WolfWeave

On Labor Day, we packed and prepared to leave the hotel early; we had to get the boys to the airport in time to catch their planes back to college. On our way out, we saw the newlyweds relaxing in the hot tub next to the swimming pool, so were able to say a last “thank you” and “good-bye.” The drive back to San Francisco was a lot faster, as the traffic was light, and we dropped Noah at the airport, but it turned out that Ben’s plane was running 3.5 hours late. So he stayed with us—we had been invited to the house of some friends for a Labor Day barbecue lunch. However, it was a little early yet, so we drove around downtown and visited the Apple store and Brookstone, where Ben needed to exchange the remote control helicopter we had just bought him for his birthday (it wasn’t working properly). After that we navigated the hilly streets of San Francisco until we found the right house, where we had a wonderful lunch and visit with not only our friends, but another couple we knew that they had invited. It was a pleasant afternoon but we all too soon had to leave to take Ben back to the airport and continue our drive down the coast to Big Sur—our destination.

We were taking a mini-vacation at The Post Ranch Inn, a magnificent and luxurious (yet somehow rustic) resort directly on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was a wonderfully relaxing few days. We had booked an upper Coast House with a view through the pine trees of the ocean from our balcony with its comfortable deck chairs (I wanted nothing more than to sit out here and knit all day long, watching the stellar jays hop from branch to branch in the trees and enjoying the bold chipmunk who jumped onto our balcony and scurried around searching for food). Standing there with the complimentary glass of Veuve & Cliquot champagne that they poured for me upon check-in at reception, I felt like I was in heaven, especially as the sun began to set through the tree branches:

However, indoors, our cozy “cabin” was nothing to sneer at either. All wood paneled, with floor to ceiling sliding glass doors, an extraordinarily comfortable bed , two complimentary half-bottles of wine, a complimentary minibar and fruit basket which were refilled each day with beverages and all sorts of snacks, an aged leather portfolio containing information about the inn (and its 90+ acres with hiking trails, pool, spa, and gourmet restaurant), our welcome gift of a packet of California wildflower seeds and a book about the Post Ranch’s long history, and the luxurious leather sofa (with chenille throw) and fireplace (with fire already laid and a copper kettle of extra split logs and kindling), you could say that our room was comfortable. Actually, you could say a lot more than that. There seemed to be a subdued zen aesthetic that tied the room together, that made it functional while, at the same time, alluringly decorative. Three black river stones sat on the fireplace mantle—I was constantly re-arranging these. A needlepoint chair sat near the bed. Extra pillows and a massage table were tucked into drawers beneath the bed (and, yes, I did have 2 complimentary massages—my husband didn’t want his—one each day, that came with our travel package…and they were absolutely wonderful). The rounded wood cabinet near the bed housed a Bose sound system but there was (thankfully) no television available. There was wifi but it seemed almost a shame to disturb the quiet by using the internet. The little table near the door holding the fruit basket also held a cutting board and knife to use with the fruit. Refrigerator snacks included camembert and crackers, white chocolate key lime cookies, gourmet nuts and a dark organic chocolate bar (as well as Snickers). There was, of course, a coffeemaker with a selection of coffees and teas; there were wine glasses in addition to drinking glasses (glass, not plastic). An extra blanket in the closet, a magnifying mirror in the bathroom…a lot of attention to detail. And, discreetly around the room, sand castings or bronze sculptures that caught your eye and required contemplation. Yet the furnishings were simple, not fancy, not extravagant. One felt at home, not out of place. Relaxed.

And this was before you went on to investigate the bathroom! The slate and granite bathroom also had a wall of glass (part of which slid open to the deck), a needlepoint chair on which to rest, a stepstool to help getting into the deep soaking tub/jacuzzi, bath salts, candle, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, etc.—all the amenities you could desire, including thick terrycloth robes, soft slippers and an abundance of thick grey terry towels. As each unit is situated so that no other unit is within view, you can feel free to bathe without drawing the blinds and feel as though you are in the outdoors. In the morning, the fog was often over the water and it was a little too chilly to actually open the bathroom door but the fog would often burn off by the time we went for breakfast; although, from the restaurant, you could see it lingering down the coast.

