Leaving one's heart in San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge in early morning fog.

Looking across to Lombard Street (the most crooked street in the city) from Coit Tower.

Jasmin looking out toward Seal Rocks and the blue Pacific Ocean.

The noisy, smelly, really funny seals basking at Pier 39 - Fisherman's Wharf.

Haight-Ashbury - remember the '60's 'love generation', with hippies and flowers? This is where it all happened!!

The famous Victorian houses of Alamo Square on Russian Hill.

The Ferry Terminal.

Charming gardens and shops of Sausalito.


Looking toward San Francisco from Sausalito.

A curvy cliff edge ride to Stinson Beach.

We're having a great time. The mornings are cool until the fog rolls out, then warm and sunny afternoons, perfect!

Pink Sugar Saturday................

Can you imagine taking sugar, water, a pretty color, and coming up with the sweetest product ever?

Sugars by Sharon

Hand Molded and Colored Tea Sugars

A little cellophane cube tied with pink ribbon contains four stacks of sugar pretties - pink roses and green leaves - to drop into your teacup. As Sharon says, "add a touch of grace and beauty to your tea experience".

Today, to honor Pink Saturday, I'm thinking a cup of Earl Grey with a slice of plum-raspberry gateau topped with more raspberries..........but should I open the almost too pretty to use sugars?

This delightful gift came from Susie and Jenny (mom and daughter team from SuzAnna's Antiques). Thanks so much dear friends, you are so kind to always think of me.

As you know, I'm not at home to make tea today..............instead I'm more likely searching for a tea shop in San Francisco!

Hope you all visit our hostess Beverly at How Sweet The Sound today to see lots more pink.

Rocky Mountain High

Today, we crossed the country under sunny skies and fluffy clouds - a lovely smooth flight. It was clear enough to see the many different types of landscapes along
the way............and I took a fun photo of a special girl taking a photo of the Rocky Mountains.




Left Raleigh at 7 AM where it was already 85 humid degrees following a night of the loudest thunder and brilliant lightning. Arrived in San Francisco where it's chilly and windy. Tomorrow, a full day of sightseeing, and hopefully it will be sunny and warmer.

America the beautiful......from sea to shining sea.

Farewell.....until I return

Almost time to leave for the other coast of this vast land.

I'll miss my home and garden........especially now the Morning Glories are blooming.

I'll even miss my kitchen hours preparing the local Summer harvest......with the best tomatoes ever.

Most of all I'll miss my friends, just meeting for a coffee and a chat, or a browse around a favorite 'treasure hunting' spot.

Will post from the Golden Gate Bridge, the most crooked street in the world, a special California lake, the Great Salt Lake, a high red butte, a mountain peak, Old Faithful...................well maybe not if there's no WI-FI.............but will hopefully find at least a few 'hot spots' along the way to keep in touch. Back in a couple of weeks.

Go West -------->

Travelling westward in an 1800's Conestoga covered wagon. Fun for more adventurous souls, a bit tough on those of us long in the tooth.
Of course one could at least pack more, including the kitchen sink, which I can never seem to fit in the overhead!

Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

Tomorrow I'm heading West with DH and 'travelling granddaughter' Jasmin. Our first stop will be San Francisco. This will be our final Summer trip..............then I hope to stay home for a while and do all the jobs/projects that have piled up lately.

A few relaxing 'on the water' days here with our dearest friends at Lake Almanor, Northern California.................

Grand Tetons National Park - Mt. Morant by Daryl Gibson

........then on to many other beautiful places such as Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Montana........

...........and of course Yellowstone National Park.

I hope to be able to keep in touch and post along the way, depending on WI-FI access. Having traveled to America's West several times, I know there is much scenery of amazing beauty to share with you.

Off to complete the packing and get an early night!

Eating Out in Maine

Remember this scenario? Just about every parent has done this. Coerced our children into tasting a new to them food. "Come on, just one bite". "It's good for you, nutritious and delicious". "Don't you want to be a gourmand when you grow up?". "Close your eyes and just swallow the d--- thing". Yes, know you're not supposed to do that to your kids, but when you know something is so yummy and delicious you hate to think they're missing the taste and texture.....................of a fried clam!!!

We always stop here on the little causeway in Kennebunkport, Maine for fried clams. Not the juicy, slimy, dip in melted butter, open mouth and slurp down 'steamers'. The just out of the bay, quick deep fried, golden, crispy, little critters, dipped in spicy cocktail sauce, chewed a bit and swallowed with an "ah, these darned things are fabulous, pass them back over here please".

We try to get one of three outdoor rustic benches on the deck in back of the Clam Shack. We can watch the ducks swimming below, the swifts flying by, and the whale watching boats come and go.

Did you know that grandchildren are no different from your children. Sometimes they have to be coerced also. Jasmin has eaten most things we've offered on our travels. There was Seche (Cuttlefish) and Pissaladiere (like a pizza with 10 tons of sliced onions, anchovies and black olives) in France. In England she like everything, especially my second cousin's cheese scones, and at the local pub, the cheese baps (rolls) washed down with elderberry soda. In Spain she sat at a sidewalk cafe in Figueras and tucked into spicy tapas for lunch.........while we four adults tossed back a couple of bottles of the best chilled Spanish rose wine ever!

But............take a look at this face, it says it all!

As Granddad tucked into his delicious golden fried, crispy clams, Jasmin decided no way............and, sadly, she missed out on a tasty New England delicacy.

Needless to say, DH and I had no problem eating her share!

Maine was beautiful. We'll be back for fried clams, lobster and steamers some day soon I hope. (Perhaps she'll try them next time..................and love 'em hopefully).

Freeport, Maine

If you travel along the picturesque coast of Maine you can easily make a stop in Freeport. Just two and a half hours from Boston, Freeport is a shopper's paradise that began in 1911 with the opening of L.L. Bean's store in downtown. Now it boasts over 200 retail shops and businesses including some of of the biggest names in retail and outlet stores as well as charming and eclectic small shops and specialty boutiques.

The very extra large sized Maine Hunting Boot, L.L. Bean's signature product, at the main entrance.

Being a tall family we do tend to have big feet, but even Jasmin's size 9 sneakers look minuscule next to this monster boot!

L.L. Bean's flagship store covers a large area of the town. It's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and was just named the state's Top Tourist Attraction drawing 3,500,000 visitors annually.

We didn't plan to 'shop' as the luggage was already bulging and our airline - shame on them - charged for ALL checked bags, each way. However, looking around the gigantic shop I was intrigued by the attractive display of the original sewing machine used to stitch the hunting boots.

Original L.L. Bean hunting boots.

We were so good................enjoyed the shop but left empty handed. After all, there's always the catalogs arriving in the mail box!