Vote for the Underdog

Please Vote  Now!  Ends Monday March 8! . We are quite honored to be one of the choosn  finalists on  AnimalPlanet.com  Goofiest Face contest. Lucy Lullabelle is on the Discovery Channel/Animal planet website under Battle of the Breeds- Goofiest Face.   http://animal.discovery.com/the-spot/battle-breeds/goofiest-face/   I have to say she looks like a beauty queen next to her oponent Kota, maybe it is just me! If personality was a factor she would win by a landslide. But in the world of ugly dog contests she is quite the underdog.

                                Chow Time
 Visit our near by neighborhood of University Heights for some tasty grub 

Farm House Cafe
2121 Adams Avenue
619 269-9662
www.farmhousecafesd.com
Described as rustic French cuisine. With menu offerings that are both savory and affordable.
 Porcini Crusted New Zealand Grouper  Celery Root Puree, Bacon Vinaigrette  Wilted Pea Tendrils$21.
Farm House Cassoulet Hudson Valley Duck Leg Confit Off the Bone Tomato Braised Coco Beans Knight Salumi Cured Bacon $16
~and anything with bacon has to be good !

El Zarape
3201 Adams Ave
619 578-2600 
www.elzarape.biz
The decor is vibrant and fun as the simply prepared food. There is a bar inside the restaurant. Delicious and inexpensive. The Camarones Rellenos Dinamita is wonderful. Four fresh Mexican white shrimp stuffed with crab dynamite and baked. Served with mashed potatoes and vegetables $14.95. The large burritos are delicious- but you need to order sides of beans or rice.

 

We finally have 2 new additions to our little flock. 2 rare yellow Gouldians finches. They are still young and coloring up. They are perky and seem to be always softly singing. Gouldians finches are not known for  complex vocals but they make up for it with their beauty. We are designing  a funky, colorful Mexican style aviary.  Tin roof, painted wood accented with bottlecaps and found objects. Can't wait! But just another project on my husband's ' honey do' list. So I am not holding my breath.

    Happy Valentine's Day. Spread the Love

February Playdate

FEBRUARY IS MUSEUM MONTH IN SAN DIEGO
Throughout the month of February 2010,  39 Mueseums at half-price addmision.  During San Diego Museum Month, visitors can pick up a free Museum Month pass at any Macy’s location in San Diego County; the pass can be used all month long for half-price admission for up to four guests per visit at 39 of San Diego’s diverse museums, cultural attractions and historical sites. For a complete list of participating museums, visit www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org.  
 
Wildflowers in bloom  (Feb-May) Anza Borrego Desert 760 767-4684 for more info

Feb 13  Ray at Night Art Walk www.rayatnight.com Free once a month art festival, live entertainment

Feb 16 Mardi Gras at the Gaslamp Celebrate Fat Tuesday 5- midnight w/ music and entertainment purchase tickets for the block party  in  advance 619 233-5008

Feb 16 Mardi Gras in Hillcrest University Ave 3rd & 4th 6-midnight purchase tickests 619 299-3330

Feb 20 North Park Walkabout www.northparknights.com Free

Feb 20 & 21 Chinese New Year Fair and Parade www.2010sdny.org

Jan 17-22 San Diego Restaurant week www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com for a list
Get a 3 course meal for $20 or $30. Your chance to grab some tasty grub  at top restaurants for a discounted price.

Looking for something to do date night?  Come listen to live music and check out North Park's art  indie shows. Cheaper than movie and popcorn. Its free and fun.

Every 2nd Saturday of the month Ray at Night Art walk www.rayatnightartwalk.com 
Every 3rd Saturday of the month North Park Nights www.northparknights.org

Someone said she looks like she came from the bottom of a murky pond.
Flounder face? I say fabulous!

I feel guilty. My sheets are wrinkled. I have tried everything.  Iron,  steaming, putting them on fresh out of the dryer. They just are not as wrinkle free as hotel bedding. I use to spend hours trying to get that flat pressed look. It gave me flashbacks of having to iron my dad's Navy and firefighter uniforms. Ugh military  creases! It was my most dreaded chore growing up. I didn't own an iron until I got married. And it was only because I married a man who liked his hangers hung evenly and color coded his socks. Until then  everything I owned was dry clean only. And then I had a child and it was T shirts and jeans. Now we have a B&B and I thought it  was important to have perfect linens. Martha Stewart irons her bedding. I find it a bit of a luxury to slip into those perfectly ironed hotel sheets. Because in the real world no one has the time or staff to press sheets. So I tried. I really did. For the 1st year we were open I was diligent. I just could not get that wrinkle free look.

