things learned over the weekend camping trip:

-nearly everything will be improved by adding arugula
-as suspected, it might be necessary to drive 5 hours from san diego to reach kick ass, water inclusive camping
-it is always summer somewhere
-just like when you were 14 and she was 2, you still want to sit and read all day, while your sister will want you to, you know, do stuff
-start camping trips on sundays, if at all possible
-just cause you are sisters doesn't mean you like all the same things
-the dead marshes, no matter what tolkien or jackson told you, are probably at the kern river

This camping trip was almost as epic as last summer's, just on a mini, 2 day scale.


I have been on a quest to find the perfect Southern California camping spot. (Big surprise.) Aside from being 5 hours away from San Diego the Kern River might be it. The river was pretty strong, what with all the snow that was had this year, but we were able to carve out a nice little swim spot off our beach. The temperature was hot enough that the cold water felt great, perfect for sticking our chairs in and just lounging all day. It was fantastic.

I have another lesson to add to the lessons learned list- permit myself some flexibility.

While I would not classify this excursion (in the intended spirit) as a road trip, I am going to go ahead and cross off the first item on the list-
1.Take sister on a road trip (or fly to a really cool city)

Because, and I quote, she doesn't really like to travel that much. (I know.) And? She doesn't really like cities that much. (I know.) (Hey, just cause we are sisters doesn't mean we like all the same things.) What she does like? Small quaint towns, especially ones in the desert. And we happened to travel through one of those, one that she likes just so much, she is adding it to her list of places to live. So, I think that counts in the intended spirit of the list item. Additionally it counts because we offered to take her with us on a road trip that involves stops in no less than 2 really cool cities and she declined. (I know.) But next year maybe I should take her to New Mexico? Lots of quaint desert towns there, no?

About A Desert Fete

Hi. I am Jamie. I like white ink printed on dark surfaces. I live for summer. I blog about random things on a desert fete and being a mama over at hank + lucy. I studied architecture, but I take pictures of people so in love that they decide to  commit to spend the rest of their days together with my pal Michelle as Rad + In Love .

                           (photo of Henry and I, by Michelle, for the sakura bloom sling diaries)

I began writing A Desert Fete back in 2008 when planning our own desert wedding. 

If you are new you might check out some of my personal favorite posts; camping at the kern river, henry sparrow's nursery, birthday weekend in the desert, top three game, henry's first costume, 

Below is our handsome cat Manray.

Email me at desertfete {at} gmail {dot} com.


 
But why A Desert Fete?
Many years ago my best friend and I read Le Grand Meaulness by Alain-Fournier in sequence (me, then her). We both became enamored with the following scene;

{Meaulness} could not have been more surprised had he come upon a group of holiday makers stirring up a cloud of dust as if it were June... 'and yet,' he mused, 'of all places for a fete- this wilderness!'

......everything looked old and derelict... and yet the whole scene had a mysterious air of festivity. coloured reflections came out from low rooms where no doubt lanterns had also been placed, in windows overlooking the country side............. A heavy wooden door, arched at the top and studded like the door of a presbytery, stood ajar. The young dandy went in. Meatless followed and had scarcely taken a step in the hall before finding himself in the midst of laughter, song, shouts, and scamperings, though there was no one in sight...... before Meaulness could ask anything more they reached the door of a large room with a low ceiling, where a great fire was blazing. The tables were spread with white cloths, and around them was seated a very mixed gathering of people, dining in style.

That, we agreed, was what a wedding should be. And so with a Joshua Tree wedding on the horizon, A Desert Fete.

*top left photo by Ben Left (my husband). He wanted credit fot that. Bottom, Michelle Pullman. The others, me.