Petra Monaco

Hey there, Nothing particularly eventful happened around here this week, which, after the last few weeks, is something I am perfectly happy to report. I did, however, decide to start trail running with Zina. I use the word "running" somewhat generously at this point because we're very much figuring this out together, but I wanted something that gets us outside, gives her a job to do, and challenges me a little differently than our usual walks and hikes. So that's where we are right now. A...

Hey there, Trail Side Post Edition No. 005 has been hanging around the studio this month, and this one feels especially connected to the trail. Old Rag Mountain had been sitting on my hiking list for a long time before I finally made my way up there. It’s rocky, demanding, a little ridiculous in places, and absolutely worth the effort. Naturally, it eventually made its way from the trail into my sketchbook and became the inspiration for September’s Trail Side Post. Edition No. 005 includes...

Hey there, I spent a few days around Asheville this past week, camping at Lake Powhatan. And apparently the campground decided to provide a little extra entertainment in the form of a black bear. There's something very different about seeing a bear when you're actually just hanging out compared with spotting one from a car or watching one wander through the property. You become very aware that you're standing in their space. We made a bunch of noise, and eventually, the bear decided to move...

Hey there, October’s Trail Side Post is taking us somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a long time: Old Rag Mountain. Old Rag had been sitting on my hiking list for years, and when I finally made it there, it felt like exactly the kind of place Trail Side Post was created to capture. Not just the summit, but the rocks, plants, views, textures, and little details collected along the way. For Edition No. 005, I’ve been turning that experience into a small collection of art and paper goods that will...

Hey there, This week has mostly been about settling back into some kind of routine after the unexpected hospital stay and everything that came with it. There are still things we're figuring out, but mornings are starting to look a little more familiar again. For me, that means coffee, getting outside, and walking with my dog before the rest of the day gets going. There’s something about returning to those ordinary routines after life gets turned upside down that makes them feel a little less...

Hey there, September is here, which means there’s a new Wild Mug Club design, and this one comes directly from the trail. Meet Adventure Starts After Coffee, September’s Wild Mug Club mug, inspired by my hike on Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park. Old Rag had been sitting on my hiking list for a long time. It’s one of those trails you hear about again and again, mostly because of the views and the infamous rock scramble. And after finally hiking it, I can confirm that the reputation...

Hey there, This week did not go according to plan. What was supposed to be a routine transplant clinic and lab day for my kid turned into a hospital admission when his blood sugar came back at 504 and his A1C at 10.6. He was diagnosed with diabetes, and we're now figuring out exactly what type and what this new addition to our already extensive medical vocabulary is going to look like. The especially wild part is that he had zero symptoms. It was a pretty solid reminder of why being...

Hey there, We've had a lot of storms lately, which hasn't always made getting out on the trail particularly easy. But all that rain brought something with it. Mushrooms. So many mushrooms. They're popping up everywhere right now, in the leaf litter, along fallen logs, tucked beside the trail, and in places I'm pretty sure there was absolutely nothing the last time I walked through. I love this part of hiking after a stretch of wet weather because the woods can look completely different from...

Hey there, I've been tinkering with Trail Side Post for a while now, and if you've been around here for any length of time, you probably know I'm perfectly willing to keep messing with something until it finally clicks. Well, it clicked. The original idea behind Trail Side Post was simple: once a month, I'd send a little piece of the trail through the mail. There would be an art print, something extra, and a personal note from me. I loved the idea, but I kept feeling like it needed more. Not...