Welcome to my blog ~ where aesthetics are a passion, details are a priority, and pleasure in simple things is celebrated!
I invite you to share my inspirations for a creative life and a lifetime of adventures.
Thanks so much for visiting, Jackie
Hi there! I have so many projects in the works, but I have nothing documented to show you! I really had hoped to show you some ‘after’ photos of that vintage dresser I showed you some time back…but things have been hectic and I haven’t yet taken photos. Soon.
Thanks for stopping by!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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I can’t imagine enjoying any drive more than the one I took on the Pacific Coast Highway on my recent California trip!
In a previous post, I showed you one of my favorite scenic spots. Today, for Friday field trip, I am sharing a few random views during a drive on the coast of Northern California just so you can see how breathtaking it is!
If you have not yet had the pleasure to cruise the PCH, you definitely need to put it on your to do or bucket list…particularly if you are a beach lover!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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With more than 400 wineries, each with its own unique style, setting and history, no trip to Northern California would be complete without visiting a vineyard in Napa Valley!
By staying in a Napa resort and visiting 3 different wineries, I was able to enjoy unforgettable wine tastings, stunning views, and behind-the-scenes tours of wine cellars and caves.
Being a wine connoisseur is definitely not a requirement to have a blast visiting vineyards! I am the perfect example! I barely drink alcohol at all, but I had a wonderful time sampling the wines of Napa! With the gorgeous views and interesting tours, I think I would have enjoyed my time at the vineyards if I drank nothing at all! Although I am glad I did – what a fabulous experience sampling a wide variety of tasty wines created at vineyards I actually toured!
One of the vineyards we visited was featured on the movie Wine Country with Amy Poehler. It is easy to understand why – with the scenic views spanning a 280-acre distinct property!
Wine is not the only enjoyment when visiting the vineyards of Napa. Most of the wineries serve food accompaniments. It was so interesting (and tasty) to discover the pairings created! It was also a wonderful way to identify some new cheeses! My favorite was one hand-rubbed with lavender buds and coffee called Barely Buzzed. When I got back home, I was thrilled to find out I could order it by mail from the Beehive Cheese Company!
My first trip to Napa Valley was definitely an unforgettable one!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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I guess no visit to Northern California would be complete without a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge. I was interested in seeing it while in San Francisco, but really had no expectations.
The walk up to the bridge, and walking on the bridge itself, ended up one of my favorite visits on my most recent trip to California. There are so many awesome overlooks along the walk up to the bridge, it is a major sensory overload! And, the walk across the 1.7-mile expanse provides beautiful (though breezy) ocean views!
It is amazing to think that when opened in 1937 – over 75 years ago – the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world!
It is easy to see why the Golden Gate Bridge is in the top ten of most visited landmarks in the United States.
I hope you enjoyed sharing some of my very first views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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I love a lighthouse visit! I guess growing up around boats and living along the Connecticut coast has given me an appreciation for all things related to the sea. There were a lot of Sundays growing up when I would spend time by the lighthouse near where I lived when I would join my dad on his visits to the club.
For me, it is always a treat to find a new lighthouse to visit when traveling.
I was able to visit a great one while in Northern California! At 115 feet, it is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States!
Located just a few miles north of Santa Cruz, Pigeon Point is a lighthouse built in 1871 to guide ships on the Pacific coast of California.
Because of current repairs in progress, it is not possible to enter the lighthouse, but the picturesque views from the grounds are awesome!
I hope you enjoy sharing the beauty of Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
Thanks for stopping by!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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Cruising the Pacific Coast Highway is a must for any beach lover! We covered a nice long stretch of the PCH when I visited Northern California recently and every single mile brought enjoyment!
One of my favorite viewing spots was Shark Fin Cove – just south of the city of Davenport, California.
I am sharing a few photos of this picturesque spot with you for today’s Friday field trip.
You can see by the photos why I love the spot so much!
The fin definitely looks the best (most fin-like) from a distance.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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Something we do not see in East Coast waters are sea lions. So, spotting them while in Northern California was something of a novelty for me.
California sea lions are “eared seals” native to the West Coast of North America. They live in coastal waters and on beaches, docks, buoys, and jetties. On my trip, the place I saw the most sea lions was when I walked the Santa Cruz Wharf – they were everywhere!
These guys weigh 240 to 700 lbs. and live to be 20 to 30 years old. They are easily trained and intelligent which is why they are commonly seen in zoos and aquariums. They are also very vocal – they sound like barking dogs! Click on the link below to see some in action!
Video of sea lions in Santa Cruz
They are definitely a blast to watch!
We wondered if these guys made a mess in the boat they jumped into!
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my West Coast pets! ;)
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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One of my favorite visits to my recent trip to Northern California was Stanford University. The visit makes me ask myself “Why did I not apply to any schools on the West Coast?!”
The highlight of the campus is definitely the Hoover Tower. Built as part of Stanford’s 50th anniversary, back in 1941, the first nine floors of the tower are library stacks and the next three floors are used for offices, but visitors are allowed to go up to the top of the tower.
It is super cool to see the tower’s bells up close and to hear a volunteer talk about how the bells are played occasionally on a whim by a music professor or one of his students. The configuration of the mechanism that plays the bells (similar to a piano) is replicated in the professor’s classroom so he can effectively teach others his skill during class!
Going up in the 285-foot tower when school was not in session gave us a crowd-free visit with plenty of space to admire the surrounding views.
I hope you enjoyed a quick visit to Hoover Tower on Friday field trip. Have a fabulous weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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Typically, I’m not a big fan of roses, but it is hard not to be impressed with the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden.
Located near the downtown of San Jose, in the quaint Rose Garden District, the garden contains more than 3,500 plantings and over 189 varieties of roses.
It is easy to tell I’m not on the East Coast as soon as I arrive to the garden – the beautiful weather and surrounding homes are good clues, but also I can tell by a cathedral of redwood trees that contribute to the garden’s West Coast vibe.
Rose enthusiasts will be interested to know that The All-American Rose Selections, a national independent rating organization, sends the new varieties to the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden for testing before released to the general public.
The Rose Garden is a City of San Jose Historic Landmark and is open to the public free of charge (free parking too!) A super find!
Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a fabulous and safe holiday!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like smelling a beautiful rose, Jackie
*Yellow roses have a special significance to some special friends of mine…I’m dedicating today’s post to the memory of someone we all share. :)
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