pleasure in simple things

conservatory of flowers

August 13, 2019

My recent trip to San Francisco included many miles of walking. One day, while walking through the world-renowned Golden Gate Park, it was a pleasant surprise to happen upon The Conservatory of Flowers – a Victorian-era glass greenhouse with more than 2,000 species of plants & flowers.

A national, state and local landmark built in 1879; the Conservatory of Flowers was the first formal structure erected in Golden Gate Park and remains an icon at its entrance.

The Conservatory has five distinct galleries, each focusing on highlighting a different ecosystem, ranging from a tropical rainforest to the cloud forests perched on top of mountains.

I am sharing a few photos taken at the Conservatory with you here today. If you find yourself visiting San Francisco, be sure to put the Conservatory of Flowers on your list of places to visit! Even if plants are not your ‘thing,’ the glass greenhouse and surrounding grounds are worth visiting!

Have a fabulous week. Thanks for stopping by.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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ring my bell

August 9, 2019

If you follow my blog, you know by now how much I enjoy details! I used one of my California photos with an Angier quote to include in today’s post just to emphasize this thought!

The reason I mention it is because the smallest of details made my day and I want to share for today’s Friday field trip!

What small detail? A new doorbell!

Yes, I got excited about a new doorbell!

If you look at the old one:

You can see it is nothing to get excited about! I knew I needed to replace it with something I could enjoy looking at!

So, I did just that!

Now I really love my doorbell! What do you think? Cute?

I hope today’s post will inspire you to change one little detail this weekend that will put a big smile on your face!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend, Jackie

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help from my friends

August 6, 2019

I cannot let Sunday’s holiday go by without some type of recognition. What was the holiday? The first Sunday in August is National Friendship Day.

I definitely could not have gotten through the last year without my friends. (Some of these friends also happen to be family members – you know who you are!)

Friendship Day is a fabulous time to recognize all my very special friends. Tonight I enjoyed a casual evening outdoors with two of these very special friends – a great way to honor the day.

I owe such a debt of gratitude to everyone who has been helping me through this challenging time. Please know how very much I appreciate you!

Use this post as an inspiration to get in touch with a friend you may not have spoken to in a while…maybe a childhood or high school friend.

In my book, National Friendship Day is every day! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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alcatraz

August 2, 2019

One of the places I did not expect to go when I started thinking in advance about my recent California trip was a tour of Alcatraz! However, my son set up a tour and I was enthusiastic to check it out!

One and a quarter miles offshore from San Francisco, this small island was once a fort, a military prison, and a maximum-security federal penitentiary (closed in 1963). It is also the site of the first lighthouse on the West Coast.

Alcatraz Island is a designated national historic landmark and the National Park Service does an excellent job of preserving the island. It also provides tourists a very well organized ferry ride out to the island with a great self-guided tour once on the island.

I have never seen any prison in my lifetime so it was a little creepy to tour a vacated federal penitentiary, but so very interesting!

I spoke with a guard who was working on the island at the time the penitentiary closed and he told me his family never even locked the doors of their home while living on the island! Learning that the island housed prisoners who continually caused trouble at other federal prisons (including the notorious Al Capone), I think I would locked my door if I was an island resident!

What a great historic tour!

This was the library – I wish the books were still there!

I hope you enjoy seeing some of the photos I took while on Alcatraz Island today on Friday field trip!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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current mood

July 30, 2019

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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an ocean view

July 26, 2019

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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first trip to napa

July 23, 2019

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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first glimpse golden gate bridge

July 19, 2019

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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pigeon point lighthouse

July 16, 2019

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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cruisin’ the pch

July 12, 2019

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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