California Coast Part I

Our drive down the coast from San Francisco commenced in Monterey. It's beautiful! We enjoyed the restaurants downtown, went to the marina, then headed out on the peninsula. As we approached Pebble Beach, we came across the signature Cypress tree.
They're everywhere and feel so Mediterranean!

Don't give me any money for these shots because the tree is protected by copyrights and you can't take photos and sell them! Crazy, huh? There were signs that actually said that! Here are the boys and I with the tree:

We reached Pebble Beach, which is a site to behold!!

These guys were daydreaming! They found out it would be about $350 each to golf the course and rent clubs and were really toying seriously with the idea. I told them I was fine with that and would spend the time in the spa at the course. Michael then quickly decided the whole idea was a no-go. haha.

The next day we headed south...

The Pool Shark

Napa!

What a beautiful place! After freezing in San Francisco, we headed up north to explore Napa for a day! It's everything I imagined it to be. We were able to visit 5 wineries and one of our favorites was this one...

...Andretti Winery. It's a little off the beaten path but the location is a beautiful, Tuscan-style estate. The wine is good and they gave us an enormous discount on our tasting because the guy working with us was really nice. Did I mention it was beautiful??

Here is Saeth working on refining his palatte...

We spent a lot of time just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.

And being warm! Finally. We enjoyed the sun, which was good because it hid from us for most of the trip.

I'm ready to go back any time!

San Francisco!

Our trip to San Francisco can be summed up in two words: Cold and Cold.

But the chill in the air didn't stop us from visiting the Fisherman's Warf...

Where I took one of the cutest photos ever:

Yep, a baby sea lion.

Michael wanted to bring it home for Oggy.

After Saeth arrived we found the curvy street.

I started hoofing it up the street while these two watched.

The view was great.

The next day we headed to Alcatraz.

I took the requisite photo of Saeth in a cell at Alcatraz. You have to look closely to see him. The island was really interesting, but cold. The history is interesting...first a civil war fort and military installation, then the penitentiary. Turns out guards' families lived on the island. The children reminisced about an idyllic life. Weird.

That afternoon, we headed to Golden Gate park. By the time we got there, the science and art museums were closed. The only thing left open were the Japanese Gardens, which were very nice, though cold.

Aren't we Zen??

There were lots of nice Japanese Maple trees. Go figure.

After we left this garden, someone told us there was a restaurant with a fireplace at the far end of the park. So we trekked the entire length of the park in search of this restaurant. Which, when we arrived, was lovely. The walk there (approx. 6 miles!) was so cold that I refrained from taking any photos of the fantastic park. Now that's cold.

Whoo Hoo! The countdown is on!

This time tomorrow I will be en route to California for vacation! I am so, so excited to:

1. Spend 10 days with my husband.
2. Spend almost all of those with my baby brother as well!
3. See San Francisco (never been there)
4. Ditto on Napa and the Central Coast
5. Visit Hearst Castle (my brother and I are both dying to see it!)
6. Take lots of photos along the coast.
7. Go to Disneyland with the sweetest nephew in the world.
8. See old friends.
9. Go to Michael's cousin's wedding.
10.See water. Every day. Ahhh.

I may not return.

I love...

The Daily Show. I also love the Cosby Show. So I love this! And I think you will too:

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Funny Political Video Political Games Joe Biden Jokes

A Gorgeous Day in the O.P....Which is Good and Bad

You know you're a farm girl at heart when this makes you happy:

You know you're a farm girl in Johnson County when this makes you really happy:


:)

Today was an absolutely beautiful day! By 1pm, we'd run 4 miles, biked another 5, watched a soccer game and started the gardening. Which, in case you were wondering, is going well thus far! Here are the Rhododendrons, which seem to be adjusting to their new home with beautiful flair:


However, a resident bunny is doing a number on my blue fescue grass and beloved Hydrangeas!
Any idea what to do about that?

The dooger dog seems to be recovering nicely...

..and entertained Michael, the in-laws and I with his antics while we relaxed in the sun.

Today is Syttende Mai, Norwegian Constitution Day, so you think that would remind me of my Scandinavian hertiage and I would use great caution in the sun. However, since it was only in low 70's, I didn't pay any attention and worked in the sun all day. Now, as I write this, I am f-r-i-e-d to a crisp. Uff. No worries, there are no pics! haha. Oh, well. Now I remember.

