The End Of The 24 Hours

The slight breeze was balmy, and went on it's merry way south by the time sun set. After watching the full moon rise, we  ambled the evening away along the pier.

Nothing more sleep inducing than the sound of waves rolling up the sand. Slept with windows open. In the morn the sound we heard was much more unique.


Sunrise ~

Bagpiper wails  ~

Funniest part is - these two musicians were strangers. They'd each come to the beach that morning, ALONE, to play the bagpipe and ring in a sunny, vibrant morning. How random is that?

The silly guy I came with decided he'd do an Irish jig while the horns bellowed...

Just like that...  {snap of my fingers}... it was time to head over the hill to home. Make the most of this strangely dry weather. Gardening is calling my name...

The road to home is always sweet ....

Twenty Four Hours

Pack up the bird. Throw sweatshirts in a bag. Fill an ice chest with salty and delectable goodies. Get the heck out of town!! I surprised Hubby and planned for us to stay at the beach over night. After Hubby's first week back to work, he was in need of a quiet, restful break - and so was I !!


First stop - BAKERY TREATS ~

Next location the beach, where we remained for the afternoon. We couldn't help but feel slovenly, melty,
 sun-drunk while sitting in the warmth, listening to the gulls caw, and the waves babble. Our feet moved at the slowest of paces. We were cemented in place alongside the pier....

Barnacle-like, even. Attached with suction to the seat of a sand chair ~

Hand in hand, they walked in the sand, and danced by the light of the moon...

Sluggishly we made our way off the beach and plunked ourselves down at the rooftop terrace for more lounging and sunset views ~

Twelve hours done... more to share tomorrow....

When Last I Left You...

As I was saying, breathlessly, and while I hop, skip and jump with excitement - Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day....

                                                                       Part Deux

Gobs o'goodies more to show ~



{stained glass window embedded in decaying barn siding}



Geesh, Wilder Ranch - you sure do deliver!

Flashbacks of Aran Island (Ireland) cliffs while I stood on these bluffs and watched the pounding surf.

Fancy footwork would be necessary to get to any of the beaches here. The entire area is left to wildlife - no humans allowed to build castles in the sand.

Left the bluffs behind me, plowed through the crop fields, and over some mighty ol' train tracks to find my way back to "START".  I let the wind take me where it may...

Une petite Shoppe Francais!  ADORE!!

Then what to my wondering eyes should appear? A miniature taco shop, and many bottles of beer! Set in a courtyard.... just in time for lunch and a foot rest. Divinity!

Top that Huell Howser!!

Faded, Rutted And Sun-Chapped....

Oh, how I missed you today - Mary-the-bike! Had I realized, we coulda been pedal-cruising the bluffs above the beach together. I made due though. Tramped around the agri-fields on old rutted pathways. Guess that could have made it hard on your wheels. So, maybe you didn't miss out?

Actually all persons, and things not with me today did miss out!! Wanna see the loveliness that warmed my heart today? If ever you're in the mood for country living; if you've a hankering for aged and well loved farms; when all tokens-of-pretty antiquity are saying "look at me" - this is what your day should look like.....


Soak up all the beauty

Morning latte and a minuscule, divine cream puff. My stomach growled for more while eyeing the French patisserie. Across the courtyard sat a tiny shop loaded with eclectic goods. The books were a hoot!

Steps away, I was enthralled by a butcher shop. A charcuterie. A quite hip, meat locker of sorts. Inked, tatted men-folk with quite interesting and cool info on all things MEAT!

Hubby was in for a surprise! He's been jonesing for paprika rabbit. Lo and behold - the meat locker does carry other protein! I'm going back soon! Possibly for a class. Think - meat curing class, or butchering, or sausage making for example.

Rolled on down the road to the beach. Time for the daily walking ritual. So much was in store for me though. This cultural preserve had me all a-twitter ~

Victorian farmhouses, barns, meadows, animals of the milking kind, history and miles of trails...

                                                          OH MY !!

Horse, cow, chicken and agricultural accoutrement filled the barns ~

Why, I do believe I'm tuckered out. Too much eye candy for one day. So, I think I'll share the rest of this day on a new post tomorrow. The beach trail is still awaiting. Lunch and other goodies too...

Dates

Dates, appointments, memories, calendars, a whole new year...

SO MANY RED LETTER DAYS!

Doesn't get much more important than the fresh start of a brand new year. I commandeered Hubby, got behind the wheel, and drove myself to fill the day with my personal joys. I finagled him into enjoying them as well!

Slowly ambled creek side at Alum Rock Park, crossing turn of the century stone bridges while sniffing at the air for sulphur from ancient hot springs. I had battled the flu for the week prior to this and our walk was a meek version of my usual hikes. That was alright though, it kept me side to side with Hubby.

