Sun, Starfish, Salsa...and Christmas!

We got back from our California Christmas Extravaganza on Monday. Due to jet lag I have not been able to function since returning home; I am hoping that ends soon. Other than the fact we had to fly back to London on Christmas night (due to Dave having to work on the 27th), our trip was fantastic, as always. We stayed with my parents, spent much of our time in San Francisco, and also made a trip up to Napa. We saw family, saw friends, ate food including Mexican (!), shopped (that darn exchange rate makes shopping back home just too attractive...), ate more, ate even more Mexican, relaxed, and perhaps most importantly spent NINE days in the SUN. Yes, it was sunny there and we loved every minute that glorious yellow ball was up in the sky.

While in Napa we made sure to eat at Taylor's (now called Gott's but forever known as Taylor's to me), twice mind you (I just love and miss good salads. Way too much).

We also drove up and down the valley admiring the view, ate awesome dinners at our favorite places (we are such creatures of comfort), and checked out the mustard which typically shows up in the spring but was out in December due to the unseasonably warm temperatures. It was gorgeous up there, with mostly cloud free days and tourist free locales.

On the drive back to SF from Napa, being the driver, I made a quick detour to check out the view of the Golden Gate bridge from the Marin County side. Not to sound like a broken record, but it was an amazing, beautiful day, few clouds, full sun, clear sky, little wind. In other words, perfect.

On the 23rd my sister and I organized a family outing to Half Moon Bay to celebrate my dad's %#th birthday (I better get permission before I publicize his age, but let's just say it was a big birthday). There were six of us in total and we went to lunch and to check out the tide pools, as the 23rd happened to be a day with uncharacteristically low tides, one of maybe two or three that occur all year.

Not only that, but I had dressed for inclement weather (or perhaps London weather) with a puffy jacket, sweater, boots etc, yet it turned out to be sunny (again!) and even warm, which is unusual for both Half Moon Bay and December. It was a fun day, full of starfish, sea anemones, mussels, seals and of course family (but sans Dave and my mom).

Those white/silver blobs in the middle of the picture, right below the ocean, are seals.

And after all that action and adventure we celebrated Christmas and my dad's actual birthday, as he was born on Christmas day. My seven year old niece was concerned that Santa wouldn't know what to do with our Christmas stockings, which I left in London, so she made us two new ones to be safe. Look how nice they are!! Notice that both stockings were filled with chocolate chips, one of the items I stockpile anytime we go back to the States. That Santa is a smart guy. We had Christmas Eve at my sister's house - fondue! - and Christmas at my parents', including Christmas dinner served at 2pm due to our 7:40pm flight. We had to skip the birthday cake to ensure we didn't miss the flight, but we had such a good time being back home, especially since, as I have mentioned a few times, we hadn't been in California for Christmas since 2006. Dare I say we'll go back home for Christmas next year after all the fun we had? Well, maybe I shouldn't put that in writing.

First Attempts, Courtesy of Dave

My Christmas present was a brand spanking new camera. I have upgraded from a simple point-and-shoot to a big ole DSLR. I have NO idea how to use it, what the settings mean, what the buttons do, how to take pictures, or even if it is a camera. It's too fancy. I better sign up for a photography class stat! But nevertheless I had to try it out. And of course my model was none other than Riley, the best (dog) model in the world. Dave sent some of the pictures to my Mom and she inquired as to whether the camera just takes good pictures or if I actually have a modicum of talent. I told Dave it is all thanks to the camera, or at least I think it is, since all I do is point the thing at Riley and press the big button. Now seriously, I have to sign up for a class....

Nary a Decoration in Sight

As I was making my way down (the) King's Road last week, popping in to stores like Heal's and Habitat, it occurred to me that I haven't put out even one single holiday decoration. No lights, no trees, no red and green, no deer, no poinsettias, nothing. How's that for Christmas cheer? I got none I guess. I suppose it has to do with the fact that we are going home for Christmas, the first time since moving here, and I didn't feel like putting decorations out when we won't be here to enjoy them. We have never gotten a tree here either, due to the fact that the last three years we took a trip right before Christmas. So truthfully I have never really shown much Christmas spirit while living in London. Normally I at least get a wreath or put up lights, but this year? Nothin'.

