As promised, I’m going to backtrack a bit and share some of last year’s adventures.
I said “YES!” to every opportunity and ended up traveling much more than I’d expected to. I got burned-out from it all, but it was well worth it. And after getting some serious rest after the holidays, I’m feeling fulfilled and motivated – a great way to start 2024!
Here’s a quick tour of some of the new things I explored in 2023:
A surreal section of Old Military Road or “The Trail Of Tears” at Village Creek State Park, Arkansas.
Sandy hiking trails at Warren Dunes State Park, Michigan.
Lake Michigan at Warren Dunes State Park.
Huge crowds at Electric Forest in Michigan.
The beautiful, art-filled forest.
New music, performed among the trees.
A wonderful group of adventurous friends.
Breathtaking art at an enormous scale.
Colorful street art around Richmond, Virginia.
A slower pace of life in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
A giant mushroom at Lakes Of Fire in Michigan.
Illuminated dance floors.
Unusual water floats that were more challenging than relaxing.
Unforgettable metal sculptures.
The charm of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ridiculous, climbable art at City Museum in St Louis.
Untouched wilderness in the Ozarks.
Slightly-spooky old buildings in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
A beautiful wedding in Vermont.
Funky, freaky, wonderful dancing at the Light Club Lamp Shop in Burlington, Vermont.
Rides and games as far as the eye can see at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
Giant pretzels and huge beers.
Silly games.
Nightlife in Berlin, Germany.
So, it was a jam-packed year and I’m relishing these chill, post-holiday days when I can finally take stock of it all and make my plans for this year.
I’m excited about the eclipse in April and getting to spend time with my family. I’m excited about my artwork and getting back on a routine in the studio. I’m excited about the friends I made and the inspiring things I’ve seen. But mostly, right now, I’m excited to be home and have time to relax.
Here’s to a restful, relaxing, and peaceful new year for us all!
I know I’m not alone in feeling like the past few months have been turbo-charged. Everyone seemed to be traveling and doing and going and everything all at once. It’s like we’ve all been making up for lost time.
It’s been too much for me to write about, so here’s a list (in picture form) of just some of what I’ve been up to:
In early June, I took a road trip to North Carolina, stopping to camp and hike along the way. This lovely trail is in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.
While camping in Montgomery Bell State Park, Tennessee, I hiked through the woods to visit this old church and see the stained glass windows from inside.
After more than 20 hours of driving, I was treated to some delicious meals at restaurants around Southern Pines and a massage at Pinehurst – what a gift!
Some friends and I drove around my hometown and I fell in love with all the cute houses and tall trees. I’d been away too long and everything looked new and charming to me. I began to consider moving back to my home state, which felt so comfortable and welcoming compared to Texas during this long, dry summer.
The magnolias were in bloom and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. I left feeling inspired by them.
On my trip back, I camped and hiked to see Fall Creek Falls at Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas.
I explored the trails while camping at Possum Kingdom State Park, Texas.
Some friends and I went tubing in the South Llano River while camping during the Perseid meteor shower. While looking for shooting stars, we saw a Starlink launch and it was incredible! Something like 25 satellites, all in a row.
My boyfriend and I escaped on a spontaneous, fun, relaxing, and romantic getaway to Bonaire, in the Southern Caribbean. This could be an entire blog post… It was a fantastic trip!
I finished the Crab Fish Monster black light painting and found a home for it!
I took part in a pop-up art market at the Neill-Cochran House Museum as part of Austin Museum Day.
I hosted a Meow-morial for my beloved cat, Catty Arbuckle, with a Dia de los Muertos inspired altar. I will miss him always.
I’m pleased to be starting on some large paintings inspired by my trip to Big Bend National Park. It feels healing to get back to regular days in the studio.
The summer had a somber end with losing Catty, and overall I’m feeling wiped out. But with the cooler weather and rain finally coming into Austin, I’m feeling hopeful for a restful and restorative autumn.
Hug your loved ones. Be present in and grateful for the time you have together.