As you walk down toward the award-winning Sierra Mar restaurant you first notice the dramatic rusted iron sculpture and fountain that is placed outside, marking the restaurant’s site. It is only one of many such sculptures to be discovered around the grounds of the inn. The restaurant itself is stunning, with its walls of windows in square-shaped bays jutting out over the coastline. No matter where you sit in the dining room, you have the feeling that you are literally hanging over the cliffs above the ocean. The food and the service are phenomenal. The staff and servers could not have been nicer, doing everything in their power to make you feel as if you were right at home. Breakfast is included with the price of your unit and turned out to be quite a delicious affair, consisting of fresh juice, lovely fresh fruit and berries (have you ever seen “salmonberries”—yellow raspberries?), yogurt, granola, an assortment of breads and pastries, and omelets or eggs (with all sorts of add-ins) cooked to order by a chef at the buffet. Open from 8 am until 10:30 am, I could easily have had a late breakfast and gone without any lunch! (Though there is a lunch menu.) The prix fixe four course dinners (or you could also order à la carte) were extravagantly creative beyond belief. The menu changes daily and features organic, seasonal fare cooked in a style that is innovative and “California French” without being overly heavy. However, the entrée choices are generally limited to only one choice each of meat, vegetarian, fish, seafood (and sometimes poultry). The first night, not liking the entrée choices, I merely dined on an appetizer (a foie gras sampler consisting of seared foie gras, foie gras mousse served with cornmeal mini-pancakes and a foie gras créme brulèe with caramelized top) and a salad. The desserts were spectacular. The next night our dinner was also complimentary with our travel package, so we made the most of it and each ordered the prix fixe menu but it was simply too much rich food for me to eat, including the amuse bouche of a quail egg with caviar and the plate of after-dessert petit fours! That night we had quite a surprise: My husband looked up as we were seated at our table and said, “You won’t believe this but I think that Jacob and Miriam are here.” Sure enough, Sierra Mar has such a reputation that the newlyweds had driven down there from their honeymoon in Carmel to have dinner! They looked amazingly happy and in love.

Below the restaurant, you could view the kelp beds in the ocean though there was no way to get down the cliffs to the water. When you walked along the paths around the resort however, there were surprises around every corner. Strikingly, the hills and mountains loomed up across a meadow (and I suppose across the road) from behind the inn. My husband took hikes every day and actually saw wild turkeys and deer; but I preferred the quiet of sitting on our balcony, knitting, and daydreaming while looking out over the ocean. Relaxation.

Everywhere on the grounds there were both natural, native plants and beautiful plantings of every sort. Growing along a wooden fence, we found this unusual flower:

Finally, we had our greatest adventure on our last night at the resort. We walked to a more advantageous location to watch the sunset and, as we turned away from the last rays of the dying light and I had put away my camera, two people came walking toward us on the path. They said “Hi,” as guests there tended to do but, as they walked on by, I did a double-take. The woman, dressed in jeans and a short black trench coat, was immediately recognizable—she was Anne Hathaway! We had no idea of the identity of her companion; it took a bit of googling before my husband even realized who she was. However, the next morning, while I was still packing and he was down in reception checking out, she came in to inquire about other types of units (they were staying in a Tree House) and she struck up a 10-minute conversation with my husband! He even suggested she go up to look at our unit, since she had said she would prefer an ocean view, but if she did come up, I was long gone, as the bellman arrived in the Lexus to take me and the luggage down to the parking lot. Oh well, celebrity sighting nonetheless.

We had a pleasant drive back to San Francisco airport and an uneventful ride home. It is always a good feeling to be back in your own house and your own bed, even when you have been staying somewhere as spectacular as The Post Ranch Inn. I would like to save up for another visit there; I loved it and felt totally relaxed.

Seriously, September is almost over and I completely forgot to tell you about our Labor Day weekend away in California (where I hoped to finally bask in some hot summer weather, as our summer in Chicago had been so miserable and rainy…but where it turned out to be mild, even chilly at times. The sun, however, did not disappoint.)

The occasion behind our trip was the wedding of my husband’s nephew Jacob to his long-time girlfriend Miriam, and it was quite a lovely affair. We flew into San Francisco and drove up to Sonoma in the wine country. The Oakland Bay Bridge was closed that weekend (as at least several hundred signs informed us), so the traffic going north for any Labor Day weekenders to Sonoma or Napa Valley was fairly heavy, plus there was a motorcycle accident off the highway on the main road leading to the valley cutoffs. However, eventually we made it to Sonoma, checked into The Lodge at Sonoma, where we found we had been upgraded to a darling cottage, and had arrived just in time for the afternoon wine tasting (and how I wish I had written down the name of the chardonnay I tasted—it was fabulous)! We ran into several relatives in the lobby; naturally, everyone was nervous but very excited. That night we had a most fabulous dinner at the girl & the fig in downtown Sonoma to celebrate my youngest son’s 19th birthday.