It's a family tradition that everyone has a handmade stocking. Because I am such a dork - and because it's such a nice family tradition - I made stockings for Dave and Riley. Yes, Riley has her own stocking. And trust me, it does get filled every year. Not even THESE are hanging from the mantel as they should be. So sad. Here's a picture of Riley from last Christmas, checking out the goods:

And here are our stockings from 2009, at our old place. We couldn't hang them from the mantel so they hung from the coffee table with care.

Before our trip I made sure to walk in the 'hood checking out all the Christmas lights and decorations. I like how all the different shopping streets have a unique lights display. And on Saturday we encountered Santacon and saw all sorts of Santas, elves, reindeer and the like out and about in the Sloane Square area. Last year we saw them too, while sitting at Chipotle. We were eating our tacos or whatever and watched as Santa after Santa came strolling up Charing Cross. This weekend we watched them walk down King's Road and take over the Duke of York market. Riley liked it.

As far as our London Christmas cheer, it's pretty much over since we leave tomorrow. We get back to London on Boxing Day, so the decorations will still be up but will slowly be taken down in the days that follow. Luckily, since we're going back to SF for Christmas we'll get all sorts of US and Bay Area cheer, not to mention all the cheer my Mom provides each year. Which is why I have been so lacking in my own cheer. I know that as soon as we walk in my parents' house and see the tree and the ornaments and the Christmas accoutrement I'll be in cheer overload, just the way it should be!

Riley is 5!

Today is Riley's fifth birthday. My how she's grown! Even though she is now reaching middle age I still call her my puppy. This is how she looked on her first day home (when she was about 10 weeks old and truly a little, itty bitty puppy):

 Oh, the memories...

And here she is now, at age FIVE, all dressed up and ready to party:

Happy birthday Riley! Sorry you are being shipped off to your dog walker's house ON your birthday, but we have to leave tomorrow. But rest assured we feel bad about it.

Now, off to California!

J'adore Paris

Dave is currently flying back from Chicago. He left on Saturday and it just so happened that I was presented with the opportunity to go to Paris for the weekend. Since he was going to be away I figured what the hell! And I went to Paris. I had a fabulous weekend, it was much better than sitting at home working on my holiday cards. No offense Riley.

It had been just about a year since our last trip to Paris. As I have mentioned before, last December we went to Paris, with the intention of staying there two (three?) nights and then flying to Italy. Well, enter the Blizzard of 2010 and we got stuck in Paris. Not like being stuck in Paris is a bad thing of course. We didn't go to Paris this year, at least not together, so it was great being back there. I really do adore Paris. Every time I go I am reminded of just what an amazing and beautiful city it is. I feel so spoiled that I am able to pop over there for the weekend. It's like being back home and popping down to LA for the weekend. Yeah...that is not the same thing.

Here are some more pictures from the weekend. It rained on Saturday so I didn't take as many pictures as I normally do, but I guess that's sort of a good thing. There's less of a chance of boring my dear reader(s). I feel like warning Dave that I am already looking into another weekend in Paris for early 2012. Since he missed out this time, I feel like I better make it up to him. It's only fair right?

Scenes From a Visit

Dave's dad came to visit for Thanksgiving. The first weekend he was here we walked through Hyde Park and the Winter Wonderland. This is the fifth December we've been in London (due to both pre-move vacations and living here) and it was the first time we have ever gone to the Winter Wonderland. It was actually better than I imagined. Better for kids, but far less tacky and annoying than I expected. And it wouldn't be a true English festival if it didn't have many multiple places to drink! That same weekend we also walked around the City, St. Paul's and across the Millennium Bridge.

The second weekend of his visit we walked through Holland Park. It was my first time walking through that park, so his visit was quite handy for me, I can cross a few things off my London list. It was much more wild and rugged than I imagined. It was quite pretty, I'd actually like to go back since we made a quick trip through it.

Hyde Park:

 

Funny thing, I went back to W.W. with my cousin and his family, visiting for the holiday, and his three sons went through the Alpen house and spent about 20 minutes inside. I guess it was looooonnnnggg. And not too exciting.

St. Paul's:

 

Holland Park: