Thursday, August 30, 2012

The End of Summer



It's over too soon.  I'm going to miss it.


The colors.


The dinners.



The roadtrips


and the fruit.


 The glamour.......


and the glory......


.........the shellfish.........


 and the beach.  Good-bye.  To all that.  Remember, when we were little kids?

And the summer seemed to last for like,  E-V-E-R?









Sunday, August 26, 2012

Summer Flower Shower


Can ya believe it?????

(Photo: Mlle Paradis)

August is just

(Photo: Delphine, Paradis Express)

about

(via "Inspired" by Tamar tumblr)

over.  Even in California

(PaysdeMerveilles - A lovely french blog that I did not bookmark and can't find the link to now.)

I hate how fast the summer season comes to an end.

So a little last shot of posies before the weather starts to change.  Hope you like.......







Friday, August 24, 2012

Quivira Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley



Where are you?  Vineyards in valleys.....


Gardens in vineyards.


A taste of the old and the new (wines +++).


Chickens in vineyards.  Are you surprised?


Quivira Vineyards, Sonoma Valley, California; bio-dynamic agriculture.





Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Petaluma Peeks




Ahhhhhh yes.......


It's still summer and we're still in California.


Here are some views of the countryside from Petaluma to Tomales Bay


and back.  Sometimes


it's hard to believe that countryside like this still exists in America.


We have been so besotted with housing developments, big box stores


mega-casinos and outlet malls.


So reassuring to know that landscapes like this persist


and abide.   Whatcha think?

Are you coming back from vacation with that light sunny feeling in your head and a warm glow envelopping you?  Hope it was a good one!












Sunday, August 19, 2012

A Show of Hands



Was it a good weekend?   (We went camping!)

(Source: Murda via Blackpool)

Here's a little thought for Monday.......


It's hard, (don't you think?) to separate the facsimile

(via Black-pool)

from the reality.

(Source: unknown - can anyone help?)

Their utility has so much meaning

(Cookies:  Kuroiwa Patisserie, Brooklyn NY)

to us.  In endless urgent varieties.












Friday, August 17, 2012

I Love a Bit of Glitter



(Artist Jan Yager, from Tiaras Past and Present)

It's getting on for late August.  For many of us who'll be "out of town"

(Photo: Mlle P.)

it will be all about skimpy tops and shorts in the day and sweatshirts (and maybe more) 

This and last pic: Pinterest "Lovely Things"

when the sun goes down.


But somewhere in the world on an August night



someone just might be dressing like Zelda


and dancing the night away..........





(All other pics via Bohemian Wornest here.)






Thursday, August 16, 2012

Petaluma Peeps



Just a little something sweet and simple


to share with you ahead of the weekend.


These are gorgeous eggs made in California's chicken capital: Petaluma.  Here's an LA Times article about visiting Petaluma, including it's famous and important heirloom seedbank located in an old bank building!  I didn't make it to the seedbank but it's on my list for next time.


They seem to grow very happy hydrangeas in Petaluma too.  Have a good weekend please!













Tuesday, August 14, 2012

More Beach Blogging via Leo Caillard



Where have you gone off to?


Are you with friends?


How's the weather?  Did you take a good book with you?


When will you be back?


How's your tan?


I found these on this lovely blog:  To find out more about these "Miami Houses" and the photographer, click: Leo Caillard.












Monday, August 13, 2012

Mission Accomplished!



So we found that pool we needed - yesterday after dim sum with good friends.  Ahhhh!  YES!


That notwithstanding, if anyone can identify this location for me between now and tomorrow, I will go DIRECTLY to the airport and hop on a plane to it.   I found the photo at Cizlou here.





Saturday, August 11, 2012

Something Entirely Different Weekend Post


Well, different from the earlier posts of the week.


What are you doing to keep cool????

It's been really hot in L.A. this week.  The good news and the bad news is that most shopping areas and museums have a lot of outdoor areas.  What we really want today is somewhere very cool and completely inside to chill in. 

Like this.  My idea is for eating sorbets and consuming cool drinks.   And you've guessed it right, we don't have a pool......... 

Have a great rest of the weekend wherever you are!

(Sorry, no photo credit, but I found it at Vosges Paris here.)






Thursday, August 9, 2012

Jimtown Grocery, Alexander Valley



Somewhere between Sonoma and Napa Valleys


on a lonely stretch of curving road....open to much of nothing but the sky, to vines marching away as far as the eye can see,  and a deep separation of mountains........


I had a dream of life.  A somewhat lonely but not sinister "Postman Always Rings Twice" kind of life.


Of relentless sun and solitude, and occasional - and only occasionally - friendly - strangers stopping in to relieve the stillness of the hour.


I, or someone, would have made something delicious in the back - and there would be somewhere cool


for those weary workers or traveler-type strangers to rest their feet.


It would be a place of the unsuspected, of curiosities.....with little expectation that anyone would want to carry something of any of it away with them. 


I would be well satisfied to keep said curiosities for myself.


Especially these.  I would let my visitors take tasty little snacks, and cheap clever gadgets away with them.  Instead.


I would not be very happy, when, by the 21st century, I had acquired (my first, ever)  neighbors.  Even if they did have very groovy chairs.




(Jimtown Grocery:  Find out more here.  Photo below, Jimtown Store website)