs of spring appeared: a greening lawn, (occasionally) bare arms, deer and also mosquitoes... despite those pesky creatures, it's a time of year my spirits always rise.


We pruned shrubs and trees and cut down three awkward fruit trees to make room for others. Bubba burned huge piles of debris.


Carson helped.


I wore out my back and found new muscles while chopping those trees' roots to get the stumps ready to pull.

Carson helped.

Doing a "cwawing baby" on top of the dirt pile

Really, what could be more fun than stomping
and sliding in lovely dirt?

By this time I had given up hope for those jeans.

Flowers bloomed...

Quince

Pear

The maple showed perhaps even better color than fall.






When the oak trees leaf out, you know it's really spring.


But it was still cold enough to require a fire at times, and the cats took full advantage of the couch facing the wood stove.



Alas, they are no longer safe there.


We hope May 25th will be our last snow. Hooray for Spring!

A look back, part 2: spring 2010

I'm pretty sure it's bad form to post a previous year recap at the end of FEBRUARY, but this is my blog and I want to finish my recap even if it takes several more months, so there :^) Also, I apologize to all my Facebook friends who have seen most of these photos before, but this is my "permanent" record. I'll stop excusing myself now.

In April we got more snow but were able to hike to Mossbrae Falls by the end of the month when my parents came to visit. Carson mastered sitting up.

At just six months, he's still fairly back-bound

Love those chubs.

Hey, we're outside! How cool! And I'm flying! I mean, sitting!

What is this stuff anyway?

OK, enough with the torture, mom! Get me out of here!

After the snow is gone... the wreckage appears.

Due to Bubba's unpredictable work schedule,
occasionally Carson ended up at the vet clinic with me.
Here he's bedded down in the attic for a nice rest
with the other boxes.

When he wasn't sleeping, he pitched in and helped where he could.

The non-mobile stage has its advantages!

Kitchen utensils make the best toys.

Headed to Mossbrae. This train was moving,
but very slowly--a fun up-close experience.

Also very loud. Carson didn't seem to mind.

Don't worry, it's moving away from us!

May was the month for showers and flowers around our house. Bubba continued his work, begun in April, of hauling many loads of storm debris to the temporary dump in town (all of which was shipped to Oregon to fuel a co-gen plant--a great alternative to burning it all in our yard!).

My favorite daffodil

Indian Warrior

Apparently deer find them tasty, because these specimens vanished quickly

Some green grass at last. And lots of debris.

Hunting for wild edibles already! That's our mountain man.

Friends help us clean up, even in the pouring rain.
The loss of this tree still makes me really sad.

Happy backpack boy doesn't care if he gets wet.

You can tell it's still cold outside--and we need a bigger bed!

Wait, maybe we just need more crock pots?

Little Cat continued to endear himself to Bubba especially. Unfortunately I have no pictures of him following us around the yard and leaping from limb to limb in the trees like a squirrel. But he also was the cat most likely to be found within Carson's reach:

Nice kitty! Would you like to share my changing table?

Well, come over here and cuddle then!

Closer, where I can reach you!

Hey, ow, that's my foot you're gnawing on!

Let me show you how that feels!

It's OK, mom, we're just playing!

Really, he likes it when I do this....
yes, that's one tolerant cat. RIP.

Here's the video version, if you have the patience:

Our planned 6-month photo shoot for Carson was delayed by weather, so we got 7-month pictures instead. Thanks to Taryn for these great captures!

June was our vacation month. Our first trip was the annual Yosemite camping week with Bubba's parents, for which my parents joined us this year. Carson was so excited about his first visit to the park that he couldn't sleep at night. Actually probably had more to do with being outdoors, and unusual noises... anyway he was cranky much of the time in consequence. We still enjoyed ourselves immensely.

Bubba got up before dawn every morning to walk Carson around
for miles in the Bob in an effort to get baby and mom a little sleep.

For campsite fun, you can't beat caution tape.

Those Suess men love their breakfast Spam.

too short

The lupine displays near Foresta were incredible this year.

Taft Point. Carson and I did it twice this year,
as in our grouchy state we were only up for short hikes :^)
It was magnificent both times.

Bub and I snuck away for a Mist Trail fix without the baby.
Thanks Grandmas!

Lembert Dome

Dad, I'm pretty sure this is a lodgepole.

We had to find our own trail, navigating around lots of snow and water.

On our way home from the park, we stayed over with friends
in Genoa, NV--a lovely time. Grandma takes Carson around the yard.

Back home: Carson nibbles on Dad's nose

Hanging out with GG (Great-Grandma Rose)

At the end of June the Lawlor family flew across the country in their new plane, and we met them in Sunriver for a several days along with my parents.

Terrible photo, but I don't want to forget this crawling workshop,
with Grandma and several cousins urging on a wailing Carson
and demonstrating how he should try to use his limbs.
He started crawling a few days later--finally! so it was worth it.

Smith Rock

Rafting the Deschutes. Barry and Wesley are hidden in there
somewhere! It was a cold experience, but an exciting end to the month.