Strawberries! In April!

On the way to Pigeon Point Light House last weekend, I saw some people in a strawberry field along my beloved coastal highway 1. I did a double take (a quick one since I was driving), and realized that there were children there, too, picking strawberries.  I would not have thought of April as strawberry season (we didn't get to eat local strawberries until June last year in Boston), but then again, this is California!

On the way back home, the kids and I stopped at the field, Swanton Strawberries (organic, no less).  We went into the 'shack' where we got our boxes for the picking.  The shack itself is worth a visit: there was a jam-tasting station, homemade pastries, chocolate dipped strawberries, coffee.  And get this, it was all self-served, and self-paid (yes, the old-fashioned honored system is honored here... I love that!).

It was very windy, and cold.  But the kids were tough, and willing. We picked a box full, enough for many meals of strawberry-shortcake, and strawberry-rhubarb pies.

We returned today, with some friends, which made it experience that much more fun!  It was less windy, and there were more ripe strawberries! I have a feeling we will be going back there more often...

When it was warm...

Once a upon a time, a heatwave hit Santa Cruz so hard that we had to seek refuge.  Those were the days when the beach was at its perfection (because it is a rare day when we go to the beach here without a fleece jacket)!  Not too cold, not too warm. Just right.

Hard to believe that was only a week ago when the heat of the day kept our bedrooms so warm that the kids had a hard time falling asleep. They even jumped into a freezing, unheated swimming pool without complaining. They played in the Pacific ocean as a way to cool off!

Now, the usual foggy days of Santa Cruz have returned. Back to bringing fleeces to the beach, and wearing the cool hats on the walk to school!  

Highlights

We have done so much in the last few days... I am afraid photos will say more than words. 

Family and Spring

We have a lot of family in town right now, and we can't ask for better weather! We are taking them down the California coast today, showing off some of the most scenic spots of the land! stay tuned for more photos! 

Greyhound Rock, 7 years later

We got married at this beach 7 years ago, on a cool April morning, that gave way to a brilliant afternoon sun.  There were no children then, and nor could we have fathomed the joy and challenges that would follow.

We returned to the same beach today, with children in tow. What a difference seven years make! The beach still looks more or less the same. The spot where we exchanged our vows remains, with less of a sand dune than on that special day.  

To our surprise, however, we were blessed with a very low tide today. The shores were exposed, and a plethora of sea creatures were to be found by the little eyes and fingers: sunflower star!, leather star!, baby seastars!, crabs!, sea slugs!, sand bugs!, bullhead fish!

We all enjoyed the beach, the rocks, the tidepools, and the warm April sun.  Greyhound Rock will always remain a special beach to us as a couple, and now, as a family.

The Family Hats

Made by hand, with love, but always better with a kiss, too!

Easter is in the air

Naturally colored eggs (chickens are good at that), and a newly made spring-dress.  Scents of spring flowers everywhere -- Easter must be in the air...

Treasure Hunt at the Farm

It was a lovely Spring day here today.  The kids had a bit of "Spring Fever".  After school, they made chamomile tea, freshly picked along the path home from school... and then, well, I could tell they were going to wreck the house apart if we had stayed inside.  We came up with a list of 'treasures' to find at the farm, which made going to the farm a bit more appealing (since at first they did not want to leave the house...Mommy, we just got home!).

We all ended up having a great time.  Claire even said that "I love it here, Mommy! Can we come everyday?"

Well, yes dear. We certainly can. You should know that about Mommy by now.

Happy Spring!

Compared to last winter in Cambridge, we did not have a winter this year.  It went from fall, to well, spring!  I am not complaining... It sure is nice when the calendar says "Spring Solstice", and you look outside, and indeed, Spring has arrived!

St. Patrick's Day

Ireland?

Their 'students' on a field trip from "Snap Peas" School, taught by teachers Momo and Claire

We are so not in Ireland!

A barn in Pescadero

Sign at Harley Goat Farm in Pescadero

How does a non-Irish mama celebrate an Irish holiday?  Well, to start off, I made the mistake of not dressing the children in green... only to get to their school and see everything, and everyone in green (can all that many people to part Irish? Really now...we are not in Boston anymore)!  But I did have a pot of corned beef boiling away on the stove at home for my Irish-husband...

We did more fun things than cooking corned beef and braised cabbage, though.  The kids wanted to take their "students" on a field trip, to Bean Hollow.  And because it was close by, I requested that I got to go on my field trip to Harley Goat Farm (and their cheese shop!) in Pescadero (I wrote about this place a couple of years ago.  It is still lovely, with impressively good goat cheese that Claire loves).

The green hills along the coast did make it feel like we were somewhere in Ireland.  The coastal fog made it even more medieval-like, although there were no castles anywhere to be seen, just a lone lighthouse at Pigeon point. 

The fields of bright yellow mustard came to life when the sun did shine... and that's when we were reminded that we were not in Ireland at all...