Short of sending them out to the cleaners to get pressed  or using  50/50 blends the bedding will never be catalog perfect. I have thrown up the white flag. Wrinkles win. So I apologize in advance to those of you that take your bedding wrinkle free. Or OMG you actually iron your own sheets! I am not worthy. But  I promise fresh fluffy down comforters wrapped in Anthropologie duvets and high thread Egyptian 100% cotton sheets.

I am not a measure and by the book type of cook. I am not patient enough to read the directions. I just need to know what is in it and throw it together. Add my own twist. Usually it is trial and error. It is all made with love. And I think as long as the meal contains that 'secret' ingredient it will be good. 
 
As nice as the compliments are about breakfast I feel it undeserved. Anyone can cook a good breakfast. Sometimes it  is more about the finishing touches than the dish. My plates are my canvas.  Presentation is important. It shows you took the time to make it a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. And maybe it  will make up for the fact  I don't iron the sheets :) 

 

Be Merry and Bright. Happy & Peace filled holidays.

                  
Dance when you're broken open Dance when you are perfectly free ~ Rumi

Happy Thanksgiving! Feast for all. Give your time or donate to the food drives 

Thru  Nov 2 Day of the Dead altars in Golden Hills
Nov 11 Vetren's Day parade 10-3pm Pacific Coast Hwy downtown harbor FREE
Nov 14-18 SD Bay Wine & Food Festival downtown $45-150 619 602-9789
Nov 21-Dec 16 Skating by the Sea @ Hotel Del
Nov 21 9-1 Little Italy Mercado (every Sat) 
Nov 21 Old Town Market
Nove Veteren's Memorial Service (every 3rd Sat of the month) Balboa Park Vet Memorial Center
Nov 21  Balboa park Go Urban Adventure Race (2 mile scavenger hunt) $70
Nov 22  10am Mother Goose Parade Magnolia & Main in El Cajon FREE
Nov 22  2-3pm Public Organ Concert Balboa Park  Spreckles Organ Pavillion FREE
Nov 24 FREE Balboa Park Museums Air & Space, Hall of Champions, Automotive Muesem & select International cottages
Nov 28 Holiday Festival  on Harbor Drive FREE

How nostalgic and sweet. Straight out of a vintage children's picture book. No these tricks aren't for kids, they are for your dog! Squeaky, durable, made in the USA and tested for lead. I LOVE these! And more importantly so does Lucy Lu. She is 'teething' which is code for chewing everything in her path. Furnature and trees are her favorite. The smaller ones she 'loved to pieces'  but to be fair she is a tenacious. They lasted much longer then expected. The Xlg duck is pretty indistructable, very durable and heavy.
www.rolleroverredrover.com   Also another great company is www.bodhi.com the lucky carp and lilly are her favorites and show little wear. The cheap pet store toys get distroyed in days and are not something I like to see lying around. These make me smile even after the 100th time I pick them up and put them in her toy bin. So if you need a little stocking stuffer for your pet or even baby--they are non toxic made in the USA and tested for lead. These are our favorite.

Everything soul and flowering I open and fill with love and what is not love evaporates ~ Rumi

I dream of a large plot of land with orchards and exotic specimen trees. But living in San Diego, that is just a dream. Our lots are small and neighbors within shouting distance. But being an avid collector; that does not stop me from peppering my yard with weeping cherry,  magnolia and various fruit trees. You just have to be more creative. I have always been a proponent of container gardening. More out of necessity than choice at first! What was practical is now smart. Container gardening is low maintenance and saves water. Due to San Diego's strict mandatory water restrictions every drop counts. Flowers are a feast for the eyes but not as satisfying as fresh produce. While I still covet a colorful garden I have become enamored with filling my barrels with a farmer's market harvest. So all of my tiny trees also get under planted with herbs and vegetables. Since the trees are trimmed back and kept petite they are perfect partners. Our side/backyard is more bowling lane strip and utilitarian than that lush orchard of my dreams. Still it is the quintessential urban garden. Everything does double duty. By stacking the whiskey barrels and containers at different heights I can fit more in the small space. The young trees are a manageable size and produce enough fruit to justify their care. I can't say they are as productive as their grown in the ground counterparts. But since we have 11 small trees and counting we would have to open up a fruit stand if they were 'standard' size. Fortunately they do not all go into season at once. A list of our successes: strawberry guava, pink lemon, blood oranges, lemon, persimmon, yellow guava, kumquat, locquat, tangerine,thorn less and lime. Expand your container planting to something other than color bowls. You just might get hooked! I have run out of space and am looking to expand up. To a roof top garden. That is the latest and most exciting trend in landscaping.  Just another thing on my husband's long 'honey do' list.

