https://sonomasojourn.com/2016/03/21/when-you-assume/2016-03-21T18:57:18+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2016/03/14/in-the-bag/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/vodkaweb.jpgvodkaWEBLOVE the label graphics ... and I really wanted to love it - but I have finally met a vodka I don't love. It's not that it's not good - it's just that it tastes like grapes, and I get confused when I drink it! :)https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/vodka.jpgVodkahttps://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bagsweb.jpgBagsWEB"Tourist bags" here in Sonoma/Napa ... don't leave home without them!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/californiadreaming.jpgCaliforniaDreaming2016-03-14T03:03:19+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2016/03/14/enough-already/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/smokeytulips1web.jpgSmokeyTulips1WEBI try to distract her with tulips of her favorite color: purple.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/purpletulips1web.jpgPurpleTulips1WEBSmokey: 10 Tulips: 0https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/redtulips1web.jpgRedTulips1WEBBeautiful, full, robust tulips ... brings joy to the eye and to the heart.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/smokeyredtulips.jpgSmokeyRedTulipsUh-oh. Smokey has set sight on the tulips.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/funnycar1web.jpgFunnyCar1WebIf it weren't still raining, I'd have waited to see who the owner of this car is ... I want to know him/her!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/funnycar2web.jpgFunnyCar2WEBA Volkswagon with sculpture as roof - fantastic!2016-03-14T10:44:53+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2016/03/06/rainy-days-and-saturdays-sundays-mondays/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/peacesignweb.jpgPeaceSignWEBPeace on earth - and everywhere else ...https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/sdratoaklane.jpgSDRatOakLanehttps://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/gbtruckandhouseweb.jpgGBTruckAndHouseWEBGundlach Bundschu truck and winery ...https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/naparain2web.jpgNapaRain2WEBhttps://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/naparain1web.jpgNapaRain1WEBClouds settling in over Napa ....2016-03-06T22:59:34+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2016/03/06/back-in-the-valley-of-the-moon/2016-03-06T18:56:44+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2014/05/02/a-change-in-venue/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2592299436_84f8b683cb.jpg2592299436_84f8b683cbHingham is just to the left of the dot called "Cohasset"! You can see the Boston skyline from our waterfront ....2014-05-04T16:35:40+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/04/13/refuse-to-fall-down/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mom.jpgMomJosephine Gilbode 1923 - 20112013-04-13T15:06:58+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/03/29/making-love/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/528883_10151546975575115_1203558737_n.jpgHayes in high chairHayes enjoys his meals ... the side of my refrigerator looked worse than his tray does!2013-03-29T06:03:58+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/03/14/whats-in-a-name/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mayprocession029.jpgMayProcession029This gives you an idea of what May processions were like in the early 60s - and if you need to hear "Oh Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today ..." visit http://youtu.be/p_fln4An7G4.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/saint_francis_statue_in_garden1.jpgSaint_Francis_statue_in_gardenMany of the stories that surround the life of St. Francis deal with his love for animals. Perhaps the most famous incident that illustrates the Saint's humility towards nature is recounted in the "Fioretti" ("Little Flowers"), a collection of legends and folklore that sprang up after the Saint's death. It is said that, one day, while Francis was traveling with some companions, they happened upon a place in the road where birds filled the trees on either side. Francis told his companions to "wait for me while I go to preach to my sisters the birds." The birds surrounded him, intrigued by the power of his voice, and not one of them flew away. He is often portrayed with a bird, typically in his hand.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/st-francis-of-assisi-patron-saint-of-animals.jpgst-francis-of-assisi-patron-saint-of-animalsSt. Francis is considered patron saint of 2013-04-13T02:20:59+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/03/04/be-still/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/viansa-italy.jpgViansa - Italy?I feel like I'm in Italy! Viansa Winery high on the hilltop ... maybe Tuscany?https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/crabapple-vista.jpgCrabapple VistaCrabapple trees fiercely in bloom... dee-licious!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mandarins-sweet-juicy.jpgMandarins Sweet JuicyMore joy today: another stop at the Fruit Basket.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/viansa-vista.jpgViansa vistaLooking over Viansa's vineyards toward Sonoma. Beautiful.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/photo1.jpgphotohttps://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/photo.jpgSmokey on my feetWhat would I do without her? I don't know how I would have gone through these past few years without her! EVERYONE should have a Smokey in his/her life!2013-03-12T06:29:41+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/03/03/11-short-not-a-bad-thing/2013-04-13T00:14:56+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/02/25/fear-of-flying/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1850.jpgOne leg is up ...Warning: This Is Not Pretty. One leg is up...the other isn't. Darnitall!!!! https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1848.jpgTrying to breatheI'm breathing deeply, trying to smile, afraid of everything, trying to listen .https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1847.jpgReady to flyI'm TRYING to smile ... per orders!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1844.jpgMarek the MagicianProfessor Marek handling the safety lines ... wish he would speak louder so I can hear him as I fly! :)https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1842.jpgJohn takes offJohn is up a few rungs above the platform so he can get MORE height in his trick!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1837.jpgSharon has you covered!Sharon has you covered! Sharon was there for me every time I fell ... she ran out to help me release my safety straps and led me back to safety (no small feat on this 'safety net'!) - notice her bare feet. Impressive!!!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1828.jpgJohn between swingsJohn between swings. John also climbs/flys with bare feet ... he's experienced enough to do it all in bare feet and to know enough to wear sandals in between swings (no dirt on HIS face!).https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1827.jpgPreparing to flyDarryl waits while Cher prepares her trick ... Jeannie is next to fly!