Got a little more in Napa than expected...

I know it's been a few weeks since my last post teasing about our trip to Napa but when I said I was "breaking away" I didn't think it would take on such a literal meaning.

Prior to sustaining a broken tibia, we had a lovely time! In between crutching around and elevating my foot, I am working on a post of the trip. Until that time, I'll leave you with this little teaser...

Chef Chiarello & Tom

Breaking Away

It's the last day of April and I'm still lugging around my ever-faithful puffy, pulling on my winter boots and brushing snow off my car....It's spring everywhere else and I'm still running to warm myself by the fireplace and using Elliot to toast my toes...and it's going to continue for a least another week. 

So this weekend I am getting off this hill, away from this snow and running into the arms of the Napa Valley...  

Thanks to the generosity of Jeff and Carolyn Smith, we'll be settling into their guest house at Hourglass Wine Company. Nestled in St. Helena, Hourglass is  a boutique winery that solely produces Cabernet. And what a Cabernet it is as their wine has quite a cult following.

Though I'm sure it will be hard to leave the Smith's property, we will force ourselves to sip and nibble our way down the 2 lane roads of Napa. On the agenda is a stop at Oxbow Public Market to visit the Fatted Calf and to sample some goodies at Hog Island Oyster Company. Jess has a few vineyards in mind to visit (but I think it's a secret). She's also teased about a fried chicken lunch and dinner at Michael Chiarello's Bottega.

I'm not quite sure what else the weekend will bring but I'm sure we'll be "ahh"ing, laughing and lapping up the warmth the whole time. It's just the break away we all need before another week of wind and wet. 

Wishing you a weekend of warmth and welcomed relaxation!

T.G.I.F.

It's that time of week...to jump up and bid a fond farewell to workdays and weeknight sitcoms and to say hello to  coffee in bed, sunlit days to do as you please and staying up late just because you can. Weekends are such a treat that I'll be giving out TGIFs all weekend long...

• Thank Goodness I'm Feeding folks at the Truckee Follies (via Full Belly Deli)
• Thank Goodness I'm Frolicking in the spring snow at Squaw
• Thank Goodness It's Fifty Cent Hot Dog Day at the Aces baseball game
• Thank Goodness I'm Foraging for forgotten treasures at Plato's Closet and Junkee
• Thank Goodness It's Fifty-plus degrees outside
• Thank Goodness I Find myself reading again (it's been too long, dear friend)
• Thank Goodness I'm Figuring out whether we're Hawaii-bound or not
• Thank Goodness I'm Fighting my way back to my fighting weight
• Thank Goodness I'm Finding myself back in the arms of this blog.

Jump for joy and enjoy all the things you are thankful for.

Baby, it's cold outside.

It's dreary here. Drizzle and wind with snow threatening to fall. As I bundled up to leave for work this morning, I thought of this painting. Oh, how I wish I could smuggle a little bird in my hat and keep him warm through the storm. Hang tough out there, little buddies. There's warmer weather on the horizon.

Girly with Birdy by Julia Humpfer aka HerbstKind

Sunny Sunday turns into Wintery Weekdays

Yesterday was a perfect Sunday. While I barely left the house, the deck provided the perfect spot to bask in the warmth. With a little Sinatra and friends playing, I resigned myself to the deck  w/ C, Rita and my two furballs (who spent the day tracking and chattering at finches) and got my hands a little dirty. 

That one day of sun and smiles shall carry me through the upcoming week of rain and snow.

Happy Friday!

"When I was 5 years old, my mom told me that happiness was the key to life. 
When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down "happy." 
They told me I didn't understand the assignment and I told them they didn't understand life."

Have a happy weekend!

Psst...

Oh, how I've missed you!

I'm making no promises but I hope to be seeing you more in the future.

"Just a hello" vinyl sticker courtesy of tasty suite

Fluttering on summer breezes

The month-long rain has finally broken and the summer sun is shining down. Warm breezes are floating across my patio and into my windows. What better to catch those gusts than these whisper-soft lounge pieces courtesy of Plum Pretty Sugar...

Most of the cotton voile fabric was discovered in India during PSS's travels and are ideal for weekend's spent sipping coffee and singing duets with Madeleine Peyroux.

