out and about: joshua tree.

March 21, 2016

out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leavesWe’ve had a decidedly indoor series of days and so, I thought, it’d be nice to live vicariously through photos of a few decidedly outdoor days that we passed earlier in the month. We headed out to Joshua Tree for the last two days of our trip to California, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier about a travel decision. I haven’t spent much time in the desert. By which I mean, I’ve never spent any time in the desert. I couldn’t anticipate the way that the air would smell. Or the way the sun would hit the mountains in the distance. I couldn’t quite conjure the images of the jackrabbits or the scrubby cacti—even though I knew they’d be there. Even now, there’s no way to adequately describe the way the sun rose over a straight horizon and lit the sky up in shades of lavender and pink.out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves

To Stay:

We stayed at the beautiful desert home of friends whose #flattopprojects is the dreamiest little homesteader cabin I’ve ever seen. (I haven’t seen that many homesteader cottages, but still! Trust me at least with the fact that Lily and Peter’s place is a dreamland! Just, A+++.) (If you’re interested, here’s a characteristically lovely post from Lily about their decision to buy their desert home.)
out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves
out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves

out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves

out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves

out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves

out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves

out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves

To Eat:

We visited at the beginning of a week when a lot of the local joints are closed for business. We made meals at home and jotted down notes for what to do when we come back.

Joshua Tree Coffee CompanyLily and Peter had a bag of this stuff on their kitchen counter and I got pulled in by the pretty design on the label, so we did a little search and found a bag of our own (plus one to bring home).

Joshua Tree Health Foods: A quirky, incense-filled spot to get a dozen fresh eggs and ceremonial sunflower seeds (which, of course, we did).

La Copine: Recommended to us by every single person that we met. Alas, alack this spot it open only Thursday-Sunday so we missed out this go-round, but I couldn’t resist sharing such a sweet spot. If I ever return, I’m high-tailing it thataway for the Grits & Greens.

To See:

For sightseeing, we probably would have been content to stay in Lily and Peter’s house and watch the sun move across the sky, but there was a National Park to visit and so we did. The Joshua Trees were blooming during our visit and we caught a few other flowering specimens on our ambles around. My best description of the park is that it’s a place on Earth that doesn’t feel a bit like it. Otherworldly and then some.out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves
out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves out and about: joshua tree | reading my tea leaves




 

 

 

And now, back to facing Monday.

For the curious:

I’m wearing this favorite fleece;
my favorite overalls;
these canvas sneaks
and my Alma.
Faye’s in our favorite linen pants
and sweater;
and sneaks.
(Same lightweight carrier that we used in Venice.)
(Favorite black Junes bag for stashing shed jackets and hats.)

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11 Comments

  • Reply Toni March 21, 2016 at 11:28 am

    Loved the pictures! I grew up in California and spent a lot of time in it’s desert areas. My husband and I did a lot of dry camping in Joshua Tree and loved it. It’s been 25 years since I’ve been back and it good to see it’s as lovely and peaceful as ever. A wonderful place to “get away”!

  • Reply Aimee March 21, 2016 at 11:32 am

    “a place on Earth that doesn’t feel a bit like it” – PERFECT description. I live in the southwest, and visit these types of places constantly, and I am always saying “it feels like I’m on Mars or something” but this description is so eloquent and accurate. Not to mention the incredible photos you captured.

    Aimee

    • Reply Erin Boyle March 21, 2016 at 4:55 pm

      thanks so much! such magical spots!

  • Reply Erin March 21, 2016 at 11:43 am

    There is something so very enticing about homesteader life. I feel so drawn to it yet I’m not so sure I’d survive it. Baby steps, I suppose…

  • Reply Stefanie March 21, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    These photographs are stunning. Joshua Tree has been on my list x

  • Reply Melanie March 21, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Wow what a beautiful place!!! I had no idea that a Joshua Tree was a real tree…They are so unique!!

  • Reply Lydia @ lupinelydia March 21, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    oh man… i’m so jealous! you’re all wearing jackets – i take it was chillier than it looks in the photos? haha 🙂

    • Reply Erin Boyle March 21, 2016 at 2:56 pm

      Definitely chilly enough for jackets in the mornings and evenings, but the sun was warm!

  • Reply iamalighthouse March 22, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    Yes…Joshua Trees supposedly only grow 2 places in the world..and one of them is SoCal! I grew up out in the SoCal desert. 🙂 I do miss those mountains in the distance and the to-die-for sunsets! Oh, and the delicious sage-smell!

  • Reply mado March 22, 2016 at 9:23 pm

    Faye is so cute! Do you shop mostly online for her clothes? I’m struggling with wanting to search out more high quality/responsibly made clothes for my baby boy, but missing the going shopping part of it. And then there’s the problem of how to guide the grandparents in clothing purchases!

  • Reply Hoptra April 4, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    I just went to JT last week and it was stunning. I also recommend the Pioneertown Motel and Pappy and Harriets, it’s a great great terrific place ! I live in San Diego and I’m so glad to live so close to such a special place !!!

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