Paddle boarding/SUP

Every time we go out stand up paddling I can't help but feel like it's a really good metaphor for life. Everything you have to do, or should do, echoes real life. Stand up, but be flexible. Keep your eyes on the horizon. Don't get too distracted by the little things and small waves beside you. Focus on where you're going. Wear sunscreen. Stay strong, but loose. Learn how to swim. You're on your own, but it's way more fun with a friend. Check in with each other to be sure you're all safe. You will fall in, so try to laugh, it's half the fun. The water's not that deep, and not that scary. You get what I'm saying... It's such a great activity! I always think how much my sister and friends would like it. And now, Tocco surprised me by buying us our very own board, so now we can do it more often and you're all invited yaaaaaaay! :)

Memorial Day

Thank you to all of the brave servicemen and women, and all of their families, who serve our country. I am especially grateful for my sister, Chris, James, Henry, and Peter today, and all of the wonderful military friends they have made over the years. Deployments are tough. We are so thankful that Chris is on his way home from his latest deployment right this second, on Memorial Day! Welcome home, Chris!

I want all of these

and everything ever, or ever will be, on Camp Comfort 

Camp Comfort

that's all

T

Bein' T

Warm House

Thanks to those who came out. It was lovely to spend the day with you. xx

Housewarming Party

Party people: If you know me, him, or us come on over on Saturday for a party! See what we've finished, half finished, or haven't even touched at the house. Nice weather, drinks, and jams all day. I can't wait! :)

Watermelon Mint goodness from Gardenista

Childhood!

This month has been such a good one for mementos. Tocco came home with artwork, photo albums, and beautiful pieces from his childhood in Chile and Germany one day, and then the next, my car arrived from the east coast filled to the brim by my Mom. I think she was trying to lighten the load at her house, but I am happy for it. I got my stereo set, records, record player, pots and pans, garden supplies, party supplies, and all kind of randoms that I'm wondering... Where do I store you, little random? But I can't complain because love it. I'm so sentimental about stuff and I love holding onto things and bringing them out again another time for another look. So when I uncovered the wrapping on this sign, I was pretty speechless. It's a childhood relic. When we were kids, our house backed up to the start of a small forest. Set just inside of the forest was a full playground my Dad built for my sister and I. It was made entirely of wood, entirely by him, and it was very, very cool. There was a see-saw made out of a wheelbarrow, and I distinctly remember playing on that, and balancing on the balance beam, then hanging around on the hanging bars. At the entrance of the playground, high up on two poles, was this sign. I feel like even then I knew it was special. None of the other kids had a playground built for them by their Dads. It makes me appreciate him so much. So the sign arrived at our home and it made me think of all these great mornings as a kid. We didn't step foot into the house on the weekend or after school until dinnertime, and then when it was time to come home Dad would stick his two pinkies into his mouth and wolf whistle us home. No phone calls, no watches, just wolf whistles. Or how on each weekend morning Dad had always said that was his time with us girls, so we went straight out into the sun with him to spend the morning. No hanging around watching cartoons in pjs all morning. We were outside playing, marching along while he mowed the grass, running through the sprinkler, eating sunflower seeds, finding turtles, all that good stuff. This sign is going on our mantle. 

Simultaneous Projects

Not much explanation needed. You know the drill... cranking out that kitchen and fence, part CCCXXV. :)

More pics after the juuuuump

Crissy Field Day

Over the weekend, Tocco and his buddy had the (brilliant? stupid?) idea to hire a guy with a boat to drop them off at the mouth of the Pacific, under the Golden Gate Bridge to kitesurf. Apparently, that's where the "good" wind is. But dude didn't show up on time so T and his friend went out on their own, into a swarm of other kiters at Crissy Field. I have no interest in doing this sport myself, but I must say it's amazing to watch. All of these huge sails, kites, windboarders, and sailboats on the water, doing their thang under the GGB is a sight to see. 

T and his happy place. 

The downside is it's soooo super windy out there when he does this! I was hanging around fairly ok with getting sand in my eyes until I lost both my coffee, and my hat then had to call it, and go back to the car. Them's the breaks. 

Notice there are no humans on the beach but kiters and their stuff? Yep, TOO WINDY.

But we had a really good time. It always feels special to come back to this spot which I would claim is the best spot in SF. Afterwards, the wind died down and we warmed up with a change of clothes, beers and company with a friend. Solid.

