Jon & Christine

Sniffing Out The Perfect Christmas Tree

The Bradshaw Boyz use a double barreled approach to sniffing out the perfect Christmas tree...






...two dogs!

Sequoya


Shasta

The Carnage

A small fraction of the carnage left in the wake of The Bradshaw Family & Friends Thanksgiving Feast 2008

I'm The Winner!

I entered a pumpkin dessert contest and won. My entry was Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup. It was the only entry that was not a dessert. But then again, "Pumpkin Desert Contest" is printed on the certificate I received for winning. I think my winning move here was the use of cilantro and lime, giving my soup a distinct desert flavor that none of the desserts could compete with.

Oakland Temple

Oakland California Temple

My Neighborhood

The fall season is upon us here in the bay area.


Even if parts of it still look like spring.


I live on a dead end street.


In a tin shack.


With a secret inner sanctuary.


Near a train station.


And secret passages.


California Avenue Train Station


People here like expensive cars.


That look sporty.


And go really fast.


But run on batteries instead of gas.

Death Valley

I think I may have a romantic obsession with Death Valley. This was my third trip to Death Valley. My first two trips I went by myself just because I felt like going. This trip included eight friends and, coincidentally, my dad.

My friends and I were there for the adventure of descending Coffin Canyon. My dad was there to enjoy the bluegrass music of The Death Valley '49ers 59th Annual Encampment. As luck would have it, we were very fortunate my dad was there as access to the trail head required a high clearance 4WD vehicle. Of which, we only had one. This also worked out nicely for my dad. After dropping us off at the trail head he was able to explore some nearby abandon mines that also required a high clearance 4WD vehicle.

Our trek down to Death Valley ended up being in three cars arriving at approximately 6PM, 1AM and 4:08AM. Dave, Amanda, Lauren and I left Palo Alto around 8AM and enjoyed a lovely drive which included the ceremonious passing of the 100,000 mile mark on Dave's 4Runner somewhere along Hwy 395.



We arrived at Furnace Creek just after dark and cruised the streets of RV-ville looking for my dad's mini-van. We found the mini-van but not my dad so we left a note and listened to an accordion player/yodeler for a bit before heading up towards the trail head to make camp. After setting up camp and devouring the tasty leftovers of Lauren's Save Mart whole roast chicken, we had ourselves a little private dance party at club Death Valley high desert, complete with authentic star filled sky and strobe headlamps. A quick star show by Dave and his laser capped off our evening.





Rich, Laura and Adam arrived as expected at 1AM after some guidance over the two-way radio as we watched their headlights race past the dirt road turnoff across the valley. Never to be deterred, Kambria, with last minute recruit and hero relief driver Justin, casually cruised into camp at 4:08AM for a quick nap before our 5:30 wake up call.