Day Three started with a Mini winding across the Bay Bridge and up through Mill Valley to Muir Woods National Monument.  It reminded me of an old growth forrest on the East Coast that was fed lots of Miracle Grow.  The trees were immense and the earth just smelled good.  It was a nice diversion to be out of the city and among giant trees.  Although there were still lots of people.  And we had to walk as far to parking and back as we did through the national monument.  Many of the side paths were closed during our visit, but the main path was still open; however, I wish more of the side trails would have been open where you could have left the crowds behind and done more serious hiking.  But none-the-less a beautiful thing to see.

We drove back through Saucilito, but it was so crowded we just drove right through and back into San Francisco.  We parked between Golden Gate Park and NOPA where we brunched.  I had Butter Basted Farm Eggs – Roasted Spring Onions, Romesco and Crispy Polenta, with a side of bacon, it was decadent, crunchy, but not overly filling or heavy. MMMMMM. But Hubby really beat me, he got the Chili Braised Pork –Purple Runner Beans, Chard and Buttermilk Biscuit and that was killer good, rich in flavor, but nicely balanced with the beans and greens that weren’t done in a heavy way. I want to try to make this at home.

After our quite filling, but not heavy brunch we explored the portions of Golden Gate Park that we previously hadn’t gotten through.  We visited the conservancy of flowers to look at their orchids and the exhibit on Wicked Plants.  We walked through the dahlia gardens and explored for a bit.  We then went back to the car by way of Osso & Co a fantastic dog store where we picked up some goodies for Max.  We did not get him one of the amazing dog houses they had there, but you never know, he might get one in the future, they were amazingly chic.  We then drove and checked out the shops around Hayes Valley, a very hipster area with great boutique shops.  There is a very good guide here.  I really loved Stark Home Furnishings.

We were so tired from all the walking we crashed at the hotel for a nap.  I had really considered visiting the excellent Nob Hill Spa, and looking back I can’t imagine why I didn’t.  The spa is beautiful with an amazing view from the pool.  And the treatment rooms really pretty.  Next time this will be a done deal.  My sore legs and tired feet could have used some pampering!

That night we had reservations for Boulevard, but neither of us felt like fancy, so we went and had spring rolls at the Slanted Door, which were killer good (we should have just eaten dinner here) and then we had fish tacos a hot dog and fries at Gott’s Roadside, which was good, it was, but not anything as good as the rolls at Slanted Door and the amazing smells emanating from that place. I am still regretting not eating at the Slanted Door right now.

We then wandered our way back up Nob Hill, we stopped in Chinatown to pick up a few goodies before the stores closed.  I got a silk pouch and jewelry roll for travel that pair exceedingly well with my Michael Aram Hartman.  And got some cute gifts for friends and loved ones that you can’t get in our area.

The next morning we wandered Chinatown and I bought some jewelry from an exceptional little jewelry store off the beaten path where you can find nicer things than the junky shops that are mostly visible.  I also drooled over a beautiful gold desk with with cranes for my guest bedroom.

We had a chinese pastries, a mung bean cake for me and a bbq bun for Hubby, and ate an early lunch before the airport at San Sun, which I highly highly recommend. They have some amazing noodle dishes, and that’s what I would order here. The broth, noodles and meat choices were great. You pick the broth-meat, then you pick your noodle type rice noodles, thin or wide, egg noodles, etc, etc, and you can do a combo, they also have some specialty noodle dishes. They have a huge menu so there is other stuff, but most people around us were also slurping up different noodles. Even at 11:00 a.m. people of all ethnicities came wandering in for a meal.  The flavors of the broth were complex, but so comforting.  We then headed off to the airport where I picked up  some dinner at the Napa Farm Market in the airport which had some really nice looking meals- for me roasted chicken, roast potatoes and asparagus.  They even had gluten free cupcakes.  Surprisingly fireworks from a plan are not as cool as you would expect.  Just little poofs of light far far away.

So….

If you know me then you know that my dog is absolutely spoiled rotten.  And living in Northern Virginia there are a lot of options for all your doggie needs.  But sometimes it is hard to find the best shops for different services.  In particular it took me a while to find a really good groomer for Max.  He is mostly Bichon and I wanted to find a groomer that could do a show cut, that didn’t have a waiting list and was convenient.

As I was picking up some cupcakes at Buzz Bakery on Slaters Lane in Alexandria I found Hairy Situations.  They have a window where you can see pets getting groomed and I noticed how nice the dog being groomed looked.  So I stopped in and found management exceedingly nice and helpful.

Their philosophy is on a gentle grooming process that puts your pets needs first.  You and your pet develop a relationship with the groomer and they take their time so your pet isn’t as nervous or stressed.  At my old groomer, Max would be nervous and happy to get the heck out of there, but when coming out of Hairy Situations he was calm and happy.  Being a Bichon he is very people oriented and doesn’t really like being left with strangers, but he was very good with the groomer.

