The month of September was abnormally warm, with the rain and gloom just recently setting in. Now that the family is all spread out, we have turned to using Google Hangouts to catch up with each other. It's so great to see everyone :)
At work I am well into the ornaments project for the National Christmas Tree Display. We have also been preparing for the Fall White House Garden Tours, which are next weekend. And preparations have already begun for the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and for inauguration. For many parks the fall season is a time of winding down. For us at President's Park, things are just picking up. And to cap off the summer and the centennial for our park, we had a park-wide picnic to celebrate, which was a fun event filled with cake, yard games, and an appearance by the White House chief usher.
And then it was vacation time! When many things in life are uncertain sometimes you have to take advantage of the current situation. I have friends currently working at National Parks all over the country right now and it seemed right to take advantage of the opportunity to visit while I can. I took myself to California and visited Point Reyes National Seashore, where my friend Joey works in the same position as I do in my park. Point Reyes is full of beautiful beaches, high cliffs, and a lot of wildlife. It was great to return and explore more in depth, as the time we as a family spent there in 2009 was too short. I helped with a beach cleanup event and got to meet some of the staff. I hiked a few of the trails, got to see some great sunsets, and all around had a great time.
And then my rental car and I made our way to Yosemite National Park! Yosemite is known as a dream destination, and with many expectations, it did not disappoint. 3000 foot cliff faces, beautiful mountain tops, golden meadows, big trees, blue skies, and peaceful waterfalls. Honestly it was overwhelming. I went for a few hikes, went camping under the stars, got to see my friends Claire and Alyck, and participated in a volunteer trail cleanup event. Even though the park was busy with visitors, on the trails and while camping I was able to experience the true quietness of the wilderness. There are no words that accurately describe the contrast between what has become my daily life and my time spent in Yosemite. It was a much needed retreat from work and the craziness of city living. I could go on and on about my vacation, as there are lots of fun things to comment on. Instead I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Check out my vacation photo album!
