announcement!

After quite a lot of talk, I will be officially selling my succulent arrangements at the farmers market!

I was able to get a space at our much loved, up and coming, and just around the corner farmers market.  Starting this Saturday, June 2, little grey gull succulents will be at the Golden Hill Farmers Market from 9:30am-1:30pm.  I will be there every Saturday for the foreseeable future, so I hope things go well!  This market is great, it's centrally located, they have amazing food to come grab for lunch, lots of fresh produce, and if you live in the area their CSA box can't be beat.  

I've been working hard over this past long weekend trying to get everything together, but it still feels like there is so much to do, and I have to go back to work tomorrow.  But I have been anticipating this for a long time, so its just a matter of organizing my hoarding and planting a few new arrangements.  I'm so nervous!

the sights

I was so surprised how sleepy the towns in coastal central California are.  I figured since we were seeing beach towns they would be more populated and funky, but everything was very quiet and peaceful with lots farmland and rolling hills.  It was just my kind of place. 

We visited Hearst Castle, on my bucket list of historical places. William Hearst was a bit bonkers for Gothic art and Spanish architecture, as well as having the resources to add and add to his "ranch" over 28 years to fill with art collected over his lifetime.  It was incredible the beauty and condition of every single surface from ceilings to tapestries, rugs, and lamps, each thing appeared to be dripping with money.  It was neat, but part of my obsessive love of the old is what story the person or artifact can tell about day to day life of the time period.  Although influential, Hearst and his castle was far from realistic.  I like my history with a touch of dust, rust, and soot.

 I could handle some roaring parties and a dip in the pool at Hearst castle circa 1930.

I saw on Oprah that San Luis Obispo was named the happiest place in America

I think any place with ice cream and baby farm animals is a happiest place for me (Avila Valley Barn)

Montana de Oro was incredible.  I was naughty a took a couple bleached, tumbled stones and bits of drift wood from the beach, I couldn't help it.

Overall it was an incredible trip.  Although we camp alot, this was different, this was a true vacation, and a welcome one at that.

the site

We just back from an amazing weekend up in central California.  We camped for 3 nights in Pismo Beach and spent the days exploring Hearst Castle, adorable San Luis Obispo, and hiking at Montana de Oro state park.  Our camp site was nestled next to a lagoon and just over the hill from the ocean. Oh boy did we really rough it.

After reading the new article in Sunset on camping in comfort, I couldn't resist getting a new rug to keep out the dirt and throw some spare white sheets on the air mattress.  I don't think I slept that good in a long time.

No hot dogs or smores for us.  I love to cook while camping, which is weird because I don't really like to cook at home.  There is something magical about cooking in the fresh evening air, over an open fire, usually with a gin and tonic in hand.  We had yummy burgers, steak, and salad, but my favorite had to be the artichokes (trim and steam artichokes as usual at home, then wrap in foil with a drizzle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, and salt, toss on the fire until hot).  So luscious, there's no need for dipping sauce. 

I was worried about food staying fresh in the cooler for the last night, so we had my new favorite thing: sauteed sardines with garlic and spinach on grilled bread with bruschetta (saute trader joes boneless skinless sardines with thinly sliced garlic and a handful of fresh spinach).  I paired it with a pasta salad I assembled the night of with fresh english peas, bacon, toasted pine nuts, and a light pesto cream sauce.  Yeah, not quite sure why I don't cook like this every night, because it was freaking righteous.

Who needs an alarm clock when you've got papa goose, his 4 baby mamas and chicks as a wakeup call.  These guys owned the place.

A short hike over the hill, flowers and silky sand galore, the ocean greeted us.