Camp Whimsy

Our Trip to China Town for Chinese New Year

Audrey and I were able to spend a weekend with my mom in San Francisco to celebrate Chinese New Year. This was Audrey's first time to China Town and she LOVED it! This was also her first girls-only trip and it was fabulous!

We had to show Audrey the ropes of shopping in the big city. My mom and I have been to China Town enough times that we have our favorite shops and we know which stores have the best stuff.

We know which store has the best selection of slippers.

We know where to find the best mud men. I like to buy one of these every time I visit. I write the date on the bottom and keep it in my oriental collection cupboard.

Audrey loved learning to shop! She was careful to choose exactly what she wanted and liked using her own wallet to pay for her items. 

I left my heart in China Town. After a day of shopping and a wonderful lunch at our favorite Chinese restaraunt and more shopping we freshened up at our hotel and headed out again. We found our spot along the parade route and waited for the main event.

Audrey was so excited to see the parade!

 

I went down a couple of blocks to retrieve us snacks for the parade from my favorite french bakery, La Boulange. Macaroons, cookies and hot chocolates were in order.

Audrey was wide eyed as you can see from this picture!

Here comes the parade! This year was the year of the dragon and dragons were every where!

 

Towards the end of the parade there was a hold up waiting for the finale, the golden dragon. We walked down to Union Square where the dragon was just beginning to make his way towards us. The biggest and best lions are the ones pictured here. They precede the golden dragon.

Fire crackers were cracking. Chinese drums were drumming. Dragons and lions were dancing. Here comes the big one...

...the golden dragon! This dragon is the finale to the parade every year. We have watched him on television in years past. We were so excited to see him in person. He is over 200 feet long and it takes over 100 people to carry him. He is amazing. We were standing at an intersection in union square and the dragon went right next to us, we were able to touch him for good luck. Audrey was enchanted...

 

...here is Audrey illuminated from the dragon. Reaching up and touching him for good luck.

She was lost in the moment! You can see the honored dragon carriers on the left side of the picture. We were so lucky they were on our side of the intersection and we were able to be so close to the dragon!

 

After the parade we ate dinner and headed back to the hotel. We were excited to find the golden dragon being put away in a building next to our hotel! He was so magnificent and huge! 

Audrey loved seeing him up close! We had a truly wonderful girls weekend! Hooray for girls! Hooray for fun! Hooray for Chinese new year! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Sister's Wedding in Kauai

 
My sister was married at the Plantation Gardens on beautiful Kauai. The wedding was completely lovely, elegant, personal, intimate and exquisite. My sister left no detail undone. Everything was perfect. Audrey was beautiful in her flower girl dress, lei and carrying her special flower basket. Strauss was quite the dapper little fellow and enjoyed the koi fish and walking on the beach afterwards. Here are some photos of our evening...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 
The wedding meal was delicious, guests had their choice of three plates, though most guests chose the lobster tail and steak option (WOW!). Plenty of wine, local beers, champagne and several cakes were also served. My sister's wedding was the best wedding I've ever attended. Hands down the best. I love my sister, we are very different from each other, yet we are good friends and I never doubt her love for me and my family. She loves being an Auntie to my children and spoils them with sincere affection and her new husband is a wonderful Uncle to them and a great addition to our family. My husband and I are so happy to have been able to be there for their big day, and to spend a week together with my parents, siblings and new brother in law in such a beautiful place. My favorite souvenirs I brought back are of course memories, but I did manage to get some very special photos of my children at the wedding and at the beach, these are very personal to me, but here is one last peek...

 
 
Notice the pants are on in the first photo and off in the second. It's hard to leave your pants on when you are at the beach! Maholo for sharing in our special day, Aloha.

 

Our Trip to Kauai

 
We are back from a wonderful family vacation on Kauai. My sister was married there last week and the wedding and island were absolutely beautiful. Here is a look at our week...

