Garden of Eden

I have finally started my at home garden. I know it’s hard to keep anything alive with this Texas heat, but I’ve decided to take on that challenge.

• The plants that I’ve decided to grow are:

• Rose of Sharon

• Celosia (Cokscomb)

• Arabian Jasmine

• Lantana (Hot Blooded Red)

• Creeping Fig

• Thai Bangkok Peppers

• Serrano Peppers

• Jalapeno Peppers

• Coleus (Chocolate Covered Cherry)

• And more…

I’m glad to say I’ve found my new hobby. There will be more to come in my garden, but for right now this is what I have. All of the outdoor plants I’m growing say they do well with direct sunlight and take plenty of water.

Lake O' the Pines

Lake O’ the Pines is about a 3 hour drive from Dallas (NOT BAD!). The weather has been amazing (mid 70’s with sunshine). Then the night before leaving on this camping trip a crazy storm rolled in making the weather drop to a constant 50 degrees or lower (Fahrenheit just for reference). This was not going to deter me from camping. A little cold is just fine for camping. Also don’t let my car fool you! People may think that a Honda Civic is too small for camping, but you’d be surprised. I can fit two Kayaks on top and at least three days worth of camping.

Fire was definitely a saving grace as the temperatures dropped through the night. I noticed a lot of campers a long the way were nervous about the up and coming freeze warning, but EVEN THAT did not stop me! Where I did get stopped was kayaking. I think I kayaked for a total of 10 minutes before I called it quits. The water was choppy and what was once enjoyment became a chaotic chore.

This weekend getaway from the city was much needed. I got a chance to listen to the birds sing and the cool breeze kiss my face. A chance to get fresh air and calm my mind. Here are some photos from my trip.

Not L.A and Not the Bay..

Another amazing trip for the books. I do not go to California often enough, but every time I go it gets even more beautiful. This time I wanted to go to wine country. Not Napa Valley, but the other one many people overlook, Paso Robles! There are great wines in Paso Robles and if I HAD to choose which winery I had the best experience at, it would be Austin Hope. The staff was very friendly and very helpful. I was greeted with a glass of refreshing rosé and given a tour of the winery itself! Austin Hope had a warm and cozy atmosphere and is a great place to picnic.

The places I encountered on this trip are:

San Luis Obispo

Hearst Castle

Pismo Beach

Montaña de Oro State Park

DAOU Family Estates at Paso Robles, California

Wineries I went to in no particular order:

Daou Family Estates

Nicora Winery

JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery

Austin Hope Winery

Tobin James Cellars

Chamisal Vineyards

Babcock Winery & Vineyards

Baileyana, Tangent & True Myth Tasting Room

Rangeland Wines

and more!

I’m still in awe about how beautiful this place is. I’m adding it to the list of “places to retire” LOL.

I say not L.A and not the Bay because Pismo Beach is smack dab in the middle. Also because I bought the coolest sweatshirt from a shop called Esteem Surf Co. LOL. This cute town has a lot to offer including an easy drive to wineries and a beautiful state park.