Summer arrived in San Francisco today, a bit early, with thick fog and wind. People that haven't been here assume that all of California is sunny with warm beaches. Oh, not here in San Francisco. As Mark Twain was famously quoted, "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco."
Monday, May 18, 2009
Brrr...Summer Has Arrived!
Summer arrived in San Francisco today, a bit early, with thick fog and wind. People that haven't been here assume that all of California is sunny with warm beaches. Oh, not here in San Francisco. As Mark Twain was famously quoted, "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco."
Garden of Enchantment
This Northern California garden retreat owned by Donna O’Brien summons the Scottish heritage so dear to her heart.
This magical outdoor haven is tucked into a neighborhood, yet it exudes a true sense of solitude.
The curved pathways lead to several outdoor “rooms,” including places to read, dine, or simply reflect. Folkloric figures like a fairy and a cherub give O’Brien’s garden a magical quality, while moss growing throughout the setting ages it and adds to its “ancient” feeling.
A frame of oak trees and green textured and muted white colors contribute to the secluded feeling of this “gentle fortress."
Now I must say, I woundn't mind a backyard like this!
All photo’s courtesy of Victoria magazine.
Armstrong Redwood State Park - Ella's Last Field Trip
On May 5th Ella’s first grade class took their last field trip of the year. It was a rainy, overcast day but that didn’t stop us from having tons of fun. Just add a little rain, some mud and lots of big big trees and then throw in a 100 or so kids – this was one crazy day!!!
Armstrong Redwoods preserves 805 acres of the stately and magnificent Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as the coast redwood.
Hamming it up for the camera or is it for the girls - Hmmm.
Watching the tree eat our group of kids one by one!
Our little maidens in the mist - and mud!
The rainfall in Armstrong Redwoods averages 55 inches per year and the trees are often shrouded in a mystical fog that helps to maintain the moist conditions needed for the redwoods to survive.
Our group!
Is that the sun coming out?
The Oldest Tree - The Colonel Armstrong Tree is the oldest tree in the grove, estimated to be over 1400 years old. It is named after a lumberman who chose to preserve this portion of the park in the 1870's. A half-mile walk from the park entrance
Armstrong Redwoods preserves 805 acres of the stately and magnificent Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as the coast redwood.
Hamming it up for the camera or is it for the girls - Hmmm.
Watching the tree eat our group of kids one by one!
Our little maidens in the mist - and mud!
The rainfall in Armstrong Redwoods averages 55 inches per year and the trees are often shrouded in a mystical fog that helps to maintain the moist conditions needed for the redwoods to survive.
Our group!
Is that the sun coming out?
The Oldest Tree - The Colonel Armstrong Tree is the oldest tree in the grove, estimated to be over 1400 years old. It is named after a lumberman who chose to preserve this portion of the park in the 1870's. A half-mile walk from the park entrance
Perfect Harmony!
A beautiful balance of old meeting new in this reinvented 1795 Connecticut house.
All pictures courtesy of Country Living.
May Day Basket
I ran across this great idea for a May Day Basket on the blog site "Skip to My Lou."
We used tall tin cans (the ones pasta sauce comes in), a coat hanger for the handle, a piece of brown paper grocery bag cut with scalloped scissors and a piece of twine. The cans would be extra sweet with a scrap of pretty scrapbook paper, or fabric and pretty ribbon tied around the middle or you could paint the can. We pierced holes for the handles by nailing a nail in each side of the can.
Make the handle long (ours was about 18 inches) so it will fit over a door knob when filled with flowers.
20 Things About Why We Love Windsor!
1. Lots of majestic Oak trees.
2. Lots of split rail fences. (A personal favorite)
3. The town has a beautiful town green.
4. Driving Ella to school in the morning and seeing hot air balloons in the sky. One morning Ella and I counted five!
5. Tree lined streets.
6. Summer nights on the green. Movies, bands, and lots of FAMILY fun!
7. A very charming downtown.
8. Great parks and hiking trails.
9. Beautiful neighborhoods.
10. We are in the heart on Sonoma County which means lots of vineyards. We’re lucky enough to have one behind our house and a large one across the street from our neighborhood.
11. Lots of open space.
12. We have great wine tasting rooms.
13. Halloween rocks is our neighborhood! The adults give out glasses of wine to parents trick-or-treating so it is very important that you pace yourself or you will be drunk before you finish the street. Ella even got a groove girl doll this year trick-or-treating. This is not the same Halloween that I had as a kid!!!
14. Windsor has a beautiful country setting.
15. We are only sixty mile from San Francisco.
16. We see lots of deer – which Ella and I enjoy. They are so fun to watch.
17. Love the seasonal changes in the weather.
18. A great schools district. One of the best in Sonoma County.
19. A great place to raise a family.
20. Best of all Ella loves it here!
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