 

We stayed on the south shore at Poipu, the villa we stayed in was lovely,

 

my sister and her fiance sent us flowers upon arrival, I loved my pink arrangement, I've never seen such a pretty pink arrangement. They took great care in providing a wonderful experience for all of their guests.

 
We were on the ground floor overlooking the pool. My sister, new in-laws and fellow wedding guests took up the top two levels of the villa. It was great to be so close to everyone.

 
I loved having a kitchen while on vacation, it made breakfast and lunch easy. (Dinners were eaten out!)I also loved having a washer and dryer. In fact, this villa was nicer than most hotels I've stayed at, maybe even nicer than my home!

 

My kids loved bathing in the tub there!

 
On our first night in Kauai my mom took us to to the Grand Hyatt around the corner. It is the resort she usually stays at when she visists Kauai. It was breathtaking, one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, words or pictures can not do it justice. We sat on the terrace and ordered pupus (yep, pronounced pooh-poohs), or appetizers in mainland vocabulary. Holy smokes, they were the best pupus I've ever had!

 

As we sat on the terrace at sunset two young men came, blew the conch shells and began to light the torches throughout the resort.

 
My husband and I drove up to Hanalei for the day. This is the old sugar mill on the road near Poipu and Koloa. It is really beautiful at different times of the day, especially at sunset. My parents once went to a party at the mill and saw it up close. Maybe on our next trip to Kauai I will get a closer look.

 

The beach at Hanalei was quiet and peaceful.

 
 

The church at Hanalei.
 

 
The old Hanalei school. We had a fabulous lunch just across the street. Perhaps the reason I like Hanalei so much is it gives you an idea of what many Hawaiian towns used to look like. There is very little there, not even a gas station. You really get a feel of a traditional Hawaiian village. The new school is just down the street from the old school and it was built in the plantation style, really beautiful and a complement to the town.

 
The Hanalei valley is home to fields of taro, the plant used to make poi.

 
The valley is a canvas of green and a real treat to see in person.

 
Just outside of Princeville we made a stop to see the Kilauea lighthouse.

 
Looking down from the cliffs, that water was so blue, I can't even think of a word to describe it!

 
Our last stop was in Koloa. Koloa is such a quaint town, full of neat old houses and shacks.

There are gorgeous trees throughout Koloa.

 
There is a nice collection of gift shops, art galleries, a pharmacy and local grocery in Koloa.

 
I loved this old Salvation Army building in Koloa. I bought a painting of the building from a local artist to bring home and frame. Our trip to Kauai was so very wonderful. The island was a perfect fit for us, small towns, beautiful beaches, wonderful shopping and dining while still having a small town feel. Someday I would like to stay over in Honolulu on Oahu to see Pearl Harbor,(we saw it from the air) but I think Kauai is the Hawaiian island best suited for us. In my next post I'll share some photos from my sister's wedding. Aloha~Kim

Avila Barn

If you ever travel down California's central coast, plan a stop at Avila Barn. Located just below San Luis Obispo it is a treat for small children and families. Kids can feed the farm animals and you can browse their market and share their delicious home made ice cream with your family.

 

Sheep, peacocks, goats, donkeys, ducks, and a beautiful cow are happy to accept food from the kids. The animals are very well cared for and the grounds are very clean.


 

  

Visiting San Francisco's Chinatown

 
I am a country girl with a heart for the city. I prefer wide open spaces, being able to see the night sky lit up with stars, the quiet of crickets and frogs singing at night. I am content living in our small rural farm area, but I adore visiting the city. I love the sights, sounds and colors of the city. The city is alive. The city is a place for discovery. Every year we spend more and more time in San Francisco. In honor of the Chinese New Year my mom and I spent an entire day in Chinatown. We love visiting Chinatown and have a long list of favorite shops to explore.

 
I love the gate at the entrance to Chinatown on Bush and Grant streets. It is beautiful at night too.

 

The street lamps in Chinatown are perfectly charming. 

 

I think it would be fun to live for a season in an apartment above a store in Chinatown.