Happy Weekend to you!

Now I really wish I had invented Post-Its.

Happy Birthday, Miss Compton!

As the lilacs bloomed and the peonies started to bud, I knew this was a sign of more than just the final stretch before a Sierra Nevada summer. But what? Pine pollen season? Evening softball games? Ice cream trucks? Ooh yeaaaah...Compton's birthday! Her real entrance into the land of Jersey is officially June 13th but we are celebrating a little today and a little tomorrow. It's been a day of eating so far starting off with my Zucchini Ricotta Cheesecake, then Mel's treat from Nothing Bundt Cakes. However, Greg literally took the cake with Fudgie the Whale.

More details to come....

Channeling my Illy obsession

I've been receiving monthly home deliveries of Illy coffee for over a year now. 2 cans every month. And in this time, I haven't been able to bring myself to dispose of the majority of my leftover cans. I have them lining the top of my cabinets, on my desk in the sunroom, under my kitchen sink... Tired of watching them multiply and simply gather dust, I am making a conscious effort to discover alternative uses for their red and silver loveliness. Here is use #1:

I love to grow fresh herbs. The local rabbits love to eat my herbs. My beloved Illy cans are tallenough that those adorable yet pesky furballs can't reach them. Also, I can easily transport them back and forth to the kitchen.

Get your own cans here

Good-bye weekdays, Hello weekend!

It's been a rainy week here and I'm slowly slipping back into hibernation mode. These photos by Livy from A Field Journal have give me the power to cling to the last bits of spring/summer spirit I have. When the rain ceases, my flowers too shall bloom.

Happy Weekend!

OH...

Sometimes you just can't win.

Come sail away...

Along the Nile with me aboard the Assouan. Christine sent me an article from Marie Claire Maison on this fantasy travel excursion and I have been dreaming about it ever since.

The text from the NourElNil website does little to stifle my passion to sail:

Surely you have dreamed of sailing the Nile like the nineteenth century travelers Flaubert, Amelia Edwards, Pierre Loti, Nerval and so many others.

We provide you with this extraordinary opportunity to explore the river of myth and legend aboard our dahabiyah, the Assouan.

Propelled by the gentle Nile winds, you will discover the many archaeological treasures, magnificent deserts and breathtaking vistas Egypt has to offer.

Removed from the rush and crowds of typical Egyptian tours, you will find yourself traveling to Egypt's finest destinations at your own leisurely pace, while we provide you with all the comforts and amenities other Nile tours can only claim to offer.

Come join us--a wonderful journey awaits you...

I'm on my way!

I <3 Michael Cera

Pura Vida!

We recently returned from Quepos/Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, the location of Wayne & Mel's wedding. And while our reason for traveling to Central America was certainly to witness the union of the HillegAstrups, we found ourselves savoring the land, the water, the food, our plane and our friends even more.

The sweet Suite 727, Costa Verde

View onto wing balcony, Karen & Dennis' suite, our bathroom cockpit
,

C dancing in the kitchen


View from Wing Balcony


Rummy & Makers


The best morning


ATV Tour & Jungle Trek

This journey started off slow and then turned potentially dangerous when Karen & Dennis flipped their ATV going through a river. Fortunately, everyone was safe and we trekked on...

We climbed waterfalls, meandered up and across bridges and even leapt from a few.



Thanks to our friend, Roberto and his crazy hiking dog, Botas for a day that still has us grinning!

Pool time
What's better than beach time all day and pool time at night!?

In between our adventures, we set aside time to dine out and cook in.

Breakfast at Costa Verde's Anaconda


Pescado con salsa limon, Cafe Del Mar
(It looks frightening but was absolutley delicious. The Costa Rican tacos are a must too!)


Tom's breakfast scramble and the largest prawns I've ever seen. (Prawns courtesy of La Hacienda)

Chef love

The Wedding

While it poured on the wedding, we all managed to have a blast!

Big thanks go out to my Costa Verde crew: Tom, Christine, Karen, Dennis, Rak, Sheila, Debbie & Paco. You totally made this trip the ever-lasting memory it is.

And big ups to Fresno! We miss you buddy!