The Green Room

I've had success so far (still crossing my fingers) at keeping the plants alive in our low light apartment alive this year. I've had a few casualties, but have learned from those mistake in the hopes of keeping our apartment green! When my cousin moved, I adopted a couple of their plants that they were not able to take with them. Initially, I was worried that the plants would perish in our apartment because they would be coming from a well-lit, warm environment--everything our apartment does not have.  Much to my surprise (actually, I hope that my plant nurturing skills might have improved), the plants have been thriving with a bunch of "budding" new growth. I think I may have finally figured out a watering schedule that works with the plants and their new environment! I've been wants to de-clutter / re-decorate everything and just have plants as decor with a minimal backdrop setting with basic functional furniture. This is still a work in progress! I have other plants scattered through-out the apartment, but pictured are some of the ones in our bedroom. The plants make be feel like we're sleeping in a Green Room nursery, which I guess might be weird for some but works for me!

I have also been gathering new decor for the bedroom that is functional, yet still a bit stylish. Z and I were lucky to find this beautiful antique brass bed frame 4 years ago, and it has held up well thus far. Wanting to keep this brass motif in the bedroom, I found some interesting angular-shaped  brass jewelry display cases from Urban Outfitters and these white lamps from IKEA. I really hope to save enough money to purchase new matching (grown up-style and not hand me downs from your family) night stands for Z and I--similar to these ones here. I'll see if I can thrift a similar looking set when I have a break from work. After I took these photos, Z installed a lamp above the bed in this style to replace his bed-side lamp, which looks pretty fabulous as well.  Other than that, Z and I did not do much this weekend. We had dinner at our favorite pupuseria on 18th street and then walked around the Mission district--amazed at how much has changed in the tiny time that we've lived here. There are more people moving into the neighborhood, but we don't want it to loose the charm that we fell in love with upon first moving here. The next day was spent doing laundry and cleaning up the apartment for the week. It's ridiculous how much fur comes from a little pug. If I did not constantly sweep up or vacuum the fur, we could be living in a huge black fur ball! Hope you all had a nice, relaxing weekend! Let's get this week started off right!

Falling For Cataract Falls

After reading the Bold Italic's article about the best hikes in the area with waterfalls, Z and I decided to check out Cataract Falls since it was dog friendly and no mountain bikes were allowed on the trails. It's difficult to keep your pig dog out of the way when there's bikers zooming back and forth on the path. Not fun! Despite the fact that we went on Valentine's Day and it was super cheesy (Not our fault Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday this year), the trail was one of the best hikes we have done in the past year. We drove by Fairfax and Bolinas, which are other areas I would like to check out another time since their small town charm appeals to me--having grown up in a ridiculous small town where-everybody-knows-your-name area as well.

The trail begins lush and green, taking you ever higher alongside a series of swiftly flowing, rushing waterfalls. Stairs, both wooden and stone, overladen with moss and cracked with heavy use intersperse with a well-trodden dirt path. The heady scent of fresh water and sharp, piercing, satisfying wilderness fills the air as the warm sunlight cascades around you.

Once you leave the Cataract trail and step onto the High Marsh Trail, the noise of other hikers quickly fade away and you find yourself surrounded by a forest silence, broken only by the sound of your own breath. The tall, wooded glen you are in will break into an open hill, sloped with wild grass and shrouded by a rolling fog. It is beautiful, mysterious, and lonely--as the path before you meanders further into the hills you cannot help but be amazed.

The High Marsh Trail will eventually take you onto the forested Kent Trail, wavering between open, hilltop trails and strange, wooded paths. You'll find blood-red, mahogany-like, smooth branches that loom and watch above you. As you wander North, Kent Trail will break west and emerge on the shores of an immense, blue-green lake. Alpine lake lies before you, waters unbroken and far shores dotted with trees, beckoning. It is quiet here, and beautiful, and you find that for a time you need not be anything more than a witness.

After the 3 mile hike or so to the picnic grounds, Finnegan was getting pretty tired--being the Prince that he is. Z opted to carry him in his backpack and Finnegan seemed to enjoy the view and ability to catch his breath. Some hikers spotted him in the backpack and Finnegan made sure to ham it up with his cuteness for a couple of "Aww's" and pats on the head. I highly recommend visiting Cataract Falls. Make sure to take some time to travel out here, bring food for a picnic, and enjoy all that the Bay area has to offer!