The Delta & Time With Friends

The sun was bright, the temperatures were in the 70’s & I LOVED being with my girl friends….  After leaving San Francisco we headed east to an area called The Delta & hooked up with my gal pal Joy Campbell.  The next day we went into Lodi to hook up with Natalie Hansen.  I had taken classes with Natalie (see a cute interview, photos & some of her jewelry designs HERE) in Dallas at The Gilded Life (held in the amazing Church turned Home/Art Studio) & we have been at Events hosted by Kim Caldwell together but, this time we went to visit Natalie in her stomping grounds.  We had so much fun having lunch & shopping.  After leaving Natalie Joy, Tina (a new friend met through Joy) & I headed to Jessie’s Grove Winery.

Joy was into the spirit while the huge OLD BARN was the back drop.  We did a little wine tasting & found a few we really liked. Cindy & I swear Joy NEVER takes a bad picture.

This winery is so pretty with all the old trees & there is so much history here.  I had borrowed a book from Joy about  this family & their struggle to keep the family farm.  We bought our wine & headed back to The Delta are where our hubby’s were waiting.

A very interesting area where the Sacramento River & San Joaquin Rivers meet before emptying into the San Francisco Bay.  The water ways are HUGE with amazing boats of all types & sizes.  It is a huge area where many crops are grown & shipped all over the United States.  The soil is fertile, the climate mild, water is readily available for irrigating & the crops are yummy!

We went out with Joy & her hubby on their boat & enjoyed an amazing afternoon.  See how wide that river is…

We docked & went into a little Marina for lunch.  The poor puppies had to stay outside (we thought we’d be able to bring them on the patio but, NO!).  I can tell you Joy’s DUKE barked & told management his thoughts on separation anxiety.  Elle was left on the bed in the boat & wiggled so much that the carrier had dumped to the floor when we got back… After that the two of them had a great time being out on the boat with us.

Duke & Tina

Daddy & Elle (she has quiet the life doesn’t she?)

Huge bridges spanning the river that you can go under.

Bridges too short so you have to radio the operator to open them.  Fascinating!

I wish I had taken more photos of the houses built along the river.  Sooooooooooooo charming most of them.  Each with a dock out back & swimming platforms.

Thank you Joy for hosting us in this fun wonderful place.  We got to see a totally different side of California here.  We loved meeting Tina & Mark.  Natalie… I can’t wait to see you again at the next event… better yet, let’s plan an event here in Texas & have you come out here to teach!  If there are any of you in the DFW Metroplex that would like to have something like that please let me know so I can start an email list to notify you as I really do want to do something here in Texas for those of you who can’t travel so far.  Leave me a comment with your information or send me an email. 
In the meantime… enjoy this cooler, rainy day we’re having.
HUGS! Charlene

Belt Buckle Give Away

Did this get your attention????   This is a few from Cindy’s private stash… But, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month my friend Cindy is having a give away for the belt buckle below. 

So click HERE (or on my sidebar where her button is) & if you want to pass on the word….  You have until September 29th to go register to win.  And… while you’re there tell her Happy Birthday as her BDay is also 9/29 & I think she should celebrate all month.  Have a great weekend.
HUGS!     Charlene

San Francisco Here We Come

Fun old Art Poster shows the next stop on our California Vacation
After leaving the Nipomo, San Luis Obispo, Shell Beach area we headed north to visit my sweet friend Leslie whom I met at my first Kim Caldwell Art Event Les Sierens in 2009.  I got to hook up with Leslie again this year at Kim’s Event Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  Below is a shot of us & we were so happy to see each other again.

We had kept in touch from the very beginning.  Talking about our lives, dogs, everything.  We were supposed to spend 2 days there but, hotel issues arouse & we only got one evening together.  She & her hubby Vassilii picked us up at the hotel & just as they got there… the sun disappeared.  Leslie kept apologizing for the fog.  My hubby kept telling her “Don’t worry I’ve been in Texas with WAY more sunshine than I needed” but, she was still so sad we couldn’t enjoy pretty weather in her beautiful city.

They took us up to twin peaks & the sun played Peek A Boo.

Elle got to meet Leslie’s sweet fur baby (I should say fur BALL).  Elle had never met someone with bigger hair than she had…. She thought him pretty handsome!  What a sweet boy he is!

