Pt 1. Santa Paula
We’re lucky enough to be friends with these 2 amazing people. They have twins–1 boy and 1 girl. However the fact that they’re both pictured wrangling with the little man makes sense if you’ve ever seen him in action. Love those kids.
Picking oranges from the Sunkist groves of Santa Paula. I’ve never picked oranges off the tree before…and it’s pretty much ruined eating regular oranges for the rest of my life.
It may look cute and sweet, but without a doubt the scariest moment of the entire trip was when PSP almost dropped an unsuspecting Lamp off the John Deer.
My niece and her cute friend
My brother and sister in law. I think my sister in law might kill me, posting a picture of her eating (a cute picture might I add) but this is one of the only pictures I got of her the entire trip. What? They were also the peeps who watched our girls while we went on our little getaway. We can’t thank them enough.
Everyone liked Bruxie.
Aaaaaaand scene.
If a single picture could sum up the last 2.5 years of my life, it just might be that one of me wrangling that little boy. (I'm just glad/lucky you caught me smiling while doing it!) Can't thank you enough for making time to come our way. We love you guys!
haha so true about that pic. We're so glad we could make it…always too short though right?
Also I am *dying* to see Rarotonga…
I love your photos! Lamp ably using her foot to feed herself. PSP with her cute poses. So glad you got some getaway time with the family!
Born and raised right there on the beach in Ventura. Growing up in Ventura in the 60's & 70's there was nothing to do but run through the orchirds and hang out at the pier. Year round we all surfed at the pier, and dreamed of being some boys "Surfer Girl'. My parents bought their home, right on the beach, right after WW2 for $4000. A huge home to hold 6 girls, giving us all our own bedroom/bathroom. I couldn't wait to get out of dodge when I graduated from HS. I did. I went to UC Berkeley, and stayed there through grad school and then never left.
My husband who was from Santa Paula also could not wait to get out of dodge. We raised our children in Berkeley, and taught them to surf in Santa Cruz, and of course they surfed the same pier we did growing up whenever we were back in Ventura for summers and holidays. My daughter learned ot play sand volleyball on the Ventura beach and today she is a professional volleyball player in France.
The beach is in our blood and I still require vacations to be spent with a lot of water and a beach, even at our vacation home in Montana–on the lake and paddle surfing.
So glad to hear you enjoyed your time in my former hometown. I've now lived in Berkeley more years than Ventura so I consider Berkely my home base, but I will never stop smiling, ear-to-ear, everytime we're driving down 101 on our way to visit and first spot the ocean at Pismo Beach, breath in that air, and know I am home.
–M
M
Thanks for that little narrative. I love hearing about other people's sentimental connections to places…especially a place I've been to.
You got some GREAT photos! Do you mind if I ask what camera/settings you typically use?
Julia,
Thanks! I have to say my photos have improved dramatically over the past couple of months due to the new lens.
So we have an Olympus. I know pretty much everyone has a Nikon or Canon…but I did a lot of research at the time (5 years ago?) and went for the Olympus E-510. Not sure my husband would have made the same choice, or if I would have bought the same one now, but it works for us. So the new lens…my husband got this (he knows photo stuff much better than I do). But it's a 50mm 1:2 macro. Don't really know what that means. BUT it's the type of lens that makes has a short depth of field, thus you can focus on something close up and everything in the back ground is really blurry. It works well in low light too. However, it can't zoom in or out, so you have to physically move to get closer or farther away. And usually you have to move back, because it's hard to get everything in one shot. Clearly I'm not a photo genius, so I hope that helps! Oh and those lenses aren't cheap. Something to consider.
Thanks!
I love your photos!!! Wow. I still need to call you and talk blog shop with you. Your family is darling and I'm so glad you guys got to go on a vacation together! All we need to do now is figure out how to make you short so I can have your hand me down clothes.
Yes–let's catch up!
Ps. I'm in love with Zoe.
Wow, what amazing pictures, the one of lamp and her daddy belongs on a canvas and the one of the 4 kiddos on the beach belongs on a baby gap advertisement. Cool kids!
Aw, thanks Louise. We did get a lot of great pictures!
you guys got to visit those Santa Paula nuts!!?? SO jealous!! Looks like you guys had a blast!! Also… I'm lovin' your long sweater. Sweaters have been lost on me since good ol' AZ has come along!
Great pictures! Can you tell me a little about the camera that took the picture underwater?
Ventura is my hometown too! My dad surfs regularly just north of that pier.