HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Eat, drink and be scary! ~ Author unknown

Mac decided to be a Black Cat this year!

Walter, the French Painter

Henry, the Mad Scientist

The Boys's Scary Pumpkin

All the boys want to wish everyone... 

A SPOOKY AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A Day with the Boys at Crissy Field Beach

"God took the beauty of the Bay of Naples, the Valley of the Nile, the Swiss Alps, the Hudson River Valley, rolled them into one and made San Francisco Bay." ~ Fiorello La Guardia

It was the most perfect day in San Francisco!  Bright, blue skies and sunshine with a warm breeze....Summer in San Francisco begins in the Fall!   WOW!

We headed out in the Jeep with the boys in tow, plenty of water and plastic bags.  We drove south on the 101, over the Golden Gate Bridge and headed towards The Presidio.  We wanted to check out Baker Beach so we found our way to Gibson Road.  It was packed with tourists and locals; anyone and everyone who was out enjoying this spectacular afternoon in the city by the bay.  We drove around and around but could not find parking.  Bummer.

Then Brian decided to head over to Crissy Field to see if we could find a place to take the boys for some fun.  We drove past all the old military barracks (they are so cool - many of which have been restored into apartments and office space) and lo and behold, we found a perfect parking spot right across the street from Crissy Field, a restored grass aircraft runway and now a Golden Gate National Park.

What a breathtaking spot!  We crossed the street with Walter and Henry on a leash and once we stepped foot on the grassy park, we let them run! .

The boys get to romp off leash

Soon, like magnets to to metal, Henry and Walter dashed down to the beach.  Henry was in the water in a flash with Walter right behind him.  This place was too good to be true!  Views, views everywhere!  We looked up to see the Golden Gate bridge, suspended above us in all its stunning glory....we looked ahead and had a bird's eye view of Alcatraz and Angel Island floating in the bay and turned around to the right where we had a full snapshot of the San Francisco skyline.  You can't get much better than that.  Where else can you be on the beach with all these incredible views?  Not anywhere I have ever been! And all the while, the boys are romping on shoreline, swimming in the tide and having the time of their lives!

The boys having a blast on the beach

Walty follows Henry into the bay

When the boys were wet and worn out, we drove north back over the Golden Gate Bridge toward home and took another detour through the artsy and charming town of Sausalito.  As we rounded the corner onto Bridgeway (the main drag), we we came upon a surge of strollers, shoppers, bikers and al fresco diners.  It seemed as if every human and animal alike was out and about on this glorious Fall day by the San Francisco Bay.

What a joy it is to live in this magical place.

Pit Bull Awareness Day

Today is Pit Bull Awareness Day.

These poor, lovely souls are so misunderstood.  So many people think that all pit bulls are mean and aggressive and unadoptable.  But these people are mistaken.  These dogs need love and caring just like any other dog and will give love back a million times over if just given the chance.  They seem to be the number one abandoned dog and there are many bad owners out there that train their pit bulls to fight and abuse and then abandon them in droves.  It is a tragedy.

I have a dear friend who has rescued two delightful pit bulls found wandering the streets of L.A. with no home and no loving family to care for them.  You can read about their stories on My Life with Tommy. Tommy was the first pittie that warmed his way into Susan's heart.  Then came Louise.  Unfortunately, Tommy and Louise are not a match made in heaven and so Susan finds herself having to make a difficult choice. She also has two cats that need her attention.  Alas, she has to put Louise up for adoption.  After all, Tommy was there first.

I am posting a photo of the beautiful and loving Louise.  You can read and see more about her on Susan's blog My Life with Tommy.  If you know of anyone who would like to have this expressive, well-behaved  little pittie as a part of their family, please, please let Susan know.......she wants to find a great forever home for this lovely girl.    

Just look at her!

We must give these misunderstood pups a chance at a great life!

Birthday by the Bay

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well. ~ Voltaire

I worked from home today which I am fortunate enough to be able to do once a week.  I usually telecommute on Wednesday.  Today is Wednesday and it also happens to be my birthday.

