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It's starting to look a lot like Christmas (don't you wonder how many blog posts start with that line this time of year?  I bet a ton of them). 

I'm going with a less sparkly decorating scheme this year.  I know!  So unlike me.  I just felt like I wanted woodsy greens and creamy whites.  I was inspired by this post .  Scroll down a bit to see her wreath pictures – warning – she has music on her site so mute if you don't want to get busted for reading blogs while at work.  It is a gorgeous blog, by the way.  Please come back to me when you are done being all distracted by hers.

 

We are going to actually put up a real tree this year.  I haven't done that in a couple of years.  Just haven't been in the mood for it.  I've been doing small, faux tabletop trees instead.  But I'm in the mood for the scent of a fresh tree. 

Today I let the chickens out while I was putting up the wreaths then I sat on my bench and was chatting with a friend on my cellphone.  We don't like to let the chickens out on their own because there have been two occasions where a coyote (probably the same one) has come out in broad daylight and was stalking them.  They sure put up a huge fuss and we were able to chase off the coyote but it makes us nervous to let them just roam unattended.

After pecking around for a while they decided to join me. 

 

 

 

 

I bet anyone from Northern California knows exactly where this sign is. 

I have driven past it about 1000 times in past 50 years.  Probably more.  And I've always wanted to stop and take a picture of it.  Today I decided – what the heck.  I pulled over onto a little traveled service road and walked around trying to find the best photo taking vantage point. 

The sign stands in an abandoned lot where the restaurant used to be.  The restaurant was built in 1928 and was quite popular until its demise in the mid 80's.  It was damaged in a big storm and essentially abandoned until 2000 when what was left of the building was dismantled and put in storage.

There are hopes that the building will eventually be reassembed but most likely it won't be in its orginal location.   Instead it will most likely be turned into a shopping center or business park.  Much like the fate of its iconic neighbor, The Nut Tree, down the road. 

I have a friend that collects Milk Farm memorabilia.  He has a few pieces of the china with milk farm logo and a few other items.  I always look for the china when I am in antique stores.  I just know that back when it closed someone in Woodland or Dixon bought up a ton of it and it's sitting in their basement. 

In all the times I drove past it I actually only stopped in once.  It was back in the late 70's and we were driving back from a trip to Tahoe when we decided we wanted a milk shake.  I remember being shocked at paying something like $4 for that milk shake but it was very good. 

By the way, the property is for sale if anyone feels like resurrecting a Northern California landmark.  I bet you could get the bits and pieces of the restaurant for a good price too.  I promise I'll stop in more regularly if you reopen it.

 

On Saturday I drove into the city to meet up with some friends for lunch and a little browsing on Union Square.  I have been to San Francisco, and Union Square in particular, every year for the last five years or so and I've never noticed the ice skating rink.  My sister Kate assures me it is there every year. 

How could I NOT notice?

 

We had lunch at Kuleto's.  Crab is in season so of course I had that.  Festive cocktails are in season so I had one of those too.

After lunch we popped over to the Hotel Union Square where one of my friends was staying in the Dashiell Hammett Suite.  They have decorated it to represent what it would look like while he was staying there. 

 

I like spending at least one day in San Francisco during the holidays.  It helps me get into the holiday spirit.  All the pretty lights and throngs of happy shoppers.

It just so happened to be the weekend of Santacon so there were hundreds, maybe even thousands of drunken santas bar-hopping.  I've never seen so many, umm, unusually dressed santas before.  Santa in fishnets?

 

I can't believe how quickly Christmas is going to be here.   It is just over two and half weeks away!  Where did the year go?  I know it probably premature to talk about the new year but I'm looking forward to 2011.  I have a feeling it will be a good year. 

In the meantime I'm hoping to slow down and enjoy the holiday season and not get all in a panic about it.  This year it's all about keeping it simple and not stressing out over any of the details.  I'm just going to enjoy the sparkly lights and getting together with family and friends.