It’s the middle of summer and it is going by too fast! Do you feel that too?
Here’s to a mid-summer check-in. How’s your summer going? Is it going by far too fast? The weather in the Pacific Northwest has been spectacular! We traveled to Southern California, and although it is always beautiful, it was HOT! We are attempting to squeeze in every adventure we can this summer. How about you?
This newsy letter is my way of filling in the gaps for sharing our latest adventures. On the Travel Connections Podcast, we drill deeper into specific subjects and meet amazing guests. In some episodes, I share more details of our recent travel experiences, and sometimes, we are introduced to brand-new travel inspirations. In next week’s episode, I talked with Susie Chau, a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist, and we had an incredible conversation! This episode is published on Friday, August 9th.
Our sweet little garden
Our very compact container garden is overflowing with goodness! I cannot really comprehend what is making it grow so well this year, but I am a happy gardener. I did sprinkle some bone meal- could that have done this?
VEGO makes the container gardens we planted, which have been such a hit. They are customizable, and I love that I don’t have to bend over to weed and trim. I also think they are fun and design-forward!
Every day, when I am not traveling, I go out to see the garden’s growth and when I return from a trip, it feels like Christmas! Everything is bursting with life. Last night, I made a delicious salad with four kinds of lettuce, homegrown baby yellow tomatoes, salty kalamata olives, creamy feta, and a light red wine vinaigrette. Summer in a bowl!
In our garden:
- Nasturtiums – to decorate cocktails and salads!
- Italian parsley
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Plum tomatoes
- Four kinds of lettuce
- Marigolds for attracting bugs (away from the veggies)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Zucchini
- More tomatoes!
Santa Ynez Weekend
After our return from Italy, we headed to Santa Barbara County, where we enjoyed a long wine weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley with our son Nick and daughter-in-law Kylie. We decided to rent a cute little Airbnb ranch house so we could hang out together more easily—BIG WIN!
We sipped, tasted, and ate at some fantastic restaurants that Kylie had curated for us. Everything was delicious, and the landscape was stunning—I highly recommend it.
Stay tuned for an upcoming episode on Travel Connections with all the itinerary details!
The Ranch Table
We also dined at a Gathering of The Ranch Table, a community dining experience created by Elizabeth Poett on her ranch, Rancho San Julian. We enjoyed every morsel—she is a spectacular hostess, and the setting was incredible. Elizabeth Poett also has a television show on the Magnolia Network called The Ranch Table, and I am a big fan of hers. She does it all! Elizabeth will also be a guest on an upcoming episode of Travel Connections! More details to come!
A Weekend on Camano Island, WA
My final mid-summer update is about our exceptional R&R weekend on Camano Island. We rented an adorable little beach cottage on the island’s East side, right on the shore. On one of the days, we welcomed the twins and their parents for a day of “rock throwing” (their favorite activity), grilled burgers, and popsicles (also a favorite). With bright sun and azure skies, we held hands and enjoyed this family time that I will never forget.
In case you missed it!
Our latest episode on Travel Connections;
Our Epic Cruise to Alaska – A Mother-Daughter Adventure
Hope your summer is going well! Where are you going next? Do you have a summer garden? If so, what are you growing?
Suzanne
