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.

staying put

My husband and I have been teetering with the idea of moving back to our hometown of Encinitas.  Right now we live near downtown San Diego and both work in the middle of the county, so a move north wouldn't really affect our commute.  Encinitas has major pros, we could be close to the beach, family, and old friends, but the cons are expensive rent, losing the luxury of walking places, and the annoying effort of moving.  

Let me get one thing straight, we love our current place, we love the neighborhood, the house, the charm, everything, but despite living here almost 2 years we have never really settled.  We left our heart in Encinitas and for years, through college and beyond, we always said we'll move back.  It's a terrible way to think, now that the transient phase of our lives is over, if we can't feel settled or satisfied anywhere but Encinitas we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. 

I was talking to an old friend of mine from high school about this curse, the curse of growing up in an amazing hometown, so in adulthood nothing quite compares.  Most of my friends have been struck with this.  Her boyfriend from Idaho doesn't get it, most people cant wait to get out.  

Then I realized, I'm always looking for the next big thing, the next place to move, the next hobby to try, the next camping trip, but I never really sit down and enjoy the now.  When I take a second and look around at my life, I see how good I have it.  Why push to change that?  Home is where my husband, my animals, and my garden is, and I have all that.

So we've decided to stay put.  The next big goal, that is totally worth looking forward to, is buying a house in the next 2 years. It definitely will not be in Encinitas, the housing prices are insane and we've come to discover the we want as close to an acre of land as possible, we want our own little Shire per say.  It's hard to let go of our hometown, knowing our children won't grow up there, but now it feels like a whole new heap of oppurtunties have opened up and we can move on from outdated dreams.  

For pictures sake, we just picked up this weeks CSA from the farmers market and it was a good haul.  Another reason to love our neighborhood, a Saturday morning walk to the farmers market for 15 bucks of awesome goodness.  Tonight's dinner is pasta with roasted cherry tomatoes, beet greens, and goat cheese, mmm.

Also, this happened the other night and it makes my heart melt.  They have become fast friends who play and sleep together, the cat even licks the dog.

happy easter

I've slowed down a little bit.  I was so enthusiastic about my succulent business then boom life hits.  A heap of new responsibilities at my day job, my husbands birthday, his grandparents in town, my dad in poor health, an adopted cat joining our family, car problems, having to buy a new car, rain and mud mucking up my plants, and without a dishwasher and washer/dryer our once charming cottage looks as chaotic as I feel.  To top it all off I've been fighting a mean case of the yawns.

me as a terrified little babe, sometimes I still feel like this

I suppose that's how life is, things never slow down, but there has got to be a way to enjoy the little things amongst the larger chaos. 

That being said, its a beautiful Easter morning, the cat and the dog are getting along swimmingly, and my new (new to me) car is a incredible compared to the clunkers I have driven since my sweet 16.  With my work schedule lightening up and a vacation on the horizon, enjoying the little things isn't so difficult.

70 degrees

I was such a lovely day today, about 70 degrees and sunny.  Like I said, once January hits, it's spring in San Diego (give or take a few cold, rainy days).  I love San Diego, both my husband and I grew up here (in Encinitas), we went to high school together, we had our first kiss on Moonlight Beach.  We live in a 1930's cottage downtown near Balboa Park.  Our weekends are filled with taking our frenchie to the dog park and me watching my husband surf.  We've entertained options to move elsewhere, like back to the bay area where we went to college, but it doesn't compare.  I wear sandals 360 days of the year, that just doesn't fly anywhere else.  Anyways, I spent the morning in the garden putting together several new arrangements.  I suppose that's why I love succulents, they are San Diego.

just keep growing

I've crossed my t's and dotted my i's.  I received my California sellers permit and business license.  I've started submitting applications to several farmers markets around the city.  I've been gardening like crazy getting my inventory up to the task.  It's like applying for a job, trying to prove my worth to my employer (the market manager) showing him its beneficial to have my succulents in vintage arrangements and biodegradable pots at his market.  I couldn't feel more prepared or excited.  

 some new clippings from my mama plants ready to be on their own

It was a cold and rainy weekend.  No complaints, January in San Diego is practically spring, and I hope there will be snow in the mountains for our trip this weekend.  I spent Saturday block printing a stamp of my logo, mostly out of boredom, but I can see the potential in stamping canvas bags and paper sacks.