If I had a house in California ...

I would want to live in any one of these beautiful Craftsman style houses. We just got back from California to visit our girl, and I have to show you a few of my favorite houses in her neighborhood.  This first house has a front yard of mostly succulents and the purple front door to match the purple japanese maple trees.

 these hen and chickens are growing in the walk way!

This was one of the coolest back yards.  I drooled over it every day while walking the grand dog, Max. That is a window pane built into the fence, for people like me to peep into. So I did. And even took the liberty of taking this picture. They had raised beds on one side of yard, stone walkways, and the like.   One night these people had a party . . the back yard had lights hanging in the trees.  It was beautiful.  I wanted to crash the party . . maybe asked to go inside and look around.

I love the old school house porch light on the front porch of 312 North Street

I have always wanted to have a 3-digit address.  

This goes back to my courier days, delivering to the 3-digit estates in Memphis

who doesn't love a red front door?

s w o o n ....  

318 Plaza 

and it just goes on and on . . . 

these folks seem to enjoy every bit of their porch

I think my front door is painted close to that color now.  so, I am getting there, right?

 This one is under a major over haul.  The guys living there had a yard sale while we were there, and we learned that they grew all the pumpkins and gourds around the front.

They had great stuff for sale, and a red door.  I liked them straight away.

do you think the "keep out" was for people like me?

so if you had the good fortune to live in Healdsburg, California, which house would you choose?

I want 318 Plaza. Really bad.

California Dreaming

I dream of this girl and that smile no matter where she is

Those Californians have lemons growing on trees just off the front porch

and these pink rose trees are growing everywhere

 I can't forget the purple trees

or this guys cool truck

that goes nicely with his Bocce Ball court

or the largest Century Plant I eva seen

I miss Michelle's delicious fresh fish recipe cooked in a paper bag

and these guys riding bikes selling cotton candy

special dinners with these great people

Fresh fruit and veggies from a local farm delivered to your front door - word

and of course this familiar site heading up to Healdsburg

I think its time to to start looking for a couple of cheap airline tickets

Boudin Cafe

This is a long overdue post about our Thanksgiving vacation, California style.   We fly into San Francisco, and usually we are quickly motored up to the wine country to visit with the girls in their beautiful bohemian utopia, Healdsburg, CA.  This particular trip was a wonderful time to be together and enjoy the things that can only happen when we are all together, or when we are in California.

One of my favorite places to eat in San Francisco is Boudin Cafe at Fisherman's Wharf.   We all made a trip back to the city one of the days we were there to do several different things, and met back at Boudin's for lunch.   Per their website, this place has emerged as San Francisco's oldest continuously running company.  It opened in 1849.

It was chilly that day, or the entire week for that matter, so the delicious warm claim chowder was extra yummy in their famous sourdough bread bowls.  I forgot to take a picture of my claim chowder bread bowl, or of all of us eating our lunch on the outside patio by the fireplace.  I think I was too concerned about the crazy man feeding the Pigeons (wink wink to Kris) and lost track of my blogging opportunity.   However, here is a peek at their famous bread.

Sourdough Bread, Sculpted Bread, Hearth Bread, Speciality Bread, can you smell the bread yet?

I love beautiful places, and this is one of them.  While waiting on your food, or your family to finish eating, there is a gift shop to peruse.   The Mister loves dipping his bread in seasoned dipping oil, so this station was intriguing to us.

oops...

We decided on these two bottles and this tray and dipping bowls, for bread and cheese, oil, olives, and to remember where we spent Thanksgiving 2010.

While all that was oh-so-lovely, the real eye-candy were these pretty girls

Baby took a quick nap inside the cafe where it was nice and warm

So go ahead and check out Boudin's the next time your in the bay, or in the city, or down at Fisherman's Wharf... and don't forget --- it is a social faux pas to feed the pigeons on the patio.