Little Mayberry

Where's Dughall?

"Momma," says Doogs, how come San Francisco has so many people? Can we go someplace that is less crowded, flat and quaint?" "Why yes, little wee one, but it is a little drive up a very twisty Highway 1....but sit tight and we will be there soon."

"We have to drive past beautiful sandy beaches and see the birds flying in the sky first." "But momma," exclaims Doogs, "I just want to chase those birds first!"
"But being as I cannot get out to run on the beach, at least you will take me to your favorite little town." ------ "Ok, little wee one....we are here....little Mayberry....also known as Pescadero, California."
I want to share with you my favorite little town that I would love to live in someday. Not a fancy town, just a little town with homes dating back to the 19th Century. Quaint and sweet and with a flag pole in the middle of the main street - the only street with any shopping on it, too.

Pescadero is between Half Moon Bay (Miss Esther's old stomping grounds) and Santa Cruz - right off of gorgeous Highway 1. Just inland a few miles from a pretty beach sits this small farming community of about 2000 which is nestled in a little valley with small rolling hills on each side. There is one grocery store, some great little shops featuring works of local artists, a tavern, a church, a cemetary on a hill and an adorable little antique store. The day we were there I met a lovely lady (and I cannot find the slip of paper I wrote her name on - darn it!) but this charming woman was featured in last November's Country Home Magazine. She and her husband, and lets not forget her Wheaten Terrier, live in the most adorable house in town. She shared with me what a wonderful experience and honor it was to have been in CH, however she said that the outside of her home had not been printed in the article. So, unbeknownst to her, after we left the shop and with little treasures in tow, we drove up the street and took pictures of her precious home. Of course, I would LOVE to live there!!!!! The air is fresh and the garden is full of beautiful flowers and plants - and let's not forget the white picket fence!

Check out her Wheaten dog XING sign! Of course, ours would have to be a Scotty dog XING sign. However, I'd hang both!
Sweet manicured boxwood hedges, lavender and a gravel driveway....
...pristine white gazebos, archetectural pieces in the garden and a lush manicured lawn.

A wide angle view of this amazing home. It has a country farmhouse feel to it with the large porch, garden room and black shutters. Of course, the red door just evokes an Americana feel. Can you just see 4th of July buntings along the porch? I can....and I can see myself sitting in my rocking chair, watching our grandchildren play with lots of Scotty Dogs in the yard whilst sipping on sweet tea. At least that would be an ideal dream! If only this house would ever come up for sale, however a lovely lady lives there now and she loves, loves, loves her sweet home - and I can see why!! If you have the November 2007 Country Home magazine, the article of her home will be in there. Now if only I can find what I did with my issue!

Happy Weekend dear friends!

Note: 4-18-08 - I am amazed over the fact that the owner of this home has a daughter who left a comment this evening. Please read the comment at 7 PM. This is Ann's home!! Thank you so very much for leaving a comment! I am thrilled and am still searching for my issue of CH magazine! Tell your mother hello!!!

Momma Always Said, "Don't Play With Matches!"

Ok, after reading Miss Esther's mishap and fire blunder, I decided to come forward and come clean with my idiotic - and I mean IDIOTIC - incident that happened to me last week.

I had showered, put my robe on, came downstairs for round two on my morning java and decided to light a candle. So here I am, standing in front of the stove and on my tile floor, wet hair wrapped in a towel, and butt naked under my robe. (eeeee-gads!) My son had just left for school and I was home alone, well Doogs and Kitty were here. I picked up my candle, struck a match and lit the wick. Ahh....nothing is better than a fresh smelling candle to make the house smell wonderful. The cheap-O matches sometimes spark a bit and, of course, it sparked good that time around. So I reached over and sat the candle-in-the-jar on top of my stove. Then I smelled something burning - and it did not smell like my "Fresh Rain" candle. I quickly surveyed the room...nothing. Then I looked down at my robe - now keep in mind that I did not have my glasses on and what I was looking at was vvvvvveeeeeeerrrrrryyyyy blurrrrrrry - but there were flames. Bright orange, like the photo above. OMGAWD!!!!!! All I could say was, "oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God!!!!!!!!!" My former fire training kicked in and I shed the robe into a pile and threw a bowl of dirty sink water on the robe. OMG OMG OMG!!!! Spffffffffff..........smolder.......oh, ouch.....I feel a sunburn! Thank God I reacted quick - and without my second cup of coffee, too! And I also thank God I hadn't opened my blinds in my bay window that is in our kitchen. It is like a fish bowl having them opened. Now wouldn't that have been a site - me running around in my birthday suit and acting like a crazy woman! I am thankful that I only got a very small burn on my stomach. Good ol' adrenaline - makes us kick in our fight or flight mode - and the OH Shit factor!

Note to self: Buy the propane lighters at the grocery store and ditch the matches. And if my fireman son is reading this, your momma did good!