Having a waiter who knew about all the dishes and made excellent suggestions for them, as well as for the beers and wines, helped a great deal. It may not have been the restaurant Ben would have chosen (however, on the way up to Sonoma, he did pull a birthday insist on stopping for an In-N-Out burger!), but we all enjoyed the excellent and creative food and even shared a dessert selection.

Saturday, my husband and I walked the 1.25+ miles into downtown Sonoma and walked around the little shops lining the main square. I was concerned about finding a shawl to wear at the wedding, as the evening temperature on Sunday was predicted to be a lot cooler than I was prepared for (when originally I was afraid I’d be too hot in my outfit!). Lots of cute shops in Sonoma and I did find a thin black cashmere (not really pashmina) shawl at a reasonable price. Then we walked back to the hotel (I just made it in the hot sun) and had a late lunch in the restaurant, including many, many glasses of cold water. Throughout the day (and the night before) we kept running into people who were there for the wedding—it was wonderful catching up with those we knew and those we didn’t (from the bride’s side); they all introduced themselves and were extremely friendly. However, we also met some other people: “Are you going to the wedding?” people would shout out…only it turned out there were several weddings scheduled for that weekend!

That afternoon I ironed everyone’s clothes (fun) and burned my arm with the iron (ouch)! Saturday evening was the rehearsal dinner given by the groom’s parents (who have been divorced for many years but were present with their respective others) and it seemed to include nearly everyone attending the wedding. It consisted of a reception with full bar and hors d’oeuvres on the pool patio, then a stunning buffet in the hotel and a video of the bride and groom put together by the bride’s brother. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera along.

Sunday I rested and did some knitting while the boys went out for a drive. The buses for the wedding, which was being held at the B.R. Cohn Winery were leaving at 3:15, so we had to dress early. We arrived at the winery to find this beautiful setting:

Thoughtfully, the bartender was passing out bottles of plain and soda water, as well as pouring two different flavors of lemonade, for people to drink while they were waiting for the wedding to begin (it was scheduled for 4:30 pm). Once seated, this was the view we had over the vineyards toward the sunset:

We all wrote our congratuatory wishes on a framed portrait of the bride and groom, picked up programs, and found seats. Finally the music from a trio of flute, violin and bass began as the bridal party made its way down the stairs carved into the hillside. It was quite a dramatic entrance. The men were all dressed in khaki suits with brown ties, including the best man Alec, the groom’s younger brother, who had flown in all the way from New Zealand (where he has been working for the past few years), while the three bridesmaids, all friends of the bride, wore perfectly lovely, simple, strapless and short brown dresses (a bridesmaid’s dress one could definitely wear again!). They looked sleek and stunning and their bouquets were outstanding:

The traditional Jewish ceremony (with a female rabbi from MIT and a cantor) was held under a chuppah that had been appliqued with care and love by the bride’s mother with flowers cut from her own wedding dress. Friends and relatives of the couple gave readings from various selections (including the Velveteen Rabbit) and recited blessings. Finally, after exchanging rings, being wrapped in a tallit, and smashing the glass, the lovely newlyweds turned to walk back up the aisle:

followed by the groom’s beaming parents:

as well as the bride’s proud parents:

and the rest of the wedding party.

Then the reception began. As the sun set behind the hill, guests sampled champagne and wine from the vineyard, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres being passed by the caterers, as well as an heirloom tomato bar. We all mingled and generally basked in that warm and loving glow that a comes from sharing in the wedding of two of the nicest people you know. Everyone wanted to have their photo taken with the beautiful bride. Here is one of Miriam and me: (I am wearing my Eileen Fisher outfit and my Kathy Frey jewelry, while Miriam looks stunning in her simple strapless gown—although you can barely see the elaborate embroidery which highlighted it).

Finally, as the sky grew dark, we all walked back up the hill where tables surrounding a dance floor were topped with flowers and glittering with candles atop tablecloths elaborately decorated with ribbon embroidery in a pale pink. The tables were set up under the olive trees (the B. R. Cohn Winery also produces bottled olive oil in different flavors). which were wrapped with strands of twinkling lights and hung with lanterns. It was truly a breathtaking and romantic setting. The newlyweds shared their first dance and we began a wonderful dinner, which started with a salad and continued with entrees of sea bass and various vegetarian selections, including goat cheese pasta. All the while, the waiters were pouring wine and an “upstairs” bar remained open for those who wanted beer or something stronger. Toasts, thanks, and tributes were given; everyone seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. At some point the music began and people started to dance—everyone seemed to hit the dance floor; it wasn’t just the younger people who were rocking to the music. Even those from the young to the old seemed to be having a great time. Of course, people danced the hora and hoisted the wedding couple aloft on chairs—that is traditional.