My husband gave me a Kindle as a birthday gift.  I was very pleased as I read every day during my commute time to and from work. I sometimes lug very thick hardcovers in my bag along with my computer which makes for a heavy load.  I was reluctant to switch to an electronic book because I didn’t think I could give up the real thing.  I love the smell of and the feel of the pages.  But, alas, I don’t have the room anymore to store all my books and have been donating them to the library little by little.  The Kindle really is the perfect solution for my commute as it is sleek and lightweight and can easily slide into my purse. 

But that is not what this post is about; I just thought I would mention it because it was a lovely, thoughtful gift!

Guaymas by the Bay

Since I worked from home today, I was able to go out to lunch in my neighborhood as a treat!.  Brian took me to a delightful restaurant called Guaymas down by the Tiburon pier.  “The restaurant is positioned after the fishing village of Guaymas in Mexico on the Sea of Cortez.  The menu is inspired by the traditional Mexican foods of celebration and focuses on farm-to-table ingredients, duplicating the flavors of the small coastal village for which it is named.”  It sits right at the water’s edge by the port of the Tiburon ferry. 

We sat outside on the patio.  The sky was as blue as a robin’s egg and the sun was buzzing with summer warmth and autumn light.  It was a glorious day.

Lovely patio setting

Our view of the Ferry Pier and Angel Island

We were served three different types of salsas and all had authentic and unique flavors ranging from spicy to salty to sweet.  The tortilla chips were homemade.  I would have eaten the entire basket of tortilla chips but wanted to save room for my entrée (and maybe even dessert!).

Aren't they beautiful?

I ordered prawns with a sweet chipotle glaze and served with homemade guacamole.  What a delight it was to bite into those succulent charcoal grilled beauties!  

Brian ordered chicken enchiladas.  They were beautifully prepared with chunks of fresh chicken and a light sauce.  The rice was warm and fragrant and the black beans were healthy and tasty.  

Lovely Enchiladas de Pollo

I also sipped on a Top Shelf Margarita on the rocks which was prepared with fresh lime juice and a splash of Grand Marnier – just the way I like it.  It was a delicious, relaxing and enjoyable lunch.

And at the moment I was contemplating an order of the ice cream taco or the cinnamon churro for dessert, the server brought out a complimentary homemade flan topped with a birthday candle!

Happy Birthday to me!

I felt so fortunate today.  To me, birthdays are a celebration of life.  

And I have a lot to celebrate.

Room with a View

"Tell me what you feel in your room when the full moon is shining in upon you...~ Henry Frederic Amiel

The Buckeye Roadhouse in Marin County

Brian and I decided to have lunch at the Buckeye Roadhouse today.  It’s a great little Marin County restaurant located off Highway 101 between Mill Valley and Sausalito.  With its Aspen lodge-like ambiance that features vaulted ceilings, a river-rock fireplace and a cozy, rustic bar area, Brian and I felt our Colorado roots tugging at us the first time we stepped foot inside the place. 

The food is prepared with fresh, local ingredients - which is something I adore about dining and food shopping in the Bay Area.  There is a wholesome goodness to every bite – even if indulging in a burger and fries.  The burgers are pure organic angus beef and the fries are, well, fries, but pretty close to perfection.   Have you ever had garlic-herb French fries?  If you haven’t, try them at the Buckeye Roadhouse - you are in for a treat.  Brian had a grilled Santa Fe chicken sandwich on a sourdough bun topped with avocado, jack cheese and chipotle mayo – another one of their delicious sandwiches.  We have been eating low carb, healthy meals and salads for weeks and this was indeed a treat well worth waiting for.

Now for some clarity on the title of this post:  “A Room with a View”.  The Buckeye Roadhouse doesn’t provide the views you might expect. I think most folks would agree that one dines at the Buckeye Roadhouse for the food, the ambiance and the wonderfully friendly service - and not necessarily the view. 

Today, however, we sat in a booth that faced the bar.  Right at the moment I began to sink my teeth into my perfectly grilled, juicy burger, I noticed that I indeed, did have a view!  Lucky me! 

I could not resist:  I placed my burger down on my plate and in a flash, with iPhone in hand, undetected, took my best shot.

Ready?

Ta da!

Half Moon?

Yep, right there on the bar stool in front of me – for the rest of the meal - this was my view.   It brought a whole new meaning to the slogan " Just wait'll we get our Hanes on you!"  

Where is Michael Jordan when you need him?!