On Monday, I packed the car with one puppy, 3 kids and a picnic lunch and headed over the mountain.
When we got to the summit, we piled out of the car to find a spot for a picnic. The snow was still in patches that made it hard to navigate the trail but we found a nice, flat rock in the shade. It felt good to be on the mountain when it was so hot on the valley floor.
Aside from the GIANT black forest ants and mosquitoes, we enjoyed our picnic. I was able to put my motherly duties aside (watch out! don't fall in the water!! please be nice to your brother/sister!) and enjoyed the forest.
Zephyr and the kids really enjoyed the snow!
We were early to Solomon's doctor appointment (Dr. Johnson has wonderful articles on her website) so we went for a little drive toward Auburn from Colfax along a twisting, overgrown country road. We found huge patches of blackberry bushes along the road. I've been trying to find a place just like this! We'll be back this summer!
Do you have a favorite blackberry patch?
Where did you stop for your picnic...and where did you find the blackberries? We're in Sacramento and are itching to get up the mountain now that much of the snow is gone.
(We have a wild blackberry patch close to our home. We promise not to pick all of the ones we may or may not find between Colfax and Auburn.)
Posted by: Amanda | June 30, 2010 at 07:06 AM
Ohhhh, I want to be back in the mountains. Lovely day, Kyndale! My favorite blackberry patch used to be the one in our backyard. It was so overgrown that we had to clear it all to reclaim space. But those berries were so good!
Nicola
Posted by: Nicola@Which Name? | June 30, 2010 at 08:19 AM
this is such a pretty place!!
Posted by: Kelly | June 30, 2010 at 11:25 AM
What a wonderful destination!! Your dog is so cute.
Posted by: Imene | June 30, 2010 at 01:35 PM
I did have a place when I was young. Aunt & Uncle's river home and all along the drive were gobs & gobs. So good and So much fun. Those were the days! Now, I get them at farmer's markets and remember those days as I'm eating them walking back to the car. Have a great day, susie.
Posted by: susie | June 30, 2010 at 02:54 PM
You hit the nail on the head with your comment about putting motherly duties aside. I find it's much easier to do that out in nature. That is one of the things that motivates me to get out more - give the kids a glimpse of me when I am fun and enjoying myself and relaxed - not nagging about the toys on the floor or yelling in the house!
Posted by: Gwynneth | June 30, 2010 at 05:56 PM
Your Dr. has a great website!! I've marked it to go back and read more thoroughly. Looks like a fine time you had! We picked blackberries at a friends house this week - yum!
(Thanks for your sympathy on my blog. A friend of mine died last night. Just sad).
Posted by: grace | June 30, 2010 at 06:48 PM
i have to show nahum these pictures...he has been asking about snow lately and telling me he wishes it would snow. our blackberry patch happens to be in our backyard!! happy picking:) xo, pennie
Posted by: leaningapplemama | June 30, 2010 at 07:21 PM
What a beautiful description of your day! I can totally relate to putting the motherly duties aside... I'm happy to report that I was able to do that for a bit yesterday! Blackberries... oh how I would love to come across a blackberry patch!
Posted by: kerry | July 02, 2010 at 06:42 AM
One crazy thing we've learned about Seattle is that there are so many blackberry bushes here that they view them as weeds. Sacrilegious!
Posted by: The Slow-Cooked Sentence | July 02, 2010 at 02:22 PM
Im trying to grow a weedy, out of control blackberry bush in my backyard. Its like an inch high right now! : )
Posted by: earthycrunchy | July 03, 2010 at 06:24 PM