Sea Ranch Voyage

A few weeks ago, Linda and I went up to Sea Ranch for 5-days of relaxation. We did the usual things: wine tasting at Annapolis Winery, ocean watching, drinks and dinner at the lodge, Point Arena Lighthouse, Mendocino. It was a perfect holiday for two friends who just wanted some quiet time.

On our way up we stopped in Point Reyes Station and Bodega Bay for some supplies. I also made sure to pause at The Timber Cove Lodge so Linda could see Bufano's impressive Madonna of Peace.

We had a great little house - very cozy with a view of the ocean and easy access to all the bluff trails. Linda went for long walks every morning while I slept, but I did take a little walk of my own to Pebble Beach, near our house:

Sea Anemone!!!!

Exposed Barnacles

Love the Bishops Lace is all over the place.

Not sure what plant this is, but it is lovely.

Cedar fences give Sea Ranch such a nice vibe.

Beach Shwag

Then we had our day trip up the coast. First stop, Point Arena Lighthouse:

Alien Glass

We didn't hear the fog horn - no fog!

Then Mendocino, where we had lunch at the Mendocino Hotel before walking around town and doing lots of shopping (and I mean a lot of shopping!):

This is what I want my backyard bench to look like (when I get one, at least).

If I ever have a tank like this, I'm copying!

Every bookstore should have a cat!

In Gualala, Linda made me take photos of the dinosaures for Kathleen and, of course, we had to visit the local bookstore, The Four-Eyed Frog:

A big pup managed this bookstore (better a pup then no fluff at all).

One day we had planned to visit Fort Ross, but it turns out the place is closed during the week. Instead, we stopped at Stump Beach in Salt Point State Park:

In Sea Ranch I had to make sure Linda got a chance to see the "Witch's Hat" chapel:

As we left the chapel we discovered a little hitchhiker, but when we stopped for me to take some pictures of the Big White Barn, he hopped off.

Linda chillin' at the Lodge:

Twilight from our porch:

It was a great trip. Nice day trips, good food, great company, much relaxing. Linda's visit with me would have been perfect if we hadn't both come down with a bad case of food-poisoning when we got back to the city. We are both on the mend. I just hope Linda will still vacation with me in the future!

Hakone Saratoga Gardens

Today Abby and I drove down to Saratoga to visit the Hakone Japanese Gardens. It was a perfect day for such an activity and we got there just as it was opening, so there wasn't much of a crowd. This garden is different then the one in Golden Gate Park. It's a hill garden with stairs and paths that wind up and down a steep hillside. The bamboo garden was especially serene. I love the sound of the bamboo leaves when the wind blows and the light clunky noises the trunks make when they come into contact with each other.

I've posted the pictures to my Flickr account, so go there to see them all! Here's a few to whet your appetite.

I got a souvenir From the gift shop for my garden... Maybe he'll bring me garden prosperity.

 

 

Thumbs of Death Attempt Rehabilitation

The truth of the matter is that I've pretty much killed every plant I've ever had, including cacti, succulents and other death resistant plants. Usually death comes by way of unintentional neglect. Like I forget to water the plant. Really, I'm horrible.

Despite my murderous tendencies, a friend of mine believed I could be rehabilitated. Over the years of suggestions, hints, offers to help, assurances that I could keep plants alive and happy, he finally got me to a nursery. Now I have a garden.

It's been about a month since I started. Granted, that's not much time, but if you can believe it, I go out every morning to visit my plants. Even if I'm running late for work, I make sure to go out back. Mostly I talk to them. I tell them how beautiful they are, how in awe of them I am, how amazing it is that they are growing so well.

In the evenings and on the weekends I look out on the garden and think of all the possibilities. I have a big backyard. Though there are three of us in my building, I'm pretty much the only one who ever uses the back. I like BBQs (except when my friends are trying to burn the place down) and having little gatherings outside. So thinking of the possibilities of a beautiful garden is easy. Right now I'm imagining more garden gnomes, Buddha sculptures, a fountain and a bench. How nice it would be to have a garden with a bench.

But it's not all chats with flowers and day dreaming. I've been filling up a lot of composting bins with weeds and ivy and trees that have gone wild. I've been terrified - and have terrified - spiders and beetles. I was pruned by a tree I was pruning - and yes, I was wearing gardening gloves! I've had a lot of hot showers to ease aching parts of my body not used to such labors and I've depleted my Advil stash. It's been worth it.

I know, you're thinking, "Don't get too excited, Beth, it's only been a month."

Yes, that's true. And I am a Sagittarius and therefore I am prone to getting very excited about something only to lose interest when the next exciting thing comes along. So I'll admit, you shouldn't hold your breath. But still. A garden! Flowers! Gnomes!

In the beginning there was chaos... And, frankly, a big mess...

The Corner of Dread

And then we cleared and dumped and clipped and potted and there was something like order...

The Corner of Dread not so dreadful any longer!

Okay, not much order, but it was a start. Things started to grow, I pruned, and I added a few more plants...

Beautiful things made their presence known...

I added more things, pruned more things, and arranged things, and puttered... I hear gardeners putter...

We aren't getting much rain and it is California, so all that green will soon go brown. I'm not sure what the potted plants will do but fog should help and we did try to find drought tolerant plants. I'm sure that if I keep visiting them each morning they'll survive my deadly instincts. That's my hope.

It sure is nice to have a garden.

 

Family Time

Last weekend the extended and diverse Forest-related clan came together to celebrate the life of Lucy Forest who, at 94 years of age, finally slipped peacefully into the unknown beyond. While the coming together was bitter-sweet, getting to spend time with Uncle Jim, Nancy, Tamara, Sam, Joyce and Ed helped get me through the weekend in good spirits. I didn't take as many photos as I should have, but here are a few worth sharing.

Uncle Jim at Joyce and Ed's

Nancy at Joyce and Ed's

Nancy and Jim

Tamara and Me

Jim and Tamara

Tamara and Sam

Us at Dinner

Family, however you come by it - by blood or choice - is vital and precious.

I may not have taken any pictures at Lucy's service, but I picture my extended family clearly, from the oldest members of our crazy clan all the way down to our newest editions.

And three cheers for Lucy!

Lucy at her Queen for a Day Celebration of Life

 

And There Shall Be Lilacs

In the spring of 2014 I had to go up to Spokane for a small conference at Gonzaga University. I was staying downtown at the very elegant Davenport Hotel. I just so happened to check-in just a few hours before the start of the annual Lilac Festival Parade.

I haven't seen a true small-town parade in ages, so this was a real treat. It was a pretty long parade - I think over 200 entrants. I managed to watch about a third of it before deciding I'd seen enough cheerleaders, color guards, military representatives and cowgirls and was ready for a few cocktails in the hotel bar.

I took a ton of photos. A few are here, but all my favorites (don't worry, there are only about 22 of them) are on Flickr in my Spokane Lilac Festival album. Please be sure to check them all out for the full vicarious experience.

OMG No Way! Lilac fluff!

Seriously? Goggles?

Cowgirl!

 

 

 

Fort Point Wandering

This morning I went with Kathleen for coffee. My plan was to try out Wreaking Ball on Union St. because I recommended it as a place for my niece to try out when she's here (my friend had gotten some beans there and gave it a good reference), but we couldn't find a parking spot. Instead, we went over to the Warming Hut (a great cafe location, but not great lattes) on Chrissy Field in the Presidio. Since we were down there, we decided to walk out to the bridge and Fort Point.

My favorite photos of our walk are on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/snarfff), but here are a few for the bellhops.

Hope you enjoy.