Chateau St. Jean Photo-Blog

Following our 4th of July parade and pancake breakfast, we meandered down the road to visit the Chateau St. Jean winery in Sonoma. This winery has one of the most stunningly beautiful grounds I've ever seen (a fact not unnoticed by others, as they were preparing to host a wedding reception during our visit). I couldn't help but keep snapping pictures... I'm sure you can see why!

Portland Memories

It's about time for more about our trip to Portland last month!


Gary and I had never traveled up north together, and February was the perfect time to go, while we were between jobs.


We had time share points for a place in a little town called Welches, about an hour east of the city. The setting was beautiful - trees, mountains, snow... just what this California girl needed to feel like winter had arrived!


There's not much better than getting away from it all, sitting by the fire with glass of wine in hand, watching the snow fall!


My dream for this year is to go somewhere to have a white Christmas, and these few days in the snow only whetted that desire.



The other highlight of the week was spending time with our friend Melissa, and meeting her husband Keith. Melissa was another founding member of Jacob's Well, our first church back in Sacramento when we were first married. We really connected over the fact that we were three of the five in their twenties at the church at the time! She moved up north a while back, and we haven't had a chance to visit until now. She's now got a great job, a sweet husband, and a baby on the way. Congratulations, Melissa!


Melissa and Keith had fun showing us around the city; and planned some memorable outings for us including a hockey game and an elaborate dinner at a Moroccan restaurant called Marrakesh.




Other highlights were the Japanese Garden, which I've already posted about here, an amazing setting to relax and enjoy nature, and a fun place called Noun, an antique shop / artist boutique, with a station in the back selling confections by St. Cupcake. Good times.

Wine Country Getaway - Photo Blog

Last weekend, we headed to Napa for a couple days with friends. Though the getaway wasn't intended as a Valentine's celebration, it worked out as a happy coincidence. This was our friends' first visit to Napa, so the hubbo and I enjoyed the opportunity to show off a few of our favorite finds, as well as discover a few new ones together.


The first night we enjoyed dinner at a great Italian restaurant in downtown Napa. It was one of those places with pictures all over the wall, and a waiter that was really excited to hand-grate the parmesan cheese on your food. The atmosphere was enhanced by live music, an incredibly talented guitar player occasionally joined by a female vocalist.


Following dinner, we headed over to Silo's, the only nightlife in town. This was a cool jazz lounge, with more live music - this time, an incredibly talented pianist. Who knew there was such great music to be found in wine country?


The next morning, we went on the tour at the Beringer estate, the longest operating winery in California. Isn't this beautiful? The original Beringers built this beautiful home for $28,000:


Inside the Beringer caves:


Friday afternoon, we headed to the Culinary Institute of America for a cooking demonstration. The teaching chef demonstrated a recipe for couer de creme with raspberry sauce. I'm sure I could be gourmet too, with a kitchen like this!




Happy Valentine's Day!

Kauai, here we come!

In just a few short hours Matt, Bethany, Gary, and I are going to be here, a beautiful resort in Kauai!

For Matt & Bethany, this will be their belated honeymoon following last weekend's church ceremony. Gary and I will be trading our photo/videographer role for that of nanny, helping with baby Berry so our friends can fully enjoy their time in Hawaii. I have to say, it's easily the best babysitting job I've ever gotten!

This will be our first time visiting Hawaii, so I am very much looking forward to all that the islands have to offer. I don't know if I'll have access to or time for internet, so no promises on regular blogging for the next couple of weeks. I'm pretty sure that when I do, though, I'll return with plenty of breathtaking photos like these:






(these bottom two pics are of the resort we'll be staying at)

Home Again

We're back - after five nights of camping in beautiful Yosemite, we (G-Dub, Bonus, and I) have returned to civilization. The weather was gorgeous, the rivers full of melted snow, the air fresh, lightly scented with pine trees and campfires.

Our trip was defined by heavy hiking and enjoying the many waterfalls along the way. This week, I'll be putting up pictures from the more strenuous and picturesque hikes we completed.

Here's a preview:

On the road...

So, there's been a bit of a theme to this blog the past week or so... hiking, moving, going... that's only going to continue as G-Dub and I prepare to enjoy a fabulous vacation while camping in Yosemite this week along with the Bonus!

Don't know if I'll get to the internet before Saturday, but I plan to have lots to blog about when I get back!