goodbye, goodbye california : what i'm going to miss {part two}

i'm really, truly, with all my might
going to miss driving through the green hills
of marin county in the spring...it makes me feel
like i'm driving on narrow roads through ireland,
and i love seeing those happy cows (that just happen
to make the best milk i've ever tasted).

i'm going to miss taking a drive in search of
autumn to orchard after orchard of delicious apples,
and ordering a dozen warm apple cider donuts
for cj and i to eat throughout the day (yes, we eat
them all in one day though we try to use restraint).

i'm going to miss the enchantment of yosemite...
the frosty fall mornings, the cliffs watching over us,
our heated tent, and a valley so mysterious.

i'm definitely going to miss being close to such
a wonderful city as san francisco.
i loved spending a day there eating our way through
the city and finding little bits of stationary
and longing after blooms in all the flower shops.

we're going to try to visit the sea this weekend,
and maybe we'll swing by the city for something
delicious to eat.

see you next week sometime when i've had
a chance to take it all in and settle in our new home.

apple hill : if this day was every day

this weekend ceej and i made our way up to apple hill...
drawn by the thought of apple cider donuts and cool fall weather.
there was no disappointment to be found anywhere in our hearts.
we went straight for the donuts...one dozen to last us through the next few days...
their warm smell lingered in our car throughout the rest of the day.
oh my. just thinking of it made me take a deep breath hoping to smell that glorious smell.
we also made a stop for apple cider, pears, and other goodies.
i especially love looking down the rows and rows of apple trees in all the orchards.
i could set up a picnic for the entire day and just gaze and eat to my heart's content.
we also stopped by a very "sincere" pumpkin patch...almost sincere enough for a visit from
the great pumpkin.
i don't think we can avoid another trip this month.
it will just have to happen.



{p.s. i took lots of black&white photos...can't wait to see them!}

birthday report {part two}

i'm pretty sure i've been in heaven this week...
well, at least i've been in eden.

the weather and the sights have been some of my favorites:
orchards, clouds, changing leaves...you know my favorites.

we picked up a few pears from boa vista orchards.
absolutely delicious.

it's fun to have ceej around snapping photos left and right...
it makes you feel like you're someone very important indeed.

i had lots of phone calls from family and friends.
you all made the day so complete.
thanks for taking time to give lil' ol' me a ring!

here i am talking with my 7-year-old nephew, jeremiah.
of course we talked about harry potter.
and the secret of nimh.
unfortunately, he had to go practice the piano so our
conversation was cut short.

i have so so so many photos.
we'll see if i can show you all of them...

{photos by ceej and me. ocotober 2009}

are you tired of apple hill yet? i hope not...

i think twinkle lights in a barn
is one of the most magical sights
in the world.

i love the little details inside the barn...
how they display things so thoughtfully,
yet so casually.

would love to have my halloween party
in a barn with harvest fruits
and twinkle lights...
someday.

photos by me. october 2009.

apple hill: the polaroids part 1

lately i've been dreaming of having my own farm.
it is a big dream indeed.
i'm not always sure if i want it to come true.
but i do know that i will have a mini orchard
and a substantial garden once we finally settle down.

we chatted with one of the farmers here.
he's second-generation farmer...lucky to grow up on a farm.
his son was working there now,
third generation.

remember these tasties?
can't wait to go back and get another dozen!

nothing says halloween/fall better than a pile of
colorful pumpkins!

ashley & me holding some amazing turban pumpkins.
how do these things grow with such wonderfully horrible shapes?
i love it!

happy, happy fall!

{more apple hill photos within the next couple of days!}

i never eat doughnuts...until october comes...then i'm all about a little splurging

oh yes.
it's totally worth the wait.
these apple cider doughnuts are perfect
in every way!

i had to have some serious discipline to
take photos of them before i
sunk my teeth into them.

mmmmm.
can't wait for our next trip!

photos by me and cj.

when walking through trees that harvest sweet fruit...

a small thing like an apple
can bring so much joy,
so much gratitude.

taking time to walk the orchards,
where farmers have put in long, hard hours
with their trees that literally give them life.

i thought i should have danced a bit more while
i was among these trees.

but i certainly did laugh,
and i was happy to be in such a lovely place.

take a walk today.
notice all the trees and fruit that sustain you.
oh, we have so much
and need nothing more,
in fact we might just give something away today.

photos by cj and me.

sometimes i just want to write about how good life is...including the hard stuff

a couple of days ago i went to some orchards. trees bearing fruit. like the ones in eden. i am oh so grateful for a brave and wise woman who had foresight. whether or not you believe this beautiful myth, it has power for us women.

this story of a beginning, shows that there was a brilliant woman who decided that learning how to live and die was essential. she did not fear death, nor did she fear life which brings storms you never knew could gather. she had a choice. and i think she chose wisely indeed. because here we are. she chose creation for us all. thank you.

i love orchards. i love the fruit they bear...these trees, that are indeed women bearing fruit, bearing witness of something we have yet to understand.

oh, how awe-some to be a woman! how amazing to see how the earth moves, and feel it move inside you. how blessed to be able to be filled with emotion just thinking of the ebb and flow of life. how essential to experience tears of joy and tears of sorrow. so grateful for the ability to weep and to laugh--sometimes all in one moment.

will be posting photos throughout the week of our trip to the orchards.

{photo by cj of me. october 2009. apple hill}

Holiday Misc.

We've been oh so busy these past few days with holiday activities and fundraiser/protest organizing. Here's some photos to document some of it. Above, me with wreaths I bought at Apple Hill. They are oh so pretty and oh so cheap! One of you lucky readers will get one of these wreaths...you'll find out who it is in about 4 days!

Here is where we took a lunch break: apple cider doughnuts.

Can you see all that sugery goodness?!

Doing a little grocery shopping...hooray for pears!

Clementines for me, please.

We had this yummy treat while we watched the movie below:

My double chocolate caramels worked! Phew! They are pretty darn good.

My little fruit display...my grandparents are known for taking pictures of their fruit organized in pretty ways...I thought I'd keep the tradition alive.

My cheddar twist rolls. I can taste 'em now...they melt in your mouth!

A little bouquet for me!

I just thought this was pretty (and yummy!)

Lemon Poppyseed shortbread. I've made these twice in one week now. Soooo good.

Last night we had a Christmas Extravaganza party at our little apartment with a few of our neighbors. Homemade eggnog, twice-baked potatoes, mulled cider, and Abelskivers were served. We had a lovely time laughing and eating.

I sent a few of these lovley postcards off...will be sending more soon.