Famous places FLEW by……

See the girl on the bike above & the car below.

Love the architecture!

The streets go up & down!

We went to dinner at this amazing restaurant called The Original Joe’s.  We put the puppies in a bag, threw a scarf over it & took them in with us.  They were quiet & good as gold while we had a wonderful dinner!

The church across the street was stunning.  That beautiful blue house divine. The park was so interesting. 

Back in the car & headed to Coit Tower.  I saw that in Ben’s season of The Bachelor & it was stunning I was so excited to see it…  I borrowed the photo below as it shows how it is set out on the point of The Bay with Alcatraz in the background.

Here’s my photo’s

The beautiful night sky.

I loved the flag blowing in the wind.


A beautiful night with a beautiful moon… Beautiful friends are such a blessing.  Thank you Leslie & Vassilii we can’t wait to come back next year & spend more time in your amazing city.  Have a great weekend.
Hugs!  Charlene

Bacara Resort & Spa

After leaving Trisha’s house (see previous posts for that story)… we went to The Bacara Resort & Spa as Cynthia said it was DIVINE!  And she knows her stuff as a tour guide.

As rooms START at $500 & go UP…  we were there to look & have drinks out at one of the Pool Side Bars.  But, we loved the beauty & I thought I’d share if you ever need a “Special Place” near Santa Barbara.  Click the blue link above to go the site for more info.

The pool just calling your name.

Some of the rooms…

Some more private than others.  We wandered around looking & taking the path down to the pool side bar.

There’s Cindy & Cynthia ahead of us.  Don’t you LOVE the view of the ocean?  Look at those mountains out in the ocean.  And here is my sweet hubby & I pushing the stroller with Ms. Elle.

Heading down for the little “Umbrella Drinks”!  A girl just has to love a blue ice cream drink don’t you think?

Cindy & Cynthia… CHEERS!

I had to show you Cynthia & Elle’s photo together.  Cynthia has been waiting to meet Elle since I got her (almost 2 years) & of course, she’d never met Hubby either.  It was so much fun to have them meet her after all the times I’ve been out to California & she always takes me around shopping & sight seeing.  Elle wore her pink dress to meet Cynthia because… Cynthia is a PINK GIRL!!!!

Here’s Ms Elle loaded in her car seat (NO! She’s not spoiled… MUCH!)  telling Cynthia good bye… And telling you the same thing.   Did you enjoy seeing this beautiful little spot?  We did.
Hope you have a safe & happy Labor Day Weekend!
HUGS! Charlene

Sweet Dreams at Trisha Fontaine’s Fairy Bedroom

A soft netting & stacks of pillows always make for sweet dreams.

Stacked suitcases/trunks make a great side table.

A sweet chaise lounge with crystal candelabra to read by an open window, a tiny black cast iron stove to take the chill off the evening air & HATS or FAIRY WINGS on the walls to create such a magical feel.

Speaking of magic… the light that fills this house is almost mystical.  As you walk in the door this manni is what greets you.

A “Steamer Trunk” full of treasures is almost like a closet for this little magic maker.  Her personal stash of props & jewels.  She wears these treasures in many of her weddings, parties, & special events.

She loves the turquoise & gypsy look…  Just like I do.

Now a room that’s often over looked…  the beaded curtains tease you at the entrance…

Oh how I would love to make my “Potty” so Pretty!

Vintage clothing hanging from all the walls.

Toe shoes on the towel rod…

Oh you clever girl!

Did you notice the fairies & of course an entire parade of clothes for those sprites are hanging on that lace there for us to enjoy.  All hand made by Trisha of course…

Fairy Houses, Fairy Clothes, Fairy Weddings… A Fairy Tale life by Trisha Fontaine… Thank you for sharing… my sweet talented friend.  For those of you who missed the first  two posts about Trisha & the links to her please read previous posts & go visit Trisha.
We are going to say good bye to Trisha & her world now.  I can’t thank her enough for sharing & I can’t wait to go back for a Fairy Tale Tea Party next year but, now we have to move on to the next fun things we did while in California.  I hope you’ll come back soon to continue the journey!  Have a great week my friends.  For now, the temps are cooling here in Texas & I can almost BARE to be back.  We’re getting rain & that’s a good thing. 
HUGS!   Charlene