Plus the end result is fantastic.  I would highly recommend them if you have a breed of dog that you want a specific or show cut for, or a breed that needs more intricate grooming.  They take care to make sure your dog looks really good.  And for once he came home with a bandana that was appropriate for a boy dog!  I was so surprised that not only was so the grooming so much better in quality, but the price was similar to most other inferior groomers.

When we came home Max was on top of the world because he knew he looked good and was getting all sorts of attention.  Look at my little guy as happy as a clam, and the pictures don’t even do him justice.

FYI- They also do teeth cleaning, and on their website they have a coupon for dog teeth cleaning during March.

Readers,

I will confess that I baby my dog.  I know I do.  But people, really, I don’t have kids this is what happens. And he gets cold in the winter, he is a toy dog, it happens.  We normally put a sweater or jacket on him until his fur grows out a good bit and he is real shaggy, then we gauge how cold it is.  SOOO, noting that I baby my dog to no end and that he is the most tolerant dog of all time and it is almost his 1 year birthday it was time for the works.

I messaged the fantastic shop owner of Forever Furbulous, whose name also happens to be Katelyn (although mine is spelled differently) about making me a custom design.  I wanted a festive, but not girly green tartan jacket with matching bow tie for Mr. Max.  She quickly messaged me back and said it was no problem and she would send me pictures of fabric swatches.  She then set up a custom listing for me.  Well…………………….. I got the jacket and tie and they were fantastic!!!!!!  (Imagine me saying that line with the enthusiasm of Miss Piggy when she is excited.  Yep that is how excited about it I am.  Please note above were I admit I baby my dog way too much.)

They are really well made, the jacket has a nice fleece lining, excellent stitching with a collar and waist detail.  Both the tie and jacket are easy on, easy off with velcro, but won’t come off willy nilly (as the Puggle found out when trying to remove Max’s bow tie).  A really nice sturdy quality fabric.  Both items are really well made and the fabric has worn well and kept Max warm in the weather.

And the most important part, Max looks so good:

And he knows he looks good, doesn’t he?

So my friend Rachel has adorable dachshunds. And in the DC area they are such a popular dog.  They are just such cute beings to portray.  Everytime I find something I think she would like I get so excited.  Here are some things I love.

This is made out of DC!!! Well at least maps.  Find it here on Etsy.

I also really like this scarf on wireless.com:

Last, but not least some fabulous napkin rings!

Heads Up!

To all my readers who have diligently followed this post, I wanted to let you know that the 43rd Annual Autumn Glory Festival will be held in Oakland, Maryland from October 6-10, 2010.

I love Autumn in Garrett County, the leaves are beautiful, the air is crisp and people are in such a good mood.  This year I am not so sure how the leaves will fair as it is pretty dry up there, but never the less the festival goes on.

My favorites are listed below, but here is the best listing of events I have seen.  This is a great event to come up for even if just a day or two.

1. The Grand Feature parade on Saturday.  The parade has bands from across the area, commercial floats, Shriners Clubs and so much more, lasting at least an hour and half normally.  Just seeing the kids and adults alike line up to watch the spectical pass feels like a bit of Americana living on.  Not to mention all the good food available in town such as the sausage sandwiches at the fire hall and rotary fries.

2. Oakland Women’s Civic Club Antique Show at the Armory.  This is a huge hall of antique vendors selling all sorts of antiques from furniture, to political memorabilia to jewelery and holiday kitsch.  I always find some great Christmas presents here.

3. No-Hands Ice Cream Eating Contest at Lakeside Creamery.  Although it might be harder to distinguish the culinary great that is homemade ice cream from Lakeside Creamery while scarfing it down in the contest, you no doubt will have a lot of fun helping them finish off the last ice cream for the season.

4. The State Banjo and Mandolin Competition at Southern High School on Friday Night and Fiddle Competition on Saturday Night.  There is some amazing music to be heard here, and you might be surprised how much you will enjoy it even if you aren’t normally a fiddle or banjo type.

5. Western Maryland Tournament of the Bands at Southern High School on Saturday Night.  Bring some blankets to cuddle under while you watch marching bands from across the region battle it out for points and trophies.

This year I am hoping to catch the Antique Car Show which I never get to make.

But if you get a little tired of festival events, I find a diversion out to Swallow Falls to walk and hike the trails is a nice relaxing end to the weekend.  This time of year it is also dog friendly so your Pooch can get some exercise while you enjoy the foliage and views.  I think there are pictures in the archives from last year here.

With Fall in the air, Halloween has started to come into my thoughts.  I also have a niece who really likes the whole Twilight thing, so more and more Gothic-Romantic items having been catching my eye for this year.  So in line with those thoughts I found some things I thought I would share:

These Fingerless Cranberry Gloves from ZenandCoffee are really cool, and would keep your arms warm on a cold Autumn Night.  I also like the pop of color, which makes them wearable at another time.  $22 on Etsy. From pop to goth all depending on your look.

This little jacket reminds me of a super cute jacket my Niece had for my brother’s wedding.  It is a little pricey, at $75, but something you could get a lot of use out of because it could be worn for a date night with jeans, Halloween or a party.  From maryandangelika.

