Thursday, April 7, 2011

Beau

We have had a busy Winter and Spring. Our daughter is getting married this summer at our home so we have many projects to complete.  We have had non stop rain the past few weeks.  We really needed it.   It is also wonderful for Villa Cantina because the lake view is really a “full on” lake view for a change! We also have a new puppy.  His name is Beau.  He is adorable.  Have you read the book or seen the movie Marley and Me?

 

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  A couple of years ago we had to put our other yellow lab Bridger down.  It was devastating.  Bridger was a once in a lifetime dog.  We made friends with complete strangers because of him.  He was a wonderful dog who was loved by all who knew him. When he died he was immortalized by our good friend and artist Pat Huber.

 

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We had to think long and hard before deciding to get another dog.  My husband wanted a puppy. He said he would take Beau to work with him a couple days of week.  Steve loves Beau.  Steve leaves really early in the morning and he doesn’t get home until dinner time. He took Beau to work last week.  That night Beau got really sick.  We took Beau to our Vet.  Beau ate something he wasn’t supposed to.  Beau does that a  lot .  Here is Steve with Beau on the Gator.  Beau looks so sweet doesn’t he?

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We have two cats.  Their names are Furry and Tiger ( clever I know).  They were feral cats.  For those of you not familiar with feral cats, they are afraid of practically everything because they were raised (or birthed) by a feral mother.  They are afraid of Beau too.

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The reason they look scared is because Beau is barking at them AGAIN. 

 

Beau has lots of beds….

 

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Most of them he doesn’t lay on…

 

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When we take him in the car he rides in this cage.  You probably can guess why. 

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When Beau sleeps at night he sleeps here.  Again no need for guessing.

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We let him sleep in our bed a couple of nights but that didn’t go well.  He also likes to sleep in this bed.  This is another reason why Furry and Tiger  don’t like him.  

 

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Beau also likes to sleep here.  This is our game room sofa.  He likes lots of pillows.

 

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Or in the wingback chair….

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I just brought this chair home from the upholsterer.  I had it covered in sheets (can you guess why?).  He didn’t jump on it until I removed the sheets.

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Here is Beau on the console table behind the sofa.   I HAD a bowl filled with shells and coral on  the console.  He kept stealing them out of the bowl.  Apparently he is looking for them….

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Beau has lots of toys.  He loves Mr. Skunk. Mr. Skunk has not one but two squeakers.  That might be part of the attraction. Beau especially loves things that aren’t toys at all (peoples’ shoes, toilet paper,  zebra rugs, and things that belong in the bathtub)…

 

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Beau doesn’t have very many friends.  He likes to jump on and bite dogs.  He sometimes  has the same M.O with people.

He loves our gardener Sebastian.  I am not sure the feeling is mutual.

Beau found a friend though…her name is Isabella….she loves Beau

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Beau usually wears people out. He was very tired after he played with Isabella.

Beau went to a “puppy reunion” with his litter mates last weekend. Some of the puppies had really nice manners.  I doubt they jump on console tables and sleep on the sofa. Some were friskier than others. Here is Beau playing with the  other “frisky” puppy. That’s Beau on top.

 

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Here is Beau “playing” with another one of his litter mates. Apparently Beau thought he would make a nice chair. 

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Here is Beau again.  He is the one with his teeth around the other dog’s neck.

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Here is Beau looking for his next victim

 

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But….who could resist that face?

 

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Day tripping… Mission San Antonio de Padua

Mission San Antonio de Padua  was founded as California’s third mission in 1771.   It is known as the mission that time forgot.  It  has been said that of all the California missions, San Antonio de Padua is the only one that would be recognizable today to its founder  Junipero Serra. Mission San Antonio de Padua rests on ground that has remained virtually unchanged for more than two centuries.

 

The mission and its environs remain unique due to its secluded location. It is considered the most remote and isolated in the chain. It is more than twenty miles from the nearest  town of any size. Of all the California Missions, it offers visitors perhaps the most accurate glimpse of what mission life once was.

Located on eighty  acres on what was once the Milpitas unit of the sprawling Hearst Ranch, Mission San Antonio de Padua sits within the “Valley of the Oaks” on California’s scenic Central Coast.

The rugged Santa Lucia mountains backdrop this historic mission, where ancient oak trees frame the fully restored adobe buildings which include the Church, museum, cloister,  garden and outbuildings.

After falling into disrepair following secularization in the nineteenth century, the mission has painstakingly been reconstructed to its former glory. 

latimes media photo

                                                                                             photo courtesy la times

Close-up  of the Altar Configuration

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Notice the lovely polychrome paint detail on the interior pulpit and photos below

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photo courtesy David Wing

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photo courtesy David Wing

If you happen to be staying at Villa Cantina in the Spring when the wildflowers are in bloom you must make the trip to Mission San Antonio.

photo courtesy of windy hill publications

The annual Mission Days will be held on Saturday April 9, 2011 from 11 am to 3 pm. Enjoy a step back in time . There will be re-enactors in costume portraying soldiers, artisans, vaqueros on horseback, and neophytes (Indians). Demonstrations will include adobe brick making, acorn grinding, tortilla making, weaving, bead making, face painting, rope making,bell ringing, and more. In the historic church, the New Baroque Orchestra will play original music composed for Mission San Antonio.


photo courtesy of mission San Antonio de Padua

For more information please visit the Mission San Antonio de Padua website at:

 http://www.missionsanantonio.net/index.html

The mission is also the setting for John Steinbeck’s second novel “To a God Unknown”

If you  like to immerse yourself in a little  local history before visiting ,you can  purchase “To a God Unknown” , ‘San Antonio Valley’, or ‘Mission San Antonio de Padua’ in my amazon store (at right) , or your favorite bookstore.

Mission San Antonio is approximately 35 minutes from Villa Cantina. Or if you are coming from the north: turn off on Jolon Road (G14), drive about 22 miles to the entrance to Fort Hunter Liggett. Turn Right. You are on Mission Road. Drive about 5 miles. The Mission is visible in front of you. Coming from the south: take the Jolon Road (G18) exit located right after the Bradley exit. Drive 26 miles to the Entrance of Fort Hunter Liggett. Turn Left. You are on Mission Road. Drive about 5 miles. The Mission is visible in front of you.

Open daily 10am-4pm (8:30am-6pm June to September). Closed Christmas day.