December Birthday!

The weather was gorgeous when we got together at C-Level to celebrate Gail's # ____ Birthday (don't worry - numbers will never be posted)!

It was the place to celebrate Birthdays and Holiday Office Parties -- as a result we got to sit at a circle table in the center of the outdoor veranda. Great views of the beautiful bay and sunny day! Just breezy enough for Gail wear her latest completed project...the Collinete (sp?) lace shawl in all her favorite colors! Gorgeous!

There seems to be another trend developing in our group....Gail had just eaten dinner at C-Level the night before with adopted son, Mikey. I seem to remember that Marcia had done the same thing on her birthday. Hummmmm.....

Never the less, we went all out on the food and had Gail's special request - Lobster Mac/Cheese and each of us then choose an entree to share - onion rings & sweet potato fries (always a pick), ahi tuna, lettuce wraps, chicken sand, and Susan and Marcia ordered a Bloody Mary that was nearly a meal - stuffed with all kinds of veggie garnishes and Shrimp! Should have gotten a picture of that!


Gail opened a plethora of gifts: Candle holder for her new backyard from Val, a fun project/anything bag from Marcia, the new "red" knit kit from Susan and a "never ending" knitted scarf from Judy.

A few Christmas surprises also were opened by everyone...from desk calendars, crocheted Holiday Flower pin, hand and lip balm and patuti cuties (seen perched on Marcia's shoulder)!
We're (including me) wondering if they're fish? mice?...???


As our celebration wound down...Susan suggested we plan an outing where we could seal our desires for 2011. First we were going to do it at the beach, burn our affirmations and toss into the sea - but after thinking through the weather uncertainties, it was decided we would meet at Gail's house on Dec. 28th and have wine, and talk about, write about... what we wanted the new year to bring us and then seal them with fire and give them to the universe!

We all had......

A Great Day! Happy Birthday Gail!

Urban Barn

On the books/iphones/calendars for a month...it finally arrived...a get away day for the "girls". While Gail was busy with birthday party preparations and couldn't get away...the "four girls" went on a road trip!

A visit to shaby chic Urban Barn in Escondido was preceded by a surprise visit to see Casey at her Starbucks job. We walked in with Marcia hiding behind us and Casey recognized us right away. Lattes, Chi Teas and a group hug to wish Casey a Happy Birthday! and we were heading North.


Urban Barn was a delightful place...not what you'd expect. While the outside looked like a 2 story office building, it opened to an indoor/outdoor flea market of treasures!


Marcia found some Tieras (sp?) and promptly modeled with Susan and Val joining her! This, after we stumbled across a lavishly adorned armoire (sp?) covered in massive amounts of shells!


It seems adornment was the buzz word for the day...since the next booth provided us with even more "try ons" - feathers and fun in black and pink. Who says Marcia likes PINK???

Parked? right out Urban Barn's back door, was the lead wagon from a Gypsy Caravan -
a fitting tribute to all our jeweled adornments!

As we continued to meander through the booths, Susan found the perfect

Christmas gift for little Viv.
A miniature china tea set in it's own carrying case!

Val found her "must have" Christmas tree that she's been eying for years! She's telling
Greg it's "for the business"!
Love that!

Marcia debated on a sweet piece of furniture for the guest bedroom that will store guest's necessities, reminiscent of Marie Antionette's Palace of Versailles.

Christmas Candy was spot on, for Judy's porch - who could resist!

On the way home, a spot of lunch at Rancho Bernardo Winery was a
perfect ending to a perfect day!

Need to Plan our Next
Road Trip
before the Roses Bloom Again!
PS...that's a rose in Susan's hand!

Back Yard Transformation

About a week after Susan's Birthday celebration, Gail asked if I'd help add a few extra touches to her Holiday decorating and I was happy to see what she had and create with her goodies instead of mine! She already had a great look going and all that was missing was a little greenery and some ribbon and bows.

For the greenery...I suggested we "use what she has" and look in the garden for something we could gently prune! Timing is everything, when she shared that Jeremy and David had just pruned the olive tree to finish building the arbor attached to her studio! So out we went to dig in the trash can for some great twigs and of course I got to see the amazing transformation continuing to take place in her back yard.

The greenery got momentarily abandoned as I went back in to dig my camera out of my purse and take a few shots!

Gail's backyard is getting closer and closer....can't wait for next Spring when we can all enjoy the beautiful peaceful surroundings she and Jeremy have created!

This is looking up at the deck from below the Koi Pond!




Here we see the caves for the Koi under the deck!


...and this will be our view as we drink wine, knit and talk!

We can't wait Gail!

and the partying goes on...

The day was gorgeous at C-level, as usual. So pretty in fact, that the sun was shining way too brightly on our "official" booth...so Susan picked a sweet little table by the water to celebrate her "Birthday with the Girls". Only we were missing Marcia - who was a world away in Australia with lil' hoot teaching her way across the country!




It seemed to be the Day of the Hair! Gail had recently brighten her hair with gorgeous colors of a San Diego sunset and Val arrive sporting a new, short, asymmetric and darker do and I surprised everyone with a little red stripe in my hair that continues to celebrate the season!

We got a little carried away with the food - all limits off on Birthday celebrations - and chose to have Sweet Potato Fries AND Onion Rings! Lobster Mac and Cheese AND our Grove Girl's chef special!

We "forced" Susan to open her gift. Quickly, the surrounding tables KNEW she got something she wanted! Lobster plates! She was so excited she wanted the waiter to serve us on the plates...here's where the intervention started....all of us strongly convinced her to not expose the plates to possible damage...so she asked if the chef special could be served on it and we intervened yet again! We convinced her a 3 olive Martini would be a good substitute! Smiles all around!!!
Valerie got her a sweet little pottery "fish" jewelry box and the sea theme was complete!

A few weeks later we all (including Marcia) got to experience and enjoy a wonderful lunch hosted by Susan that highlighted the plates and her yummy special clam stew!

Happy Birthday Susan!