Shaun the Sheep

Do you watch Shaun the Sheep?  It is delightful.  It's a stop-motion animated series that spun off from Wallace and Gromit.  The sheep don't speak, but they are hilarious nonetheless.  I really liked the "Off the Baa" episode.

Super Duper

While we were in California, we ate at a place called Super Duper Burgers in Mill Valley.  It was pretty awesome.  This is a picture of our meal: veggie burgers with hummus, cucumber, and the works; garlic fries with super sauce, homemade mayo, and chipotle for dipping; and lemonade made with brown sugar.

Friday Featured Art: Henry Evans

I have a few more things to note from our trip to San Francisco...  At the San Francisco Botanical Garden, we saw some lovely flower prints by Henry Evans.  I liked the California poppies (top).  The bottom picture is ranunculus and cornflowers.  (I'm pretty sure that my husband has a Henry Evans somewhere in his ancestry.)

Thursday Text: Fablehaven

My sister and my nephew have been recommending books to me.  One that I read for this month's science-fiction/fantasy themed book club was Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.  It was highly recommended by my 11-year-old nephew who waited for hours to meet the author at a book signing.  It's a fun story about two siblings who go to stay with their grandparents only to find out that they are the keepers of a magical preserve.  What my sister and nephew neglected to tell me was that it's the beginning of a 5-book series!  I'll be busy this summer...

Victorian Trading Co.

My mom gets the Victorian Trading Co. catalog, and I like browsing through it when I'm visiting.  It has lovely and unique things like this ultra-feminine Sienna Lace Blouse and these pretty Honey Bee Earrings.  So pretty.

Voluspa French Cade Lavender

When we were in San Francisco I bought a Voluspa cut glass jar candle from Anthropologie.  (Not unique to San Francisco but something I've had my eye on...)  I got the smaller version in French Cade Lavender.  It smells heavenly.

Dawes Design

I saw an ad for Dawes Design in a book in my metal jewelry class this morning, and I had to look it up.  Dawes Design is the collection of Jennifer Dawes of Sonoma County, California.  In addition to these lovelies, she offers simple, stackable rings.  Her pieces are beautiful and timeless. 

Friday Featured Art: The Bowles Porcelain Gallery

One of the areas of the Legion of Honor Museum that I really liked was The Bowles Porcelain Gallery.  Pieces from the 18th century Chelsea porcelain from England (bottom) reminded me of a Chelsea reproduction that I bought for my mom at the Palace of Holyroodhouse shop in Edinburgh (top).  Lovely.

Thursday Text: Pippa's Song

A snippet of this poem came to me the other day, and when I looked it up I realized how appropriate it was for this time of year.  The name doesn't give much of a clue to the content, though.  It's Pippa's Song by Robert Browning.

The year's at the spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearl'd;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven--
All's right with the world!

Squirrel Nutcracker

We have so many squirrels in our yard these days (probably because I feed them)!  So I loved this nutcracker when I saw it at Anthropologie.