And Then Summer Slipped Away.

The nights are perfectly chilly, and the days have that crispness that boldly announces the onset of fall.  Ladies are scurrying to dig out their cardigans and boots, and the squirrels are furiously gathering the black walnuts from my front lawn.  The change of seasons gives us a little kick in our step.  After the dog days of summer drag on through August and September, we are more than ready for something new..something that only October brings.

But, let us not forget the beauty that this summer gave us.  Here is a little summer round up of some of my favorite days!

The gardens were glorious this summer, the dahlias and zinnias are still going strong!

Peach picken' days with my sweet family.

The people on my porch series....The lovely Jolene, and Trixie and the Sun Tea. 

The day that Joe removed the bee hive from the roof (not our roof).

A day at the lake house with Auntie Nicole and the Neffs!

On the right is out new rooster, Bruce Springstein.  We call him The Boss.

Ahhh (deep sigh of gratitude).  Fall is here.  Halloween decorations are out, and there are piles of shoes and boots, and racks of ironed clothes to photograph for the shop.  But work can wait.  Snuggle in with your lovies and enjoy every minute of this beautiful season!   xoxo, e

San Fran or Bust.

Cali day three...San Francisco!

We woke up early on Saturday because Allison said we had to get to the city for breakfast.  Had to!  There aren't too many restaurants that Allison, our resident chef and foodie, insists on.  But, she insisted on Tartine.  And she was right.

We stopped on the way into the city to take a few pics at a beautiful scenic overlook.  It was windy and freezing, but beautiful none-the-less.

But we were hungry, so onward and upward.  I will not lie - I was a bit put off when we pulled up to Tartine and saw the line wrapping around the building.  But the smells and sights were intoxicating, and so we waited.  When we finally approached the counter we may or may not have panicked and ordered one of everything (or close to it.)  Pastries, quiche, breads baked with olives and ham and goodness, and *OH* the coffee!

We carried our little sacks of treasures and walked over to Delores Park for a picnic.  We were surrounded by palm trees, yoga groups, and enough people watching to keep us there for the day...but we had one day and a whole city, so keep it movin' people!

Oh mamma.  Talk about delicious.  

Sorry, Allison, about the mouthful shot...someone (hhmmm, kelly) hasn't uploaded her pics yet, and I had to get one of you in here.  And Kelly is so happy because she ordered the above pictured croissant!

A sunny walk out onto the peir.

China town protest parade...so many beautiful sights and sounds!

We stopped in China Town for a light lunch (ok, it was our first lunch of many for the day, but it was light.) That is Kelly in the middle not crossing on a red light like the rest of us did.  And just look at the beautiful tea with fresh herbs!

The Bridge.

And Again.

The Sights.

The amazing hat shop in the Haight Ashbury district - Goorin Brothers.  The Haight was full of good vintage and second hand stores, where I scored pair of cowboy boots #2 (not the smartest thing for a girl who only brought a small carry on, but I shoved in my new pairs of boots and fiesta ware (don't judge.., I can't pass up $1 fiesta ware))!

In closing, I'd just like to acknowledge what a lucky girl I was to have had this weekend away.  Five days of eating, of belly laughing, and of having sleep-overs with my two besties...the women whom I never get sick of...whom I tell my deepest darkest secrets and dreams to....the women who make me a better woman, wife, and mother...Thank You!  I love you bunches!   xoxo, e.

Paso Robles, If You Please.

California Day Two...Paso Robles.

On Friday, we took a lovely road trip down the coast a few hours to the wine region of Paso Robles.  It was 50 degrees when we left the house in the morning, and a dry and sultry 100 degrees as we pulled into Paso Robles.  

Top down, shades on.

Thanks to Kelly's husband, Chef Alex, we had a full afternoon.  We started at an olive oil farm for a tasting and tour, and from there we had a list of appointments and private wine tastings that Alex set up for us...cuz' that's how we roll.

Picturesque hillside and a barbed wire fence.  We climbed through some kind of burrs that stuck in our skirts and ankles and slowly released itchy poison all afternoon.  no joke.

Pasolivo!!  Over 6,000 Olive trees and they harvest them all by hand!

Kelly and I chose the "dip your bread in the oil" option.  Allison just drank that sh*t because she is hardcore that way.

Private tasting at Linne Coloda for "Kelly and Allison"...for real someone forgot to put my name on the list :). (don't worry they let a dog and two kids in ahead of us, so they pretty much had to let me in.)

It was my job to bring plenty of vintage headscarves for everyone to wear in the convertible.  My "non-scarf wearing" friends just couldn't figure them out.  This is Kelly's adorable attempt, and that is Allison running down the highway to retrieve the scarf that flew off of her head.  Good God.

We pulled into Monterey as the sun was setting.  There were bright lights and boardwalks, and we found a brewery for dinner.  I think we were so tired that we stopped talking pictures at this point.  There was loud "club-like" music playing all through dinner...so we collectively decided that  we could check "clubbing" off of our to-do list for the week.  A bit of a drive up the coast, and we climbed into our beds to get a good night's sleep before day three...San Fran or bust.

California Dreamin'.

Last year my girlfriends and I went on a ladies weekend up north.  We left the kids, husbands, and animals at home, and took off in the motor home filled with Zingermann's food and laughter.   The husbands did a stellar job.  All children and animals were accounted for upon our return, so.....

This year, we upped the anty a little and headed out west to the California coast...Road Trip!!!!

We flew out last Wednesday night, and woke up on the ocean in Montara, Ca, about a half an hour south of San Francisco.  My friend Kelly's Aunt and her family were our lovely hosts.  A beautiful timber framed home on five acres, overlooking the ocean, complete with horses and cuddly dogs, became our new digs for the weekend.   A mustang convertible became our transportation :).

Day one...We drove south on the 101 a little ways to the sweet town of Pescadaro, Ca.  We ate artichoke soup at Duarte's Tavern, a perfect late 1800's tavern complete with a quaint lunch counter and fancy bathroom.  Perfection.  I picked up some crocodile cowboy boots at the Pescadaro thrift store (score), and as we ate, the farmers market bloomed into life in the town green.  We bought baskets of fresh berries, tomatoes, lettuce, squash...everything so bright and beautiful!

On the way home, we stopped at a local goat farm (Kelly is a goat farmer people, and always eager to get a peak at other goat operations!).  The farm, barns, goats, and gardens were beautiful...and the goat cheese was delicious!

When we got "home," Allison leaped into action.  With Allison as our head chef, Kelly and I faithfully took orders, and we prepared a lovely dinner for our host family - Ratatouille, herbed rice, salad with almonds and plums, baked goat cheese ricotta, and hazelnut ice cream with macerated berries for dessert. (Eating well was clearly not an issue on this trip.)  

Um, this is where I was for 5 days.

Duarte's Lunch Counter...I could live here.

Yes, I had to run out and get my camera to take bathroom pictures at Duarte's ;).

Kelly and I get car sick, so Allison had to jump in the back for the entire trip :).

On to the Goat Farm!  Nestled into a beautiful hillside, I could also live here!

The Loft of the barn is used as an events center...just stunning.

Time to drive home...

Making dinner - Allison is so sexy with a full bottle of olive oil and a counter full of veg.  You just know goodness is gonna come out of all that chopping!

Bitey.  Or Chewy.  Or something like that ;).

Stay tuned for day two Cali style!   xoxo, e.