I went on a little road trip today.
I started off the day in Palo Alto, had tea in Columbia, shopped in Sonora and now I'm sitting in Granite Bay.
California, particularly when you get a few miles out of the more congested areas, is a very pretty state. Even in the rain.
I met up with my niece Sara and we had tea in a lovely little tea shop in Columbia. Columbia is one of the many picturesque little towns that dot the Gold Rush country.
The place we had tea is called Columbia Kate's and they do a perfectly lovely tea. We had fresh from the oven scones with clotted cream, cucumber sandwiches, and egg salad and chicken salad on crackers. For dessert we had a lemon bar. It was all served on charmingly mismatched china.
The tea house is an old converted barn that is reputed to be haunted by a murdered French woman. Either that is a rain drop on my lens or a ghostly apparition. You decide.
After our tea we headed a couple minutes down the road to Sonora for a little bit of shopping. It was cold and rainy but we still managed to find a couple of treasures. We are champion shoppers, after all. I found some garden markers that I can label with my metal stamps and a poster of a vintage French postcard.
The poster won't stay here – I just taped it up for illustrative purposes. It was a delightful day. Tea and a visit with a treasured niece ~ a perfect way to spend a rainy Monday.
Looks like you had a beautiful day Andrea ~and Sara!
I love to see how the historic CA Gold Country area has transformed over time. So different than when I was growing up…way BACK when.
What a delightful tea, and opportunities to shop for treasures… *sigh*
That poster? As I’ve mentioned before, I’d adore it if you would be my personal shopper. 🙂
Ahem, Palo Alto? Never heard of it…(You probably know I love and miss your/my/our home town.)
Thank you for sharing your day ~ it made mine so much more cheerful. xo
Morning Andrea, sounds like a very fine day. Love Palo alto but sure am glad I live in the valley. Lizzie
It does sound most delightful! I haven’t been to California in years. But people don’t head west for nothing.
Brenda
Do you remember where you bought the poster? I live in Jamestown – 3 miles from Sonora and my daughter would love that poster. I’m glad you had such a nice time in my “neck of the woods”.