Blackberry kuchen

with fresh wild blackberries Malcolm picked at the marsh. It was his idea to use the "crocodile" (salad tongs) to transfer the berries, and he loaded up every one.

Meadows and domes

Staghorn Lichen

Malcolm kept entertained on the trail by searching for lichen growing on trees or lying on the ground. Similar to his interest in fire hydrants among the big sights in NYC last spring, he was more excited by the mushrooms and lichens than the tall trees or multi-point buck we saw along this trail.

At the kid's campfire

Malcolm's fourth summer in the Sierra

Expressions

I finished packing my trucks.
Are you going to park them on the picnic table at our campsite?
Oh yeah, Mom. You bet.

Malcolm: What was that noise?
Mom: I'm not sure, but it sounded like a bird.
Malcolm: In fact it was a bird. It was a "windwhop". They make a sound like this: [twittering noise].

While trying to get sticky paper off his hands:
But it simply doesn't want to go into the garbage can!

Mama, are you happy? Can you show me your smile?

Tidepooling

Testing out Dad's paddle