The New Year: An End, A Beginning

This New Year’s. . .

. . . unlike years past, we didn’t spend it partying like it was 1999.

In fact, we didn’t even stay up late enough to witness the clock turn midnight.

(Prince would be so disappointed.)

I think we were in bed by eleven.   

Instead, we spent the end of 2011 on a 

relaxing trip to one of our favorite places, Cambria.

I spent mornings taking long runs along the 

beautiful central coast, while Travis slept in.

(Travis isn't much into running. 

Biking, yes. Running, no. 

He is, however, into sleeping.)

We spent our days going to farmer’s markets. . .

. . .and making homemade chicken noodle soup.

Which I'm pretty sure was the best soup we ever made.

I'm sorry Campbell's, but we kicked your butt on this one. 

We spent it hiking in Big Sur.

Feet atop large granite boulders. . .

. . . and against the green slopes of cliffs that fell into the ocean's edge.

We spent it driving along meandering country roads,

 pretending this was our barn. . .

. . .our house with the horse, goat and chickens. . .

. . . our field of dreams. 

 Like Kevin Costner says, "If you build it, they will come." 
Er something like that. 

It was spent wine tasting in the early afternoons. . .

. . . trying various cheeses while chatting with the locals,
 and of course, taking some time to pet their cute pups.

 We stood in a field of yellow wildflowers among gray-barked trees
with branches that reached out to each other, and to the sky. . .

. . . my boots half lost in the tall grass,
my hair blowing wild in the wind.

We spent the end of 2011 gazing at coastal sunsets. . .

. . . with the sound of nothing but waves crashing on the shore,

the wind funneling into our ears,

 and the hum of promises to myself. 

And though it was the most laid back New Year's we'd ever had, 

I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Happy New Year.