Will they like it?

I went out last night with Sarah for our monthly "girl's night" and, as we were walking over to Pacific Catch, we stopped at Osso & Co., my neighborhood dog boutique. Luckily, they do carry some cat items as well (this may be a dog eat dog world, but cats rule). Got to chatting with the owner - super nice guy - and he showed me a new cat toy he was carrying. So I got it. Check it out -- and check out the video they have there, too! We'll see how the girls like it. I hooked it up this a.m., but my batteries are kinda weak so it doesn't have much umpf. I'll get some fresh ones today and try it out when I get home. What they did see if it they seemed to like. While I was getting ready to head down to Slacker's, they played with and were quite fascinated. Katja seemed determined to figure out how it worked, which totally made me laugh. I'll try to get some pics up of the girls playing with the thing.

I should be...

...doing something. But I'm not. I'm sitting on my couch, watching t.v., and basically being lazy. I thought about vacuuming. About finishing the battery replacement on the lifecycle. About going to store to get groceries so I might cook something nice. Thought about it all, but still I sit here. So I am compromising by updating my blog.

My vacation, though short, was nice. The house in Cazadero was perfect. My only complaint was hard beds. Everything else was just right. I'd stay there again in a heart beat.

MH and EI were there for the first weekend and we took some nice day trips. Our first day we checked out the kick-ass bakery in Cazadero - Raymond's Bakery. Yum, yum, and yum. There isn't much in Cazadero except the bakery and a general store, but it's a beautiful place situated along Austin Creek. I learned it gets the 2nd most rain in the state, though I was told not because it rains more days but that when it rains the rain is heavier - which is just fine by me. After checking out what Cazadero has to offer we ended driving out to the coast via Fort Ross Road. We also did a day trip out to Bodega Bay and Duncan Mills.

Then Lucy came over for a night and we went out to Bodega Bay for some clam chowder. We took Coleman Valley Road from Occidental out to the ocean. This is a great country road that first goes through the wooded hills of west Sonoma County and then winds through the open hills to the coast.

I ended my holiday by going out to Hop Kiln Vineyard on Westside Road, via Sweetwater Springs Road. This drive wasn't as beautiful as Coleman Valley Road, but it was still nice - 10 miles of a 1 lane winding road, ending up pretty much exactly at Hop Kiln. I tasted several of their wines, had a nice chat with one of the ladies doing the pouring, and then road out to Windsor for a walk around. Nice town. I would have hung out on the green, but there wasn't much tree coverage, so I ended up heading back to Cazadero. In hindsight, I should have gone into Healdsburg.

Below, some pics for your viewing pleasure... :-)

This is Cazadero Heaven. Beautiful little 4 room house in the woods, surrounded by redwoods. 2 bedrooms, living room with a beautiful stone fireplace (now with a wood-burning stove), comfy couch and recliner and TV/Stereo set up (we were even able to plugin my iPod. Bathroom was a tad small (tiny shower), but the water was nice and hot. Front and back porches and a hot tub up a few steps from the backdoor. Neighbors were nearby, so the place wasn't completely secluded, but the trees provide a lot of privacy.

The boys chilling out. Though the hammock was in the front of the house, above the road, the trees and quite were more than enough to provide a relaxing environment, as is clearly obvious.

Edwin on the beach. Our first day we drove from Cazadero out to the beach via Fort Ross Road and went out to a beach just north (can't remember the name of the State Park). It was a very windy and cool day, so I ended up letting the guys go down to the beach while I went and sat on some fallen logs in the woods and read for a while.

Sweetwater Springs Road. Simply beautiful.

I had a few days at home before going back to work. Ugh, work. Need I say more?

I am already planning my next chance to get away, if only for a few days. But when? When?

Oh, a Holiday!

Finally on a little holiday! Rented a little place up in Cazadero. It's super cute and cozy. Just two bedrooms with an okay sized kitchen and living room. So far it seems to meet my requirements. Wish I could get a fire started, though. Flute is open, but still smoking up the house. I'll wait for the troops to arrive (MH & EI). Went out to the hot tub for a nice little soak. Now I'm ready for bed, but it's only 8:50 and the guys aren't here yet. So, I'm cooking up some dinner so it will be ready when they arrive.

I plan to spend most of the week relaxing: a.k.a. going to the beach, crafting, reading, perhaps playing some WoW, chilling in the hot tub and sleeping late. I'm working on two scarves at the moment, as well as a cross-stitch project. I recently purchased a light with attached magnifying glass to help with the crafting. It is supposed to help reduce eye strain.

In terms of reading, I've got a bunch of books: the Already Dead books by Charlie Huston; Haunted, by Chuck Palahniuk; and a few others. Plenty to keep me occupied.

Already miss the kitties. In fact, the one thing that would make this place perfect is if I could have had my girls with me. Sigh. but they are in good hands, so I know they will be fine.

Will post some holiday pics once I have some.