California

In winter wonderland

One of my favorite things about California is driving along freeways surrounded by green slopes and wide stretches of farmland. I haven’t really driven a car since I left mine behind several years ago, so it’s been a treat to go on road trips with Taurin. If I had a car again, I would love to drive a tiny smart car convertible perfect for city maneuvering or a heavy duty four-wheeler that can plow through snow mountains.

Talk of road trips and snow, Taurin and I spent the past week living in a cozy house just outside of Yosemite Valleys. Thinking all of California would be perpetually sunny, I showed up in a light jacket, and the mountains were covered in snow. We picked up snow chains for the car, bundled up in (accidentally) matching jackets, and drove into the wilderness. Our little home was perfect–a fireplace that kept the whole house toasty, a fully-stocked kitchen, and a yard with a jacuzzi and grill. There was no cell phone or internet service, but a huge VHS movie collection and plenty of nature all around.

I can’t remember the last time I was able to look up at the night sky and gaze at the stars.

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Taurin took this photo. We think he’s a wolf, but he could also be a coyote. What do you think?

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Resting on a walking stick after a snowy 2-hour hike to the Vernal Fall.

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Snow cat.

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Taurin knee-deep in Mirror Lake.

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Rainbow!

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“Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.” –John Muir in a letter to his wife Louie in July 1888

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A Yosemite sunset.

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VHS movies we watched: Jurassic Park, Fifth Element, and Moonraker

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P.S. I hope everyone is staying well and healthy this winter! I’ve been reading about the national flu epidemic on the news and updates from friends sick at home. Unfortunately, it’s not surprising I caught it somehow, even here in sunny California. I completely lost my voice for two whole days, making a part of our Yosemite adventures an involuntary silent retreat. Although I’m starting to sound like a teenage boy going through puberty, I’m glad my voice is starting to come back.

14 Comments

  • Reply
    pau
    January 11, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    lovely lovely lovely pictures sewon! first one is like a postcard! love it ! miss you guys too!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      January 17, 2013 at 12:48 pm

      Pau! I miss you, too, and I wish we could’ve driven down to see you this winter. xoxo

  • Reply
    ninnikuneko
    January 12, 2013 at 3:10 am

    … don’t know where to begin! Forst of all, I’m speechless. I live in Switzerland and our mountains aren’t bad but the mountains in the USA totally beat ours!! I want to visit the Yosemite national park so badly now, Sewon! This is just so unbelievably beautiful.. I think I could never leave such a place without tears in my eyes. The snow cat is adorable and unfortunately I’ve never seen a coyote before, so I’ can’t tell you but it looks stunning and so cute. You get to see such breathtaking places! Thank you for sharing, I’ve honestly never seeen such pictures before.. (except in books).

    • Reply
      Sewon
      January 17, 2013 at 3:15 pm

      Oh it’s always amazing to be near so much nature. Switzerland has some of the most beautiful mountains (ahem, the Swiss Alps!), too. 🙂

  • Reply
    ninnikuneko
    January 12, 2013 at 3:12 am

    ps: glad you found your voice again 🙂

  • Reply
    Eliz
    January 13, 2013 at 12:22 am

    Maybe he’s White Fang.. a little bit of both! :3

    • Reply
      Sewon
      January 17, 2013 at 3:17 pm

      I think I need to brush up on my animal identification skills! I swear I thought I saw an elk..

  • Reply
    Studio Meez
    January 13, 2013 at 6:26 am

    I would love to walk arround those mountains and enjoy nature. Such a breathaking place to visit.

  • Reply
    Jenny
    January 14, 2013 at 8:47 am

    Absolutely breathtaking! It’s amazing to see that many things still look as beautiful as a painting.

    I’m sorry you caught the flu but I’m glad you’re on the upswing of it at least. I sympathized having had it at Christmas, it’s one of the nastiest ones I can remember!

  • Reply
    Loes
    January 15, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Wauw, I looked at your photo’s and thought that it was of an artist or a professional photographer. You capture the beautiful nature like it is another world. It looks so bright, so fresh. I’m going to follow you and your blog because it makes me so happy 🙂 Have a nice day!

  • Reply
    Fenne
    January 17, 2013 at 2:12 am

    These photographs are amazing! Hope to see it too, one day 🙂

  • Reply
    Angélica
    January 17, 2013 at 5:45 am

    Woah what an amazing landscape! Love the pictures, very pretty!

  • Reply
    memtree
    January 19, 2013 at 9:07 am

    wow! what amazing photos! i love your snow cat – hehe 🙂

  • Reply
    Kat
    January 27, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    Wow and WOW!!

    Yosemite looks amazing! Your first picture looks like your are in the same spot Ansel Adams was in when he took a similar shot!

    I’ve also had the winter flu. Its been 2 weeks and I still sound like my voice is breaking hehe. Glad to hear you’re on the mend!

    Kat x

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