San Francisco: Cafés and lists

January in northern California has been exquisite. It's been a month of unseasonably mild sunny weather - day in, day out. I keep opening the windows. I look at  the sky, not a cloud in sight. As the month will soon roll into February, I revisit New Year's resolutions that have zigzagged through my mind; I love honoring new beginnings. 

I have a thing for lists. I make them at work; I make them at home; I make them in my head; I make them all the time. I tell my girls to make lists. Lists are good.

I do not have a lot of solo time. There is a place in San Francisco where I like to return to time and again. I can quietly contemplate my lists, and edit them to my heart's content. There is something quite lovely to me about the Café de La Presse on the edge of Chinatown, in the French Quarter. I easily tune out the locals, the tourists, the demanding toddlers, the bustling waiters. With my camera never far away, I notice details in the worn grain of my table, in the fold of the window curtain shielding the traffic beyond its panels. I gather a few crumbs from the flaky croissant. I ponder. I linger. I love the earth tones. The coffee is strong.

Still in the city at twilight? Another café to contemplate those resolutions. Lingering over the distressed copper-top tables and warm lights of Café Flore in the Castro District will definitely do the trick as well. Mind you by then, it's not coffee that will be on the table; and lists will be perfectly folded and tucked away!

Later I will cross the Golden Gate Bridge, updated lists in hand, invigorated, and rejoiced!

The Café De La Presse is at the gateway of Chinatown. The Lunar New Year starts early this year - on January 31st. The Year of the Horse will be celebrated. Time to ring in the New Year all over again! Does that mean new lists? New resolutions?! Definitely a new blog post is in order… with perhaps a hop across the ocean to China!

A quiet space ~ a simple list or two ~ it is always good for the soul. 

Santa is coming to town ~ it's Christmas time!

The holidays are upon us. Over the past week, family has arrived from the Netherlands, from Brazil; and soon from Barcelona. Oh the joy! We will gather around. Christmas Day will be festive. Friends will join us as well.

Last year, my mood was in soft teal, lavender hues, and silver (click here to go back in time). This year, I return to the magical quality of my favorite color, magenta, this time wrapped in a vintage accent…  

I mix it up with old mercury glass, crystal jars and glass ornaments (I just love the porcelain face on the Russian ornament). Since I simply must have a taste of France, I sneak in my slow growing collection of Eiffel Towers, along with a few miniature bottle brush trees wrapped in glitter and baubles, and I steal last year's photo of "Dreaming of snow"! 

The weather is just exquisite. There will be no snow. There will be joy and laughter and delights.

 

If I have time as the festivities begin, I will attempt to photograph the Christmas village tucked on a chest of drawers in a corner of the dining room. There I have blanketed the land with snow and  "Santon" clay figurines from Provence. I do believe they do deserve their own fifteen minutes of fame. Let's see what I can do. For now though:

Jingle Bells ~

Merry Christmas ~

Joyeux Noël ~

Peace on Earth ~

Oh so good for the soul ~ Enjoy ~ Adeline

Mendocino Coast

Today is the day after Thanksgiving. I could have been be dashing off to mega-stores, rushing and crushing against the masses, eagerly seeking the ultimate gift. 

Instead, I choose to gift myself with the many moods of the Mendocino coastline. Each time I am within its reach, I am transported in a swirl of peace, in a gift of thankfulness for this amazing area where I live. 

Down by the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean, I edge close to tide pools; I wrap myself in the cooling morning mist, the fog slowly lifting in small parcels across the sky. I climb into it, then over it. I smile.

Recent online reviews of the area mention how one simply must stop at the newly refurbished and family-owned Stewart's Point General Store - first opened in 1868. I am tempted. 

To my delight I discover that their small displays tucked here and there in the store are just like the vignettes of style and design that I treasure. I smile. I leave sandwich in hand and head seven miles inland to the ridge-top vistas of Annapolis Winery, another gem of a find!

Soon after Stewart's Point, the Sea Ranch beckons. Each time, I am drawn to its tranquility. There is a dreamy secret about it. The ocean in its endless vastness leaves me in awe every single time. I will not reveal too much. It is too precious.

The setting evening light after a long drive over the rugged ridge to Anderson Valley brings me full circle to Point Arena, in time for a relaxing twilight dinner with all the beauty that envelops the area.

I shall indeed give thanks… for witnessing the beauty and the life that revives my spirit every time I sense a tension in my being.

I do believe you will agree. It is good for the soul…