Sonoma Coast

The hotel where we spent the night works diligently at being earth friendly. The breakfast buffet used no plastic or paper. The yogurt was served in mason jars, for example. After we ate breakfast we checked out the hotel bikes and helmets and went on a ride through some local vineyards. We rode past deer and fields of yellow. The weather has been fabulous the whole time we have been here.

We strolled through downtown Healdsburg. We walked through art galleries; checked out the bookstore; and tasted the free tastes in the Oakville Grocery. After lunch we headed for the Sonoma Coast. We drove through redwood forests and turned north at Jenner and headed up Highway 1. We arrived at Timber Cove Inn at 4 and the view from our window enticed us to get our walking poles and head outdoors. We walked along the cliffs for over an hour, watching the tide come in and crash against the rocks. It was cold, windy and very dramatic. We sat on our porch for a gorgeous sunset.

Dinner at the Timber Cove Inn requires reservations. It is fine dining in jeans with a gorgeous view. We got plates of small tastes: citrus prawns, Brussels sprouts, short ribs, lavender lemon Creme Brûlée. I can see why people love Sonoma County.

Time with Family

We got up slow today, ate some breakfast bars in the room and then took a hike in the vineyards above our hotel. At the top of the hill was a large statue of a wine pressor.

Then we headed up Hwy. 29 to Calistoga. From there we headed down Petrified Forest Road towards Windsor. Bryan's sister-in-law lives in Windsor. She is club member at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. We toured the movie props and then had an excellent lunch, sitting outside above the vineyards. We went back to her home and looked through family photos.

We are spending the night in Healdsburg. When we arrived we went for a walk around the downtown plaza. We had excellent burgers and shakes and headed back to our hotel -- described as Eco chic and with the most comfortable bed! The check out bikes to their overnight guests. We are hoping to go for a bike ride in the morning.

Meeting Napa

Bryan and I spent the night in former non-commissioned officer housing in what used to be Fort Baker. The place is now run by the National Park Service. The deal I got included breakfast so we ate the best eggs Benedict we have ever had and then headed down to the water's edge to see the view. We noticed a sign announcing a hike so on a whim (and in vacation-mode) we decided to go on the hike. It took us under the bridge twice, which is in the middle of undergoing an earthquake retrofit. It was fascinating. Then we decided to walk part way along the Golden Gate since we were right there. It was a beautiful, perfect day. We arrived back to our room just in time to make the check-out time of noon.

I used a hotel app to book a night in Napa. Neither of us have ever been to Napa so we were curious. We stopped in Sonoma on the way and took a driving tour. What a nice town with a center park.

Before we checked into our hotel we drove through downtown Napa and stopped at the Oxbow Public Market. We drooled over cupcakes, smelled spices, tasted olive oils and ate some ice cream. We were incredibly sorry that we had already eaten lunch.

Our hotel is part of a very large resort with its own bowling alley, wine cave, etc. Bryan feels like he is staying in a mall...or Vegas. But the room is nice.

Tonight we went out for dinner at Mustards Grill. All I can say is that I will dream of this food. It is a good thing I live so far away from here. The lemon-lime tart with brown sugar meringue is my new favorite dessert!

Highway 1

We left Morro Bay and headed for Hearst Castle. If you are going to live in California, you should be able to say you have visited it. We took the Grand Room tour. Our guide was excellent. We enjoyed being able to walk the grounds afterward.

Then we headed up Highway 1, which is lovely and takes forever. I wanted to stay in Sausalito tonight but the hotel I was hoping to book wasn't available on my hotel app. Bryan encouraged me to call the hotel directly and see if they would make me a deal. They did.

We arrived much later than we hoped but we still took a walk. We are staying very close to the Golden Gate Bridge. It is even more lovely than the pictures can represent. We are looking forward to seeing this place in the light of day.

The Vacation Begins

Bryan and I left this afternoon for some time away. We have no plans, except to see our sons and try and get some rest. We headed for the central coast. I bid on Priceline for a hotel in Morro Bay and got a room for $15 -- it is 2 blocks from the bay, with a fireplace and king bed. I am so proud of myself that I keep mentioning it to Bryan. He wonders how much longer I will be talking about it. The answer is -- a very long time.

We stopped in Santa Barbara at Crushed Cakes for the best cupcakes ever! I got a Peace Cake -- a vanilla cupcake with icing that looks tie dye and a chocolate peace sign on the top. Bryan got a Butterscotch Pudding cupcake.

We arrived in Morro Bay at 6 pm. We caught the very end of the sunset.

Then we headed for Rocca's. I read about it on Yelp. We sat looking at the rock and ate fish and chips. Life is good!

Christmas -- Family

Matt, Kairee and Brett arrived on December 22, after an incredibly long trip down highway 5.  Matt had a bad headache when they arrived but Brett went right to the kitchen and began baking!  That boy loves to cook!

We have several traditions in the Boyer family.  One is that there are new pajamas waiting on everyone's bed when we get home on Christmas Eve.  When we get up on Christmas morning the stockings come first.  Then we open gifts one at a time from youngest to oldest.  There is always a new game under the tree from "Santa."  This year we got the #1 rated game by Games Magazine -- Trajan.  It took more time to read the instructions than to play the game.  It is a very complicated game.  I doubt we will play it very often.

Brendon, Brett's boyfriend, arrived on Christmas day from his trip to Minnesota.

Brett made us a Christmas vegan feast.  I loved every bite but my favorites were the beet tempura...

and the vegan cheese cake with a dark rum sauce.

On the day after Christmas we went to see Les Mis and then out to lunch and for a walk around downtown Claremont.  On the way home we realized that it was going to be a gorgeous sunset.  It was clear all the way to downtown LA.

...and the sunset was worth seeing.

Brett and Brendon went home on the Megabus on Thursday.  We drove them into Union Station but we stopped first at Sage -- a vegan, organic restaurant in Echo Park.

Matt headed north on December 30.  The house seems sadly quiet.  We took down our decorations today....until next year.

Christmas -- Church

It was full Christmas season at church.  The office staff always comes to my house for lunch and a white elephant gift exchange.  I made the best bbq ribs....if I do say so myself.  Julie got the bonsai potato kit!

Then the whole staff and former staff gather for a Christmas potluck.  The food is amazing and it is the one way Bryan and I, as parents of a vegetarian and vegan, get turkey and ham.

After the meal we sang Christmas carols with Shawn and Ryan.  We sounded so good we are beginning to talk about having a staff choir next Advent.

My family arrived at the church at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve for the 9 p.m. service.  I roped them into lighting the luminaries.  They graciously agreed and then they went into the balcony before everyone arrived.

The church was beautiful and the choir was amazing.

Then we went out onto the courtyard and let our light shine.  It is always such an amazing experience.

I got two days after Christmas off and then came back to work to do a much anticipated wedding.  It was my privilege to be part of it!