Hippity Hoppity

Song - Peter Cottontail by Gene Autry

Wishing you all a very safe and happy Easter however you choose to celebrate. Our family is having a virtual brunch with each couple making two dishes.  We will zoom together with well wishes and a mimosa toast and then dig in.  The above photo is of me in 1955 at my grandparents home in Oakland. Gotta love the purse!

Bleat, Yum, Splash, Slurp and Ahhhh.....

Song - You Hit the Wrong Note Billy Goat by Bill Haley and the Comets

 Last Friday, Mr. B and I headed down Hwy. 1 along the California coast to visit Harley Goat Farm on our way to Santa Cruz for Easter weekend.

 Their link is here - Harley Goat Farm

 Yes.....there were lots of baby goats running around and lot's of delicious cheese and body products in their shop. We came home with a few fine goat cheeses'. 

The adult goats are in the photo above and below are the baby goats that are 6 weeks old and being weaned from their parents.

 We drove through fingers of fog......

 

....then out into sunshine again....and back again to heavy fog.

We arrived at the cabin to beautiful sunshine and sat on the deck and relaxed.

For dinner on Friday night we went to Soif (which is French for "thirst") in downtown Santa Cruz where we have eaten several times before. It's a cozy little bistro type restaurant that always has an interesting menu and atmosphere.

We shared a cheese course that had Kikorangi (Blue Cheese-cow) from New Zealand,  Brillat Savarin (Brie-cow) from Lyon, France (yummmmm, yummy, yummy, yum),  Pata Cabra (Chevre-goat) from Spain,  Cabot Clothbound Cheddar (pale yellow cheddar-cow) from Vermont, Manchego El Trigal (sheep) from Spain as well as quince paste, grapes, almonds and toast. Our portions were at lease four times this size but I was so excited that I forgot to take a photo.....

We each had a couple of glasses of wine - Mr. B had Syrah from Northern Rhone which he really liked and I had a Pere et Fils Remoissenet Bourgogne Blanc which was fabulous. We both ordered amazing entrees but once again they were gone before I thought to photograph them.  So now you will just have to go to Soif yourself and try something on their delightful menu!

Saturday morning was sunny and Andy & Ashley came to visit and stay overnight. 

We stopped by our very favorite bakery in Capitola to pick up some breakfast on our way to the beach - Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria! 

We picked up a bag of savory and sweet treats to-go and headed to Aptos Beach.

 We plopped on a log while looking at this view of the bay and dined with great joy!

We took a nice long walk along the shore and enjoyed dodging the waves as they rolled in.

 Saturday night we had an early Easter dinner as the kids had to head home in the morning to take care of some things. 

It was so nice to spend time together.

Easter morning we had breakfast and our guests took off for home.  Mr. B and I drove up to the lighthouse and watched the surfers for a while.  

The ocean was quiet but a few small waves rolled in but it looked more like

beginners-Easter-break-surfers out there.

Mr. B fixed a door in the cabin that needed attention 

and I planted a flat of white Impatiens in the garden.

In the afternoon our second set of guests arrived - our middle son Jon, his girlfriend Jacque and their puppy Chewy.  We had a lovely visit and late lunch together.

Mr. B and I stayed until Monday at noon as it was another beautiful day and difficult to return home but we will be back!

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf. "

-- Jon Kabat-Zinn

Hope and Faith

Song - Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson

First it was a pitiful little nest....

Then mama began sitting on it.....

After several weeks mama, seemed to have abandoned the nest....

and my heart was broken.

Two days ago I saw a little head pop up from the seemingly empty nest. 

So yesterday I grabbed my camera and there was mama proud as can be.

Every time I checked the nest, I guess mom & dad were out on a date.

I think there may be two babies - if you can see the dark brown wing-feathers in the lower left of the nest - I am thinking it may be another baby under mama.

I have named them Hope and Faith. 

Happy Easter Weekend.

"I won't say my memory's bad, but it's to the point now that I can hide my OWN Easter eggs!" --Maxine

If I Had A Boat

Song - If I Had A Boat by Lyle Lovett

Busy as a bee.....

The roses are in full bloom.

The iris are just beginning to bloom.

Tomato plants (18) have been put in the vegetable garden.

 The shade garden is happily showing her beauty.

Dogwood

 

Hosta

Azalea

Fern

Fern

And the geese are doing a little hanky-panky up on our rooftop every morning.

Our neighbors roof

Then it got cold.

Very cold in comparison to the weather California has been used to. Which has been Summertime in the Winter!



Easter was held inside this year due to the rain and cold.

Yesterday it rained and then hailed.  Weird weather.

But we need the rain so much that no one is complaining.

It rained enough to bring this rowboat down the creek and lodge in some brambles by our property.



The Governor is placing California on a 25% water reduction plan starting soon.

Luckily Mr. B and I were already changing our overhead sprinklers to a drip system and Sherman (our drip guy) said his phone is ringing off the hook with jobs.

We are also collecting grey water, you know the clean water we get from waiting for the hot water to come on, water from rinsing veggies & fruit, etc.  I have buckets in both showers and pitchers near each sink to gather the water.  Then I go outside and water my potted plants. 

Today I just ordered a 50 gal. rain barrel but it's not for rainwater (because we have none) but for all of these buckets and pitchers of water.  It is truly amazing how much water can be reused.  I am now looking into organic shampoo's, soaps, etc., so that we can collect even more.

"The farmer will never be happy again; 

He carries his heart in his boots;

For either the rain is destroying his grain

Or the drought is destroying his roots." 

--Alan Patrick Herbert

Family Time

Song - In My Life by The Beatles

Sunday was a beautiful and warm day.  My brother and sister-in-law hosted Easter this year and it was so much fun to see all of their grandchildren growing up. 

The food, the weather, their home and yard were all wonderful.  But the best part for me were the little ones, who are not so little anymore!  Right Cal?  (He is seven now)

Calvin playing me in badminton or I should say beating me soundly at badminton

June twirling on the swings

Mom got plenty of baby holding time!  This is sweet little Luke.

The big kids played with the younger ones and the younger ones enjoyed each other.

Sophia jumping for joy when one of the big kids jumped into the pool

Calvin contemplating jumping off of the diving board.  Tough decision here folks!

Lily choosing just the right egg!  Another tough decision.

Time for the Pinata.......and maybe a lighter bat for Sophia

Every year mom makes a beautiful egg shaped pinata for the kids and dad does an $$ Easter egg hunt for the grownup kids!!!

And this is  handsome Harley who is watching the pinata being hit

TJ cheering on the little ones that are hitting the Pinata but secretly hoping that he gets to be the one to pop open that very strong Pinata!  And he did!!!

Sophia enjoying the bubbles

Kids are getting sleepy and that thumb tastes so good -  it's about time to head home

Mom and dad supervising the pinata games.....apparently we are not doing it just right and may need some help!

The quote for today is from me - " Do not fill your Pinata's with crackers and chips because after it's been bashed about 273 times, they turn into crumbs! Lesson learned."