Madonna Inn

Checked off the bucket list.

Holiday Shopping and Road Trip Ideas

My Favorite Things in Nevada City, California. Oh yeah. 
Looks and sounds like a lovely shop with a Glitter Girl Studio.

Definitely a shop for the get along gang to investigate
during the next visit to Sacramento.

A Holiday Open House in Grass Valley might also fit in nicely.

Window shopping at the Mission Galleria Antiques Mall
in downtown Riverside. 

Mrs. Darlings new shop is housed here.  Even before
the kids realized that this was Mrs. Darlings' space
the kids were feeling at home.

Christmas road trip possibilities:

Christmas Tree Lane, Fresno

San Diego Holiday Art Festival

Holiday of Lights, Del Mar 

Mission Inn, Festival of Lights 

Altadena's Christmas Tree Lane 

Filoli

Road trip.

We really try to visit or do one new thing a month.  Yesterday, we visited Filoli for the first time.
Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.

If you are old enough, this is where the  Dynasty fly over was filmed.  Everything was in full bloom.  The gardens were my favorite.

 Today we are off to the California Academy of Sciences!!

Creekside

What does this image remind you of?  
This image was captured as we walked over the walking bridge on Main Street in Half Moon Bay.  

Such a lovely site for a wedding or renewing wedding vows.

Visiting Oakland

Just a quick trip through Oakland.  The Bay Area has a little diamonds
just waiting to be discovered.

More San Francisco

Everyone at Renegade is so sweet and accommodating.
The little knitted caterpillar Holly is holding flew into the water outside.
It was very windy and Holly was very brave.

The Los Angeles Renegade is this weekend but it is also the weekend
of carmageddon on the 405 Freeway.  Sadly, we will not be
attending.

There were amazing lanterns.

A little exploring through the City.

Road trip to Half Moon Bay

We are preparing for our next road trip.  If you have read this blog for any length of time,  you have already read many of my musing about Half Moon Bay.  It is where I grew up, where my roots are and where my dear ones are buried.

In junior high school, what sadly is called middle school now, I had a teacher that taught me about warm fuzzies and cold pricklies... My soul is searching for replenishment of warm fuzzies to counter the cold pricklies of this past spring.

During our visit we will explore the beach, attend the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco, maybe hunt at the monthly Paris Flea Market in Livermore, do a little thrifting and simply breathe.

By the way, this hydrangea's (hortensia, like my mother would say) name is Gertrude.  She was placed in my hand by Mary Lou Heard, herself, at the last sale at Heard's Country Gardens years ago.  She was just a single stem. She looks just like diamonds with her pink loveliness now.    

In the Azores hortensias are common and used as fencing.

Alden Lane Nursery

Our visit to Alden Lane in Livermore was definitely melancholy.  The last time we were there VoVo was still alive and it wasn't the same without her.  There were times when I simply enjoyed thing more because she was with us.

It's a sensation I experience often.  Feeling very achy today, I walked ahead at the mall and then waited for Lee and the kids to catch up.  VoVo would usually walk ahead with me and we would sit and visit while the of the rest of the get along gang ambled along.  Tears threaten to come as a push down the longing in my heart.  Missing her is still very real and raw.  Maybe its because she understood my physical and emotional pain better than anyone or maybe its because Easter is just around the corner.

We brought home a Julia Child rose as a remembrance of our trip and our past visits to Alden Lane.  My mother didn't like the color yellow but she often used anise in her cooking.  The rose's licorice scent will remind me of holiday visits in my mother's kitchen where everyone gathered at her table.

In the Middle of Spring Cleaning

What a lovely sentiment in the middle of blooming roses.

Heading Home

We promised Jacob at least three evenings at home.  Here's a recap of our adventures so far....
San Francisco's Amoeba

Doc Martens store in San Francisco.

Grabbing a bite to eat. 

Crown and Crumpet tearoom in Ghirardelli Square.  Simply adorable.
Holly needed a nap so we didn't stay long but definitely worth a peek.

Home 101 in Berkeley. 

Very cute store brimming with inspiration. 

Redding, California Antique Cottage and Garden

Such a wonderful shop with a shop owner originally 

from Pasadena.   Just down the store is Joe's Giant Orange Restaurant, 

with large tasty Mexican, American, and Portuguese goodness.

On the Road Again

When you travel with children you have to be flexible.
Our children are accustomed to traveling and being
with primarily adults but when they are sick they are sick.
Holly's allergies were under control in the morning
but by the time we got to the fourth row of the
Alameda Flea she was miserable.  I spent most of the visit
to the Flea on the sidelines but everyone else seemed to
have a really good time.  The venue is beautiful.
For this day, the get along gang included Joe, my childhood friend, Aileen and her
boyfriend, Ed.  
If you visit the Flea, be ready for a long walk to and from the Flea (there is a shuttle)
and a a miserable traffic jam getting back to the freeway after the Flea.
It took us nearly an hour to reach the freeway.

To celebrate our 10th anniversary in September we are looking
for a ring this one was gorgeous estate jewelry.

This clock had to come home with me.  This is just like the clock
in Aileen's mom's kitchen.  It's an icon from growing up and a great
reminder of the time we spent together.

On to Berkeley.  Respect the minivan.  Yeah yeah.

Castle in the Air.  We didn't now what to expect but if you live any
where  near the Bay Area you have to visit.  So much inspiration in a
intimate space. A creative fix.  Very nice people.

 There's Aileen.  We are exploring the wax seals and rubber stamps...we both found
initials we liked.  Easter craft inspirations.

One of the mini clocks came home with us.

Aileen and Ed checking out.
Finally, Holly feels well enough for a bit of sorbet.  We were
so worried because she is normally so sparkly.

Thank you for joining us in our adventures.