Saturday, March 31, 2012

Non- antiquing in Soquel

What on earth, you say?  Well, it was a beautiful day out and my daughter and I hadn't had much fresh air since I had been under the weather.  So I decided to go to Soquel and have a fun time antiquing.  Ummmmmmm, no.  This is why.




My diaper bag was bumping into everything that my daughter hadn't spied first. Sigh.  I thought I was going to be all slick and bring my little umbrella stroller and that my 2 year old would be the angel that all Antique Store owners dream of.  


The first thing she spotted was a wood elephant bench at this cute little store.



I started to head towards the back of the store and I spotted a framed Rainbow Fish hanging.  It's one of her favorite books so she marveled at it like the little darling that she is.  I assumed she was still looking at it so I started looking around but then I heard china rattling.  She was trying to have a tea party right there.  Oops.  So I tucked my tail between my legs and headed right back out of the store before I ended up purchasing broken china.

So we ended up just strolling along the avenue soaking up the rays and taking some pretty pictures of buildings.

Like this church.



Oh wait.  I forgot.  Thanks UPS driver.




The stores along this street are absolutely adorable.


They beckoned me to come.




I guess I'll see the insides of them someday.


I am not much for jasmine, but this looked so beautiful.


It would have been perfect if it wasn't for the tagger.  Seriously.  
Who tags an awning?


Ok, it would have been close to perfect.
  
Maybe if that mailbox didn't say this:


My daughter enjoyed the sun and the wind in her hair and I enjoyed looking... at... her... hair.


And yes, before you ask, Eeyore never misses a stroll....... ANYWHERE.

My husband, Patrick, and I have been eyeing this cute little apartment above one of the coffee shops.


I bet it's super fun on the inside.  How awesome would it be to just walk downstairs and have a cup of hot chocolate at this cute little cafe?


Or next door to this adorable little deli???


I just loved this little sign.  I wish all stores had cute little 
drawings to lure people in.


I love this house!


It was up on a hill overlooking the avenue and this pretty mural.


So after passing cute store after cute store, I finally found a Play It Again Sports that we could patronize.  And I found a dummy who was afraid of me.


(shot out to Carina Moreno who's peeking around his right shoulder)

I wanted to claim this little place as my own also.  Can you tell
 my favorite color is yellow?


All in all, we had a wonderful time and I can't wait to come back again.  I might even have the nerve to fill up my car at this gas station! ;)


I am going out on a limb and saying that this is a very friendly dog since she lives at the gas station, without a leash, and everyone was loving on her. :)
 Maybe next time we will too.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Flowers, froggy throat and Fred Astaire


Finian's Rainbow is one of my favorite movies of all times!  It has everything!  Dancing, singing, romance, adventure... and leprechauns!!!  What more could a sick girl want!?!  


I've been slightly under the weather lately and have been watching some great classics.  Last night it was An Affair to Remember and We're Not Married.  My two year old happened to love them!  Especially when Deborah Kerr was singing.


So this morning we put on Finian's Rainbow and she loved it!  When Petula Clark began singing "How are things in Glocca Mora" she sang along as well!



It was so cute since she was so out of tune and had never even heard the song before.


But if you've never seen this movie before, it's an excellent "under the weather" kind of pick me up!




It reminds me of being a little girl.



Thinking there was no one grander than Fred.



On another note, we have a few new blossoms outdoors.



I love the yellow tulips more than any others.



The pinks are magnificent also.



I'm not sure what these are, but I love them.



Have a beautiful evening!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Rosehill Cottage





I sometimes find myself thinking about the quaint little cottage that belonged to Iris in The Holiday. It's kind of lame because it was just a movie set that was torn down after the movie was completed.  But alas, I still picture it in my mind's eye and have to fight the urges that try and rationalize moving to the UK in order to live in an adorable town in an adorable cottage like this one.



I have, however, allowed myself to someday mimic and just straight copy some of the rooms in Iris's house.  Such as her marvelous kitchen.


And the "too small" bath for Amanda that would be a perfect fit for my
 5'4" frame (ok, ok... 5' 3 3/4").


The living room looks so relaxing.


But my favorite space, by far, in this cottage has to be the reading nook!  Oh my word!
 It makes me giddy!



Speaking of Giddy, so does the tent that Graham created for his daughters!  


I can hardly stand the cuteness of this ceiling!



All in all, every English set in this film was like eye candy for me.  Maybe it's the unknown, but I can assure you that we don't have any towns this sweet anywhere close to where I live.

Sigh.................

Before saying "goodnight" I have to share my favorite part of this movie.  "Iris, if you were a melody."  OH!  BE STILL MY BEATING HEART!



Good night from Rosehill Cottage.  

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Spring is in the air

Oh the joy of spring!


Our tulips have blossomed!


Even the weeds look pretty!


Last year's sunflowers sprouted up unexpectedly!


We're looking forward to more gorgeous flowers just like last year! 
 Here are some shots from 2011's garden


(Isn't this little guy cute?)

And this busy little bee kept our daughter busy for a solid hour.


The butterflies were flirting with us...


... and we enjoyed every moment of it.


Our cat, Macy, got nosy...


... while Star got fierce!


Ok, actually she was only yawning.


The Naked Ladies were stunning.


They were this shimmery pink that dazzled.


The Fuschia's danced around like tiny little fairies.


The apple tree was abundant.


And this tree (I completely forgot what it's called) always reminds me 
of Tucson where I grew up.


We planted our carrots too close together last year, but they still came in beautifully.


Thank you God for making spring!!!