Desert Hideaway

Kat had a great idea to do a quick weekend getaway trip not too far from home. She found this amazing rental house tucked away along a hillside in Yucca Valley not too far away from Joshua Tree National Park. Giant boulders, Joshua trees and other desert foliage served as the beautiful backdrop. The house itself was filled with many mementos from his travels including a wonderful book of photographs through the years that I enjoyed spending time with.

The weather easily surpassed the 100 degree mark the entire weekend. We found ourselves in the cowboy pool in the evenings enjoying sunset and letting time drift away quietly. The days were mostly consumed by relaxing, reading and writing with the occasional episode or two of some of our favorite shows. The first night, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky so we spent the evening enjoying night sky and all it’s stars. I don’t know what it is about gazing up into the stars, but it never gets old. The following night, the storm clouds rolled in and we watched lighting dance around the night sky.

There was absolutely no pressure this weekend which was what we needed. This year, Kat and made it a point to take time off of work in smaller chunks throughout the year (even if just a day). In a short time, we’ve seen the positive effects of doing so. We are not only more recharged and excited to get back to work but also notice that we don’t have that sluggish and groggy feeling going back to work after a long(er) vacation. It’s one of the best adjustments we’ve made over the years. I highly recommend it for those who aren’t already doing it.

Although photography was not a priority on this quick trip, I was able to spend some time exploring the property around the house. Below are a few sketches I made.