Cross Country Travel Tunes

Nothing like a few good tunes to keep the good times going.

Rock Out!

Rock Across The USA from StarBunnyStudio on 8tracks Radio.

Home Sweet Home

It is true what they say - home is where the heart is. 

Returning to my home state has been a reminder of all the little things that makes home feel so special.

There is no place like home.

This is especially true if you are lucky enough to call Oregon home.

The east coast maybe where I live now-but my true home will always be here on the west coast. 

It is here surrounded by snow capped mountains, tall evergreen timbers, and white water rivers where 

my soul feels free.

Summer Solstice

The best part of a cross-country road trip is the beautiful scenery. 

Over the last few days I traveled 3,000+ miles and have seen 15 states. 

Being that today is the summer solstice, in celebration of the sun 

I thought I would share a few of the colorful sunsets I saw while crossing the USA.

Solstice is Latin for "sun stands still".  

It is the longest day and shortest night of the year.

The solstice marks the official start of the summer season in the northern hemisphere.

 The summer solstice in association with agriculture has served as a celebration of 

reaching a turning point in the growing season. The longer warmer days ahead 

are vital for proper development of food crops. 

During this time of the year the sun's rays illuminate the sky 

in ways unseen at any other time of the year. 

I hope these photos inspire you to get out and enjoy the summer sun this weekend.

Travel and Adventure

As a new weeks begins there is adventure on the horizon.

 This adventure is in the form of travel. In the USA summer is a great time to jump in the

 car and hit the open road. There is a lot to see traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

 Traveling by car offers opportunities to interact and experience the country in ways that

 can not be matched by air travel. After all, perhaps the best part of travel is the journey

 itself. Changing the expected day-to-day routine allows us to begin to look beyond

 our own little world and see life in a new light. In this way we learn not only 

more about ourselves, but we also begin to see the bigger picture.
I invite you to follow along as I travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Adventure is calling!

Summer Night Magic

There is magic in warm summer nights. 

The sunsets as the song birds sing the last notes of the day. The moon begins to

 illuminate the sky, signaling the creatures of the evening to awake. 

Green flashes of glowing light begin to rise from the ground and take flight 

in an amazing display that is nothing short of magic.

It is fireflies that are responsible for the enchanting light display that illuminates the night.

Being a west coast native these creatures are something I have never known until moving 

to the east coast. The hot humid summer weather here in the deciduous forests of the 

mid-atlantic region provides a perfect environment for fireflies to thrive. 

Unfortunately fireflies are disappearing all over the world due to light pollution

 and destruction of habitat. 

These creatures speak in a language of light. Light pollution hinders the fireflies 

ability to see the light flash patterns produced by both males and female of the species. 

Excess light from homes, storefronts, streetlights, and even bright car headlights make it

 almost imposable for fireflies to signal to each other - an integral part of their mating ritual. 

This equates to fewer firefly born for the next season.

Once dark uninterrupted fields and woodlands have been replaced by homes 

with landscaped lawns and bright exterior lighting. 

Landscaped lawns often do not include native plants and 

many relay on the use of pesticides. Both are factors that harm fireflies. 

What can we do?

Keep in mind firefly larva live in rotting logs and leaf litter. 

Removal destroys the environment necessary for these creatures to live. 

Mowing and pesticides kill fireflies. Leave your lawn to nature. 

Plant native vegetation around your home and avoid excess mowing of open 

grassy areas. DO NOT use chemical pesticides or fertilizers in your yard.

Reach out to your neighbors and community.

If you live in an area with many houses talk to those around you about 

limiting the use of outdoor lighting. Ask those in the community to avoid over

 mowing and pesticide use.

Want to do more? 

Check out the links below. 

Help to keep these fascinating creatures lighting up the nights with their magic glow 

for future generations to come. 

http://www.firefly.org

https://legacy.mos.org/fireflywatch/

Transitions

June is a time of transition. 

You can see it all around you as the season transitions from spring into summer.

Star Bunny Studio is also transitioning. 

As we get ready to celebrate our first year online there will be some exciting changes taking place. 

First and foremost you will notice starbunnystudio.com will soon become our official home on the web.

Thank you all for sharing in this exciting transition!

I look forward to sharing more of what the future holds for Star Bunny Studio.

The Dusty Trail

I love this time of year. The weather is basically perfect. 

It is not too hot, the humidity is still low, and the days are growing longer everyday. 

It is hard not to spend every free moment outdoors.
What better way to enjoy time outside than on a hike up a ridge line.

The trail to the ridge line was lined with the blossoms of dainty bluets taking in the afternoon sun. 

The trail climbs up the ridge line. 

From this rocky outlook you can see the contrast to the lush forrest below.

Succulents are at home in the rock crevasses found all around the ridge line.

As the sun begins to fade we follow the dusty trail down into the forrest.

A striking pink trillium in bloom shines through the dusk lighting as we enter the forrest. 

Under a canopy of the trees a white tail deer crosses the trail

and continues to walk silently into the woodland.

The beauty of the forrest is something that brings joy to all that 

take the time to explore it with open eyes.

I hope these photos inspire you to enjoy an outdoor adventure of your own this weekend!

Chill Out

As the days begin to heat up, a tasty way to cool down is with an icy popsicle.

These treats are easy enough to make at home. 

If you do not have popsicle trays, try paper cups, or ice cube trays.

The best part of making your own popsicles is you can use any type of fruit juice you like.

I happen to LOVE tart black cherry juice.

 If you are feeling patient it is fun to mix flavors.

 Black cherry and coconut was an awesome combination!

There are so many flavor combinations you can create making your own juice popsicles. 

I hope this idea helps you to keep cool this summer.

June Days

The warm days of June have arrived. 

The days are filled with the buzzing of cicadas, and the nights are illuminated with the glow of fireflies. 

These days leading up to the official start of summer are the best for outdoor activities. 

The quote above is a little reminder to enjoy the warm weather and reconnect with the outdoors. 

Have your lunch in a park, or go on a walk outdoors, take some time to be in the sunshine this week.