Drove to the highest peak I could find in our city and waited for the sun to set. The first one of the next 364 in 2012. And, there are really BIG important dates coming....

Not to be forgotten - I'm a little ahead of myself - a date; an anniversary just passed for my dear friend Coco. She found skies to soar in without physical limits two years ago on New Years Eve. I was at the beach when she passed, and I was there again on this anniversary.

Anxiously awaiting today, January 3rd for many RED LETTER reasons....

My Sweet has worked hard to get well, and back to work again. Today was his first. Hopefully his achy legs can be willed into strength with each stride.

On this date, we've pinned high hopes on results to a medical test.  The outcome was not the one we wished for, yet everyone's spirits are calm and only time will tell. This is another event for a leap of faith. {see past few posts} As have been very many of my life's situations of late.

And today came, and left us with a different date to watch the calendar for. With many months past a year now, my friend that has been both hospitalized and housebound while waiting for clear thoughts and happiness is trying to keep the faith.  We expected to hear where she might move; where I can visit her next. Our hopes are pinned on a new place, and a changed RED LETTER day.


One day at a time.....

Sure as the grass grows...

We'll get our answers, and make new dates, and memorialize anniversary dates...

And, God willing live another full year...

A Wandering Mind

Nearly fooled myself into believing I was wandering the foothills of a picturesque Italian village.  The scenery reminiscent of a wintertime visit spent in a northern hillside there.  I felt the pull of a  Florence daydream and set the camera in action. Italy was popping out all over! I'll take you with me along my via del gatos...

"Italian" sighting #1

Red clay roofs...

and the fields just near, grape vines clipped and winterized...

Sighing as I walked..... happily in wandering-dreaming-memory mode. I was wistful. Yeah, that's it exactly! Wishing, hoping - in another time and place.

A piece of Mediterranean flora ...

How all of these items caught my attention; how each seemingly whispered ITALY was in itself dreamy! What silly, refreshing thoughts. So nice to have my mind wander. Why and how did this come to be? Very caught off guard when the next item was a religious medal hanging from a tree in a remote spot. GOD?? you toying with me?

More plant matter - the edible kind - so Italiano...

OLIVES

Yeah, we've got them here also. This is Italian wanderlust though, so I'm sticking to Mediterranean!

A memory of the mimosa tree and a holiday we witnessed on an Italian journey made me smile when I saw a tree near bloom...

                                                               {my photo}

This is a mimosa in bloom - beautiful and fragrant....


{from an Italian blog}

Nearing the end of my journey. Yet, for some unknown reason, I reversed my direction and took another path - extending my travel. Okay, maybe Roman Gods were following me because I next came across this ...

This signage ^ placed in the yard of a vintage home, along with a few pieces of ornate embellishments...

A detour worth it's weight in gold.. mmm... in concrete statuary!

My hop, skip, and a jump for the day took me all the way to Italy without getting on a plane! A trick of the mind that ya don't mind having! When can I go again?!!!

Hop Skip ... And A Jump

Into the New Year....


                               {  2012  }



YAY!!! Joey

 Leaps of faith!  Not exactly a resolution.

 Resolved though, yes! Resolved in the dictionary says to make a firm decision to do something.  So, at the risk of failing, and not to be taken too seriously  nor last for any lengthy amount of time.....

I'm taking up skipping {see post title above} good for both heart and soul!...
  (maybe I should also SKIP next weeks meals!)

SKIP, SKIP, SKIP TO My Lou

Keep right on skipping through any rough patches, mind you... *SHOULD THERE BE ANY *!.. in this new year!  Not expecting any rough patches, or eczema either! hhaa
* see - leap of faith

HOPPING over some hurdles. Quickly! Like Florence Griffith-Joyner! Will attempt to hop right through Easter. Hop to it each and every time Hubby calls my name! {will not last through Easter}... and this is not the place to take me too seriously! Yet, resolved in hopping out of bed when the rooster crows, throwing on me tennies and git back on them dusty trails! Just may hop, or jump on the bandwagon for the SF 49ers also!

JUMPING into the ring..  jumping at the chance... jumping out of the fire and into the frying pan. Possibly one or all of these. That's what life is all about. The old year; this new year...  how would I learn, experience, live, love, laugh ; be me  without taking chances??? Without leaps of faith?? Without trying "new" ??  Without checking boxes off my bucket list??


Divide the calendar in half, and the last months of the old year knocked me flat{only at times}. Feeling in a cave looking for some light ....
FOUND IT !!   ->

Taking a leap of faith that the light will shine on for awhile...  {better not take batteries}




New Years Eve at Seabright Beach

The sun shined bright as the year ended, and as the new began ^

GIVE ME MORE LIGHT!!