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1819.jpgThings are looking up for Cher!Things are looking up for Cher! Unbelievably ... Cher grew up in Brockton and in East Bridgewater. She lives in Marin (about a half hour from here) and loves trapeze. She's an artist and a pretty cool woman, from what I can tell.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_1818.jpgJeannie in Flight: Doing a '7'Jeannie in flight: doing a '7'2013-03-04T01:19:05+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/02/04/rummaging-around/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/lucite-box.jpgLUCITE BOXIf you ever see a lucite box like this ... please pick it up for me! This is the second one I've gotten at a yard/rummage sale - perfect for jewelry!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/tray-table.jpgTray tableThe wicker tray lifts off the table base; the table base folds. How neat is THAT?!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/flowers.jpgflowersThese actually look better in person than in this photo ... and for $4 ... they are FABulous!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/books.jpgBooksThe best part of "A.P. Giannini: Boy of San Francisco" are the comments that some young student added to the text of the book -- cynical, funny, 'laugh out loud' counterpoints to the poignant story of this Italian's rise to success. Haven't made anything yet from the cookbook, but I've enjoyed thumbing through the recipes; and as soon as I get my rule, try-square, chisel, saw, plane, hammer, coping saw, sawing board, file, brace, pincers, spokeshaves, bradawl, screwdriver, glasspaper and block, brace bits, compasses, nail punch, drills, and oilstone unpacked ... I will begin gathering the materials needed to make these simple wooden toys.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/playing-cards.jpgPlaying cardshttps://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_3964.jpgIMG_3964Every book is alphabetized in every 'department' of the book department. Whaaat?!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_3962.jpgIMG_3962https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_3961.jpgIMG_3961https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_3960.jpgIMG_3960The Art department: framed, unframed, prints, paintings, posters.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_3959.jpgIMG_3959Bicycles in the sports department.2013-02-13T05:48:26+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/02/04/the-cornerstone/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fruit-basket-copy.jpgFruit Basket copyLemons, apples, avocados...everything costs less here than in town! Yum!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4022.jpgIMG_4022The Children's Garden -- a gathering of special things about Sonoma to entertain children of all ages.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4018.jpgIMG_4018https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4015.jpgIMG_4015Another view of White Cloud ... one of my favorite installations.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4013.jpgIMG_4013"White Cloud" - sculpted cumulus clouds (swirls of wire mesh supported by posts) with thousands of clear cut crystals 'catching the light from morning to moonlight'. https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4011.jpgIMG_4011Garden Play.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4007.jpgIMG_4007Small Tribute to Immigrant Works -- intriguing and informative.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4006.jpgIMG_4006Small Tribute to Immigrant Workers https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4002.jpgIMG_4002Eucalyptus Soliloquy: Leaves folded and pinned to formed various designs.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/img_4001.jpgIMG_4001Close up of pinned eucalyptus leaves.2013-02-04T23:13:21+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/02/01/birds-of-a-feather/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/img_1771.jpgThis must be a 'he' because of the colors ... I need to find my "Birds of Sonoma" book to identify for sure!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/img_1769.jpgIMG_1769"Peck, peck, peck!" Hmmm...I'm thinking that these apples have actually turned to cider...maybe even HARD cider!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/img_1761.jpgIMG_1761Look at this beautiful creature...https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/img_1748.jpgIMG_1748Taking a break from apple sauce...2013-02-01T16:08:13+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/02/01/856-oak-lane/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/img_17321.jpgIMG_17322013-02-01T03:23:53+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/01/26/sonoma-snapshots/https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/living-room.jpgLiving Room at the CottageThe bedrooms are behind me as I shoot this photo; the front door is to the right; the kitchen is to the left. Come visit and see for yourself!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/guest-room.jpgGuest roomhttps://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/look-carefully-how-did-she-get-up-there.jpgSmokey On TopLook carefully and you'll see Smokey between the top of the cabinet about the fridge and the ceiling. MY question is: how in the heck did she manage to jump from that little wedge of refrigerator up to the top of that cabinet? Good thing I didn't see her jump (although I HEARD her!) -- I would have had a heart attack, I'm sure.https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/wyoming-or-sonoma.jpgWyoming or Sonoma?Wyoming or Sonoma?https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/vineyards-sky.jpgVineyards skyIn the Napa Valley ... https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/trees-mtns.jpgTrees & Mtnshttps://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/sonoma-office.jpgSonoma 'office'The kitchen table turned into my office here -- if I ever have guests for dinner, I'll move everything into my bedroom closet until the guest leave!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/snoopy-working-in-sonoma.jpgSmokey at workI'm going to have to get her her own computer -- she loves sleeping on whichever of mine is available. Makes it difficult, at times, when I'm using both computers at once!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/smokeys-favorite-window-perch.jpgSmokey's favorite window perchThis window gives Smokey a bird's eye view - and there are many, many birds to entertain her!https://sonomasojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/smokey-snuggled-in-chair.jpgSmokey snuggled in chairMonochromatic Smokey snuggled in her (my!) chair.2013-01-29T05:34:22+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/01/25/a-week-later/2013-04-01T10:49:38+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/01/18/live-and-learn/2013-01-18T15:51:56+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/01/17/practically-speaking/2013-01-17T11:53:09+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/01/17/go-west-young-woman-and-cat/2013-01-17T11:52:29+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.com/2013/01/17/the-year-of-me/2013-01-17T11:50:34+00:00monthlyhttps://sonomasojourn.comdaily1.02016-03-21T18:57:18+00:00