Blog Archives

On Saturday afternoon, Jeff and I visited with our friend Pamela and her husband John for their annual cookie decorating party…a casual afternoon painting with sugar, sipping wine, and talking with friends. The afternoon skies were brilliant, and Pamela’s perch on Telegraph Hill was the perfect location to watch the Bay light up as the sun set.

After the party, we had a light dinner with our dear friend Susan near her place in Russian Hill. We snacked on flavorful sandwiches and salads, while the Hyde Street cable cars rumbled by full of boisterous holiday revelers. Susan gave us a colorful penguin ornament for our tree 🙂

Susan, Jeff, and I ended the evening with a festive cocktail party on Potrero Hill…with friends celebrating an anniversary, a baby birthday, and the season.

On Sunday morning, we met back up with Susan and had brunch in Russian Hill at a tiny neighborhood gem: Olea. First time’s the charm…everything was amazing. Our Blue Bottle lattes were smooth and rich. My slow-roasted pork sandwich was bursting with flavors. Jeff’s baked egg/tomato/bean dish was an unexpected melding of tastes and textures. And Susan’s omelet was light and fluffy.

After brunch, we returned to Potrero Hill to shop at a store that Susan introduced us to…Dandelion…a locally owned store with two floors of carefully picked gifts. What an amazing weekend amongst the hills of San Francisco.

These are a few seemingly unrelated shots from our final two days in Europe…Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4th. We start with some parting shots of our lovely apartment on the Seine.

Midway through our train ride, we stopped for about an hour in Köln…long enough to snap a photo of the imposing cathedral.

Almost all of the final shots are with family…eating, laughing, playing. Sooooo, we close the last of my Europe photos with the oft-mentioned Lego castle with Porta Nigra.

Our last full day in Paris was Friday/Vendredi, Nov 2 (blog entry HERE), and we successfully found our way to the beautiful Chateau de Fontainebleau. The rich interiors inspired picture after sumptuous picture…each room a different fabric, or wood detail, or tapestry. Truly a visual feast.

As we were leaving the Chateau, these recurring archway images caught my eye.

Even though it was November, the grounds at Fontainebleau were impressive. The rough English garden, formal French garden, and expansive woods. A brisk carriage ride took us from corner to corner.

At dusk, we caught a train ride back to Paris into the Gare de Lyon.

These shots are from our eleventh day in Europe (Thursday/Juedi, November 1)…All Saints Day. We spent the holiday with throngs of Parisians…walking from the Gare de Lyon through the Marais and along the Seine. Dawn to dusk.

At dusk, we reached the Musée d’Orsay…one of our perennial favorites. Naturally, we snapped a few rhino butt photos…but this time with a nighttime twist…our birthday present to good ol’ Matt.

At the Place de la Concorde, we rode La Grande Roue de Paris.

We finished the day with an evening stroll along the Seine…the quay is dotted with musicians, artists, and lovers. All in an evening in Paris.

The holiday photo show was another wonderful success. Opening night was fantastic. Room 106 had never looked so open and inviting. The walls were jam-packed with new art…nine styles from nine artists…everyone with a different view of the world…slightly askew 🙂 So many friends dropped by to wish us well and share a glass (er…cup) of wine. We celebrated the day with a scrumptious dinner at the Presidio Social Club…Mahesh, Judi, and Chris joined Jeff and me…my oxtail stroganoff was rich, and my warm chocolate cupcakes were amazing.

On Saturday, Ft. Mason was bustling with art buyers, tree shoppers, and brunch goers. A strong wind on the Bay brought out a gazillion sailboats. The sounds of lapping waters mingled with the squawks of seagulls.