Cheers!

Sarah

Birthday!

A big birthday at our house today! Check it out here!

A few random "perspective" thoughts

Today was a day of great praise among what's been a tough several months for my friend Kristen.

She's my client-turned dear friend from Milwaukee. K is one of those old souls in a body with the energy level of a 5 year-old who just had a 'Dew , with one of the most boutiful spirits you'll ever hope to meet. This great trip was her idea!

Her energetic, optomistic outlook has been challenged at times in recent months with, among other things, her Dad's diagnosis of terminal cancer. She is the one person who I know fully understands my relationship with my dad as I think we're kindred spirits in that manner. So my heart is torn for the tiny percentage of her heartache that I can fathom.

Today, she found out that their "last hope" drug, which the Dr. had gone out on a limb to try with her dad even though it wasn't yet approved, is proving effective. It was a long, drawn-out process of getting insurance to let them try this drug and it's working...slowing down the growth of the tumor in her dad's brain (if you're wondering, the drug is Avastin and the type of cancer is Glioblastoma). Today also brought the news that this particular drug as been approved by the FDA for this use, which means other families won't need to endure the struggle to use it that her and hers have.

It's not a cure, but it has granted her more time to enjoy her daddy. And isn't that what we're all really doing...enjoying more time? Life is short and even without a specific diagnosis, we don't know if we'll be around tomorrow...next week...next year.

So today I was reflecting...

Praising the Lord for the scientists who created this drug to give my KZ more time with her dad.

Thinking about making sure the people I love know I love them. I don't have a Gliobalstoma in my circle, but we all do have numbered days here on earth.

Praising the Lord for friends...the kind you can cry with...be angry in front of...and crack an inappropriate joke all in one breath.

Love you, KZ and I'm glad that today is one of good news in your world.

I don't have any idea what's in the bag or what was so funny. oh, well :)

Kitchen Table: Hi Mom!

Yes, a post about my kitchen table. I never claimed this blog would be the least bit interesting, though, so I feel OK about it. :) Actually, my mom wanted to see what it looks like. So here you go, Mom:
We bought a redish carpet to go underneath:

And, since I am your daughter, a coordinating runner.

Now Michael thinks we should redo the floors and reface the cabinets to this darker shade of wood. Yikes! Though I won't be surprised if I come home one day and he's stripping the floors. Mad, yes. Surprised, no. Keep your fingers crossed that doesn't happen! :)

And come visit soon so we can eat at the table. Since I have one now!

Cheers!

~S~

Warmer Weather = Landscape Mania. Again.

Well, I hate to jinx anything, but it looks as though the warm weather may have come to stay.

Which is a good thing, yes.

However, my dear husband has a borderline obsession with propensity for projects. Which is why he built 3 retaining walls and landscaped three separate areas with in the first week of summer last year. Sigh.

So for the last couple weekends we've looked at the landscaping, much of which we did last summer, and decided what would stay, what would go, and what was just, well, dead. And much of it was. Dead.

Then, we made our selections and tore into it with reckless abandon. Ok, a very deliberate plan, but that doesn't sound as fun.


The dead azaleas were heartlessly torn out (they were so beautiful when they actually bloomed last year)...
And a new Hydrangeas* were lovingly added in!

Along with a couple new Rhododendrons, so Blue Fescue for accent, and my personal favorite, a lilac tree (all bonsai-ed) for a centerpiece!

Here it is! I grew up with the HEAVENLY scent of lilacs all summer in MN and one slight whiff brings me back to childhood in a split second. Mmmm.

This bush was a first anniversary gift from Michael.

Here is the final result...so now we're just waiting for everything to fill out and fill in! Hopefully it will do so quickly, because my poor back can't handle many more weekends of this!

Ok, now that I look at the pic, it's not all that impressive. But it's much more striking in person. At least I think it is. Hmmm

*for a girl raised on the frozen tundra, the sweet, southern warmth and abundance the hydrangea represents is a gardening dream come true!

One Year of Wedded Bliss

May 3, 2008 was such a perfect day! Blue skies, springflowers blooming...couldn't have asked for more!

The ceremony was beautiful...

And we had dear friends and family from close to home and across the country there to celebrate with us!

Here's to many, many happy and healthy years as Mr. and Mrs. Kolell.