Five Foot Two

A baby-moon....

I 

  April 2010

As I sit here today writing this post at 39 weeks of gestation, I am looking back at our last wonderful trip as a childless couple. The official name of the vacation per my research is a baby-moon, kind of like a honeymoon, but before the baby arrives.

 

The lone cypress on 17 mile drive 

I think I was 7 months along, and I had been looking forward to a getaway with the DH. We went to our favorite part of Northern California. Monterey!

 

 

We have lovingly nicknamed our baby while she is growing inside me as baby Zuno. The Zuno is short for Mizuno, which happens to be a brand of golf clubs, that the DH was obsessed with when we found out we were pregnant. In true DH style, those clubs are no longer the hot item in in golf bag. So remind me, to make sound decisions on her OFFICIAL name. So that her real name does not become a passing fancy of her father's as well!

We did enjoy ourselves and dined at our favorite restaurants and took in our normal sites. Of course there was a stop at the Ghiradelli chocolate fountain. I won't show you the disgusting picture of the DH INHALING his chocolate soda..... He and chocolate are best friends.

 

 Here I sit with a commemorative "light up" glass from Bubba-gumps, sipping a little frozen lemonade refreshment. My current pregnancy craving.

The hotel on Cannery Row was fabulous, slightly modern but not too uncomfortable. 

 

the view from our deck

@

 The Clement Monterey. 

I recommend it. We woke up to waves crashing and seagulls calling, without another soul in site. AWESOME.....

The only bad thing, was that the trip was over too soon....

Oh, and that I walked  9 holes of golf in a torrential rain storm on the coast at Spyglass Hill.  At first that was fun, but when the water soaked through my UGG boots, It was time for me to take a TO in the clubhouse and enjoy a nice hot chocolate. While the DH continued his round of golf....

I would call him obsessed. 

So do others....

Let's just make a deal, that we won't name her anything related to the golf industry.

Unplugged...

The dh (darling hubby)  and I were given a gift of a few days,

 away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

We spent the trip in the middle of the high Sierra's, with out any other souls around, except for the family that invited us to their vacation home. There is no TV and no cell reception. Only nature and the beauty it exudes. We were unplugged, and loving it....

I learned to fish, I hiked, I explored the wonder of beaver dams.

I spent some solitary moments enjoying the breeze and how if effects the landscape.

 I became a little bit cowgirl. : )

 Those that know me are laughing because I am a very little bit cowgirl, and every bit city girl, usually.  So the experience brought some change. 

We were in awe, of what true untouched land can look like.

 Yet sad, for how we had forgotten what being out in the middle of nature felt like. 

When we left it was with a feeling of sadness. Because what I felt while I was there was a true connection to life and nature.  When I am back home in the city it is very easy to lose that connection. My goal is to become unplugged more often. 

They just don't make buildings like this anymore...

I saw this beauty in San Francisco, close to the Financial District the other day. She is spectacular! What caught my attention was the leaded glass windows. Every single one is a work of art. Can I live here? please......

Berries anyone...

 

Last week a group of friends from work, gathered together to go Olalliberry picking. The Olalliberry is a California berry that is a cross between a youngberry and a loganberry. If you want to read more about it, here is a link. The berries are ready to pick in the months of June and July.

We journeyed up the California Coast Highway One north from Santa Cruz. We watched for signs that read "berry picking" and pulled into a darling spot really close to Ano Nuevo State Park. The whole experience was wonderful. It was peaceful and productive. I plan to make some jam. PLAN to make some jam. My Mother in law is a resident expert in canning. Do you remember she made the jam as the favors for our wedding? Anyhow, she wants to help me. I think I really need to take her up on it. So look forward to a later post about my adventure in olalliberry jam making. ehh gadds..... now i really feel like martha.

We then drove north to the town of Pescadero and enjoyed lunch at the famous Duarte's tavern. I had been there before with the DH's family. We made a special trip just for their Abalone sandwiches. Yep, you guessed it... i passed on the seafood. This visit, I was adventurous and had a taste of thier delicious warm Artichoke soup. It was yummy, even for this picky eater. 

Daffodils in the sunshine...

What is it about flowers?
They make me so HAPPY.
I am the kind of girl that buys them for myself often. I don't have qualms or guilt about buying them for myself. I enjoy every minute that they surround me, so why not surround myself with them when I can?
When my dh (darling husband) buys them for me, the flowers are extra special. It is the little kindnesses we do for one another, that make up this beautiful life we have. So I need to remind myself to live it and enjoy every little minute....

Recently my mom took me to a place in which the locals call Daffodil Hill, near Coarsegold, CA. Not this famous Daffodil Hill, although this may be fun to visit sometime. This is a family property that they have turned into a mini park that is open to the public in honor of thier mother. Once a year all of the daffodils bloom across this park nestled in a valley. It is a spectacular site! Every bulb was planted in memory of one lady. A very special lady to her family and community. What is even more enriching about the experience is that her legacy touches people long after she has gone. I would be honored to lead a life, which touches others souls long after I am gone. So inspiring....

I wish I had photos of Daffodil Hill, but I was in awe at the pure beauty and living in the moment when I visited. Perhaps next year I will remember to take some photos!

32 was a good year....

I was inspired by ali's weekend creative a couple of weeks ago. It prompted me to list (I like list's) big and little things that you never expected to happen over the last year. So I chose this number of things because it was my 32 year of life. Geez that sounds old.

Jetting off to...

The Valley of the SUN!!! We are getting out of the cold and rain, and heading to the desert for some sunbathing, hiking, shopping, and snuggling with our 2 month old nephew!!! I just love pictures taken from an airplane. I just love flying in general. Maybe someday I may get my pilots license.

We are planning a little road trip up to Sedona. Perhaps I will make another one of these!

Speaking about making things.....Today I did a little craft valentine project from Martha's online website. It is a felt fourtune cookie. It looked like I had everything I needed and I thought it was going to be really fast, but it was not. So I only had time to make one.

Maybe if you get into a rhythm, it might be a bit speedier. It needs some friends to go with it, in different colors. It looks a little sad and lonely. But you can fill them with a note, and some special candy treats! GO MARTHA!!! I am not really sure how fortune cookies became a part of valentines day, but why question?

Craft on! Make cute things! Laugh about them.

Next.....

I have been working on a little scrapbook something that I was inspired by last week on ali's blog. She has started a simple to more complex project to do over the weekend. I love it. Sometimes I may do it and other times I may not. But this past weekend creative project seemed like a great one. I think I may do it every year. I love the idea. I will post my list of little and big things that I never expected to happen in 2007, when I return....

Happy flying.

Farewell to 2007....

We traveled, relaxed and enjoyed each other in our first full year of marriage. May the year ahead bring us more love, laughter and joy.

These are a few of the nature photos I took throughout my travels this year.

Lovers Point, Carmel

Majestic Lion, San Francisco Zoo

Blue Jay, Reno NV

Sedona, AZ

Silverleaf Country Club, Scottsdale AZ

Tahoe Sunset

Oh, this is a must see from you tube. Otters in love. darling