The desert has seen some extra color these past few weeks. Wildflowers are in bloom and I couldn't be happier. I love learning the names of the new plants and spending the time outside, before it gets too hot to enjoy being outside. The desert is heating up quickly and it already feels like summer is here (and we easily have another 30 degrees to go before reaching the summer temperatures of the Mojave desert). Many friends and locals have told me that you adjust your life from going to air conditioned house to air conditioned car to air conditioned work and repeat. I'm not used to extreme temperatures that prevent people from staying outside for weeks (or months?) on end, but I guess I'll get to adjust to a new summer lifestyle. On the bright side, I'll have more time to read and watch movies on my Netflix list that have been sitting in wait for months.
It's time for another photo challenge by Of Trees and Hues and Tara Victoria. This month's theme is Saturdays. I love Saturdays. They are my excuse to get outside and explore the Mojave Desert. Lately, I have been in awe of the Joshua Tree flowers (the blooms are the best at night) and the seemingly delicate wildflowers that are in bloom. Every week there are new surprises in the ever changing desert landscape. I feel very lucky to call this area home.
Between Lenses is a themed photo collaboration series created by Of Trees and Hues and Tara Victoria. Check out their websites to see the beautiful, nostalgic images that they chose to share this month and join the fun and enter your own nostalgic image.
I dedicate this month's photo to my husband, my partner, and my best friend for nearly 18 years. We met in high school, went to both proms (junior and senior) together and have had many adventures together. In May, we will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary. Yay! The items that I selected for this picture capture the warm, fuzzy feelings that I get when I see my light blue wedding dress hanging in the closet, or when I pass the shadow box filled with our wedding day treasures, or when I flip through the scrapbooks of our youth. It also makes me think of how much we have grown from being goofy teenagers to the (still goofy) thirty somethings that we are today. I love that we have grown up together and I look forward to many more adventures with my love. Whenever we move to a new place, I seek out a refuge to reflect on life and get away from the sounds and energy of the city. Luckily, I found my refuge by accident while we were visiting Las Vegas on a working vacation last spring. My husband and I return to this spot regularly to soak in some quiet and watch the desert landscape change as the sun moves across the sky. We took a new path which headed up the hillside and carefully walked the ridge top to a couple of rocks on the edge of a cliff where the setting sun gave us an amazing show. This new perspective gave me an even greater appreciation for this special place. Sometimes it is so easy to be comfortable with life. I know there have been many times where I have found myself in a rut. That is when a new perspective comes to the rescue.
Sometimes a rainy day is just needed. In the desert, it is rare to get a rainy day. Sure, it rains occasionally, but it is a rare day when it is rains all day long. I love rainy days. They are perfect for reading, thinking, and cuddling with those that you love. Here a few moments that I captured during our rainy day in the desert.
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Hi! Welcome to A Year of Sunshine! This blog is a way to reflect on the beauty found in everyday life. Archives
October 2017
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