This sign was in front of a store and made us laugh. Apparently if you put on one of their hats and take a picture they can charge you $1.00! I didn't put the hat on and take a picture, but I did take a picture of the hat and sign. (No charge)

We were fortunate to witness a dragon parade! 

Chinatown is a must see if you visit San Francisco. I heart Chinatown!!!
  
 
 
 
 
 

Farm Chicks Show 2009 Part 4: Where to Sleep and Eat in Spokane

 

If you want to make your stay in Spokane truly memorable you must give the Davenport Hotel a try. The hotel was originally built in 1914 and restored to it's former glory in 2002. I am not a big fan of staying in hotels, but I delight in staying at the Davenport. The hotel is ornate, very clean, features a gift shop, candy store and a flower shop, indoor pool and more. The hotel is right in the middle of downtown Spokane with easy access to great dining and shopping.

  

 

 

And if you're looking for a great place to eat...

 

...you must visit Chaps . Chaps is one of a kind, truly a special place...

 

I LOVE the counter where you place your order, so very pretty...

 

...and this lovely old chest with that great blackboard behind it. Sigh.

 

This is the entryway which is papered with all sorts of vintage papers and decorated with a great collection of vintage horse pictures.

 

 

 

Lots of vintage trucks scattered about...

 

 

...even this old Chaps truck parked in the outdoor dining area!

 

There are several dining rooms in Chaps. This beautiful mantle is in the front dining room.  I love the use of color at Chaps.

 

I took a peek upstairs.

 

Another great mantle adorned with pillars and vintage trucks.

 

Every nook and cranny is embellished, even the walls and celings.

 

And of course the food...really tasty.  For my sister, biscuits and gravy...

 

...and for me a monte cristo with freezer jam and a salad. So yummy!

 

And because no meal is complete without something sweet, a cupcake! Oh happy day! So there you have it, next time you are in Spokane you must treat yourself to a stay at the Davenport and pay a visit to Chaps for a real treat!! Coming up next...Part 4: The Treasures I Found at the Farm Chicks...stay tuned...

Handmade Souvenir

 

You may already know that I love bringing home souvenirs from my travels. On our recent trip to New Orleans I thought it might be fun to bring along a watercolor notepad and pencils to try my hand at sketching a souvenir to bring home. On the last evening of our trip we walked just down the block on Royal Street to Brennan's. This seemed a fitting subject for my sketch, as we loved our Breakfast at Brennan's and want to remember it forever! 

 

We sat across the street on the steps of a building and I sketched away. Just below us a group of musicians was performing. The weather was warm and people were walking about on their way to their Saturday evening meals. It was a perfect scene, one I will never forget, especially since I made a nifty little sketch to bring home.

 

I used my Faber-Castell water color pencils. These are great because you can draw with them and then use a paintbrush and water to bring the colors to life when you get home.

 

Here is the sketch I made and brought home.

 

When I got home I added more layers of color and used the wet paint brush to "water color." I am going to have my masterpiece framed at the local frame shop. What makes this souvenir special to me is the memory I have of making it, the memory I have of our fabulous breakfast at Brennan's and that I made it on my own. Next time you go somewhere special take along a sketchbook and your watercolor pencils and bring home a special memory from your trip!

The French Quarter

 

I'm in love with the French Quarter in New Orleans, and here is why: It is unlike any other American city you will visit, in fact in many ways it feels as though you are in a city in Europe. It's buildings are old, they have stories to tell...

 

...they have hidden courtyards you will wish you could sit in...

 

...they have beautiful balconies you will wish you could sit on...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...there are treasures to be found in fancy Royal Street shops...

 

   

 

...the windows and doors are dressed in shutters of every color...

 

...there are many gas lanterns to light the night...

 

...even the sewer covers are beautiful...

 

...history disguised as beauty is all around...

 

 

...ferns live in tiny crevices on old brick walls...

 

 

...even grates on the sides of buildings are ornate and beautifully fashioned...

