Winter is my favorite season in California. That may sound strange as it is also our rainy season, however, most Californians love the rain as it is such a rare occurrence the rest of the year. After one or two storms, everything begins to turn green again. The air is crisp and clear without the marine layer/fog that persists in the summer. The surf can get huge and is quite a sight to behold. What I love most are the…
Living in Santa Barbara, our autumn changes are subtle. Different plants are blooming and occasionally we get a cool fall like day. But nothing compares to the drama of leaf season in New England…Vermont to be specific. I’m fortunate enough to have my parent’s sublime farmhouse to visit. This is quintessential New England complete with warm cider donuts, the scent of fireplaces burning, and of course the color of those glorious leaves! My first day was spent antiquing and looking…
Big Sur is rugged, majestic, breathtaking, and awe inspiring, but it is never more beautiful than in the Spring. The grass is green from the winter rains, and poppies and wild flowers bloom with abandon up and down the coast. Here is a pictorial trip from two magical weeks spent in this slice of heaven. Photos are my own or taken by my talented daughter, Kelsey Burns. …
Being an optimist doesn’t mean I always think things are rosy. Two weeks of a giant wildfire terrorizing your community and neighboring towns clearly isn’t a good thing. But acknowledging the fear (yes, there was a lot of fear and worry), and then trying not to dwell on something I couldn’t change was a daily struggle. I tried to see the bigger picture. I saw tremendous acts of caring and giving from people just wanting to help. And don’t even…
There is a reason people flock to Vermont in late September and early October. Mother Nature puts on a show of color against a background of vintage homes and buildings that is spectacular. I took in the beauty from my parents farmhouse and our day trips to Chester, Weston, Queechee, and Woodstock. Here are a few postcard pretty pictures from Vermont……
Summers in New England can be brutally hot and humid, especially in August. I was lucky to experience some beautiful balmy clear days, a little rain, and even a few fall like days. As a child, August was never my favorite month, even with my birthday at the tail end. It signaled the end of carefree summer days and colder weather just around the corner. I can appreciate August and September now. …
Summer in Vermont is so green and lush that it’s easy to see why its nickname is the Green Mountain State. It was an education for me to see my parents field being mowed, tedded (fluffing the hay), and then baled. And of course there is antiquing and seeing what new projects my parents are working on at their farmhouse. Sharing a few photos from a fun filled few days……
While I love living in Santa Barbara, California, there are some things that just can’t be duplicated here on the West coast. A part of me will always love New England…Connecticut to be specific, where we still own a home. Here are a few recent glimpses of some of my favorite things about Fairfield County, Connecticut.…
Months ago, I had planned a trip to Big Sur when my parents would be visiting me in Santa Barbara. Our daughter and a friend were coming too. Nature had other ideas. With one of the wettest winters on record (over 80″ of rain) and five years of drought, the damage was severe. Mudslides, rockslides, and the loss of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge cut a major part of the beautiful Highway 1 and Big Sur off from the rest of the…
