Monthly Archives: March 2012

More Pancakes

31 Saturday Mar 2012

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A cold, windy and very rainy morning. Just the perfect time for comfort food and cozy comfort duds. I’m in my old but favorite jeans and oversized Woolrich cotton navy sweater which is achient . It works on fat days and skinny days. My jeans are tight enough to hold in my tummy but loose enough to eat more. To keep the frizz to a controlled minimum, my grey hoodie vest pulled up around my neck. Just to make sure I add a cotton knit giant purple scarf. Now for the food.
Our favorite local “breakfast all day” spot is 6 minutes away. Everything here is 6 minutes away. Its right on our Plaza and we are regulars and friendly with the owners. Like me, they are from Minnesota and the soups taste just like my Grandma’s. This morning it’s pancakes.
Although I am constantly fighting the scale and the extra 10 pounds I tend to gain in the winter, I eat pancakes often. Remembering a quote from Jackie Kennedy as she made public her fight with cancer. Always very chic and slender we imagined correctly she was a disciplined healthy eater. I can still hear her breathy voice at the press conference; “damn, I should have eaten more pancakes”.
I give myself pancakes.

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The Beat Goes On

28 Wednesday Mar 2012

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With the Pacific Ocean as our backdrop and background noise, I spent a great afternoon eating fresh crab a short drive from home. A beautiful ride thru the winding hills following the river. Then past the vineyards of Dry Creek to the awesome view where just around a bend the Russian River opens up into the Pacific Ocean. It never gets ho hum. Lunch with my daughter Dany doesn’t happen very often and getting her to take an entire afternoon was a real stretch. You know; the kids, the house, school, dinners, husband, shopping, blah, blah, blah. The beat goes on. Sometimes if I whine a lot it helps.
Northern California is so stunning. Even in the rain which came today by the buckets. Next week the cherry trees will bloom, the hummingbirds will return, the vines will bud, and the barbeque will get pulled out again. And the beat goes on. Spring 2012.

Why The Wait?

26 Monday Mar 2012

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Don Draper even looks good bedraggled. Mad Men is finally back and I planned my entire day around a 6:00pm TVdate with the Sixties. I can’t remember either Ed Sullivan or The Wonderful World of Disney taking an18 month break on Sunday nights. Don’t understand or like the new way TV takes a long sleep between “seasons”.

As a woman, some of the topics and attitudes are uncomfortably familiar. I did see several Mod dresses I would love to have again. I remember keeping it a secret that I could type so I would not be given secretarial work. (pre PC keyboards). Twice I was the token female manager. Their experiment in women as sorta equals. The only woman having after hours drinks in the bosses office just to keep in the loop, awkward at best. A thousand stories in the urban jungle. Thousands of women to tell them. Where was Gloria Allred?
Sure did love The Draper Mid-Century apartment featured tonight. Great use of wood and stylish low sectional with glitzy bright pillows. Cool wallpaper. So if I could just come around again like the fashions and interiors, I would be soooo much wiser.
(note: be watchful for constant spelling errors. I was painting hall murals in the 2nd and 3rd grades)

16 Years of Pink

25 Sunday Mar 2012

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In 1996, when the Karen Neuburger company was just starting to be known for gloriously awesome comfortable pajamas, we also became among the first fashion company to design around the subject of Breast Cancer. Not always received with enthusiasm due to concerns about “such a negative subject” we nun the less persisted and created an annual Pink Ribbon design. Eventually all the stores jumped on board carrying our pink ribbon pjs., and running in hundreds of races with us (in pajamas) Nordstrom’s was the first.

I was reminded of those days today in 95448 watching the Bubbles for Boobies event at a local town down winery. This was a novel and fun way to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. 16 years later and with various creative and in your face ways, we are still fighting the fight.
I raise a glass to Bubbles for Boobies.

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Best of Both Worlds

22 Thursday Mar 2012

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Our home is situated with a glorious view that I can take no credit for. We look out on Alexander Valley from our front door and Dry Creek Valley from our back door. And just 5 minutes north, by car or bike, is the old/new Francis Ford Coppola winery, restaurant and day-resort. To celebrate our daughter’s return to Nor-Cal we had a great family dinner there tonight. I’ll hate the scale in the morning.