THINGS I’M EXCITED ABOUT
I found a nonprofit to partner with! Great Springs Project is working to create a network of trails and greenways that connects Austin to San Antonio and protects some of the Texas Hill Country’s most beautiful spring-fed rivers. I’ll be donating 10% of profits from art sales to help protect these waterways so that our wildlife and future generations can enjoy them. Learn more at greatspringsproject.org
I learned about Great Springs Projects after watching Deep In The Heart, an important and beautifully-shot film, now available to stream online. If you love wildlife, nature, or Texas, watch this film.
I’m loving this chart from this blog post by Mr. Money Mustache, which sums up everything I’ve learned about time management and healthy living.
Coming up! I’ll be participating in Austin’s favorite holiday market: the Blue Genie Art Bazaar. I’ve dreamed of getting into this show for years and am thrilled to be part of the holiday magic! Come by to see arts and crafts from your favorite local artists and grab all the gifts you want, November 18 – December 24, 6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX. Learn more at bluegenieartbazaar.com
The high desert in Far West Texas has a certain something that calls to me, and though it’s been less than a year since I’d camped in The Davis Mountains and Marfa, I wanted to go back.
The weather was good, the crowds were low, I had the time and so did my boyfriend, so we packed up the car and headed west.
We took our time exploring Marfa. We stayed a few days in the middle of the week, enjoying the empty feeling of the place (though tracking down meals became a game of cat and mouse), and took day trips to swim in Balmorhea Pool, attend a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory, and check out some art installations along Highway 90.
Soaking up the things that make Marfa different.
We stayed at El Cosmico, a hip hotel/campground that offers unusual lodging like teepees, yurts, and travel trailers.
We got a teepee which felt incredibly romantic…until I was startled by a camel spider who decided to hang out on the canvas wall all night (I had never seen one before and thought it looked seriously creepy. Like if a scorpion and a tarantula had a baby!). Luckily, it had moved on by the morning.
One night was spent soaking in one of El Cosmico’s wood-fired Dutch hot tubs. It was perfection!
The McDonald Observatory during their Star Party, where we got the chance to look at stars through several large telescopes.
Spotted along Highway 90: “The Giant Marfa Mural” by John Cerney.
After Marfa, we headed to Big Bend National Park for two days of camping and hiking, stopping in Terlingua on the way.
The ghost town in Terlingua.
Terlingua Ghost Town’s cemetery, which is still actively used. We found many types of offerings to the dead, but beer and liquor were the most popular.
Stunning views while hiking the Hot Springs Canyon Trail in Big Bend.
I took so many pictures while hiking! How could I not, surrounded by beauty like this? I’m excited to begin working on a series of paintings inspired by this trip.
The Rio Grande brings life to the arid landscape. We even spied some wild horses near its banks.
We arrived at the hot springs just in time to catch the sunset.
Blooming cactus along the hike into Santa Elena Canyon.
The Rio Grande running through Santa Elena Canyon. The Rio Grande marks the border between the US and Mexico and we heard many hikers, wading out into the river, joking that they’d crossed over (Mexico on the left, the US on the right). Of course, even if you did cross over, there’d be nothing around for miles except dry, sun-scorched desert.
At the Chisos Basin campground, stars were visible down to the horizon, even with the moon out.
On our way out of Big Bend we stopped in Marathon, which proved to be much cuter and friendlier than expected. I was so charmed by it, I decided that I must return on my next trip out west. From there, we made our way east and then to a little-known and very remote state park along Devils River.
We stayed two nights and enjoyed a spectacular night sky. The river is difficult to reach (the campsite was miles down a rutted dirt road, offered no water or even a toilet, and an additional drive and then mile-something hike was required to reach the river) which meant that we only had one day to enjoy the water.
So, we packed up our snorkels, a big lunch, some wine, lots of water, and headed through the desert in search of the river.
The glorious Devils River, an oasis at the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert.
