Girls, Sun, Dogs, and a Crown

A few photos from a weekend of camping and relaxing and celebrating Melissa's coming nuptials. All of us spent the night here and then continued on to Kyburz -- somewhere between here and South Lake Tahoe. And then we drove in a bit through the forest.

Our campsite is in there somewhere -- right along the water.

Afternoon snacks.

I think this is the definition of 'chillaxin'.'

Murphy.
Melis has some of the most photogenic dogs in the world.

Sitting in the river, soaking up the rays. I hear-tell San Francisco hasn't seen the sun for several weeks. So this was quite a treat for those for whom "summer" is synonymous with "marine layer."

Marilyn admits she hasn't caught anything in ten years, but you never know. 6 girls and two dogs in the water just might be a fish mating call.

No hat? No problem! We have invasive weeds!

Marilyn is demonstrating that she shoved her fishing license into her top and then jumped into the water, rendered her fishing license . . . well. . . useless, pretty much. I guess that's why you see guys with their licenses pinned to their hats.

Linus.
1.

2.

3.
Ohhhhhhhh.

Devo catching a little shut-eye before the festivities really get going.

No one can resist the US Magazine. The stars. They are just like us.

Care for a mug 'o champagne?

Just shove your whole head in there buddy.

Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. I think I went through cheese withdrawals when I got home.

Princess Melis.

Melis getting "lingerie." You know you've done something right when Melis makes this face.

Okay, so it's Patagonia-wear. But it's much more 'Melis' than Victoria Secret would have been.

Yes, yes. Please continue to dote on me.

Another mug o' champagne. It was fun the first time.

A little evening walk and Melis finds a giant pine cone. It's a bachelorette party, what else would she have done with it?

I don't know why Denise told me not to take this picture (and probably doesn't want to see it on the interwebs) -- it's a fabulous shot of her.

After an evening swim (I tastefully avoided any mention of the evening skinny dip. . . Oops.).

We all got glow in the dark necklaces. And here's mine.

Devo cooking up dinner for 12 people. Too bad we only had 6.

We might be in the woods, but we were not born in a barn.

Marilyn brought this boa-like wig and said that the next time she goes to New Orleans, she was going to get "starter kits" for all of us. I did not then, nor do I now, understand what a kit that includes a boa-wig would be starting off.

But the wig looks good on everyone.

Centerpiece -- nightlight, photo of Melis in her wedding dress, and starry necklace.

Close-up of Melis in her dress. Don't you love the veil?

The boa-wig looked good on everyone, but somehow transformed Angela. And yes, I know what you're thinking, but I hadn't had that much to drink. It really did transform her.

Murphy is tuckered out and thinks it's time for bed.

Linus thinks it's time for bed too, but he doesn't want to miss anything.

Devo shakes her thing and puts in her order for the starter kit.

No, we don't normally drink Yuban, even when we sleep in the dirt. I, being a packing genius, forgot the coffee and picked up a can of Strawberry Market's finest.

Breakfast spread.

Nothing like a little facial in the morning, rinsed with creek water.

Gorgeous!
(note -- this time Marilyn's mug actually has coffee in it. . . as far as we know).

I asked Melis for a quick photo together to record the occasion. I can't believe we met 20 years ago and now she's getting married! Congrats Melis and Benj!

And thanks, ladies, for a great weekend!