No. 12

For our anniversary my Mr. brought home a generic bunch of flowers that I doctored up with a bit of foraged ingredients. Lovely. Thank you dear.

That evening we got all gussied up and drove into Fort Worth to use a gift certificate to Lonesome Dove Bistro. The food was wonderful. (We save gift certificates for special occasions. It makes things more fun!)

For appetizers we had:
• Elk sausage sliders, seared foie gras, blueberry jam
• Seared Lamb Lollipops,  Yuzu Aioli
For dinner I don't remember what Adam had...but I had
• Colorado Rainbow Trout, chorizo sweet potato hash, cilantro orange butter (all stuffed inside the fish.

Finger tips to mouth, it was mwah! I haven't had fish that good in a long time.

The management sent out an anniversary surprise in chocolate, fireworks, and free champaign (even though the server was aware we weren't drinking. Hopefully he or someone took a swig out of our full glasses after we left. LOL.) 

The next morning we went to breakfast at Hash House A-go-go. We ate at one in Las Vegas and I was excited to find one here too! I ordered french toast because...you know me. Why do I even have to say why? 

 Below: Adam's choice, the Hash House Farm Benedicts...I think.

Isn't that the most ridiculous deliciousness! Adam's choice was far superior to mine. I coveted and stared at his breakfast the whole time I was eating mine. I am SO getting that next time we go and I won't worry about ANY of the calories...I'll just eat 1/4 of it. Ha! (gravy, mashed taters, biscuit, fried chicken, bacon...!!!???)

After that my love drove us to the Dallas Arboretum where we wandered around looking at the gardens until it go too hot. I love you my dearest, I'm 12 years lucky a guy like you likes a girl like me!

Spring is Here!

...well, not anymore but I'm pretending that I'm on top of life and that this blog post is taking place when it should have...in the spring.

So, a "few days ago" while out running, I took my time to notice everything that was in bloom. And quite enjoyed the moments examining different blossoms on the path.

 I loved that these pink flowers were growing out of the limb.

I also "just finished" binge watching these two shows (below) on Netflix—and when I exhausted what was available, I found more episodes on Youtube. I fell in love with them. They were exactly what I needed. I've been itching to get my hands in the dirt and have a garden and do some landscaping but it keeps getting moved down the list of priorities as emergencies...well, emerge. So I enjoyed watching all these episodes do it instead.

If you like reality shows, gardening, landscape design, learning a bit about plants and how to care for them, DIY...you'll like these shows. They're light hearted and un-borring.

After watching these, I couldn't stand the idea of not planting ANYTHING this year. So I talked Adam into spending a little bit on herbs. Everybody needs fresh herbs right? And I've been missing having them since we moved. 

Our friend Nick, procured two big cement planters from a house he'd been working on and offered them to me. The owner didn't like them and didn't want to bother returning them to the store. So even though they will someday hold ornamental plants, I've put herbs in them for now! 

What you see is: rosemary, lemon thyme, Italian Oregano, English thyme, sage, and in the bare spot I planted basil seed since it's so easy to grow from scratch. 

Sometimes I rub a sprig of lemon thyme between my hands and then breathe in the smell. It's SO refreshing. I kinda want to try making soap out of it.

And as part of my need to get digging I started clearing out this spot next to the house. The previous owners had dumped leaves and logs there and it needed to be addressed. I discovered...MORE BURIED BRICK. GAH! What luck. (Also, let's not talk about the fence, m'kay?)

It was hard digging it all up, but I took my time and the weather was lovely...because "it's spring." I massacred a few succors and several worms in the process. (Some worms I put into the herb containers and watched them slither into their new home.) 

This is what I pulled up. SO MUCH BRICK. I've joined a group on FB called "Buy Nothing" and it's for my neighborhood.  (Each group is set up per neighborhood, so you might have one for yours too.) No one can sell or buy, just give away. So I posted this lot and someone wanted it! She and her parents came to haul it all off two weeks ago. I am so pleased to have it gone—one less thing on my mind. And more pleased I didn't have to move it out.

And though I didn't do any landscaping or any real gardening...I do feel a little satisfied. For now.

Valentines Day

This year, for Valentines we had been invited by our Bishop to join him, his wife and another couple on an Escape Room adventure for the evening.

The scenario was about a drug cartel and we had to...well...I honestly can't remember...stop a bomb from going off? I learned something about myself that night. My brain is not wired to do this activity. I didn't contribute to solving a single puzzle that night. It wasn't from lack of trying though! And I made sure to be busy the whole time so one could accuse me of not participating. Can you tell I'm faking it?

A key we—they—found unlocked a door that led to a very cool laser room. Adam pulled a Mission Impossible and (after setting off the alarm a couple times) made it through to save us all.

Then the group went to Papadeaux's for dinner and stayed late talking.

Hope you all did something lovely on V-day!

Winchester Mystery House

We've been trying to get into this house for a couple of years now, but they've been sold out. This time we stayed in California for a few extra days after New Years, so we got in!

You all know the story behind the house right? Sarah Winchester built it after the death of her husband William Winchester. She was heiress to the estate and $20 million (equivalent to $507,172,414 today) plus a 50% holding in the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. She spent the money constructing this house in San Jose California for 38 consecutive years.

Photo from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Winchester  Some wording and info from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Winchester

 Sarah was convinced she was cursed and the only way to alleviate it was to continually add on to her home. The noise from the construction was meant to scare evil spirits away. And all the staircases to nowhere, doors that open to a wall, confusing corridors, and multiple rooms, were built to confuse the ghosts. And Sarah had a thing for the number 13. You can see it being repeated around the house. 13 steps, 13 window panes etc. Her will was even divided into 13 sections and signed 13 times.