The whole day was spent hiking, swimming, picnicking, and snorkeling. I was thrilled! The perfect end to a week in the desert.
This was such an inspiring trip, by its end I felt filled up with ideas and a drive to create. I also felt a shift in my personal life become solidified. There’s a simplicity in the desert that I’ve been longing for. I think it’s one of the reasons I always want to go back. Every time, I feel a little clearer on what I want, what I want to create, and who I want to be.
Surrounded by nothing but desert, time stretches out and I get more in tune with my thoughts and feelings. It’s a wonderful thing to realize and to know that if I’m ever feeling frazzled and lost I can always travel west and return to myself.
We decided that it had been too long since we’d seen our families and friends in North Carolina, so my friend Laura and I took off on a road trip.
On the drive up we camped in Arkansas at Lake Catherine State Park. We managed to set up our tents, change, grab a drink, and walk to the lake in time for a sunset swim.That night we watched and laughed as a mother raccoon lifted the top of an “animal proof” trashcan, hopped inside, and emerged with a nearly-full bag of chips, which she tossed to her waiting kits.The next day, after making the beautiful but long drive across Tennessee and Western North Carolina, we arrived in Greensboro late at night. Only the cats were up to greet us!I left Laura with her parents and drove southeast. I’d decided to camp at Jordan Lake so that I could visit my dad, my brother and his family, and a college friend, who were all living in the area. When I arrived at my site in the Poplar Point Campground I was treated to this spectacular view of far-off thunderstorms.Mushrooms grew throughout the woods and along the campground trail.I met my dad for lunch at Pinehurst, where we enjoyed watching golfers move across the course. Next time I’m going to get in a game of croquet!My dad has befriended a group of deer, feeding them from the backyard, while his fluffy black cat tags along, begging for pets. With those trees and flowers, it’s like a scene from Snow White!After a few days at Jordan Lake I drove to Holden Beach to stay with some friends. I spent an afternoon floating around on the comfortably warm, calm waves.Pelicans gliding over the beach.Quality pool time with two of my favorite people.Maximum pool floats for maximum pool fun.On my last night at Holden Beach, we watched the full moon rise over the ocean.As the moon rose, it seemed to float among the clouds in an eerily beautiful display.After two nights at the beach, I rejoined Laura at the Burke Manor Inn in Gibsonville, where we celebrated a birthday with her family and friends.The next day, on our way out of North Carolina, we briefly stopped to grab coffee and catch-up with a friend at Dripolator Coffeehouse in Black Mountain (near Asheville).
We spent our last night at Meeman-Shelby State Park in Tennessee. The weather was much warmer than expected and we were swarmed by mosquitos so we didn’t get to enjoy the park as much as I’d hoped. But we did get to watch about a hundred hummingbirds flying around the visitors center the next morning. That park is definitely on my list of places to go back to, just maybe in cooler weather when there aren’t so many bugs.
It was a whirlwind trip and I’m so glad I got to see everyone I did, I only wish I could have spent more time!
Anyone else feeling like you’re in a time warp this year?
All that training paid off – I’m just back from hiking around 30 miles, and I’m not even that sore! Even though the hike out was a grueling, all-uphill, baking-in-the-midday-sun saga, my body recovered really quickly. I feel strong, uplifted, and am wondering: where should I go next?
This was my first backpacking trip and now that I have a taste for it (and the right gear), I’m starting to look around for some 3-5 day trips in the Austin area. If you have any suggestions, please share!
This adventure was pretty fast-paced. We drove from Austin to Albuquerque on day 1, stopping for the night at the funky and comfy Sandia Peak Inn. Along Route 66, this casual hotel sported a vintage sign and some unique decor.
Weirdness along Route 66. This photo was taken further west, closer to our next stop at Grand Canyon Caverns.
Day 2 had us driving right past Meteor Crater, so we had to stop and see just what a giant hole in the ground looks like. It turned out to be pretty awe-inspiring and definitely worth the price of admission.