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She’s Stylin’

21 Wednesday Mar 2012

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My youngest daughter graduated college and moved back to Northern California recently. Moving into her first post college apartment on a tight budget, she found this bed set at Target and a clearance toss pillow at Bed Bath and Beyond. I absolutely adore High-Low design, but here’s to Low-and-Low decorating as well. “She’s going to make it after all.”(Mary Tyler Moore)

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Comfy Simplicity in 95448

20 Tuesday Mar 2012

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Not a really fun day. I spent most of it struggling with this blog. Getting all this technology linked, the iPhone, iPad, and my iMac all to talk to each other is harder then dealing with 12 year old girls.
I promise I won’t bore you with my exercise accomplishments, what I’m making for dinner, or my personal horoscope.

So short and sweet today, I just got my two new mid-century chairs. I value comfort and simplicity over grand style. These chairs have both well worn comfort and straight forward style. Broken in since the 1960’s, with softened leather and some tall dark stranger’s gentle use. Sliding into one with my book, my imagination and a piece of chocolate.

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Go Green or Go Home

18 Sunday Mar 2012

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Saturday morning 6am. Up and At’em. Our St. Patrick’s Day people’s parade starts at 7 am sharp. I’m in the parade! Well along with several hundred residence. You see it started 18 years ago when 2 old timers sitting at the saloon early on St Patricks Day decided we needed a parade in town. So they became the parade. It swelled to 12 people the following year and so on. Not sanctioned by the town and no permit it’s the closest I will come to an Occupy March. The nearest to the Town Council giving its nod is the fire truck that brings up the rear protecting us from irate drivers. So meeting at the original saloon and around the Plaza and back for Irish Coffee and a deep toned, tear jerking rendition of O’Danny Boy. The parade has a kelly green tulle wearing queen with several sparkling attendants as well as kilts, bag pipes, a self imposed king and best of all the towns people. All ages from bundled up babes to old people who proudly proclaim to be part of the “Original Twelve”. (Sounds like a 60’s protest organization.) Magical fun in 95448.

New this year was the response from the weekend tourists. Having heard the swanky hotel in town was unhappy with our noise at this morning hour, they complained. Needless to say everyone sings and yells loader as we pass by. Maybe because it was a Saturday, several of the guest were out on their balconies cheering the parade on. One guy was so excite that while waving he lost control of his robe. We all got excited too! I need a knap.

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From 95448

17 Saturday Mar 2012

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Yes…I did fall off the face of the earth, however I’m sharpening my nails and clawing my way back onto our messy, troublesome, sometimes unrecognizable but beautiful planet. From Oprah’s Favorite pajamas to self imposed obscurity. A purposeful exile of sorts. Thank heaven I have Mad Men to remind me how far I’ve come.

Moving 2 years ago to Sonoma County, California, (famous for its vineyards and The Bachelor), I’m tending my new olive orchard and taking time figuring out what my 2nd, or 3rd Act is going to be. TICK TOCK.

Starting the Karen Neuburger sleepwear business when I was 40 something, that was actually my 2nd Act. Although I love my olives, my western sunset view and our rural lifestyle, I still want to “do something” implausible again. As I work through my “something” quest here in 95448, (this zip code ships more wine then any other in the US), I’ve decided to think out loud.That usually makes things clearer. In thinking out loud I’ll be writing down the irregular moments off my everyday life.

I’ve lost 12 lbs lately, only because I gained 15 eating my way thru the county’s scrumptious restaurants and farmers markets. I walk / hike almost daily. Do you have to be in the woods to be considered hiking? I shop organic-local and have become the “recycle cop”. What’s the worse sin?
All the extra water I use to rinse containers or throwing them in the garbage bin? One of my biggest challenges is getting any spot out of the laundry and I’m as in love with my Perfect Steam cycle as Richard (husband) is with the big screen TV.

Although I’m in small town USA, Pop Culture still finds me daily. My iPhone and iPad announce the trends that I “need” in my life and I admit I still want. I recently painted my sharpened but short nails Sephora’s Angel Grey, probably influenced by the must-read new novel, Fifty Shades of Grey. Holy crap! Richard, my husband, thought my grey nails came from smashing them in the car door. A pair of peach jeans, some nude shoes, an orange clutch and a new yellow sectional for the living room are now on my spring wish list. So much for the simple life in 95448.