Summer Holiday #1

Yay! Just in time for the big opening weekend of summertime, we have bright sunshine and warm air at last, up here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. My beloved and I celebrated with a walk in the village and breakfast at the Old Mountain Cafe (fresh squeezed OJ!) followed by espresso at Rainbow's End (great coffee, bad live folk music). The bad music was ameliorated by KPIG playing Van the Man's "Tupelo Honey" as we drove back up to our cottage.

It's been a long, wet, cold springtime, but I believe it's all over now. We're cleaning up the gas grill and marinating a steak -- and planning to spend the next two days on our redwood deck, figuring out how many shades of green our garden forest provides. It's a veritable full palette after all the rainwater that's been soaking into the loamy forest floor.

We've made good use of the springtime, however -- much fixing-up of the exterior and interior of the house, serious South-Beach dieting, good exercise programs begun and pursued. Now all of that can be done outdoors, adding to the pleasure of every moment.

Our thoughts are often focused on the coming reunion in Carmel Valley, and we're hoping that as many of the gang as possible can drive up here after it's over, to see the cottage, while in Cali -- especially those who have not yet had a chance to experience this environment. We'll have an open house on Sunday afternoon, August 1st, so wherever you are heading as you leave CV, please stop by for refreshments, a walk through our idyllic grounds, and laze in the sun on the back deck, before heading homeward.

How's everybody doing out there?

I haven't spoken for a while, so here's a quick update: the diet is still going well; our health has really been good this winter and spring; I'm having weekly Pilates lessons from our therapist and next door neighbor Teresa; I had a root canal (not so good, but it's taken care of now); and John is in Connecticut.

Re that last bit: Stella and Eric are having a house party for the Soule clan this coming weekend, to celebrate and congratulate daughter Louise (aka Lou-Lou) on her graduation from McGill University up in Montreal. John had enough mileage points to fly back, and will be there until Sunday. Kathy, Dave, and Rowan are going to the party on Saturday, so Dad/Granddad will have a nice chance to visit with them too.

We've been fixing up the cottage here a little more: adding a very needed railing to the outside of the back steps, and another alongside some small steps leading from the front patio around to John's "studio" .... and are having some necessary spring gardening done also.

Our focus from here on through summer will be on the big family reunion in Carmel Valley at the end of July and the attendant visits from family members; in early September we hope to be able to go to Ireland with Eileen and Greg for a week; and in early October our friends Alfredo and Olga Bacchelli are coming to visit Boulder Creek for a few days.

Meanwhile, we've had a very cool spring season, and are longing for summer to arrive soon.

I trust you are all doing as well as we seem to be; add your comments below!