Finally it was time to cut the cake:

which turned out to have both chocolate cake and carrot cake layers. The carousing continued until it was time to return to the buses at 10 pm (apparently Sonoma county has a noise ordinance stipulating that outdoor parties must end at 10). We were exhausted, I was decidedly tipsy, and our cottage at the hotel looked mighty inviting.

Did you know that, despite the fact that TNT renewed “Saving Grace” (starring Holly Hunter) for a 4th season, FOX Television and News decided (for financial reasons, I’m sure) not to produce any more episodes of the show, effectively canceling it for good? This was one of the most intelligent, challenging and enjoyable programs on television and Holly Hunter is such a great actress that its cancellation is a true shame. Especially as I’m sure it will be replaced with yet another reality show!

If you enjoyed the show at all, please go here to sign the petition to save it: Saving Saving Grace

I just rec’d the new Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Noro: Meet the Man Behind the Legendary Yarn book from Amazon and I thought you’d be interested in my scathing review:

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Should Be Ashamed!
September 11, 2009 By: Susan W. Swartz “beadmomsw” (Highland Park, IL United States)

What a rip-off! After waiting anxiously nearly a year for this book to be published, what do I find? Approximately 12 skimpy pages (out of 148) (really 6 pages of information and 29 photos, most of them small) telling about Mr. Noro (2 paragraphs and a quote) and the Noro Yarn Company . This “Meet the Man Behind the Legendary Yarns” is then followed by 40 recycled projects from Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton’s various Noro project books. Unbelievable! She couldn’t even be bothered to create new projects for this book! There should definitely be a disclaimer in the book description: WARNING: IF YOU OWN THE AUTHOR’S PREVIOUS NORO PATTERN BOOKS, DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS VOLUME!

I have never before returned a book to Amazon, even when I have mistakenly ordered duplicates…but I am going to send back this book. It is a total waste of money. I suppose if you are new to Noro yarns and have none of Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton’s knitting pattern books, then you will find it worthwhile. But if, however, you are, like me, one of those knitters who has devoured every Noro pattern that has come along for the past ten years or so, you already have every pattern in this book…so save your money. The 12 pages about Eisaku Noro and the company aren’t worth what even Amazon is charging. I am outraged that a travesty like this could even be published.

Now, maybe if you don’t have any of her pattern books, you might like to own this book, but otherwise, seriously, save your money! Some of the photos in the patterns aren’t even reprinted as in focus as they were in the pattern books!

And that’s my rant for this weekend!

I guess you’d have to call this (as many are) the year of the non-summer. Even here in Chicago, the temperatures still mostly hovered in the 60′s and low-70′s (with the occasional 80º weekend) and we had an extraordinary amount of rain, as witnessed by the overgrowth of trees, bushes, grass, etc. In spite of the persistent landscapers, the entire North Shore looks like a forest or jungle.

It was, in many ways, a disappearing month as well. The days slipped by from one chore to the next: organizing, running errands, getting the boys ready to return to college, helping my Mother. We did make a trip to Cambridge to visit Aaron, which was extremely enjoyable, as I had a wonderful few days spending time with him and re-connecting with my oldest son whom I hadn’t seen since Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, personal affairs in his life changed soon after I left, throwing a pall on the good times we had shared and leading to more than a few days of stress.

On the creative front, I didn’t accomplish much. Haven’t caught up on any of my projects from Bead & Button, nor from my 3-d landscape felting class. Haven’t had a chance to do any carding or spinning. We are off to California this weekend for a wedding, some business and a mini-vacation on the oceanfront at Big Sur (let’s hope the views are magnificent). I plan on wine, total relaxation and 2 massages…then I just want to sit on my balcony overlooking the Pacific, glass of wine at my hand, and do a little knitting: I have a Shibui baby sweater overdue for finishing, but am also taking Ysolda Teague’s Ishbel shawlette pattern and a skein of stunning Lollipop BFL superwash sock yarn in “Moss Rock” from Wool Candy—it looks perfect for fall.

As a matter of fact, with nighttime temperatures already dropping nearly into the 40′s, I figure I might as well pack away the Summer Projects bin (didn’t even make a dent in it this year) and pull out the Winter Projects one. The one summer project I started this season, Kat Coyle’s Linen Top is knit, washed, blocked (and let me tell you, trying to stretch and block linen is a bitch!) and softened. I just need to seam the sides but, as I will be wearing it over a tank top and, frankly, I don’t foresee any 90º days coming up, I can’t see any rush to finish! However, the colors of the Claudia’s Handpainted Linen are lovely (despite all the dye that leached out into the sink).

(Photos tomorrow maybe!)

So…California and autumn, here I come!