Bella Vineyards in Sonoma County

Not far from our weekend home in Sonoma County, is a wonderful winery called Bella Vineyards. We decided to check it out as we heard they had wine caves!

Sure enough! They had a cave carved right into the hill. Notice the vines up above.

Upon entering, there is a long room with the tasting table at the end. To the right is a small dining room--see below.

I can imagine how magical it would be to have a special birthday or a wedding here.

photo from website

The temperature inside is 60 degrees. Perfect for storing wine. It felt nice and cool, compared to the 80 degrees outside.

Outside, is a nice picnic area planted with 150 year old olive trees. It's the perfect setting for the music events and entertainment the winery hosts during the summer.

photo from website

How gorgeous is this setting? It couldn't be lovelier, nestled in the upper Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County.

Bella Vineyards are known for their zinfandel wines. Here is an old vine sprouting brand new leaves. Beautiful!

Of course, we bought a couple bottles of zinfandel to age!

For more information about Bella Vineyards, visit their beautiful website here.

I plan on featuring various Sonoma wineries throughout the spring and summer months for those who haven't yet been to the California Wine Country, and for those who need a little reminder of how beautiful it is here.

I'm joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for "Outdoor Wednesday."

Be sure to visit her blog for more outdoor photography inspiration.

My Favorite Majolica Plate

I absolutely love this piece of majolica! It is a somewhat rare Victorian Majolica Etruscan piece depicting an Old English Sheepdog with his house and bowl. I think he looks like my Dexter!

I don't mind having this reproduction majolica vase sharing the table with the antique majolica plate for my table top vignette. The shell frame fits in nicely too! It's all good!

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday. Be sure to visit for more table top display inspiration.

My Biggest Design Challenge Yet!

Number One Son moved in to a San Francisco studio apartment in the heart of the Mission District. He asked me to help him "decorate" his new space. It is my biggest design challenge yet! This is the kitchen, which is actually kind of cute.

The budget? A Big Fat Zero! So, we shopped my garage for cast-offs!

This is the 10 x 14 foot living space. What I put in this room had to multi-task.

I like that there is a half wall dividing the living area from the kitchen. It makes everything feel so much larger. There is a decent size closet, but a very tiny bathroom.

This is the breezeway that leads to the apartment. I felt good that a locked iron gate keeps everyone out except the tenants who share this little hidden area.

At the end of the breezeway is a private courtyard which is shared by all 4 tenants. My son already has plans to plant an herb garden for his culinary pursuits.

So here are the "after" pictures. The rug was a cast-off of mine, but perfect for him as it isn't floral! A twin bed does double duty as a sofa when guests visit. There are three large square cushions to lean against the wall.

The oak dresser was a splurge. $125 at a local thrift store. It will multi-task as a lamp table and a buffet if he entertains. The ottoman can be called to duty as extra seating. The small bookshelf will eventually hold his collection of books.

Next to the half wall is this small table with two chairs. Perfect for dining or working at the computer.

The kitchen has a nice built-in bookshelf for his many cookbooks and jars of spices. He is very excited to cook in his new kitchen, although the oven doesn't work and the refrigerator has an ice box that is full of ice!

It is hard to believe that this little studio apartment costs $1150/month! Actually, for San Francisco, it is a bargain.

I feel good that I was able to come up with just the right amount of furniture to not only serve a purpose, but look good too. There are plans to paint the walls in the living area and hang some art, but for now Number One Son is settled in and loving his new apartment!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday. Be sure to visit the other participants for more before and after photos.

The Old Redwood

This magnificent Sequoia Redwood tree sits at the edge of our driveway, and is over 100 years old. It is definitely one of my "favorite things."

It provides a home for all kinds of creatures like this little guy!

So, I put this vintage St. Francis statue at the bottom of the tree. He is another one of my "favorite things," as he is my favorite saint, and the patron saint of animals and the environment. I like to think he is watching out for all the squirrels and birds living in the tree above.