 

 

...I am dreaming of the French Quarter and the day I will visit her again.  I think most people have a special place they will visit again and again, a place that calls to them and rests quietly in their hearts.  For some it might be in the quiet of the mountains, along the shores of an ocean or amidst the bustle of a great city. Of all of the cities and countries I have visited, New Orleans is this place for me. I know I will always go back to her, to walk among her beautiful shuttered buildings with their secret courtyards and to listen to the stories she has to tell. Where is your special place?

Good Eats From The Big Easy

 

The best thing to do in New Orleans is eat. There are many great restaraunts to choose from offering a range from the less expensive po boy (sandwich) to exquisite jacket required dinners of sea food served with a French flair. Mother's is a great place to grab a po boy, specifically the John G with debris. This classic New Orleans restaraunt is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. I had the fried chicken and it was by far the best I've ever eaten. We had the pleasure of dinner at Galatoire's... souffled potatoes, oysters rockefeller, crabmeat remoulade, filet mignon paired with a lovely white wine...I get all warm and fuzzy just thinking of the lovely meal we shared at Galatoire's. By the end of our stay we were ready for a lighter dinner and chose the tourist hot spot of Pat O' Brien's  (home of the famous hurricane drink) where we had a surprisingly nice meal, jambalaya for my husband and a vegetable pasta dish for me.  

   

The Central Grocery Co. is located on Decatur Street, just down from the Cafe du Monde. If you hit the restaraunt at peak meal times you can expect a brief wait in line for one of their famous muffuletta sandwiches.

 

 

 

The muffuletta sandwich contains layers of salami's, mortadella, swiss cheese and the Central Grocery's own olive mix all on a round muffuletta loaf.

 

The olive mix is the best part. The sandwiches are large and easily shared as they come cut into quarters.

 

If there is one place to put on your list of must-have meals it should be breakfast at Brennan's.

   

Breakfast at Brennan's truly is unforgettable, we first had it five years ago on our first trip to New Orleans and have been dreaming of it ever since.

 

A bloody mary is a traditional way to start your meal, husband went with tradition, I had coffee. Their are a number of delicious things on the menu at Brennan's, but if you want a real treat choose the three course prix fixe and the following selections:

 

Course 1: Baked apple in double cream. You'll think you've died and gone to heaven.

 

Course 2: Eggs benedict. Besides the fact they are cooked to perfection, what makes their eggs benedict better than the average is the use of holland rusks, lightly toasted biscuits instead of those awful english muffins. If you want to take it to the next level order the Eggs Hussarde, (eggs benedict with a marchand de vin sauce).

 

Course 3: Bananas Foster. This world famous dish originated right here at Brennan's.  Now you really will think you died and went to heaven. Yep, surely you must be in heaven.

 

Part of what makes the bananas foster experience so fun is your head waiter prepares it in your dining room. Our head waiter's name was Dago and we had a great time talking with him about tips on preparing bananas foster, the jazz festival and a great onion ring recipe he suggested we try making.

 

 

I once tried making bananas foster for a crowd and it ended up tasting more like rum foster. (small batches will yield best results!)  Luckily I've prepared this dozens of times since and have finally mastered this dish, as best as an untrained cook can master a dish I guess. My tips for making a great bananas foster are: 

1. Use the correct pan (a large flat bottomed skillet works best)

2. Cook the sugar over a low heat and lift the pan as needed to prevent caramelizing which will result in your syrup hardening when you put it over the ice cream

3. Increase the heat and hold one edge of the pan over the flame just before you flambe, this will give you a nice intense flame when you flambe.

It may take a few times to get this recipe down, but in the end you will be rewarded with a taste of New Orleans and the fabulous Brennan's bananas foster right in your own home!  

I am already dreaming of our next trip to New Orleans and the fabulous food we will share in this city we love. Sigh.

 

Garden District Tour

 

Our tour on this trip was of the garden district, the area the Americans settled just uptown from the French quarter. It was known as the garden district because the houses were built in the middle of the lots, with their gardens in the front, unlike the homes in the French quarter which were built right next to the sidewalk with their gardens hidden behind in courtyards.

