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Recipes, books, travel, photography, and the stories they weave.

 
Rainy tropical courtyard at Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta featuring a vibrant orange tree surrounded by lush jungle foliage.

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Portrait of Elle smiling with the ocean and dramatic clouds in the background during a trip to Puerto Vallarta.

A Little About This Place

The lore surrounding a tree outside a hotel lobby.

An old bookstore tucked down a side street.

A meal shared on a rainy afternoon.

The smell of tomato vines in July.

The novel you still think about years later.

Some places stay with us.

Not because they're famous, but because they become part of our story.

The Rustic Elk is where those stories are gathered.

Recipes, journeys, gardens, books, photographs, and the stories that remind us the world is far larger; and far more beautiful, than our daily routines sometimes allow.

I'm Elle. Welcome.

Meet Elle

Currently

Reading: Little Eve by Catriona Ward

Listening: Places that Stay

Planning: Lexington

Watching: The Handmaid's Tale

Growing: My confidence behind the lens

Savoring: Fresh garden tomatoes

Through My Lens

A collection of places, details, and fleeting moments that caught my attention.

Orange tree surrounded by tropical greenery and rain-soaked walkways at Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Close-up macro photograph of purple spring blossoms against a dark green background
Macro photograph of a bright green fern unfurling in low light against a deep blue woodland backdrop
View of Los Arcos rock formations rising from the blue waters of Banderas Bay near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
White and deep red rose petals floating on dark water illuminated by soft natural light

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From the Journal

  • Looking out over Banderas Bay at sunrise from Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
    Puerto Vallarta, Through My Eyes
  • Close-up of a strawberry lemon drop martini in a coupe glass with a sugared rim and fresh strawberry garnish, photographed against a dark moody background.
    Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini (Easy Summer Cocktail Recipe)
  • Copy of Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom resting on a dark wooden surface with witchy decor and moon-themed accents.
    Slewfoot Review: The Book That Pulled Me Out of a Reading Slump
  • Glass mason jars filled with canned peach sweet tea surrounded by fresh peaches and a linen cloth
    Canning Peach Sweet Tea

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Rooted in beauty, wonder,
& wild places.
Since 2016.

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