"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast..."
~Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914

I'm joining Laurie at Bargain Hunting with Laurie for "Favorite Things Saturday."

Be sure to visit her beautiful blog!

Another favorite blog party is "Weekly Words to Live By" at Notes From a Cottage Industry, which I'm participating in today. Stop in for lots of inspiration.

A Fisherman's Luncheon

Since Mr. A is an avid fly fisherman, I decided to set a fishing themed table for an al fresco luncheon.

I used these salad plates from Spode depicting rainbow trout and salmon.

I layered them on a basic white plate, then set them on feathered placemats that I found in Texas. The bone fish knife set is a recent purchase from a consignment store.

For the centerpiece, I put daisies in a fishing creel and set a vintage fisherman on a stack of fishing books. I even put a couple of fishing rods on the table!

I used hand tied flies as decoration on the napkin rings. They are all unique and one of a kind. Some were tied by Mr. A!

I used my two vintage wine glasses with a hunting theme etched on the side. Wish I had more of these!

This fisherman is actually a decanter of scotch whiskey! Mr. A "inherited" it from my girlfriend's father who was also an avid fisherman.

What a lovely warm spring day, perfect for an al fresco lunch, celebrating Mr. A's return from a very long fishing trip in New Zealand.

Welcome home!

I have included a few photos of Mr. A's fishing trip to New Zealand. I was amazed how gorgeous it is there.

A beautiful stream seen from the helicopter.

The helicopter left them in this desolate stream to fish to their heart's content!

How beautiful is this turquoise water?

What a beautiful brown trout!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to visit her to see more table settings, dishes and centerpieces.

It's Show and Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home, so I'm join Cindy for her weekly party!

Happy Anniversary!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Eight years ago today #1 Daughter married #1 Son-in-law!

It was a beautiful warm, spring day; a day we will never forget.

Where has the time gone?

It seems like yesterday!

I'm thankful for these wonderful photographs to keep our memories alive.

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday.

Dinner with the Sinclair Sisters

What a small world! My friend Heather is sister-in-law to Leslie Sinclair of Segreto Finishes in Houston!

Heather was visiting Leslie when we were there, so for our last night in Houston, we were invited to Leslie's home for wine, and later dinner at the best Mexican restaurant I've ever been to! That's Leslie on the left, Heather on the right. How cute are they?

We were greeted at the door with a "Big Fat Houston Welcome:"

This grand stairway and the very hospitable "Sinclair Sisters."

Maureen and Heather toasting. What a fun evening! Six women, all glad to meet each other, sip wine and share our common love of design and antiquing.

We were so happy to get a tour of Leslie's home, starting with the kitchen. The cabinets were finished in a lovely sage green. I love how she mixed the different finishes, especially for the cooktop, giving it a feel of a large piece of furniture.

Here is her living room. What a visual feast!

This is a close-up of her fireplace mantle that of course has a wonderful Segreto Finish.

The ceiling has an intricate stencil pattern. No surface in Leslie's house goes untouched!

In many ways, it is like her laboratory!

She is such an artist. Here is an example of turning a typical mahogany four poster bed into a work of art.

I was loving the linen bedcovering Leslie had made for her bed as well as the aubusson pillows.

I couldn't believe this built in cabinet was once white! She gave it an old world finish, complete with faux marble top!

This trumeau mirror and daybed is in the master bathroom. Gorgeous finishes in here too.

Like this lovely mural which surrounds the bathtub. What a nice way to take a mini vacation to Italy!

This is Leslie's office. The walls are lined with framed projects and magazine articles. Photos of her with the late Patrick Swayze and Beyonce. She has worked so hard to build her business. Just this month, her work was featured in House Beautiful and on the cover of Veranda. Please visit her website for more examples of her work here.

Thank you Leslie and Heather for a fun evening. And thank you Leslie for inviting us four California girls into your home. I look forward to your visit to California so we can reciprocate!

Because Segreto Finishes is such an example of transforming furniture and surfaces into works of art, I'm linking up to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.