October 3 Sat. Taste of North Park $30/$35  1-5pm 30 resturants & 22 shops/galleries www.tastenorthpark.com
October 3 Sat.  South Park walkabout 6-10pm free www.southparkscene.com 
October 3 Sat. Blessing of the animals at Vintage Religion $5 donation www.vintagereligion.com
October 10 Sat. Ray at Night art walk 7-10pm  free www.rayatnight.com
Haunted Halloween festivities Del Mar & Downtown

Sherman Heights Day of the Dead 2009
On Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, many local families will create traditional Mexican altars inside the Community Center (2258 Island Ave SD 92102). There will be food, folk art and many activities for everyone to enjoy. Guided tours for the outdoor altars (created in homes around the community )will be available on Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am and 2:30pm (departing spot will be at the Villa Montezuma on the corner of K St & 20Th). These altars will be created by residents, local artists, interested parties and community organizations. A $3 donation for the guided tours is suggested. There will be information for a free self-guided tour as well in the community center.

  Lucy Lulabelle or Lucylu for short  formerly know as Sailor Lilly

I confess I am completely in love with my dog. She is 16wks today. A sweet and stubborn little package. Personality punch. A  rocket.
While we did not buy her a cake or have a party-- I must confess I thought about it! I did want to get her a little treat.  Because of my current obsession with my pooch I have come across some fabulous sites with beautiful goodies you can not find at your local Petco. Some are completely Over the Top like the $$$  real diamond collars and mini mansions at www.bitchny.com   I think it cost more than our 1st car.  I love  day of the dead & tattoo heart leather  harness at  www.ruffstuffdog.com . I have been doing a little window shopping at these online pet boutiques and these are my favorite    www.bitchny.com  www.thegildedpaw.com     
www.theritzyrover.com  www.trixieandpeanut.com    www.pacocollars.com   www.pamperedpuppy.com  for reviews of pet products and websites

My books are like water; those of the great geniuses are wine.
 (Fortunately) everybody drinks water~ Mark Twain 

If a day watching the ponies at Del Mar Racetrack is not your thing. Take a detour from the traditional tourist spots. Sun, surf ,sand, Horses. and Hayrides! The only place in San Diego County you can ride on the beach.  Or take a wagon ride along the trail. There is even a petting zoo. But a little horse play in the waves sounds too good to pass up. If you don't mind dropping a little dime this is sure to be a cool way to spend a day in Imperial Beach. About 20mins from our B&B

www.happytrails-usa.com 619 443-3517 happytrailssd@yahoo.com
10am -sunset  weekdays and 9-sunset weekends
Moonlit midnight rides July 3 &5 includes BBQ dinner $75
Guided trail rides start at $50-105 Beach rides $120

                        July Play dates
July 1   Twighlight Blues concert at Balboa Park 6:15-7:15pm FREE 
July 3 & 5 Moonlit midnight  horse rides at Happy Trails  includes BBQ dinner $75
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
July 8    Twighlight Latin concert at Balboa Park 6:15-7:15pm FREE
July 11  Ray at Night Artwalk www.rayatnight.com FREE
July 11 18 & 25th Old Town Historical Park Stage Coach days
July15    Twighlight Popular Band Music concert at Balboa Park 6:15-7:15pm FREE
July 18 &19 Gay Pride  festival weekend Parade 11am Sat FREE
July 18 &19 Over the Line beach tournament FREE
July 19  Imperial  Beach Sandcastle competition FREE
July 18   North Park Nights FREE www.northparknights.com
July 22-Sept 9 Del Mar Race Track
July 22   Twighlight  50s 60s 70s music concert at Balboa Park 6:15-7:15pm FREE
July 29   Twighlight Classic Rock concert at Balboa Park 6:15-7:15pm FREE

                       www.architecturalsalvagesd.com

One of our favorite crusty, rusty fabulous hunting grounds Architectural Salvage in Little Italy (10 minutes away from VS).  Housed in an Art Deco style warehouse it is full of well edited treasures. Neatly organized. Never know what you will stumble upon-- doors and more. If you have an old home you want fixtures for or DIY an original piece of art using found objects, this should be your first stop! Now you can't fit this sign  in your suitcase, but they have lots of little goodies to choose from.

    
My daughter just got a English bulldog puppy for her 5th birthday. Sailor Lilly. Spirited and sweet. It will be interesting to see what kind of trouble the girls will get into.  My 15 year old Cat has already showed her who  is the Alpha dog .