Officially graduated and totally legit. We are so proud of our Sara.

We have been enjoying a beautiful weekend filled with lovely festivities including delicious cake! 

This cake was made by Heidi, Sara's Kindergarten teacher. We adore her.

2012, a good year to graduate

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. 

~ Confucius

Enjoying the festivities at my sister Sara's graduation.

To Live

To live is the rarest thing in the world. 

Most people exist, that is all.

 ― Oscar Wilde

I just finished reading The Importance of Being Earnest. 

Oh I do love a good dip into Oscar Wilde. 

Hope you find a way to live today.

e

Before, yet after, Easter

One of my favourite coffee haunts has $2 dollar fufu drink Fridays. A lovely London Fog was the drink of choice when I popped in.

Delicious biscotti. The bokeh in the background is Easter eggs. 

That's all your getting. 

.

Cool decor

California on My Mind

Although, Ben and I are no longer in California, I wish to pretend that I still am eating a fresh mozzarella, roast red pepper, pesto and olive sandwich on this beach. I navigated through some crazy mountain pass and came out at a beach in Santa Barbara.  This is Arroyo beach which is a popular dog walking beach. 

Soo lovely. Small school children were cleaning up the beach while I was there so no fear of stepping barefoot into something nasty.

The fog rolled in while I was hanging here in mid air.

Although I greatly admire surfers and the idea of gliding over the powerful surf, I know from experience that I am not gifted in this particular tango with nature. Attempting to surf in the massive surf of Costa Rica cured me of any thoughts of being Gidget. 

Morro Bay & La Purisima

Hard to resist running in the wind on a beach as beautiful as this. 

Ben can  defy gravity just about anywhere, but I particularly love the reflection of this jump. 

La Purisima Mission is located just outside of Lompoc CA. I took a whirl through one of the chapels and almost found myself back in 1748, when the mission was founded. 

Can you guess what this would have been used for? This cove was tucked in the wall by the entrance to the chapel. Being very uncatholic, it took me awhile to figure it out. 

I am currently enjoying this mix on 8tracks.

http://8tracks.com/alexiesonfire/there-s-poison-in-your-words

Grateful for exploration

 Ahh the town of Lompoc, California. I was so lucky to be able to join Ben while he was away on business. He gets a little long in the face if he's left to his own devices for too long. And I am good at entertaining myself in new places, not so much at home. Win win for everyone.

 

Would you like this classic in your driveway?

I managed to convince Ben that he wanted to drive for 2 hours to visit places like Pismo Beach & Hearst Castle. The options I suggested where that or Disneyland which was 3 hours away. Ben made the right choice and we enjoyed driving up the 101, along the coast and through little towns. I absolutely adore a good road trip! The enjoyment is even able to shut down my inner geography major -driving is killing the environment guilt (not easily done).

 

As you were unable to join us on our tour of Hearst Castle, you can enjoy a virtual tour HERE. 

You are currently being tempted to jump into the mesmerizing Neptune Pool.