
Okay enough reminiscing about life in California, there's more of that later on. For now more gushing about the house, besides an exterior with charm and historically inspired details, the designers certainly worked their magic inside too:







I have to say that some of the interior isn't what I expected. The family room is not my taste at all and the office, while masculine is too modern. I like the white cabinetry in the kitchen, but somehow this one is missing that something that keeps me from loving it. However, I think I'd be able to suffer through it and stand the furnishing for a little while at least if Alicia was to win. Cause you know I'm crashin' the place the second she gets the keys!
Alicia dreams of winning and opening an exclusive bed and breakfast...she feels it's a great way to pay off the taxes would be looming after winning this multi-million dollar prize. I'm bummed because once again GM is sponsoring part of the prizes so since my Dad is a GM retiree I am not eligible to win...sigh.
I was lucky enough to once live in the Bay Area and downtown Sonoma around the plaza was one of me and my husband's favorite places to go and neither of us drink. There is plenty to do and the wineries are worth visiting for their picturesque beauty whether or not you're wine tasting or not. Our visit would usually start with a stop at the Sonoma Cheese Factory for a yummy made to order sandwich, so big that my husband and I would often split one. The cheese used to be made on site and you could sample little cheese squares to your hearts content, delish! The website says they still have samples and now have gelato and fudge ones too, but I think I read awhile back that the cheese making has been moved somewhere else. The atmosphere isn't five star, but it sure is nice sitting outside by the grill. There is also a nice big parking lot behind the building and clean bathrooms, always nice finds for daytrippers.
After eating lunch I liked browsing the stores, and I never managed to leave Baksheesh Fair Trade without a few new beaded necklaces or earrings. A little farther on around the square is Sign of the Bear a great little kitchen store with a wide selection of boutique soaps that always made me feel like a kid in a candy store, kitchy oil cloth tablecloths, and my personal weakness handpainted pottery. There are also stores featuring Northern California made items, we bought a beautiful trivet with a wine country watercolor and it reminds me daily of the fields of grapevines.
If you're visiting the California Missions, the chain of 21 descending along California's western border that represent the first arrival of non-Native Americans and the introduction of Christianity that changed life for California's Native Americans, then be sure to stop at the Sonoma State Historic Park. It's in the Plaza and includes the Sonoma Mission as well as other historical sites of interest. Plus then you can tell your mom you did something educational. If you're interested in the Missions I highly recommend the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Missions.
The last stop was always Basque Boulangerie. There's usually a line in the tiny bakery and that's sign of how decadent the treats are. I always got at least two lemon squares, one to eat right away and one for later. The layer of powdered sugar puts it over the top. There area lot of fancy-smancy places too but when we were living in CA my husband was a graduate student and I was a teacher so those places weren't in the budget. The CIA in nearby Napa Valley is a great find if you want to try haute cuisine, all the same I'd still skip the meal and go right for a dessert.
And while we don't drink we played tour guide to plenty of family and friends who didn't mind a sip or two. Favorite places to stop were the Buena Vista Winery, pictured above, where they were the friendliest, had beautiful art on the walls, and shady picnic tables, as well as Ravenswood and Gundlach Bundschu, pronounced Gun/Lock/Bun/Shoe. All of these wineries and many more provide wine tasting and often tours.
I was lucky enough to once live in the Bay Area and downtown Sonoma around the plaza was one of me and my husband's favorite places to go and neither of us drink. There is plenty to do and the wineries are worth visiting for their picturesque beauty whether or not you're wine tasting or not. Our visit would usually start with a stop at the Sonoma Cheese Factory for a yummy made to order sandwich, so big that my husband and I would often split one. The cheese used to be made on site and you could sample little cheese squares to your hearts content, delish! The website says they still have samples and now have gelato and fudge ones too, but I think I read awhile back that the cheese making has been moved somewhere else. The atmosphere isn't five star, but it sure is nice sitting outside by the grill. There is also a nice big parking lot behind the building and clean bathrooms, always nice finds for daytrippers.
After eating lunch I liked browsing the stores, and I never managed to leave Baksheesh Fair Trade without a few new beaded necklaces or earrings. A little farther on around the square is Sign of the Bear a great little kitchen store with a wide selection of boutique soaps that always made me feel like a kid in a candy store, kitchy oil cloth tablecloths, and my personal weakness handpainted pottery. There are also stores featuring Northern California made items, we bought a beautiful trivet with a wine country watercolor and it reminds me daily of the fields of grapevines.

The last stop was always Basque Boulangerie. There's usually a line in the tiny bakery and that's sign of how decadent the treats are. I always got at least two lemon squares, one to eat right away and one for later. The layer of powdered sugar puts it over the top. There area lot of fancy-smancy places too but when we were living in CA my husband was a graduate student and I was a teacher so those places weren't in the budget. The CIA in nearby Napa Valley is a great find if you want to try haute cuisine, all the same I'd still skip the meal and go right for a dessert.
