the redwoods | HELLO CALIFORNIA (part 2)

our first stop in California was the Redwood National Park. And boy, was it ever beautiful?! We spent half the day there driving through the deeply wooded and curvy roads, and stopping here and there. And we spent about 20 minutes just walking through a trail in the forest. It was so still and quiet, yet you could hear and see the tops of the trees swaying in the wind.

two random facts:

if you want to feel small, stand at the base of a three hundred foot tree. *cue this song*
a redwood tree would make the most epic tree house.

xx.  marcia
p.s. the next part (and last part) is one of the cutest coastal towns in america- which doubled as my favorite stop. stay tuned!

travels and the ocean | HELLO CALIFORNIA (part 1)

I've never thought of myself as a beach girl. I've only been to the ocean once before even though I grew up only a few hours away from the Atlantic Coast. I've always wanted to go to the Pacific Coast. And a couple of weeks ago, I finally got the chance.  

 

 

  

 

 

 

We traveled through Nevada and Utah, which was basically endless nothingness, salt, and sand. But we passed the time listening to audio book and reading (oh, and drinking iced coffee). Fact: I can read a different book and listen to an audio book at the same time. I also can sleep and still listen and remember what happened. Multitasker? I think yes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technically, we visited the Redwood National Forest before going to the beach, but that's another post.. so I'm skipping to the ocean. We arrived right before sunset, and our first sighting of the Pacific was just as the sun went down. It was absolutely beautiful! The Pacific coast is so different from the Atlantic... the rocks, driftwood, cliffs, and the fog... I fell in love.
And I think I have decided there is a little bit of beach girl somewhere in me.

stay tuned for part two and three,
xx. marcia

(excuse the photo sizes. i'm having a little difficulty with the sizing of my photos. i resize them in gimp and then upload them. but, i'm having a huge problem with the sizes being just a little off, and i can't figure it out. help?)

STUFFED MUSHROOMS | a recipe

I  seriously love mushrooms, and a few days ago I made one of my favorites for dinner. 

and I thought I'd share the recipe. 

STEP 1: wash about 10 mushrooms and finely chop 1/2 of a small onion

 

STEP 2: gently remove stems from the mushrooms

STEP 3: chop 1/2 of a small green or red pepper and a small tomato

STEP 4: whip 1/2 bar of cream cheese until smooth

STEP 5: add a quarter pound of fried sausage

2 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. garlic salt

sauteed tomato and pepper 

 STEP 6: mix thoroughly with the cream cheese 

take a tablespoon of filling and drop it into each mushroom

 

STEP 7: once all the mushrooms are filled, place in a baking sheet and top with cheese

 

STEP 8: bake for 24 minutes at 400*

 

STEP 9:  EAT. ENJOY. MAKE MORE. 

xxx. marcia

i've found the dearest chum.

 

 

 

 

"We don't know where we're going, but isn't it fun to go?" -L.M. Montgomery

the blue castle by l.m montgomery has been on my to-read list for over a year now. i had placed it on hold at the library three times, and each time the hold expired before i was able to pick it up. two weeks ago, i finally checked it out... along with seven others. I was in such a rush to read the others that i pushed off the blue castle until last. it isn't one of those books that you want to read in a rush because you can't wait to finish it. it's the type that makes you stop make a cup of tea (the truest sign of excitement- to be sure), grab a blanket, and savor and absorb each word. it was one of the only books that i truly wanted to underline in. (not that i haven't read other good books; i have a truck load of splendid ones) but, there was something in me that longed to underline the words that touched me so.

it tells the story of a girl who lived twenty nine dull and lonely years of her life alone- except for her demanding and overbearing family. That is, until she found out she didn't have much life left.

she made up her mind that her last year was going to be happy. she learned to look past the rough walls people build up to who they are inside. she learned to be the person she was made to be- instead of the person everyone else wanted her to be. she met a boy who called her "sweets, darling, and Moonlight" and fell in love. she learned to see real beauty. she learned to love simple things in life. she learned to love adventures. she learned to laugh. she learned to be free.

but most of all, she learned to  l i v e

and now i know i've found the one of the dearest chums on earth.

xx. marcia

(erm. now go read it!) 

also: i'm back for real this time. summer has been lovely, but i am more than ready to get back to blogging and normal life. >> photos and stories from our trip to CALIFORNIA coming soon!