Bella the Chicken, Seder dinner, Sweet peas

Three fun things in my life: 1. Holding the most darling chicken named Bella at the local nursery. Chickens are surprisingly warm; all the more reason not to eat them. They are literally like dogs with feathers, 2. Attended my first Seder dinner, and 3. Received sweet peas from a friend.

O Happy Day of Love

Wishing everyone a love-filled day…
, R.

A new year is here

Today makes day one of a clear-headed New Year. I know we're 10 days in, but it feels like the first day to me. What would we do without antibiotics? Though it's been a decade since I took them, boy oh boy, they sure were needed this time.

Enough "cold talk," does anyone have any resolutions?

Happy new year

There should be something more lively to tell you to kick off a New Year post other than I’ve had a cold since December 20th. But my head is so full of snot (sorry), that I can barely think straight, let alone breath out a nice happy greeting. There were a few days of reprieve, but I’ve generally been sick now for about 20 days. Ten more makes a month. I emailed my doctor tonight.
A few holiday highlights…
Me, in my new orangey-red coat (a gift to me from me) for pre-Christmas. We went to the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe for lunch with Mom and Dad on New Year’s Day.

I got to kiss the forehead of a pygmy Nigerian goat, while visiting with friends in Florida at Bennett’s for donuts and coffee. Little Lazarus is on the lap of my dear friend, Gail. He was named this because he was born dead, but the guy who owns him massaged his chest for 20 minutes and got a slow heartbeat, then faster, and then “meeeeeehhhhh-hhhhh-hhhhhh,” the wee Lazarus rose from the dead.

Little L. on Gail’s lap, nearly asleep.

All us girls at Goat and Donut Fest, most from high school, all dear friends. From L to R: Christine, Melanie, Gail, Patzi, and me.

A stroll through Adelaide’s florist in La Jolla over the holidays never fails to serve up the holiday goods…

A riot of ornaments on this tree…

Today’s banana bread, part two…is below. I say part two because, the first thing you need to know is my baking is usually inedible. I don’t know what it is, but I mess up so many recipes. Last night I decided I’d make a batch of banana bread and put them in these adorable, rectangular paper baking containers. I’d had them for a while and decided I’d bake them up, taste one, and if they passed the taste test, I’d give them out. Lucky people that didn’t have to eat those. James and I tasted one, and we both spit the bite into the trash at the same time. All you can do is laugh. They were mushy and awful. From the way that bite looked before we tried it, it was pretty obvious it was going to be awful. Not cooked long enough? Who knows. Today I went to my go-to source. This site is tried and true (Simply Recipes). And it turned out great!

Peace, love, and good banana bread,
Robin

A Perfect Day

I’m a wee tardy with this post, but I had to share the cake photo! We celebrated Mother’s Day here last Sunday, and had a great time. The perfect number of folks, gathered on a gloriously sunny day, with the perfect Mom. I am one of the lucky ones to have a mother-in-law that I adore. The chocolate raspberry mousse cake and dutch apple pie were both yummy. I do believe I had a piece of both!

Some red birds even landed in the ivy. Inside. Can you beat a little made-in-China bird to fancy up an indoor plant? While I thought they’d just be a party decoration, I admit they are still there, perched, and still cute. Does this mean I have plastic flowers in my future? Oh dear! Let’s hope not.

Husby even honored my mother status with the fur babies and got me this beautiful bouquet of roses, which I promptly photographed at this odd angle. I love our tribe, though they deny me the pleasure of telling painful birthing stories, like, oh! the doctor had never seen a woman suffer like that! Wait. Maybe that’s just fine.

There were also tulips in attendance, purchased from the wholesale flower place, which was abuzz with Mother’s Day buyers.

And lastly, in mani/pedi news…this past weekend, during some La Jolla moseying, I found a “natural” mani/pedi place and came home with taupe toenails and turquoise fingernails. I can’t imagine ever using these colors even just five years ago. But I have to say, I am thoroughly digging them. They kind of spice up the workday when I look at my fingers typing on the keyboard in turquoise!

Chinchilly >

Turquoise & Caicos >

Have a wonderful week, blog peeps!

, R.

Happy Day of Love

Let the hearts fly free!

Kinfolk quiet

Grab some serenity. Enjoy the quiet of this video from Kinfolk magazine.

A Day at the Marston House

We had a really fun day at the Marston House for Mother’s Day. We started with an abbreviated tour of just the first floor of the house. I’ve been on the full tour, but this was a nice little taste of the beautiful Craftsman interior, even if we didn’t see much. What a simple and grand house!

A couple corners in the library:


And, the kitchen…


The pantry:

There was also a little “fashion” show. All of the dresses were made of paper! (I thought of you, Mrs. Schottlaender.)


Amazing yummies and gardens! This was but a wee sampling of all the good stuff to eat. I sort of focused on eating and not on clicking pictures. Ha! Then, oh!, all the food was gone! This little chocolate mousse was just the right size.




A lovely trio played sweet music as we relaxed, celebrating the happy day…

And this heart spoke to me from a tree in the garden:

And last but not least, a rose for all Mom’s near and afar…

Have a great week, everyone!
, Robin

Happy Thanksgiving to All

Here's wishing all you blog beauties a wonderful Thanksgiving from me, James, Saylor, Kate, and Gwyneth - the whole darn family!

Halloween Nite Out

Since my b-day falls close to Halloween, our dinner out is often chaperoned by ghouls and goblins! Here are a few pictures from this weekend’s night out for din-din at Searsucker. The chef, Brian Malarkey, was a Top Chef finalist. He stopped by our table wearing, of course, searsucker! Very cute…
Here are some of the sights we encountered. Frankly, I think the dude in the Hooter’s outfit takes the cake. And that last mustachioed fellow is my neighbor, Jeff, wearing his boyfriend’s Cher wig and a pirate ‘stash! Oh my!

Birthday Cupcake

Hey peeps! I know I’ve been M.I.A. lately, but here I am: spotted having a cupcake for breakfast on my birthday last week. Bread & Cie is a bakery and restaurant in the ‘hood with some mean sweets and lunch time goodies. I had an awesome birthday, and it started out superbly with dessert for breakfast. Why not?

Early Halloween Inspiration

See you when you get here! Booooooo!

Happy 4th!

Happy Independence day to all who celebrate! Many moons ago, John Adams, a lawyer, the first Vice Prez and the second President of the United States, wrote to his wife, "I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."Not so far from the truth!

Me and hubs had a great bike ride today, then went to a friend's house to celebrate his retirement as a high school teacher. A fun 4th for sure. Home now, and sending a shout out to blog friends. Happy day everyone, whatever you did - hope it was nice.

Happy 8 Years to Us

Yesterday, June 15th, made 8 years of marriage for my honey and me. We started the day by going out to breakfast, then a little shopping, and then to dinner at Mille Fleurs, which is where we were married. A simply perfect day...