gates on the brain...

I have been a might obsessed with wrought iron gates of late...

I really, really, really want one on the front of my house...

I want one various other places, too...including on the front of our drive up at the cabin....just not quite as much...

Here are a few a my favorites...

...I wouldn't mind this one little bit...

...private and beautiful...

...this needs to be somewhere within my scope...

...so frenchy...

...a door to a secret garden?

...such grandeur...

...is it OK to covet when you're dreaming???

...found this at Chris and Pam's neighbor's house...

...rustic loveliness...

...this could lead to my garden...

I think this is the one I want at the Monte Estate...

...in this layout...

...dream on...GrammyScilla...

...speaking of the cabin...

Last August (2011) we added a new deck and put in some more windows along the back of the cabin...

Well, we didn't, but our neighbor, Scott Vandebosch, who lives across the street and is a contractor did...

...he did a great job...and we love it!!!

We can see even more of our beautiful view...!!!

California Dreamin' - Day 5 (cont.)

the Japanese Gardens...

I could stay here all day...

...no...I could stay here all day...

I think the guys are kinda bored...

...not to worry...Pam will entertain them... :)

...how come my Japanese lanterns don't look like this...?

...another favorite spot...

...where in the world is Priscilla...? 

(...like Waldo...get it???)

...I caught Pam looking at the wisteria...again....

...I think we're praying here...not sure why...

...and have no idea what's going on here...

but it sure is a fun place to visit...

California Dreamin' - Day 4

...on the Santa Cruz boardwalk...

...seals are so cute....and weird...

 ...there are great finds on the boardwalk...

...like salt water taffy...

...interesting friends...

...the guys took a break while Pam and I played on the beach...

...chasing seagulls...

...a great day in Santa Cruz... 

We spent the afternoon in San Francisco...shopping on the wharf....and on Pier 39.....

...they make interesting bread in San Francisco...

...this is a full-size alligator made of bread...awesome...

...we also had a relaxing dinner on the wharf...good food...

I love San Francisco!!!

California Dreamin' - Day 3

The quaint little town of Murphy...

...great shopping...

...such treasures...

Hub really likes the book I got for him... 

There is the coolest little museum that used to be a winery down in Murphy...

I could use a whole truckload of these wine 1/2 barrels...

...actually I would have settled for one if I had the room to bring it home with me...

...a miniature of the winery...in it's day...

...we all found fun and interesting things..