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Hang on – this post is going to be all over the place. 

I have a thing for cupcake liners.  I bought these at Sur la Table along with some blue striped ones.  My camera is down at my Dad's and my cellphone tends to want to turn red into orange.  They really are bright red and bright blue.  Hmm this post would have been a bit more timely before the 4th of July…

Anyway I am smitten with them.

Speaking of smitten – I just made banana bread using Smitten Kitchen's Jacked Up Banana Bread recipe.  Or Elise’s Friend Heidi’s Friend Mrs. Hockmeyer’s Banana Bread, As Jacked Up by Deb as she likes to refer to it.  I think it's the best banana bread recipe I've made. 

I can't believe I actually used up the seven black bananas sitting on my counter, rather than just looking at them guiltily all week until I threw them away.

Finally I wanted to throw this out here.  I got a comment from a reader that wants to surprise her husband with a trip for their anniversary.  Here's her request for recommendations (I'll leave out pertinent details in case her husband reads this blog…it could happen):

I'm trying to plan a secret getaway for my hubs for our anniv this winter.  He is a wine enthusiast, and I'm really interested in a wine tour getaway…we are interested in the off-beat, quaint, cozy, warm locales. Any ideas? B&B's with wineries close by? We have about 3-4 days to spend.

Personally I am not a big fan of Napa.  I think it is over-hyped but then I might be missing some really great B&B's in the area. 

My suggestion would be to visit wineries in Pasa Robles and maybe stay at the Olive Cottage at Alta Cresta Orchard & Inn (no experience staying here – just looks nice and the reviews are very positive).  From there you could take day trips into San Luis Obisbo, Cambria and visit the Hearst Castle. 

Or our stay at the Glendeven Inn in Mendocino was amazing and the town of Mendocino is charming.  But it's a longer drive for wine tasting.  You can visit the Russian River area wineries. 

So readers – what would you suggest?  Any particular B&B's or wineries you would recommend?
 
 
 

Yesterday Rick and I practiced Bikram yard work.  This is where you go out in the blazing heat and proceed to sweat out any and all moisture in your body.   

We actually got an early start to avoid the worst of the heat and to avoid setting Placer County ablaze.  There are all kinds of dire warnings posted about weed whacking and mowing early in the day to avoid sparks setting off fires. 

I was worried about ticks.  Not sparks.  And certainly not snakes like the one Rick found and very carefully put up in a tree out of harm's way.  Gah!  No one told me about snakes!

You can see the palais and the flat area in front of it where we will eventually have a fenced in vegetable and flower garden.  The first picture was taken from our deck and the second one just below the deck from the lawn.

When we had the goats they kept the weeds under control.  But since they aren't here anymore (they are retired and living up in Auburn) it's up to us to keep things whacked.  Up until yesterday "Us" meant Rick.  But I volunteered to help so we set out early with the weed whackers.  I managed to take out part of the fence and break about fifty of the plastic strings that do the whacking but we eventually got it done. 

Sure looks dry, doesn't it?  It's too expensive (not to mention wasteful) to water all of the property so we keep this section looking rather natural.  

I wish I had a before picture.  It sure was weedy.  I covered myself almost completely.  I had on leggings tucked into socks tucked into boots and a long-sleeve shirt on.  I managed to stay tick-free but not burr-free.  I include this picture as proof that I was actually out there working and not just standing on the deck offering up helpful suggestions (which is my preferred way of helping).

 
 

Super catchy title, no?

How does one take a picture of something with a highly reflective surface and not have it all obscured by a reflection?

I went to visit my friend Kelly the other day – to visit the two new kittens she is fostering (good luck getting them back from her is all I'm saying….).  As is her style she loaded me up with treasures from her garage and estate sale-ing.  And is my style I just happily let her. 

She gave me this wonderful botanical print in lovely, soft colors.  I have a little corner in my dining room/office/studio that was in need of just such a print. 

Kelly has a real talent for displaying things.  She has little vingnettes around her home and each one makes you want to stop and really look at it.   She layers things beautifully and yet nothing gets lost or overshadowed.

An example is a small beaded purse she has hanging over the light switch in her bedroom.  Very simple but she took it to the next level by adorning the plain jane picture hook with a beautiful vintage button.  You notice both the gorgeous bag and the beautiful button.  I love the sweet, little details like that.

I keep urging her to start a blog.  Maybe she will someday.  Either that or I'm bringing a camera with me next time and I'll start blogging about her things (better than my pale interpretation).