I Commune With Nature...

...Whether It Likes It Or Not.

We recently spent a long weekend visiting the in-laws in Northern(ish) California. Man, was it awesome. Our visit gave us the opportunity to get back to nature - to unclench from our jaded, smog-encrusted big-city lifestyle and really remind ourselves what's really real, you know?

And it was perfect timing because just the other day I said to Jon Bon Jovi, "Jon?" I said, hunched over, hand in a ziploc bag, gathering dried cockapoo patties from the backyard, "I'm jonesin' to mainline some nature junk." (See how urban we are?)

And Jon Bon Jovi waggled his head, letting an exhaust blast from a city bus ruffle his bangs off his face as he threw his broom and dustpan aside in a most haphazard manner. He liked the idea, I could tell.

"Just give me a moment to saddle up Hoss and Lamont." (Those are our steel horses. The ones upon which we ride.)

And we were off like a dirty pair of drawers. ~ Walt Whitman

At great personal peril, I tried to take lots of photos as we waded up to our armpits in freakin' raw nature.

I share them with you now.

This was our rustic nature pad - home base for gnarly au natural hi-jinks.


Our first nature encounter! We initially were concerned
about being under dressed (seeing as how we didn't have hats)
but turns out that's just his personal statement.
Nature Lesson #1: The forest is pretty casual.

This little scamp slipped into our cabin and ate my
entire pack of birth-control pills. Ironic, yes?
Nature Lesson #2: Untamed wilderness is not without
its subtle literary devices.


This is not the fawn's mother, but a Nanny-Doe hired by
the mom to take care of the baby while she slips out
to Laughlin, Nevada for a girls' weekend.
Nature Lesson #3: Sometimes nature has to get out of the
freakin' house or else it's going to lose it.


Bonus! In between honing our survival techniques and
living off Frito-Lay products the fat of the land,
I was able to indulge my passion for Japanese Zen
fountain construction. Yes, it took 7 hours to design
and build...but I think you'll agree it was worth it.


Nature Lesson #4: Do NOT fill your canteen with stump water,
no matter how normal it looks.


I know that's the same buck who was staring at me
in the parking lot of Pea Soup Anderson's.
Nature Lesson #5: Two words, dude - restraining order.


Caught on film - the rare and dangerous Sneaker Snake!
Note the coloring that says, "Danger!"
Nature Lesson #6: You snooze, you lose.



Yeah, right. Like that's real.
Nature Lesson #7: Sometimes nature tries to
fool you with fake crap.



I believe it was the legendary Jane Goodall who observed,
"When the zombie bunnies come out, it's time to go home."
Nature Lesson #8: Zombie bunny! Run away! RUN AWAY!

NOTHING BUT GHOSTS - Beth Kephart's new book that's already garnering stellar reviews - is now available for pre-order! To view the book's beautiful trailer, click here.


Thank You so much to the incomparable Tessa at An Aerial Armadillo for this gorgeous International Reach Out Award - which she designed herself, BTW. I am honored and Tessa's blog is a gem. (Plus I love the way she spells favourite with a "u" all classy-like.)

And thank you so much to Bebe Cannelle for the fantastic shout-out!