Sunday, November 11, 2012

Mt. Wilson on a Sunday afternoon

We drove up and up to Mt. Wilson, known for its observatory, about an hour away from our home in Los Angeles. The sky was blue, the air was thin but clear and clean, the ocean shimmered in the distance, and the downtown skyline that we all know so well looked like a small pile of Legos in a vast basin. Despite protestations about going, the boys ended up enjoying themselves, and I felt grateful, again, to live in this amazing state.

These were some attempts at a Christmas card, none of which I'll use. In fact, I think I'm not going to send Christmas cards this year, for the first time in nearly twenty years.





The sun was shining so brilliantly, and I couldn't really see what I was photographing (not to mention, I was using my camera phone!), but this shot was of the Los Angeles basin, the small city in the middle and the ocean glimmering behind it. Very cool to see --


 You could smell the pine and juniper up there -- pungent and redolent of Christmas.




Many of the trees are burnt to cinders, remnants of the fires that ravaged the area a couple of years ago.










That yellow, sparkly stuff is the Pacific ocean!






The thin, dry air made Henry's and my hair absurdly flat, and we got a good laugh at the flip on Henry's.


We indulged in Frito Pie, hotdogs and hummus at the cafe and tried to keep warm in the frigid 50 degree air. We're weather wimps.




Even Oliver declared that there was no room for Sunday blues, today.


13 comments:

  1. No room for Sunday blues indeed!! Looks like a wonderful day.

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  2. a great Sunday trip into the mountains. your phone shots turned out pretty darned great -- the one of the LA skyline is amazing that you could capture it at all. The kids all look great. Shivering in 50 degree weather will put you all in the holiday spirit! Great post, E.

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  3. I loved seeing this. You guys are so sweet.

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  4. It looks like a good day .... some of your pictures of the trees look like Japanese Art. And as always, your children shine.

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  5. Wow, that sun looks blinding! I think the first shot could be a card -- but I don't blame you for not sending them. I haven't sent Christmas cards the past few years, either. It seems so silly in the age of Facebook!

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  6. Breathtaking photos, thank you for sharing them. So interesting to see the view from the opposite side of the country. You all look very happy.

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  7. Is that Mr. Elizabeth? I don't think I have seen his picture before. (Or maybe I have. I am tired from work and have a headache.)
    Not sending Christmas cards! You are going to hell in a hand basket, Elizabeth. *sarcasm*

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  8. I love Oliver's hat and Sophie's gaze toward Henry. Lovely day. Lovely family.

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  9. The way Henry looks at Sophie reminds me of everything good in the world. There is hope.

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  10. wow, wonderful photos!! the best is the one where henry and sophie are gazing at each other - oh, my heart!! you are a beautiful family - inside and out.

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  11. And the great wonder that there are trees left at all. It was such a vast and destructive fire. A fine Sunday outing, your family photographed in different light. xo

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  12. I'm with Visuvius, whatever's responsible for that look between Harry and Sophie is prolly the same sort of sinew holding this whole damn world together.

    Also, i may have mentioned before, but i love that Henry's a lacrosse player. I love the sport. I'm stoked it's catching on.

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  13. My boy Jeremy has exactly the same hat as Oliver. Unfortunately, I put it in the wash last winter (after about 6 years of wear, shhh) and it didn't do too well - it's probably one of those items that need an american drier to become fluffy and soft again!

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