A mini virtual trip to Provence

The inn we stayed in near Aix
A winery that we visited with a beautiful garden
Aix en Provence square
Candy store in Aix

My daughter's mother in law called this past weekend, and I got to thinking about our last trip to the South of France. This was back in 2006, so it has now been close to two years. In talking to her I looked back at all the photos I had on my computer of Provence, and thought I'd share a small taste of just how beautiful it is there. I'm sure many have visited there, but for those who haven't, please enjoy these pictures. I have many, many more, but I really didn't want to list too many, just a little taste. Being from California, I didn't think I would really enjoy Provence because of some of the similarities that we share. I was pleasantly surprised on my first visit in 2004, how beautiful it was. Yes, there were many similarities, but this is after all France, and having said that, it had that magic touch that the French have. We visited may regions of France while living there, and by far my favorite is the Loire Valley, but I think now, it is a tie between the two.
Since my daughter now has connections to the south, her husband being from Toulouse,we will forever have good memories and look forward to more trips down there. Enjoy the photos, and if anyone needs travel advice for that area, just e-mail me!

The climb was conquered!!

He looks a bit worried here doesn't he?
Why am I up so early?
View from the top of the BofA building(we took the express elevator)

These guys made it up in 7 and 8 min respectively
Dave and his co worker Nina after the climb
Cool as a cucumber after the climb!

What an amazing experience to see all these brave souls get up early and climb 52 flights of stairs! Caitlin and I took the express elevator after we wished Dave luck.In all the years I have lived in the Bay Area, I've never been to the top of the Bank of America building. It is the tallest in San Francisco.
The first guys up to the top were surprisingly in their sixties,but extremely fit! Can you believe they climbed it in 7 and 8 min!! David did it in about 25 min.,and he wasn't even out of breath or sweaty!! His co worker wondered if he has cheated and took the elevator part way. I would have been passed out on the second flight if I was lucky to make it even that far. He reached his goal and raised about 800 dollars too. We are very proud of him!!

Next sewing project

Appologies for the not so great picture of the pattern

Silk dupioni

I've had this little number cut out since last summer! I'm not even sure that the size I cut out will even fit me now, since I've lost a few pounds since then. I may have to do a few adjustments on it. I saw this pattern made up by a few people over at pattern review web site, and it looked so pretty. I usually don't like to sew for myself, so this is probably why it is not done yet. Since I finished Caitlin's blouse, I realized that this needed to be completed as well, so here I go.......
If there are no further posts on this top, you will know that 1. it came out so ugly that no one should see it, 2. Didn't fit right and so I gave it away. 3. So ugly and it didn't fit, that I decided to burn it out in the back yard.
Stay tuned.

The Climb

This is a quick post to show the inspirational thing my dear husband is going to attempt on Saturday. This climb is in the tallest building in San Francisco, and I wish him God speed. My daughter and I will be taking the elevator up to meet him. It is for the American lung association,and may people have pledged money for him to finish this climb. I hope I don't have to carry him out on a stretcher home! Wish him luck.

Caitlin's birthday part two

This is our favorite Mexican restaurant

Los cocineros

Yummy

Birthday girl with her dinner

Pierre ordered these very tasty chile rellenos

Nicole and Caitlin

Time for cake

Make a wish!

Like I said in my last post, I can't believe Caitlin turned 18! She had a good one I think. Some friends brought her flowers to school,then I waited for her at Whole Foods with a dozen roses. She gained a bit of attention for this and was wished a happy birthday by some of the workers there. We then picked up her cake and headed to Oakland to meet the rest of the family for dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant. For anyone who lives in the Bay Area reading this, you may want to give it a try,it is very tasty.
After an early dinner we headed back home for cake. Blew out the candles and made a wish,and the day was complete.

Happy Birthday little darling

This little cutie pie turns 18 today. Seems like yesterday that this little two year old, clad in her little red Keds and little spring time dress, was toddling along playing with dolls and doing what most two year olds do.
It was a beautiful spring day that she was born, and very hard to believe that it has been 18 years! She has always been the little kid that was always at my side, not sure weather to go out on her own and play, or stick close to mom.For the most part she has always been my little companion.
She has grown up to be a very confident young woman with a good head on her shoulders and ready to go out there and conquer the world on her terms. Both her dad and I, are very proud of all her accomplishments, and can't wait to see what she does with all her talents. Soon she will graduate high school and start a new chapter of her life, a little scary for her I'm sure, as it is for the parents, watching the last baby chick leave the nest. Hope she doesn't fly too far away :)

Happy Birthday Caitlin!!!