I think many of you saw my wedding dress, I loved the corset top on it, so this really made me drool, $155 from olgaitaly.

Next up is some perfume for the eve.  Try this unisex perfume by Solstice Scents, Monster Mash for Boys and Ghouls.  The scent is a little dark, but I like some deep scents from time to time, especially  after all the light and floral scents of Summer.

And last, but not least, your escort.  Now don’t worry if you don’t have a two legged companion, you can have a very dapper escort anyway.  And perhaps he will do some tricks for treats.  Here is  a handsome tux from Poochie Heaven for your date to escort you with.

Readers get ready because Clarendon Day is near!  If you have never been to Clarendon Day, it is a lot of fun.  There is live music, food vendors galore from a lot of very good restaurants, arts and craft vendors and lots of wholesome family fun.  September 25, 2010 from 11 am to 5pm.  We will be there with the Puppy (there are always lots of well behaved dogs around)!  For more info click here.

Buzz Bakery is hosting an Animal Adoption Party

Sunday June 27 from 6-8

From their email:

An early head’s up reminder to one and all to join us in June for the annual Buzz Bark Bash presented in conjunction with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Annual “Salute to the Animal Caregivers.”

This is easily one of our favorite events of the year and we’ll again kick off the day with an adoption event from 10am-12noon – with a celebration later in the day with all the kind folks from the AWLA.

We’ll once again roll out the Designer Dog Cupcakes, Doggie Ice Cream and homemade Dog Biscuits, all baked and ready go – and Planet Wine has promised to be on-hand once again with the fluids to keep the merriment of the day flowing. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more!

Buzz
901 Slaters Lane
Alexandria Virginia 22314
(703) 600-2899

They other day while running errands with the Pup and Hubby, stomachs began to growl.  It was a beautiful day so we decided to head to Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe.  When the weather is decent, and sometimes even when it is not, they are out grilling wursts.

I got a beautiful knauckwurst- a little spice, but a lot like a big flavorful hotdog, on a homemade bun.   What I love is if you are unfamiliar with the taste of their wursts they will give you samples to help you decide.

We split some sides of homemade German potato salad (a mix of skin on potatoes, caramelized onions, vinegar and spices served warm), pretzel and apple strudel.  This was a huge meal even when you split the sides.  But everything is prepared with care and baked fresh.

They have picnic tables over on the grass some with umbrellas, so you can sit outdoors enjoy company with fellow diners and enjoy the splendor of nice weather in Virginia.  Max got to run around in the grass and sniff for sausage, of which he found none, a big disappointment I am sure.  We got some time in the sun and very good food.

The shop itself has pastries, breads and deli.  Whenever someone asks where to find some sort of baked good, I always end up seeing it at Heidelberg.  Their Black Forest Bread is exceptional for sandwich making.  And while their pastries are not as artistic as Patisseries by Randolph, I have found that they have a great variety of the German favorites my Amish Nanny used to make me.

And to top it off, with my hands full with drinks and Max, they carried my lunch to the table for me.

Readers,

I have a new love.  He weighs 7.7 pounds and is a fluffball.  His name is Max.

He is a rescue Bichon, and just the sweetest little pup ever.  Getting him I realized the creators of The Knot, The Nest and The Bump forgot a step- The Bark.  Many of my friends have dogged-up already, which is great for getting advice and now I thought I would share some of mine with you.

This edition is Annapolis:

Annapolis is about as close to dog heaven as there can be here on earth.  All the shops downtown have water bowls and treats, the stores let you bring your little ones in with you and the restaurants have outdoor seating.  And the best part is while all this is going on there is a frenzy of meet and greet with other dogs of all breeds and sizes.

The Loews in Annapolis is not only a very pet-friendly hotel, but they are having “Canines & Cocktails for a cause” happy hours from 5:30 – 7:30 on April 16, May 21, June 18, July 23, August 20 and September 24.  Each happy hour goes to benefit a different dog organization such as: SPCA of Anne Arundel, National Canine Cancer foundation and Partnership for Animal Welfare.

Next up is Paws- the absolute best dog boutique store I have been to so far in my dog owning time.  They have dog art, dog treats- even frozen dog treats, the best selection of leashes I have ever seen, dog apparel (but not silly apparel), dog night-lights, they have bells for potty training your dog and so much more.  Plus all the employees are knowledgeable about the products, and have dogs, and most of the products are locally made too! (Supporting locally owned independent business is a big thing for me, especially when they give back in good ways.)

Some of the goods at Paws:

This lady bug collar could be in my Easter Basket:

Or a Fleur de Lis bowl for my little Spanish/French dog:

Or if you want a fancier look around your house, get this marbelized dog bowl:

And Max says this Bichon hat is perfect, it has a pocket for treats!

So while in Annapolis, just stroll around Main St, State Circle and Maryland Avenue and peruse the stores with your pup.  And catch a bite somewhere outside.  Or grab a sandwich at the Big Cheese and head to the city dock to meet up with lots of other dogs.  Or if you can’t make it to Annapolis, Paws has a fantastic online website for ordering.