The Face Only a Mother Can Love.....

Song -  "It's Gonna Be OKAY" by the Piano Guys

On Saturday Mr. B and I took a drive over to Point Reyes National Seashore to have a little day trip together.  I was chomping at the bit to get away as I had been sick and then.....well...the holidays kept us pretty busy.

It felt so good to get some fresh air and view some of natures beauty. It was sunny but cold and windy.

Parts of Point Reyes are flooded (which is crazy because California has not had much rain this year) so there are one lane roads peppered around and to get to the lighthouse you will need to take a shuttle out there as everything is closed after South Beach due to roads washing out.

We saw a lot of cattle and then some Tule Elk....

They were right near the road and so majestic. 

I took some photos and then we headed down the road to Drake's Beach where they had caution signs up due to big ol' Elephant Seals taking over the beach!

Only the face mother could love......but he looks happy!

This would be looking up his nose....if you were curious.

That is Mr. B in the background so you could see how big these guys were!  We were told to stay two car lengths back from them and in some places there was a designated path as well as uniformed docents on the beach to make sure questions were answered and no one got too close.

They really did just lay around like big blobs sunning themselves.  Apparently it is both breeding and pupping season at Point Reyes however these big guys didn't look like they were looking around for a mate......at all!

But every once in awhile one would move.......and everyone would watch and wonder what they were going to do......

And they would just scratch themselves and go back to napping in the sunshine!

 On the way out of the park we did stop at one more scenic spot...........

 The Cypress Tree Tunnel - which I have never been to before.  It's a lovely little stroll under a canopy of beautiful Cypress trees.

We then headed up the coast to Nick's Cove for an early dinner.  Next to the restaurant they have a pier and a little hut at the end where you can light a fire and enjoy drinks.

They also rent out some cottages along the waters edge and across the highway.

Thank you Mother Nature for the lovely day!

“Because the greatest part of a road trip 

isn’t arriving at your destination. 

It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.” 

— Emma Chase

New Artwork

Meet Homer, Stanley and Elmer......

I just posted them today on my painting website - you can view it here -

jeanettebaird.com

Fields of Gold

Song - Heart of Gold by Neil Young

Monday I took a leisurely drive up to Napa Valley to see the mustard in the vineyard and to walk with a dear friend.  I passed some Belted Galloway cows or better known as Oreo Cows!!!

Since I was early in meeting my friend, I decided to head on up to Yountville as a "Krwa-son" had my name on it!

While I was at Bouchon, I decided to get a couple of croissants to share with family and friends.  After thoroughly enjoying the buttery, moist, light, flakey roll, I placed the bag with the remainder of them in the far back of the car so I wouldn't be tempted to nibble as I drove.

My friend, Helen told me that the mustard had just opened up last week and it is beautiful. Actually it was a lovely warm winter's day. We had a delicious lunch and then walked around downtown Napa and past the Victorian homes called painted ladies and through the park.

We stopped by the Gallery where Helen shows her jewelry and hand dyed silk scarfs.  She is incredibly talented, brilliant, creative and has a heart of gold...... 

This morning, I woke up early and ran into the kitchen and grabbed a perfect croissant and ran back to have breakfast in bed while Mika gave me the stank-eye. 

Two lovely days after a tough month! Thank you Helen...... 

Scratch & sniff HERE........(jk)

"It's your road, and yours alone.  

Others may walk it with you, 

but no one can walk it for you."

 --Rumi

Thirty and Six

Sound - King of the Harem - Bull Elk 

Wednesday, August 26th was Mr. B and my 36th Wedding Anniversary and we decided to take a little road trip to celebrate!  After a delicious brunch we decided to head to Point Reyes Seashore which is about and hour and a half from our home.

We stopped at Point Reyes Station where we did a little shopping and where The Cowgirl Creamery is located.

Mmmmm.....yum!

Then we headed to the coast to take a walk along the shore.

So tranquil and we had it almost all to ourselves!

A view of the beach we were just walking on from up high on a bluff near the Lighthouse.

Mr. B was brave enough to walk out on a cliff with only that measly little stick to break your fall! Being smarter, I waited in the car praying for his safe return while he snapped these two photos.

And for being so brave, he was rewarded with some lazy sea lions!!!

I told him that I would like some cute cow pictures next so we headed back inland and found these three cuties getting a drink of water and being rather curious about what we were doing.

I am happily snapping away when he says "Look over there".....

So I snap the cows on the hillside.

But look up.......what's that critter behind them?

Mr. B had spotted a whole herd of Tule Elk on the hillside!!!


If you played the sound at the top of this post you would hear what a bull elk sounds like - wink - hint!

As we drove around them and down near Drakes Beach we found another herd.  

This male was "bugling" for his harem to get together and follow him.

"Come on Alice, we are waiting for you!!!"

"Ah, hold your pants on Ralph.  I have to cross this very busy street!!!"

But then we noticed that there were two more bull elks following the herd and Ralph wanted to get his ladies under his watchful eye.

Heads were down and they took their charging stances.  We figured it must be rutting season.

And they got into it!  It was amazing how loud the noise coming from their clashing antlers! 

And if you listen to the sounds at the top of this blog you would hear the clacking of their antlers - wink, hint.......although ours were much louder!

Meanwhile the third male took off with the harem!
 

It was an exciting mini docudrama nature show kinda thing happening right before our eyes.

Heading back to Hwy. 1 I spotted this Eagle-Hawk on a huge nest on the power lines.

After all of the activity, we were ready for an early dinner, a glass of wine and some time to relax.

On Hwy. 1 between Marshall and Tomales is a great little restaurant, Nick's Cove.

They also have a dock with a boat house attached from where you can phone in your food order and pick it up when it's ready to dine inside the boat house or outside on the deck.

These are their cottages on the water.  They also have several on the hill across from the restaurant.

We chose to dine in the cozy restaurant where we were treated to a window seat.

We enjoyed a good bottle of wine from the Santa Cruz mountains and some GREAT French bread with butter & orange sea salt.

Mr. B ordered an assortment of oysters and salmon while I enjoyed a salad and some amazing chicken.

After dinner we brought our drinks out on the dock to enjoy in the warm summer evening.

On the way home we were treated to a beautiful sunset.

 Happy Anniversary Mr. B.....

Hard to believe it's been 36 years!

And my quote for today's post comes from a boat at Nick's Cove.