Holiday Outtake

My California Christmas was eighty degrees. It's a bit confusing but plenty pleasant. I get this fuzziness when I'm home where I sleep in like a teenager and want to read books all day. Additionally, I attended my poorly-attended ten year reunion. WHAT A TRIP.

Hilton Head Thanksgiving

Far away from our west coast families, Joel and I spent Thanksgiving in Hilton Head with friends. We planned to stay one night and wound up staying three. We couldn't leave! I don't consider myself a pack animal but I could have rolled around with those buddies forever, sippin' bourbon and playin' games. That was one hell of a friendsgiving, Petersons!

That Mighty Buffalo

A big, crazy group of siblings, cousins, boyfriends, girlfriends, aunts, and uncles met in Arkansas on our family property this weekend and we played hard. We floated down this river with whiskey coffee and a lot of jokes.

The New House

My mom just bought this little 50's cottage and has been furiously fixing it up since February. My brother sneaked video of her dancing with a paintbrush in her hand at 11:30 at night one time. It's not quite there yet but it has made the transition from brown and stinky to fresh and white and airy. The yard is still dirt and the the living room needs a second coat but it smells like gardenia and feels like the family home. There's even a dutch door. SO!

Brother

I'm home!

My brother and I both have June birthdays. We celebrated yesterday with the beach and new wetsuits. The day was RIDICULOUSLY PRETTY and the water was warm. It felt like the old days except that Nick has a mustache. We're gonna do it all over again today before I take off for a while. FAMILY!

From the Top

We went back up on the Mesa last night. There was jenga, grilled zucchini, and lotsa jokes. On the way home I made my dad stop the car to stare out. The view is ridiculous.

After I finished taking these photos, I walked back to the car and he did that thing where he guns it and takes off. I patiently catch up on foot and he guns it again. We did this at least four times.

Telluride

Yesterday we drove down the valley to Telluride. My dad calls it 'to-hell-you-ride' and has wanted to move here for the last 20 years. Every time we visit he collects a stack of real estate listings to take home and pore over.

I am in love with this mountain town. There are amazing restaurants, old cowboys, chic galleries, and good-looking hippies. A dramatic storm rolled in when we arrived but WE TOOK THE GONDOLA RIDE ANYWAY. It was beautiful. We stayed far too late at an old dark saloon called the New Sheridan and I got tipsy on thin mountain air and wine.

The Grand Mesa

This afternoon I got cozy in a big truck with my parents and grandparents and we drove up the mesa. The elevation is over 10,000 feet. YOU'RE HUFFING AND PUFFING UP THERE.

We packed a big picnic and grilled corn on the cob. Our site was sandwiched between a big lake and a rushing creek. I mean, come on.

The Ranch

Yes. I went from New York City to a ranch in Colorado and I'm currently experiencing some sort of bizarre culture shock.  

My grandparents have this great house at the base of the Grand Mesa and the views are incredible. I spent my first day reading, eating apricots, and staring out at all that sky. As the sun was going down a big thunderstorm rolled in.