Several years ago, Cindy began a summer tradition of joining us in Lake Tahoe. Today, I gathered her up from the Sacramento Airport and we headed to our California State Capitol for a tour- a first for us both.

We began with a nature stroll. Located in the heart of downtown Sacramento, California State Capitol Park is a 40-acre urban oasis surrounding the state’s Capitol building. It is known for its extensive collection of trees, diverse fauna and flora, and numerous historical monuments.
This amazing urban forest contains over 864 trees from around the globe, representing 210 distinct species, making it a "collection of diversified flora" in a city landscape. If only we had more time. So much tree hugging would have occurred. Cindy showed this 105 year old Sequoia Sempervirens some love.

I wasn't expecting to get emotional on this day. But finding the California Firefighters Memorial made us pause in gratitude.
This unique and stunning monument is a tribute to the more than 1500 firefighters who have died in the line of duty since California became a state in 1850. Since 2002, it has been a lasting tribute to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their fellow Californians.

I searched for only one name- Andy Valenta. He was our fun, wonderful neighbor in Temecula. I wrote all about him here. So sad.

Henry Ward Beecher said, "There is a temperate zone in the mind... and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that summer reading belongs."

I must confess, I don't read enough in the Summer. My days are so full that I melt into bed at night too weary to even hold a book, much less read one. That said, my most recent accomplishments have been exceptional. All the Beauty in the World, Patrick Bringley's memoir about his ten years working as a guard at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, brings new meaning to the term "art appreciation." I will never explore a museum in the same way. Wow.
The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President, by Edward O'Keefe, was a surprisingly intriguing read. I learned so much, especially about the five remarkable women - mother Mittie, sisters Bamie and Conie, wives Alice and Edith - who shaped Theodore's feminist views and political career.
Tom Selleck's You Never Know is a candid memoir of his accidental Hollywood journey, personal life, iconic roles, and how he redefined masculinity on screen. It was a sweet treat of a read for this longtime fan.

Wanting to kick off her Birthday Month in Sierra Style, Erin came to Tahoe to begin the celebrations for her next decade.

Armed with her new stand-up paddle board wheels, we returned to Round Hill Pines Beach Resort for a morning of catching up and relaxing... both desperately needed.



Seems like a happy kickoff to me!

Julie had a later flight so we gathered up Karen and headed west. First stop was the Gold Bug Mine for a local history lesson.

This was my second visit to the historic Gold Bug Mine, a first for Karen and Julie. This Placerville treasure opened in 1888 as the Hattie Mine.  It transitioned from surface panning to hard-rock quartz mining, and operated until closing during World War II.
Something interesting was around every corner. How cool is this? We found out that bells in a historic mine were used as a primary communication system, using standardized codes of rings to talk with surface hoist operators.

Standard Bell Codes are: 1 Bell: Stop if the cage is moving (or signal to hoist rock/muck). 2 Bells: Lower the cage. 3 Bells: Raise the cage. 3-1 Bells: Hoist or move people (men on board). 5 Bells: Blasting warning (ready to shoot). 7 or 9 Bells: Emergency / danger signal at a specific station.

The 20-minute narration was helpful in helping us gain a true appreciation for all the miners endured. Plus is was so much cooler than the 95° at the surface.

Afterward, we went digging for our own form of treasures at the Goodwill Outlet Store in Sacramento.

Karen and I both came home with treasures. With clothing and linens being $2.29 a pound, and household goods being only $1.99 a pound, any treasure discovered was very affordable.
After depositing Julie at the airport, Karen and I connected, for an early dinner, with our relocated Tahoe friend, Mary Jo. What an incredible day in the company of some incredible women. Life is amazing!