first sights of the ocean
the view from our bedroom
the bedroom balcony
California's crazy trees
reading while watching the sun set over the ocean
our newest traveler
the boys of summer
the lavender and the bees of Claremont Farms

back at home and dreaming of the ocean, the crisp air and the morning fog.

Sayer invented her first nickname...Einino. It's pronounced like eye-knee-know. I shortened it to Nini. Finn and Sayer invented a Nini song. They basically just sing ni-ni-ni-ni ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni over and over and she thinks it's hysterical.

Sometimes she's a sugar bear and even a sugar koala. She's a sweetie petie and an angel. Her name means little bird in Gaelic so she's a baby bird, a birdie and even a Nini bird. Steven calls her, my girl.

Of course, sometimes she's simply, Einin.

Thanks to my friend, Seth, for showing us this cool new site. We visited the Santa Paula Airport's open house day. I wish I could have taken more pictures but I had a fussy and tired baby girl strapped to the front of me. The landing strip was filled with all sorts of small and interesting planes. One even looked like a paper airplane but it was made of metal! While the boys and I enjoyed the cool, antique planes roaring in and out of the landing area, Einin was not nearly as thrilled. So, instead of shooting a ton, I walked and shushed and rocked and tried to get her to sleep. Finally, as we were about to leave, she passed out. Sigh...parenthood.

Right after asking "why do grown ups like to just stand around talking so much?", Finn snatched my sunglasses and found himself a shady spot underneath the wing of a biplane for a little R&R.

Next year, a biplane plane ride over the ocean is on my to-do list!

The perfect colors of yellow and blue that are the central Cailfornia coast.

Tidepools, anemones, clams and crabs.

Little black dolphin fins popping up beyond the waves.

Sandy toes and salty skin.

Crisp breezes, worn rounded rocks and ice plant blooms.

We come here almost every summer so we've explored quite a bit but, every year, we add a few new sights to our list. This year we took a day trip to the Santa Ynez valley. Specifically, we visited the Clairmont Lavender Farm in Los Olivos. It's not a huge farm but it's very pretty and the main lavender field was really beautiful.

When you first walk up to it, you see all the lavender and the smell is amazing! When you look (and listen) closely you begin to notice the bees. There are, at least, a handful on every single plant. The hum they make is incredible.

While Steven and I were looking out at the field, he said, "it's kind of like life, you know, that saying...seeing the forest for the trees?". It's true. When you first look out onto the field, you can't really see the bees. When you change your focus, though, you see them and they are everywhere.

Someone emailed me recently saying that my blog posts always seemed so timely for her. For her, at least, I bring up topics and ideas that resonate at the right time. Well, seeing that field and hearing Steven's comment was timely for me. Lately, I am deep in thought. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis? Maybe it's too much self awareness? Who knows, but I am deep in it. I am thinking about my career, the future, my relationships, everything...

Looking at the field and then at the bees (and back again), I keep wondering, which am I supposed to be seeing now? Are my questions right now best answered by watching the bees or looking at the field?

What about you, are you seeing the bees? or the field?