Weekend Getaway

This weekend was amazing. After work Friday evening Rich and I went to dinner at one of my favorite bar and grills in town, then headed down to Santa Cruz. We arrived just as they were cutting in to a cheesecake for my cousin's birthday. I am blessed to have a family friend, who in reality IS a part of the family, who owns a beautiful home in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz happens to be one of my favorite places in the world. The lady of the house is a retired dietitian and masseuse, who is fighting to have GMO's labeled in the stores. Her hubby is a retired heart surgeon who works with doctors without borders. Their home is a stunning six bedroom, four and a half bath, 4700 square foot monster built in to the side of the Santa Cruz mountains. We hugged, laughed, ate great food, visited with some of my favorite animal friends, played air hockey and Tetris at the Boardwalk (both of which I won thanks), went out to eat at a beautiful restaurant, and pretty much did everything you would want to do to have an awesome weekend. Here are some pictures.



This is Spencer. He is the old fella of the house.

This is my favorite doggy, Daisy. She's half pit bull, half dalmation. See how she's posing? That's no accident.

This is Chief. He is the youngest, but most certainly the alpha dog.

This is Princess. AKA cat that looks like Hitler. AKA Kitler.

This is crooked kitty. As with all of the others, she is a rescue animal. But she's special 'cause she was saved from being put down. She was lost from her mommy at such a young age that she didn't get enough milk and her bones formed wrong. She walks crooked and if you pet her, you can feel a very crooked spine.

This is the view from the deck. The weather didn't allow for as great a view as you usually get, which goes clear to the ocean.

I put this in my cousin's bed so when she and her boyfriend came back from his football game, they would freak out. My cousin totally fell for it and actually scolded crooked kitty while saying, "It's so shiny! It almost looks fake." When she realized it WAS fake she apologized to crooked kitty and we all got a good laugh out of it.

This is the bathtub that I want in my house. But it kind of wouldn't be the same, as my view would be nowhere near this awesome.

Another view from the deck. This is why once I get here, I never want to leave.

This is the restaurant we went to Saturday night for dinner. That's a little cable car that takes you down to the restaurant.

I screen captured this, as it was the exit we had to take getting back to the house, from the restaurant. It made me giggle.

 Here is the place I stopped on the way home Sunday, because they have the best falafel in the world.

I spied a two foot tall peppermill on the counter of the house and said, "I need that!" Earline said they had seven peppermills or so, and I could have it. I can not WAIT until the first person at my house asks for pepper, and I bust this thing out. It is RIDICULOUS.

All in all it was a lovely weekend filled with relaxing, laughter, good friends, and great food. I feel extremely spoiled to get to do things like this. Next weekend, it's my folks' house up in Twain Harte with my best friend. I feel like a lady of leisure!