California Dreaming

Eleven women, two convertibles (and a small SUV), a mansion in the hills near the Mayacama mountains, a pool that made me feel like we were movie stars, yoga lessons in the morning, wine tastings, mud baths and massages... This was the most I've laughed and relaxed in a while. We were all there to surprise Trina for her 40th birthday, a year-long plan by her husband, Chris.

Who knew that I'd love driving a convertible red Mustang?

The air where Chris and Trina live in Oakland and where we stayed in Sonoma smelled so good because of the copious amounts of roses, honey suckle and other flowers in bloom. The weather was idyllic. There was great food, easy conversations and to lighten the mood even more, fru fru dogs wearing clown collars at the stores where we shopped.

Annie Ramirez, Trina Burns Scoggins and Liz Christiansen -
the Burns sisters.

Kate's favorite automobile... the red enamel horses wanted to run faster than I would let them.

The movie star pool, at our rented place in Sonoma.

Liz Christiansen in the Sonoma town square near the rose garden.

Tammie Willis at the Blackstone Winery in Sonoma.

Dustan and Kate in Piedmont, CA.

Kate with Mason, Chris and Hannah Scoggins.

I got to visit the Sonoma, CA ashram. Our yoga instructor lives there, and she gave me a tour. Above is a photo of their clothes drying rack, situated next to what she calls their grocery store, the large garden, pictured below. With the garden and a few goats (milk), the ashram is almost self-sufficient, food-wise in the summer, except for grains. Their website can be accessed here.

Here's one last photo of us together. We're at the Blackstone Winery (website here). This visit to California was a memorably good time, and I came home just in time for the final push to get ready to move to Finalnd for a little over ten months. Tampere, here we come!