 

One of my favorite things about the garden district was the porches with the blue ceilings.

 

We saw a few homes owned by names you might recognize, the home above belongs to Archie Manning and his wife, parents of Eli and Peyton. I'm told they play football.

 

The home pictured above belongs to Nicholas Cage.

 

The home above belongs to John Goodman.

 

Our guide, Al, said this home was used in the Benjamin Button movie.

 

Al told us this balcony on the side of the house was added for a scene in the movie.

 

The home pictured above was the home of writer Anne Rice, it is currently for sale.

 

The home pictured above is the home where Jefferson Davis died, ninety years to the day before I would be born.

 

 

Here is one of the two cornstalk fences in New Orleans.

 

 

The iron fence is beautiful, and features cornstalks with morning glories wrapped around them.

 

Of all of the styles of homes in the garden district my favorite was the simple American townhouse style with the double porches with ceilings painted blue.

 

 

Our tour included a brief stop at the Lafayette no. 1 cemetary. Here I am in front of a tomb. There are two caskets in a tomb and after one year the remains can be emptied into the bottom of the tomb and a new casket can be inserted. Uhmmm...ok. Interesting.

 

Although it was the end of January there were tulip trees, azaleas, camelias, and bougainvilla plants blooming.

 

 

Thanks for touring the garden district with me. Next I will be bringing you posts on the divine food we had the pleasure of eating and more from the French quarter.

Cafe au Lait & Beignet's!

 

This week I'll be posting on my recent trip to New Orleans. One of the first things we like to do after arriving is make our way over to the Cafe Du Monde for a cafe au lait and beignets. 

   

The original cafe opened in 1862 and is opened 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

The classic cafe au lait is a mix of half brewed coffee and chicory and half hot milk. It tastes perfect paired with...

these yummy beignets.

(Cheesy) Souvenirs & Travel Stories

 

My favorite thing to bring back from my travels is cheesy souvenirs, especially miniature replicas of famous landmarks and really cheesy snowglobes. I keep most of my little treasures on a shelf in my studio. So here are some shots of my collection (and some un-asked for travel tips that you may or may not find helpful) for your enjoyment!

   

I brought this little globe back from my visit to Pisa, which is quite possibly the cheesiest tourist attraction I've ever been to. It reminds me of my encounter with three very aggressive gypsies who tried to pick pocket us as we made our way back to our bus. We succeeded in getting away from them but not before one of the nasty ladies pinched me good and hard after she realized she was not going to be successful in her robbery attempt. I was quite upset by her pinching assault and called her the only Italian bad word I knew, "stronzzo," which is defined as a "turd" in my Italian/English dictionary. (travel tip: it's good to know a bad word or two when traveling in foreign countries. You never know when you may be attacked by gypsies and will need to express yourself verbally in their native language)

 

Ah, New Orleans, my favorite city in the world. I LOVE this city and am so excited to be going back again, I will share my trip with you next week! (travel tip: you must, must, must visit New Orleans in your lifetime)

 

Florence, Italy, home of the famous duomo, markets full of Italian leather and all you can eat gelato. I had gelato about 3 or 4 times a day in Italy. Yum.

 

Who doesn't love the cheesy arch in Reno? I remember going to Reno as a young girl and seeing Bertha and Angel the elephants at John Ascuaga's Nugget. I have also taken trips there with my husband to see Willie Nelson and Dwight Yoakam. Dwight's show was great, I felt like I was in Bakersfield.

 

Geneva, Switzerland, home of superior milk chocolate and a large fountain that shoots out of the lake. Like visiting a fairy tale.

 

While on a trip to New York and Boston we spent a lovely day on Martha's Vineyard with my brother in law and sister in law. We rented bikes, ate at the Black Dog Tavern (a tavern with no alcohol), rode to a light house and encountered rain which left us in a taxi van, with our rented bikes and a cranky old man complaining over the taxi fares and his "bum leg." (travel tip: all but two of the town's on Martha's Vineyard are dry towns so bring a flask!)

