Congrats to Christine, Jason and Jameson!

Our good friends are into horse racing.  They have the amazing chance to compete in the Breeders Cup this year and are headed off in two weeks! 

I want to wish them and Cambina the best of luck.  I will be watching and can't wait to have you guys for dinner when you are back.  We are lucky to have made such great friends here!

Go Cambina!

 Christine and Cambina.

"Cambina Works for F/M Turf...
Cambina (Ire) (Hawk Wing), dead-heat winner of this
years GI American Oaks, tuned up for the GI Breeders
Cup Filly and Mare Turf with a five-furlong drill over the
Santa Anita lawn yesterday. The sophomore filly completed the work in 1:00.20, third fastest of seven
at the distance. "It was absolutely perfect, racing
manager Mersad Metanovic said of the work. She
broke off cleanly under the exercise rider and she
finished up like a train. It was exactly what we were
looking for."Trained by Jeff Bonde, Cambina won the
GIII La Habra S. in February and the GII Providencia S.
in April. She was fourth in the GI Del Mar Oaks and is
coming off a fifth-place effort in the Oct. 1 GI Yellow
Ribbon S. Metanovic also reported that all systems are
go for Blacky the Bull (Flashy Bull) at the Breeders
Cup Juvenile Sprint after the colts five-furlong move at
Santa Anita last Thursday. Coming off a maiden win in
Arcadia Oct. 8, the juvenile worked in 1:00.40 last
Thursday. He came home in :23 flat, Metanovic said.
It was perfect and we are ready to go."

Inspired

My Mom inspired me so I did the backyard.  We are having people over for cocktails next week so I figure what the heck. 

 From the inside out.

If there was ever any doubt...

Where I get this decorating bug, take a look at my Mom's insanely beautiful porch.  I want to tear down our Halloween stuff and start for TG now!

Three wreaths done!  Next week garland.  A Frontgate look at Michaels clearance pricing!

Fall Heaven

Today was my favorite day of Fall so far.  We woke up and had family breakfast while watching Halloween cartoons by the fire.  The air was brisk in the morning and for a quick minute it felt like actual Fall.  We decided to go on a nature walk on the trail behind Annie's school.  She likes to collect her "nature".  We are going to do a craft with it next week.

I am always talking about how beautiful our community is during fall, and because I had my camera with me in the car I took some photos as we drove over to the trail.  While the commute is not the most exciting thing, I can't ever imagine not living here.  If I won the lottery I would just buy a bigger house on a big piece of land right here, plant some apple trees and quit my job so I wouldn't commute.   This is home.

Driving around today I felt a bit like we lived back East during fall.  Danville/San Ramon does a fantastic job of keeping the streets tree lined such that wherever you are you feel like you are in a park.  I often forget to look up and remember that we are nestled in quite the beautiful little valley here amongst rolling hills and Mt. Diablo which is green in the spring and snow covered in the winter.  Today looking through the eye of my camera I had a huge smile on my face at how pretty this area is and how lucky we really are to live here.

After we went on our nature hike we headed downtown.  Downtown in Fall is the absolute best, you feel like you are up in Napa or Sonoma.  The buildings are so quaint, there are trees everywhere, and all the businesses decorate like they belong in a small country town.

There was a big craft fair going on today so we took a walk and checked out a few booths, had some yummy breakfast at Sideboard and then headed home.

I am off to make some fall bows for my trees outside post Halloween and wish for some cooler weather!

 Sunday breakfast watching Halloween cartoons.  Kids are never more genuine and sweet as they are in the morning.

 

Getting our bags ready for our nature walk.

 Annie is so into Fall.  They taught her at school that the leaves change colors and its the first season she is really understanding.  This is the first tree in our yard to change color.  Makes a beautiful contrast with the freshly green hills and park at the end of the street.

 All of these pictures were taken within 4 miles of our house as we were out running around.

 

 Who needs Vermont?

  

 Staring out nature walk on the path behind Annie's school.

 You know me and cows.  Can't get enough.

 

 Daddy and Mommy were not very good collectors, but Annie's bag was quite full and beautiful!

Downtown waiting for Breakfast.

 The cafe provides blankets for folks to use outside and cozy up.

 Does it get any more quaint?

 Holiday table "numbers". 

 I love how all of the restaurants decorate for fall downtown.