Back on the Bush...

Hitting the Rapids

Right behind our campsite was the perfect-sized stream for riding the rapids--well, just right for little guys like Wyatt and Spencer, that is. That's Wyatt in the pic above.
Spencer looked so chillaxed that I was a bit jealous the stream wasn't deep enough for adults to take a whirl.

Ready for another round!
Spencer's footprints.Uncle Seth was in charge of making sure the tubes stayed inflated--they're faster that way! Luckily, he's full of hot air. (Just kidding...well, kind of.)

Hiking into the "Bysterious" Beyond

Wyatt and his "best bud forever" Uncle Seth led the way into the (as Wyatt called it) "Bysterious" Beyond. The weren't sure what they'd encounter. Ghosts? Dragons? Creepy crawlies? Creatures from the deep unknown? Along the way, Wyatt composed a hilarious epic ballad about their adventures in Clear Creek State Park. I was sorry we didn't get it on tape.
Luckily, we didn't see any of the above--unless you consider chipmunks and daddy long legs creepy crawlies. (We don't!) Spencer did discover a kid-sized chair that was just right.
And Hillary (a.k.a. Mama), Spencer, and Wyatt found the perfect moss-covered resting place to pose for a picture.All in all, a lovely day!

Collections: Mushrooms

When it comes to collecting, 5-year-old Spencer is one very serious little boy.

While exploring an ancient forest in Clear Creek State Park, Spencer decided to start a mushroom collection. He realized it wouldn't be the most practical collection, so he chose to collect mushroom photographs instead. He pointed out his favorites; I shot 'em. Here are some of the highlights:
These were no bigger than a thumbnail:
In addition to the bright yellow mushroom, my personal favorite was this pretty purple one. (Hey Spence, if you're reading this, which one did you like the most?)These felt as spongy as they looked and glowed like a moonstone:
I like the daddy long legs on this one, too:
Check out the rest of Spencer's totally awesome collection on flickr. (Spence, I'll send you your copies as soon as I can. In the meantime, maybe you could check out a field guide from the library to find out what these are called.)

The High Line...

at night. Legend has it that exhibitionists staying at the Standard Hotel, conveniently located right above The High Line, perform peep shows for all to see. We didn't see any.

...and the other Highline
...earlier that evening, starring Foot Patrol featuring the Toe Deputy Dance Squad. Loved his/her fancy foot work!

Back to 5Pointz

Graffiti artists at work.
Remember the Goonies? As seen at 5Pointz.

Back in the Saddle...Kind Of

The good news: Seth saved the computer and all my photos! The bad news: It's not easy to get back in the habit of blogging after such a long break...hopefully I'll have more to write about after visiting these guys. That's my nephew Spencer on the right with his favorite stuffed Kitty and his little bro Wyatt. This is an old picture, though. Can't believe Spencer's starting kindergarten in just a few weeks. Time flies!

technical difficulties

My home computer bit the dust last week (probably because of all the dust in its fan--who knows) at any rate, stay tuned for new posts--hopefully sooner rather than later...