Love my weekends

Our weekends have become even more precious since
I don't participate in a alternative schedule. For over 10 years,
I could eagerly looked forward to alternating Fridays off.

What could be better than a alternative schedule?
An environment where I feel appreciated. 
The anxiety level is significantly diminished.
Check.

look what Joe found for my collection

Let's talk about the fun planned for today.
Glitterfest is happening.  

Fall inspiration

Don't you love their eyeliner

 Date night at Noche de Calacas 

Happy 13th everyone.

Wrapping Up 2010

What a busy start to a fresh new year.  There doesn't seem to be a spare moment to do what we really want to do.   We are cleaning and purging the little cottage inside  and out.  Simply ignoring the garden for now.

Here are a few photos from our last roadtrip. 

Happy New Year

A new year, a new decade, with more road trips ahead.  We will be heading home today but first we will be viisiting a Room with a Past.  This is the first time we have visited Walnut Creek and this is our first stay in Contra Costa County.  Right outside our room is a BART station.  The train is so quiet just like the monorail in Vegas or Disneyland.  Really an exciting element since I grew up riding the train from Daly City to San Francisco just for fun.

Happy New Year.  Thank you for spending time here at our little cyber cottage, sharing our adventures, and cheering us on through the rough spots. 

Last Road Trip of 2010

So we are going to stay longer that anticipated because I received divine intervention, at least that is what Lee says.  On Tuesday morning just before we hit the road I received an email from Room with a Past and they are having a New Year's Day event. 

In my heart of hearts I have always wanted to attend one of their monthly sales events but have never  had the opportunity until now.  We are going.  The hotel room is booked and Joe doesn't know it yet, unless he is reading this post, but is going with us.  We will celebrate New Year's Eve together probably watching movies and sipping Martinelli's sparkling cider. 

Here is a little recap of our adventures so far. 

We stopped in both the Roseville and Auburn Discovery Shops.

I've seen this look before she is contemplating her next move. Shopping with children is a bit like chess..you have to have your moves planned three or four ahead.

That little Santa in the background will go to live with Joe for his holiday display.

This happy little metal canister set will make the trek back to Southern California.
All I could hear my mother saying is "Where would bad taste be without yellow?"

I don't even recall a single yellow flower in her extensive garden history. 

 A book for the nightstand stack.  

This iconic sign is from Auburn.
I found a similar but modern sign in Sacramento.
We will have to return to take a photo.
Are the Irish (pub, right)  partial to the martini?

This little nursery sits on a slice of pie shaped location and is jam (no pun intended-it must be breakfast time) packed with garden loveliness.

This is the birdie that got away. At approximately $48 he was too rich for my  budget.  Notice I said budget and not taste. 

Back in Sacramento for a quick jaunt. This shop closes at 5 p.m. sharp.  Definitely worth a visit.













Dinner at Joe's Crab Shake in Old Town Sac on the river and dessert at Rick's Dessert Diner.

The servers dancer at the Shack.  Jacob is showing us his moves.

More adventures tomorrow.

On the Road

My grade finally posted.  I got an A.  It is one of the best feelings.  So very excited.  It feels just like fifth grade when one of my all time favorite teachers, Ms. Friest, gave me a coveted homemaded bookmarks.  I still have some of the bookmarks.  This news makes our field trip road trip so much better. 

It rained all the way from Fresno to Sacramento and now it is raining at home. 

We are going to explore Paradise and Auburn during our visit and stop at as many Discovery Shoppes and time will allow. 

Inspiration

.

This 1930s stroller is just enough inspiration to make me want to paint.

On the Road

Yesterday we found the little jewel of Kingsburg, California.  What a sweet town with a Swedish Village as the downtown.

On the Mend

Finally feeling like I am on the mend.  Time to prepare for the return to school and work.  But what I am already daydreaming about is the coming holiday season. More on that later.

Here is the final segment on our roadtrip.  Our day started with breakfast in downtown Gilroy at O.D.s.  The whole town smells like my mother's kitchen when she would make garlic and wine marinated meats.  Just lovely.

Lee had a dish called the Kitchen Sink.  We all had a delicious experience. After breakfast be browsed through the antique shops.

After our little jaunt in downtown Gilroy.  We headed for the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  We definitely prefer the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.  Parking is difficult at best.  When asked if there was a shuttle, the parking attendant smartly responded, "It is just a short five minute walk."   There is nothing "just" for me but oh well.
We found that some of the exhibits were at times cheesy, especially the seahorse exhibit. Then there were all the environmental propaganda displays when what we would have liked to see for our $100 were more live exhibits.  The lay out of facilities is not conducive to the handicap or for strollers.  We almost missed the flamingo exhibit because you had to go up in one elevator and then down in another elevator.  Upon entering the Aquarium no one greeted us or passed out maps. 

The jelly fish did delight and there were photo opportunities throughout.

Tourist trap shops on our walk back to the car.  Okay, so we won't visit again but it was worth seeing once. 

Roadtrip to Salinas

Still feeling under the weather even though I have followed doctor's orders since Monday.  We started our trip at Ikea.  Holly got to join Jacob in the play area for the first time.  Lee and I had a cup of coffee in complete quiet.

Holly and Jacob tested out fantasy bedrooms.

  Waiting patiently to play.  We completed an Ikea project before leaving home.  Can't wait to show you.

We hit the road... This is the long stretch on State Route 46, note to self pick a different route home, two lanes with 16-wheelers that will not move over to let you pass. Looks like a lot of construction is going on so this may improve eventually.

Visiting Paso Robles..  Super cute shops, nice people and good eats. 


Reminisce  was our first destination shop.  The shop is huge a must stop. 

The friends Jacob made at Reminisce.  Aren't they super cute and they told us about the best mac and cheese at the Kilt.

Right next door is the Cottage and across the street is the thrift store.

Down a few blocks on Pine is the Kilt  where we had a yummy stick to your ribs lunch. 

We drove to Salinas in time to find all the places we will visit today.   

Utah Loot

Notice the "Portugal" apron in the background with the traditional lucky roosters.  Here is the story behind the roosters.

Life's Up and Downs

St. George, Utah continued....  our visit to Urban Renewal. 

Judd's for soup and a cold old fashioned bottled soda.  Lazy Daisy Cottage, around the corner from Judd's, for quilting inspiration.

Our visit to Cedar City...  if you are ever searching for a friendly face in a new town head to your nearest quilt store.  Where you will make fast friends. 

Granny's offers quilt pillow kits for every occasion.  I brought a different witch poo pillow home.  Wish I had taken a photo but alas.. I'll have to finish it to show you.

A little antiquing, at Aunt B's Treasures,  with a Southern California transplant owner...so much fun. Who said she visited Cedar City, fell in love with the city and never looked back. 

Southern Utah University's Catholic Newman Club Center Thrift Store.  We attend the local Newman Center Church so we felt like this was just a little part of home.

And some food for thought from the lookout above Lake Mead.

In memory of our dear friend

Christoph Andelkovic

April 21, 1961 - July 2, 2010

Who  I am convinced mentored my husband as a young man and helped him grow into the man he is today. 

We owe a debt of gratitude to the entire Andelkovic family.