 

Paris is nice for sure, I prefer the south of France though.

 

There's that crooked tower. (travel tip: watch out for gypsies!)

 

This is a vintage Notre Dame souvenir my mom found at a local antique shop. (travel tip: sometimes you have to go home and wait 10 years to find a good souvenir)

 

I loved seeing this famous clock, I was sure Peter Pan and Wendy were there somewhere. (travel tip: to avoid being hit by one of those big red double decker buses when crossing the street in London look the opposite way you normally do, apparently they drive on the wrong side over there. I had a few close calls!)

 

 

This is one of my favorite souvenirs. (travel tip: if you do make it to Paris you must bring home a little Eiffel Tower, even if you hate cheesy souvenirs you will always love your little tower)

 

I loved going to the top of the Empire State Building after having seen it in so many favorite movies. Is there a movie set in New York that doesn't have the Empire State Building in it? I think not.

 

The famous Arc de Triomphe. Very cool.

 

And of course one of the best souvenirs you can bring home is some foreign jingle. While traveling in foreign countries I was a very generous tipper. (Travel tip: foreign money is not "play" money, nor are British pounds like quarters). Next time I'll be more careful, then I can bring even more coins home! Hope you found this cheesy post on cheesy souvenirs enjoyable, informative and entertaining! Happy Travels!!!!!!

I Missed You! (and a trip to the zoo)

 

Last Tuesday we lost our DSL connection. Initially I thought it was a problem with our computer but when it became apparent it was with the phone line I felt bad about calling in someone over Christmas and waited until yesterday to get it fixed. So I have had a mandatory break from blogging. Here's what I did on my break: I spent the days leading up to Christmas finishing up the painting and installing the flooring in my new studio (post coming soon!), gathered for a fun filled Christmas eve at my parent's house where we played bingo for stocking stuffers which was a big hit. I enjoyed watching my little ones Christmas morning and shared a lovely brunch with homemade cinnamon rolls at my house with my parents, sisters and my sister's boyfriend. We had the pleasure of my sister and her boyfriend here for several nights during which we consumed large amounts of decadent food and played Yahtzee every night. And then to top it all off on Saturday my husband and I loaded up the kids and drove two hours to the San Francisco Zoo. This was our first trip to the San Francisco Zoo and we had a wonderful time.

   

  The little ones were thrilled with the animals at the zoo. We snapped a few shots of our little girl in front of this peacock photo backdrop. I think she makes a handsome peacock.

 

When it was time to leave the zoo we made a quick trip across the street so she could see the ocean with her daddy. 

 

We couldn't leave San Francisco without a stop to my favorite French bakery, La Boulange. I love the boulange on Fillmore and the original boulange on Pine but this time we went to the Polk street location. Visiting La Boulange is always the highlight of my trips to San Francisco and I think if I was ever to live in the city my only requirement would be a flat in close proximity to La Boulange on Pine. I picked up several croissants and a loaf of brioche which I made a fabulous bread pudding with on Sunday. So that sums up what I did while my internet was out of commission. I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas with loved ones. I will be posting a (late) Christmas giveaway tomorrow so be sure to come back and enter to win! I've missed my blogging sisters and am off to do some catch up reading!!

The Milk Man

My husband and I took the kids to visit my sister Stacey in Washington. This sweet tin box with the funny cow on it was on her front porch. At first I thought it was just a decoration, but while on a walk I noticed many of the neighbors also had them. "You have a milk man??... No Fair!!!!" Yes, indeed, she has a milk man who brings her any number of yummy dairy products every Monday. She just fills out a little slip with her order and they bring it to her door. I thought milk brought to your doorstep was a thing of the past. Apparently not for some very lucky people in Washington.

And what trip to Seattle would be complete without a stop to the market? Here are a few shots of the market for you. What a colorful experience!!!