Finally, finally took the girls to the pumpkin patch. And, they let us roam with Bruno. He had a field day, quite literally. Lots of pumpkins, dying sunflowers and critters. Bugs, mice etc. It's okay, it's a farm with lots of activity! The folks working there were great and we'll be back for whatever seasonal fun they have to offer.
Flower Pods. Now I can't remember what kind :(
Our Haul
El Jefe con Bruno
My bolt of white linen finally arrived. I'm giddy with anticipation.
The backyard is awesome right now. The irises are about to bloom.
I still have See's Easter chocolate left (how??!).
My dog is awesome even though he NEVER looks at the camera when is clicks.
Went with my guy and my girls out to Canvas Ranch to see Tim & Deborah. They were our neighbours when I was a teenager. They were the first people to I knew to chuck the rat-race and go back to the farm.
We got to visit the baby cashmere goats and see minutes-old lambs. I don't need to tell you how flipping cute they all were.
I am going to help Deborah with some sewing projects.
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Later in the afternoon DH took the girls down to the elementary school to shoot some hoops. E sprained her ankle at the b-ball game last week and has been unable to play or practice, so they just shot freethrows.
I, however went on a monumental, epic (for me) bike ride on my new SWOBO. Kicked my own butt, yessir.
Felt good & not too terribly sore today.
+
+
+
+
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= Bliss!!
But the rain crashed down like nobody's business. So we went to the art supply store instead. Glad the girls had a little credit left. I helped with the difference. Bought paint & tiny canvases and some new brushes. They spent the rest of the afternoon painting. And we went out for cocoa with my gift certificate from Peet's Coffe. It was a good Mother-Daughters day.
Bruno helped us wrap presents.
Our plan was to go to SF and visit Union Square with Grandma, but 2 out of 4 of us were unwilling to take our life in our hands in the mobs and rain. Whatevs! DH actually called me around 4 o'clock from work to find out where I was. He was so relieved that we hadn't gone to the City. He was worried about us driving in the rain. It was really crashing down with thunder & lightening. We don't get too many of those storms each year. But I had just put new tires on my car Friday so I was feeling invincible.
It boiled down to not having a good spot to park in the City (U.Sq. parking is easily $75/day) which would definitely eat into my ice-skating-and-cocoa money. Right? Maybe Friday. It's crazy to do it Chrismas Eve. But I like to see the lights and things before Christmas and not after. And this year I'm taking the Eve off. Blocked my schedule and I'm so glad I did it. It will make for an insane Wednesday and Thursday but it'll be so great to relax on Friday.
Not sure how relaxing Union Square will really be on Christmas Eve, but I'm jus there to enjoy the scenery so I don't really care!
Annadel State Park
Mmmmm, not delicious.
For sure faeries live here.
What fabulous dogs are wearing this season.
We got some nice squash out of the garden. There was a late-season bloom on the roses & sage.
I love the Ginko in the backyard. It's all gone now. Our lovely gardener clipped the last two dahlias and left them for me after the frost took the rest. Only the olives and camellias have leaves now.
Looking forward to getting a tree this weekend. Best winter smell ever.
Since there's practically no purpose in completing a project unless you can document it & show it off, I stayed up until midnight finishing my new ironing board cover & discovered how little light there was to take the picture. So, I popped up this morning and tried to photograph it in many different places inside the house. Places that seemed like they offered a lot of light. Certainly you wouldn't run into any walls or accidentally put your shirt on backwards for lack of light. No go: gross, dark, shadowy pictures. I decided to follow the light. Outside into the paradoxically 'bright shade'. What I realized is that not only is the light wonderful out there, but when it's no longer 40 degrees I am totally going to iron with my bare feet in the grass! I may have to put up a clothesline out there. I may have to teach a backyard sewing CLASS out there. I think I miss summer already...
The fabric is 'Isabella' by Valori Wells for FreeSpirit. And, man, is it orange! The background is a light yellow, but those poppies are bright. I can handle it, though, I'm from California. (Even though these are Icelandic poppies--shhhhh)
I am really looking forward to ironing right now.