Before the great San Francisco earthquake in 1906 the house towered seven stories over what is now Silicon Valley. The quake trapped Sarah in her room, and she took the earthquake as a sign that she should stop building on that part of the house so the tower was never reconstructed, and the damaged rooms were closed and never finished or fixed. Photo from: https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/blog/explore-more-of-sarahs-lost-tower/

Sarah spared no expense either. The built-in cabinets and other woodwork is detailed, she brought in expensive hardy flooring that is still walked on today, and the stained-glass windows are from Tiffany's in NYC, even the wallpaper in one of the rooms has crushed stone in it (can't remember what kind) so that it sparkles. It's quite a fine house on the inside. I enjoyed the tours, appreciated seeing what money could buy back then, and the stories about Sarah very much.

Here's the kicker. I can't show you ANY of it because unfortunately cameras are no longer allowed inside. (I totally understand why.) But by viewing the details on the outside you can certainly get a feel for things.

Below is a photo of one of the kitchens we later walked through. I snapped it before the tour began. Shhhhh. I love how she put windows EVERYWHERE. You'd think the inside of the house would be dark but it was quite bright in so many of the corridors and rooms because of the many windows in walls and ceilings. (The windows in the ceilings of the kitchen were so Sarah could watch and listen to her kitchen staff from the rooms above.) There are more glass panes in this house than there are in the Empire State Building. And to some extent I would like to mimic what she did in my "dream house."

Below: Part of the extended tour includes the basement where one of the ghost resides. He is often seen carting coal around the corner. Permission was granted for this photo.

These are the main entrance doors...which you walk through on the extended tour.
I mean, wow.

 Double doors to a gift shop...

 doors to the carriage house and atrium...

 skinny doors...

 and fat doors...

and doors that open to let light in...

 and doors to nowhere.

Below, Adam is pointing to Sarah's main bedroom (she had more than one so the ghosts wouldn't be able to find her.) She passed away here in her sleep due to heart failure.

You know, even though we took two tours, the house is so big...we STILL didn't see all of it. In most cases it's for safety reasons, or it was never finished being built. Like that passage over the drive? No idea what that is; wasn't on any tour.

You should go if you get the chance. You'll NEVER see anything like it. And what a unique story! 

Yes, I know there's a movie out...but it got really bad reviews so I haven't seen it yet. I want to...but you have to be in a certain mood to see a REALLY bad movie ya know?

They're Back!

My images are back, my images are back!!! (Anna dances around and claps her hands.) Photobucket fixed their mistake (after getting rid of the guy who made it in the first place) AND MY BLOG IMAGES ARE BACK!!! I just KNEW something would change.
They've re-thought things and their mission is to "bring back customers and regain their trust." Ha!
I think I get to keep all my past photos on Photobucket for free, but will have to do a little more research to be sure. (If it won't be free, at least with their better pricing plan I won't have to pay $399 a year! Sheesh.)
Read about it here.

New Year Bruschetta Bar

Dad's brilliance brought us a bruschetta bar for our New Year dinner. 

It was as good and as fun as it looks! There were SO MANY different toppings and flavor combination possibilities! We had to label several of them, especially the cheeses and jams.

So if you ever need a party meal idea...here you go. You're welcome. And of course, provide more bread than you think you'll need. 

We've come a long way from campfire dinners! Yay!

Monroe Ridge Trail

Dad suggested a hike on the Monroe Ridge Trail, it's about a 3 mile trail within the boundaries of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park. (Where James W. Marshall found shining flecks of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he was building for himself and John Sutter in 1848...this sparked the California Gold Rush.) Adam had never been to Coloma and I was feeling guilty for all the "California experiences" he's never had. So we took Dad up on his suggestion.

Map from: https://getoffyourgass.com/monroe-ridge-trail/

We had difficulty finding the trail head but once we did there was no doubt...

it starts off with some serious gains (totals about 673 feet) and even some built-in steps along the way.

Below: Adam trying to guess where we are on the map. Are we close yet?

Below: The view on the North side of the ridge. Not even close to the vista yet, THAT'S on the OTHER side of the mountain.

Finally! Two picnic benches mark the vista point. 

We're here! Snap a selfie!

Can you see the river in the photo above and below? That's the south fork of the American River.

We should have packed in a brunch. But we didn't...so with no reason to linger (Adam isn't big on lingering)...back down the mountain we went.

Some of these areas are likely gorgeous in the late spring after the leaves have grown and wild flowers are showing off—but this was over winter, still, we enjoyed it and it was a cool day.

We could have continued down by taking the monument trail, and we wanted to. But trees were being felled over the area so it was closed. We followed Marshall Parkway instead (the one way road marked on the map) back down to the car. 

Below: The Marshall monument (which you can see peeking above the trees from the trail.) 

 The road takes you through some historic parts of the town. Gravestones...

 Old church...

 Jail.

 We earned Lunch!

After the hike we went downtown to Placerville for lunch at the noteworthy spot: Timmy's Brown Bag.  Open during lunch hours. It has great Yelp ratings. I wish we had something like this here. We ate there three times over Christmas vacation. (Note: the menu changes.)

Some advice: They have some interesting combinations, but don't be afraid to try them. If you like the ingredients, you'll probably like the combinations they've come up with. 

The only complaints I have are: 

#1 the menu is IMPOSSIBLE to navigate both what's printed and what's posted in the shop...so be patient. 

#2 they sell out of items (each time we went they were out of something.) So again, when you have to navigate the menu a SECOND time because the sandwich you wanted is unavailable, take a deep breath and be patient with the menu. 

This was our favorite: Ham, homemade apple butter, extra sharp cheddar, fresh apples, beet horseradish slaw, whole grain honey mustard sandwich on ciabatta bread. 

If you go, tell me what you got and send a pic!