Lovely Easter day

Look how tall the grass grew!

On the menu: Roast leg of lamb,red potatoes roasted with lamb,and caramelized lemons,asparagus tossed with black olive paste and orange juice. Missing on my plate here were the tiny steamed carrots sprinkled with chives.

My husband David dishing out the goods.

My mother in law Joan,and Caitlin

Pierre, my son in law

Nicole and Caitlin,first in line for carrot cake

I just couldn't finish the frosting!

Easter was a beautiful time here at our house. The birds were singing and the weather was beautiful. We had a mid day dinner and a relaxing day with the family. My mother in law came to spend the day with us, and we had a very nice visit.
Instead of going to Easter mass in the morning, we went to Easter vigil on Saturday. I hadn't attended an Easter vigil since college,so I didn't know what to expect at my parish. It ended up being very nice, and a refreshing switch,from the traditional Easter Sunday morning mass. Very hard to believe that Easter is now over and that summer is closing in on us. It always seems to me that as soon as Easter is over, life fast forwards into the end of another school year.
I guess it is time to put away all the cute Easter decorations..... I hope everyone had a wonderful day and spent time with the ones you love.

Beginning of my center piece

I decided to make a center piece for my Easter table with real grass. These were the first photos of the beginning, at this time it is now three times taller. I will post the final look when I set my Easter table. It has been fun watching it grow taller by the day. I hope my idea works with what I have planned. Stay tuned....

Real photography

This self portrait is the only remaining photo that I have from my college photography class


My trusty Nikon

This exhibit was amazing

We went to see the Annie Leiobovitz exhibit this past Saturday, and I was blown away!! The exhibit is based on her newest coffee table book, where she has her personal photos and work photos from 1990 up until 2005. I bought the book, but the photos in the book are a pale comparison to seeing the real deal. She is my favorite American photographer. Her ability to connect with the subject is spectacular. If this show ever rolls into your town, you must see it.
It made me think that I should take out my old trusty Nikon and take some "real" pictures! I just wish I had access to a dark room to do some black and whites. In college, I took two years worth of classes and had one heck of a professor. He was close friends with Ansel Adams and Imogen Cunningham. I learned so much and and I'm real sad that a lot of my negatives from that class got lost in our move. The self portrait above is the only photograph I have left. Some day maybe I'll have an old time dark room where I can tinker around with some black and white prints. One can dream right?

Caitlin's long awaited blouse

In my past post on this blouse, I wrote how terrified I was to sew this fabric and to use the new Bernina machine.... Fear no more the machine, or the paper thin silk organza fabric. I finished it!! It fits her perfect and I think she looks cute in it. I really don't know what my problem was. There were some tricky bits to it though, like the piping on the neck line and other small details, but the worst were the hemming of the sleeves. It was such a full circle, that it was not wanting to be folded under. I managed to make it look OK, but not as perfect as I would like. I have now fallen in love with this machine,and I'm on to new adventures with it.

Bunny napkins

I love this fabric.


Here is the machine that I have been trying to not be afraid of using.

First time making mitered corners.

Finished product.

After I finished the bunny napkins, I completed the blouse for my daughter. She wore it today, since there is green on it. I'll take some photos of her when she gets home and post them soon. I don't know why I was so afraid of sewing that fabric, because it turned out really pretty and the machine worked like a champ on it. I guess I will experiment a bit more with good old "Bernina," and not be so afraid of sheers.
Happy St. Patrick's day to all those who celebrate.

Bouquets to Art at the De Young museum San Francisco

I could put on much more, but you get the idea of how amazing this show is. Every year they always seem to impress me. I like to compare the last years show with this one, by looking back at the photos and seeing how the other florists interpreted the paintings. I'm not very fond of the first floor abstract ones,even though I do enjoy abstract art, it just never translates very well in flowers. My favorites are the ones up stairs with the more romantic feel to them.
The evening started out by collecting my daughter and her husband for dinner then off we went to the museum. The show started at 6:00 pm. and we got there close to 7:15 and had to park a million miles away. I was getting very disappointed that we didn't have that much time, because it ended at 8:00! Well, we noticed that there were a ton of people out side of the museum and couldn't figure out why. It turns out that there was a small kitchen fire in the restaurant,and they hadn't even opened the show yet. We ended up getting there right when they opened the doors. We were very lucky, and had plenty of time to see all of the rooms. It only lasts a week,as you might guess, since the flowers are real. I don't know how many of you have seen the new De Young museum, but it sure is beautiful and worth the visit if you are in town.