Kiddo Tocco

Tocco came back from Germany last week with a photo album of him growing up in Chile. I have been asking for this red photo album for years! Tocco showed it to me the summer we met, in Berlin, and I was so fascinated by his childhood. There are such amazing photos of him and his family in Germany, riding horses and skiing in Chile, Columbia, Spain, and everywhere else. I think I'm in love with his cheeeeeks. Don't you just want to squish him?! Sweetheart.

In the infamous add-a-patch pants

Landscapades

Plannin' time!

I must say, it's pretty handy to have a husband who measures the lawn and creates perfect templates. So far we've basically just deleted, ejected, and undone everything put in the yard by the previous owner, except for a few hardy bushes full of dust and I'm guessing termites? We'd need a bulldozer, chain and caffeine straight hooked to our bloodstream to remove (or, maybe, we could actually hire someone). Anyway, looking forward to filling the yard with bright, California native plants, and everything that reminds us of road trips to the beach. I've realized our style is Desert Modern and I cannot wait to have it. Sigh

Hilarious

My friend Caroline just sent me this and it's too funny not to share. What do you do when you have the house to yourself? It's eerie how accurate this is! This week I've a) tried on all of my clothes and put them into giveaway piles, keep piles, question mark piles (I am dealing with the shoes and bags and endless under-things tonight), b) eaten totally random, doesn't go together dinners, including leftovers from the company lunch and Tocco's gummy bears, c) been watching gobs of interviews with people I like on youtube, and dancing and doing bits of yoga in my new robe in the living room. I would also add hanging out in the back garden in said robe, with a drink, watering my plants, spying on the neighbors, listening to music I loved 15 years ago, wondering how much house stuff I have to get done to make T think I can get things done when he's not around, and thinking I hear an intruder. And you? :)

A Cup of Jo

Look who arrived!

Check out this little lady. She showed up at our house this week, all the way from the east coast. It's so funny to see my car again after a year plus apart. I missed her! I And she's paid off, cheaper than Tocco's with gas, and now we can do a little independent zooming: For example, I can go to Ikea while Tocco goes to Home Depot. Bliss. Oh the fun and adventures we will have, la la la! Thanks Mom!

Ta-da!

Sunday post-brunch fix :)

 

I missed a part of that pole on the right. So imagine that finished, and the red floor around it freshly painted.

Bis Bald!

Tocco is off to Germany for the week... I wish I could have gone, but it was pretty last minute, the flights are so expensive and we have a lot to save up for (like a honeymoon... yes, eventually).

It's so strange being at this house alone. I know it's dramatic because he just left, but driving back from the airport and after running errands without him yesterday evening made this whole adventure feel like a whole lot less. San Leandro suddenly seemed so far away from family again, we don't really know the neighbors, and where are we anyway?! Maybe because we've not had years of family passing through this house yet, and it's still pretty new to us, but I realized this house is just a structure without him, and a whole lot less fun. I wouldn't need to keep it if he wasn't here. Tocco, you make this house my home.

Safe travels, Salty. Can't wait to see you on Friday. :)

A Door Story

Maybe less of a "door" story than a hood story, since this project actually was more about exploring the hood than changing a door. Nevertheless, its been a while since we tackled our last indoor project and - according to Megan's list, and my wish - we wanted to replace the door on the ground floor that leads to the basement and looks more like something is hiding behind it, with something that integrates our not-so-new-anymore refinished basement. Not like a wall that closes it off, rather a glass door or a door with a window, so it creates a better flow to the house and incorporates the basement into the living space.

However, it all started on a Saturday, a beautiful sunny northern California day. Right around the corner from our home we have a complex of "ReStore", "ReUse" and thrift stores that we've been meaning to swing by anyway, not really expecting to find something but to stroll around for a bit. And here we are, a new nook in our hood.

The ReStore store, at least one of them in this complex.

The door section, yes - they really do carry an entire aisle of old doors, who would have thought that. And even some pretty ones here and there.

As well as a couple of massive old and huge butcher blocks, or parts of an old massive wooden door, I couldn't tell, but beautiful wood though, I was tempted to buy them just to have them, but somehow I lost track of them. 

Next building, next store, this time building supplies only, and not just one aisle of doors, no, a dozen.

Including this beauty, that - as sad as it is - won't fit anywhere on the house - as hard as we tried to find an excuse or an idea of where to reuse this one, but, didn't happen, much to Megan's sadness ... ;-)

Happy Earth Day

Weekend!

Cactus Rose

Which do you think is more satisfying in a day?

Getting new fun shoes...

Or painting a fence, and taking it off the miles-long to-do list?

It's a tough call! I went back and forth all day.