Italy, Day Nine: Cinque Terre

We just got back from a eleven day trip to Italy. I’ll be posting my travel journal entry, along with photos from each day.

Hello from rainy Cinque Terre!

Awoke to more thunderstorms this AM… snuggled up on the couch for some freshly delivered croissants and focaccia (and a loaf of unsalted bread, which we’ve learned not to eat!) I found some nutella, read my book, and tried not to be too disappointed by the rain on my only full day in Cinque Terre! Around 10 it started clearing off so we hopped on the train to Corniglia (successfully this time!).

I am here

For the weekend. To celebrate 31 years on this amazing planet. Here’s to 31 more, at the very least

Smart Gardener: A Review

Have you heard about this new website called Smart Gardener? It’s an online tool that helps you plan your garden, then helps you keep track of things like harvest dates and what’s performing well.

I just started using it, but so far, it’s been super easy.

First, I told it where I lived, and what the last frost dates were. Then I drew my garden, with one square equalling one foot. 

Let me introduce myself….

So, obviously, I’ve been failing on the blogging front. But with life so incredibly busy, there had to be some choices made. And frankly the choice between gardening and blogging about gardening was an easy one. But, other than the need to reintroduce myself to the blogging world, I have another intro to make:

I like to call him mr. Stubbs. He’s the worlds stubbiest cucumber. But frankly when you’re a cucumber plant with all of six leaves, I think mr. Stubbs takes on a more impressive look….
More later…. (maybe?)

Hoffman and the Box

This is my dog:

This is my dog when he encounters a box:

I don’t know what comes over him.

Turn up your volume for the cute/angry snuffles.

Go big, or go home.

So, this one year in California thing isn’t technically supposed to start until January 1st. It’s a New Year’s resolution of sorts. It’s a way of making things happen, and being thankful for those things, instead of just sitting back and complaining about my (admittedly extremely fortunate) lot in life.

We’ve worked hard to get where we are in California, and it wasn’t always easy to get there. Rents are expensive. Commutes are long. Apartments are . . . bedbug-ridden? (more on that at a later date) Anyway, it’s always been my dream to have a sweet little Berkeley bungalow. A place where me, K-dog, and the Hoff can stretch out, play house, and really just enjoy where we live. When we decided we’d go for it in California for another year, a little voice in my head said “what if?” I put it out there for Kirk — the economy’s bad (but we’ve been extremely lucky), rent is way down from where it was when we moved to our current place, a year and a half ago. What if my perfect little bungalow is (finally) within our financial reach?

I went to visit our good friend, Craig. Once. Just once, you know, to take a peek. Lo and behold, a darling bungalow, in our price range. Not just in our price range, but it seemed to have everything we needed (and ever wanted):

2 bedrooms? check.

remodeled kitchen/bath? check

backyard? check (with a sweet little front yard, too!)

storage? check

Laundry room? check

fireplace? check?!?!

So, we went to check it out. “I will not even consider this place unless it is perfect!” I declared.

Gulp.

Guess what. It was.

So, a mere 48 hours after our house search (I hesitate on even calling it that – more like a house lets-just-see-what’s-out-there-gander) began it’s over. And we’re signing the lease tonight.

California dream #1: Accomplished.

If this is the way this year is going to start, I can’t even imagine how it’s going to end!