When we moved here, I read about the Napa Valley Mustard Festival, when wild mustard plants grow rampant through the vineyards in the winter months of January through April. Last month, I was skeptical of the existence of these mustard plants, which evidently turned the valley floor yellow, because the fields were still completely green with no flowers in sight. This weekend, however, the mustard plants bloomed here in our Sonoma Valley and I am floored. Imagine fields of green covered with little yellow flowers. I know, it’s the beginning of March, and if you don’t live here you probably don’t believe it either. I need to get out there and take some pictures! I do believe that spring is on its way!

We had a great weekend. After a drive in the country (looking at house rentals in Sebastopol) and a bike ride in Annadel State Park, nothing beats coming home to cool, refreshing (and strong!) mojitos. I’ve been craving them for a few days and yesterday we finally found fresh, local, organic mint and it made my day! Oh-la-la, with one sip I was transported back to happy hour at Aji (a fabulous Latin American restaurant in Boulder), sans ceviche and our Boulder friends. Our drinks were so terribly good, and we have so many mint leaves and limes left, that I think that I had better hide the rum until Saturday… Laura will be here in five days and then let the partying begin.

Today I headed over to the park with my camera. (It so felt bizarre moseying around the lake without my running shoes on!) While I was out, I photographed beautiful blooming trees and green hills, and also snapped these pix of me.

Tomorrow I begin volunteer training at the Luther Burbank Gardens. I’m excited!
Have a great weekend!

Falafel dinner into the oven — love those matching yellows

Every year I look forward to doing our taxes (crazy, I know!), which I do by hand with my trusty T1-83 calculator. I am almost done with our 2006 taxes; I just need to double check the good news (I think we’re going to Hawaii and buying a washer/dryer with the refund).

Anyhow, last night we watched Stranger than Fiction, whose central character is an IRS agent (and oh so much more). I really have no idea if I made a conscious connection (IRS!) when I picked up the movie. I think I was just so excited that it was available on DVD as we missed it in the theaters, but who knows. It could be coincidence. Either way, Stranger than Fiction was great.

We enjoyed the oddities of Harold Crick, especially his obsessive counting and his noticing geometry all around him (which we could relate to). We liked the underlying message that life must be lived to the fullest and the development of the romance in the film. We loved the rock-solid, phenomenal script, with a brilliantly-written narration delivered by Emma Thompson. We loved this movie.

We liked it way better than Little Miss Sunshine and we loved Little Miss Sunshine.

Now, we are not Will Ferrell fans. But this is not a typical Will Ferrell role. In Stranger than Fiction, he plays a straight-edge guy who happens to be really quirky and he nails it.

So, if you are at all quirky, get yourself to the video store and rent Stranger than Fiction!

p.s. Do you like my new wide angle lens attachment?
Fabulous birthday present from David!

Wow, that is so much better. Please enjoy the March color scheme: now with double the Spritzer… My sister arrives in a little over a week and we are PUMPED!

Here’s a picture of my hot sister from our road trip to Las Vegas in 2003. Yes, it’s been way too long since we’ve vacationed sans parents together. I can’t wait.

I’ve been busy planning things to do together and I hope that the weather cooperates. Thinking about a trip to the beach, wine tasting (love trying those $100 bottles of wine), whirlwind tour of San Francisco, and lots of chill time with good food and fabulous drinks and the best company ever…