Travel: Red Rock Canyon (Part one: the sunset)

If you're in Las Vegas, or the surrounding area, and have an itch to hike (or not), definitely check out Red Rock Canyon.  Part of the Mojave Desert, Red Rock Canyon is a quick 30 minute drive from the Vegas strip & offers gorgeous views that you don't want to miss... 

Red Rock is a network of crests and canyons, valleys and gullies, with a surprise around every corner.  Even if you're not into hiking, Red Rock Canyon has a 13 mile scenic drive with lookout points at various spots.  You never even have to get out of your car; the scenery alone is worth the $7 entry fee... especially at sunset!

We visited Red Rock Canyon twice during our time in Vegas; the first just to watch the sunset, and then again a few days later to actually hike it. 

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After a long day of cruising the Vegas strip, Zac & I were itching to get away from the crowds.  He had a wonderful idea of grabbing some beers, opening up the hatchback of our rental car, and finding a spot within Red Rock Canyon to watch the sunset... which basically, was the best idea that he's ever had:

Because I have 10 million (more) photos from Red Rock Canyon, I am splitting this post up into two parts... come back in a few days for photos from our daytime hike!

The night the sky was on fire

One week ago today, God created a masterpiece.

I had the hardest time capturing it on my camera, because I was too lazy to use a tripod.  In fact, we almost missed this all together...




It was storming earlier in the evening, so we had settled in to watch a movie.  At about 8:45pm my mom texted me "Check out that sunset!"

So we popped our heads up from off the couch & immediately went outside.

I had never seen a sky like that before in my life -- and I apparently wasn't the only one -- Snapchats were being sent like crazy & my entire Facebook feed was photos of the sunset (which, I'd much rather vs. some of the crap that ends up on there) :)

View to the northeast...

Mother Nature, she sure is amazing!

Huntin', Fishin', & Lovin' Every Day

Sorting through some recent photos, and I can't get Luke Bryan's song, "Huntin', Fishin', & Lovin' Every Day" out of my head... because it basically describes my husband to a T.

Let me show you...

"If I could make a living walking in the woods... you can bet I'd be sitting pretty good"

"If I could make a nickel off of turning them bass... never worry about the price of gas"

"Huntin', fishin', and lovin' every day... that's the prayer that a country boy prays"

"Black coffee in the mornin', dark whiskey in the evenin'"

"I love it when my baby wants to roll with me... tuckin' her hair in my hat and she's ready to go"

"Huntin', fishin', and lovin' every day... that's the prayer that a country boy prays"

"Early in the mornin'... late in the evenin"

"Thank God he made me this way... huntin', fishin', and lovin' every day..."

See?!  Those who are reading this post & know Zac -- isn't this SO him? <3 <3 <3

*These photos were from Zac's 2016 Turkey Hunt & a recent date night of pier fishing

A look back: the beauty in the sky

December, for me, is generally always a time for reflection.  Even among the craziness of Christmas shopping, decorating, candy making, and attending parties & gatherings, I always make time to take a look back.

As 2015 comes to a close, I’m remembering the stunning sunrises, sunsets, & skies that I got experience this year (most of them in my own yard!)

Below is a sampling of the memorable skies that I was fortunate enough to capture on my iphone throughout 2015. 

These images were all originally shared to my Instagram account (follow me by clicking here, or search for katie_mydarlingdays)

How blessed are we to be surrounded by such beauty?!  Amen to the skies in 2015, they were good to us!