family is:

I don't know about you, but our holiday included brothers, moms, great food, apple pie, sightseeing, and naps at Ram's Gate winery. Hope yours was good, too.

Happy thanksgiving.

a cabin in the woods

Sometimes you need a cabin in the woods, changing leaves, and mini fried chicken sandwiches. We rented a cabin just outside of Healdsburg in the Russian River Valley, made a few stops at our favorite vineyards and had a family lunch at the Fremont Diner. Those nice people at the Fremont love dogs. They even have water bowls, that's how much they love dogs.

{notice how Mater's eyes are closed in this picture? what a goof.}

In preparation for Thanksgiving, we roughed it like our forefathers with only a fireplace for heat (and a seventy-five pound dog). It was what they call rustic. No city luxuries to be found. And it was nice.

anatomy of a wall grouping

We've been living in our new apartment for three months now but just finally hung things on the walls. It's nice to live in a place for awhile, get used to everything, before hanging pictures. Nails are a big commitment. I'd always wanted a wall grouping of various interesting things ever since I saw great examples in Domino and ReadyMade, but it's hard to pull off in real life. I think ours turned out well and I like how it tells a story about us.

Clockwise from the top right: black and white photo of tree branches taken by my brother Josh; a hand screen-printed bird that my brother-in-law Stu made us for our wedding; a painted Peruvian Mary that I picked up during a trip to Peru; one of my favorite photos from our wedding of Jason and I dancing; an old drawing of Jason's grandfather, Dave; and a painting of flowers that my sister Lindsay gave to me.

Little pieces of really great people on that wall.

 -MM

meet our dog. he's scared of everything.

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We thought we were doing our aging Boxer a favor by buying him a new raised contraption for eating and drinking. You know, they say it's better for the shoulders or something like that. Apparently we are total failures as dog parents. 24 hours later, and he refuses to eat out of it. He is terrified. And probably starving.

very much a part of me.

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Three of my best and oldest friends left the kids and husbands and jobs behind to come visit me. These girls are a very much a part of me - we've known each other for so long we practically raised each other - and it was only fitting that we celebrated the first 30th birthday for my friend Amber in a big way. It was a much-needed weekend of lots of laughing. And taking pictures with sailors (it was fleet week, we had no choice!). And even a viewing of one of our favorite 80's classics, Girls Just Want to Have Fun. The weather was gorgeous and I think they got to see the very best of San Francisco. Happy birthday Amber! I miss you crazy ladies already.

-MM

hardly strictly

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Mama Smith came to town! It was a great weekend. Mater got a new oversized ball from his grandmom, and we took advantage of the free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park. Beer battered French fries? Yes! Free concert with five stages? Yes yes!

wouldn't take much convincing.

If we ever had to move out of the city, it wouldn't take much convincing to get me to live in wine country. Here's why:

Some old friends, Jeff and Natalie, with adorable Pippa, were in town for a wedding so it was a great excuse to pack in the car (one of which was a convertible Mini Cooper, thank you Zip Car!) and head to Sonoma. The Fremont Diner, I have to say, is just about perfect. I can't wait to go there on a warm summer night someday. Picnic tables outside on a dusty lot with gourmet diner food, set amongst the lovely scenery of wine country. Yes, please.
- MM