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Saturday, June 2, 2012

Above the Clouds in Napa


We recently returned from the long Memorial Day weekend in California's wine country. 
For nearly the last decade,
we've been visiting a B&B in the hills of Napa/Sonoma
overlooking the Valley of the Moon.


We've become friends with the owners
so even after they closed their doors to the general public,
every so often, we come stay just for the friendship, the beauty,
 the Northern California sun and air and a little wine, food and fun.
And, of course, a few games of late-night marbles.


As a perfectly lovely bonus, they've introduced us to their friends and family,
the meadow just below the house sometimes fills with various types of wildlife
and our cell phones don't work on the hill! 



The original house was built in the 1850's but burned completely
save for the chimney. 
The new house, owned by the Fraziers in 1907,
was built around it. 
That tree on the right stood in the earliest photos!

(And that upstairs balcony outside the guest rooms
 holds comfy lounge chairs for resting 
after a day of wine tasting.) 


We try to help out with chores,
and we make each other dinners
but having run the B&B for nearly 20 years,
they do make the best breakfasts.


In warm weather, dinners are often served on the patio
overlooking the meadow and the valley beyond...


...and the days end with the perfect, radiant backdrop. 
It doesn't get much better than this
with people you love. 



(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

3 comments:

  1. OMG. Kirsten, you and I both have a love for PARIS and for N. California. We were in Santa Rosa two summers ago and we were able to visit with family and then tour the Korbel champagne vineyards, go to Berkeley and other fab places. I wanted to go to Carmel this year for our 30th anniversary (we went there on our honeymoon) but since I resigned from my teaching job, that ain't gonna happen!!

    OH YOUR NEW HEADER IS DELICIOUS!!!!!!! Dearest, YOU are a blogger that MUST enter the Paris Link Party! With our knowledge and love of PARIS, you would have oOOooodles of photos and something to share about WHY IS PARIS SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE! All you have to do is come up with a post with ANYTHING related to that topic. GREAT PHOTOS of great places will do. THEN you post it on JUNE 8 and leave it up until JUNE 15. I provide all the links. People come to my blog to link back to other blogs to visit. The point is to get inspiration from others and visit and make new friends. How does that sound? Let me know and I will put you on the list!!!

    BISES, Anita

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  2. What a glorious spot, Kirsten! Gorgeous. xx

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  3. Beautiful place indeed. My husband and I visited back in 1987. Unfortunately, it was a combined California and Hawaii trip which made us rush through CA a bit more than we would have wanted. We have always planned to go back.

    I actually stopped by today to listen to your DIVINE music. I am sitting back and enjoying it a little longer after my comment. Thank you for sharing, Kirsten.
    Have a lovely day.

    Marcia

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Hello and Welcome!
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Hope to see you again!
Kirsten