“Best preserved meteorite crater on Earth”
We spent that night at the wacky Gand Canyon Caverns Inn which is more than a hotel, it’s also a: dinosaur petting zoo, cave, golf course, 50s diner, airstrip, and definitely a photo op. After dinner, we anxiously and meticulously packed everything we’d need for the next three nights in the Grand Canyon.
The lobby at the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn.
Day 3 started before sunrise. We grabbed breakfast and drove to the trailhead for our 10 mile hike down into the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Completely surrounded by the Grand Canyon National Park, Havasupai is considered one of America’s most remote Indian Reservations and their village, Supai, is only accessible by foot, horse, or helicopter. There are no paved roads in Supai; it’s the only place in the U.S. where mail is still carried out by mules.
Hiking down into the Grand Canyon.
We were asked not to photograph anyone or thing in the village. We saw only a handful of public buildings (a grocery store, post office, tourism office, a small convenience-type store that seemed to be geared more toward tourists) and walked by a number of homes, all simply-built with small yards. Most of the land that I saw was taken up by horse pastures and dotted with blooming moonflowers. Reggae music wafted out of a barn.
Lower Navajo Falls, my first glimpse of the blue-green water that runs through Havasu Falls and eventually into the Colorado River. I was elated to see this heavenly sight.
We got to the campground later than expected and found ourselves without a formal campsite, instead having to set up our tents in small openings between the trees. But it all worked out; the next morning several of our neighbors left, leaving us a nice site to move into. We were next to the river and near the top of Mooney Falls, which drop over 200 feet into the narrow canyon.
Looking down from the top of Mooney Falls.
Although a bit scary, the edge of the falls was one of my favorite spots to relax.
We spent most of our time swimming or resting near one of the three falls closest to our campsite. We ate delicious Fry Bread and Indian Tacos from a small stand some of the locals operated near the campground. On our last night we stayed up to watch the stars come out and were treated to one of the best shooting stars I’ve ever seen…a glittery star streaking across the sky, over a waterfall, between steep canyon walls…magic!
Havasu Falls.
I love how the travertine forms these pools, perfect for swimming.
The campground is split by the creek in some areas; creatively-built bridges are everywhere.
Three nights just wasn’t enough in this Heaven On Earth and I was feeling sad as we packed up and began our hike out. We left later than expected and took our time, but as the sun’s rays intensified and we left the protection of the deep canyon, I struggled. I pushed myself to get up the switchbacks and ran out of water as soon as I reached the trailhead. Thankfully, I had a car full of snacks and drinks waiting for me.
That evening, back at the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, we were treated to a beautiful sunset during dinner, hot showers, and real beds. I was exhausted. But the next day I was feeling surprisingly spry as we began our drive to Tucson. I’d found a scenic drive through Saguaro National Park I was excited about. But as we neared Phoenix, I was blown away by the number of saguaro growing on the side of the highway. These giant cacti that I’d dreamed of my whole life were suddenly real, and everywhere!
I find the saguaro desert absolutely enchanting and by the time we got to the scenic drive the sun was setting – slowly turning into the most electric orange/peach/blue sky I’ve ever seen. It was stunning. I wish I had more pictures, but I was driving!
On the Bajada Loop drive, Saguaro National Park West
On the last leg of our journey, we stopped to visit the permanent art piece called “Prada, Marfa” before grabbing a beer at Lost Horse Saloon in Marfa, Texas, and heading to a campsite in Davis Mountains State Park. That little taste of Marfa and the surrounding area has me craving a longer visit. There’s so much to do!
“Prada, Marfa” by Elmgreen and Dragset.
I want to go back in the spring, camp at Davis Mountains and take day trips to explore Marfa, the spring-fed pool at Balmorhea, and attend a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory. I want to take time to soak in the unique character of West Texas.
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If you’re a fan of Havasu Falls, check out this sticker I made for the trip:
I took 50 stickers with me to give away as gifts to the natives and fellow hikers and I was blown away by the response. Everyone was so grateful and enthusiastic about the design!
