Hi friends, how are things? Yesterday was a fun day, starting with a visit to King's Nursery, a color-rich oasis of growing things only a few blocks from our future home. Check out these iridescent purple morning glories!
King's selection of tropical trees was outstanding, and I may need to make room in the garden for a "Mexicola" avocado tree:
A fig tree is already on the "must" list...
Jamison had the fun notion of visiting the pretty Napa Valley town of St Helena...and we drove through dry-green high hills and summer heat to get there
Interesting Victorian architecture in town: this old Mason's hall featured a nifty owl detail:
Discovering the eclectic, charming shop Muse was a treat. My eye was drawn in by the quilt Jamison is holding in this pic, which was part of a window display of soft "reconditioned" Indian saris-now-quilts...
Love that it has a 30's-yet-exotic feel and soft cheerful colors:
Stylish chocolates for sale, too. How fun would it be to run a little shop like this!
At Olivier Napa Valley, lots of olive oil selections and sun-rich condiments (loved the artichoke spread), and imported treats from Italy (this gorgeous pasta from Puglia) and France
For dinner, we baked salmon with crushed almonds and sauteed crimini mushrooms, and served with a fresh cherry relish (diced cherries, sugar, red wine vinegar) and felt the warm afternoon cool into deep blue evening, as it does most every night here...
In the bento: baby romaine, fennel, baked salmon, a blackberry macaron and local cherries:
Happy summer cooking in the week ahead!