SAN YSIDRO RANCH - Obsessed

You know when you walk into a place, gasp, and think, this is perfection? Welcome to San Ysidro Ranch.  I was perfectly happy at the Four Seasons (I would have to be daft not to be) but had always wanted to see this place for myself.  It was seven minutes up the road from the Four Seasons Biltmore.

                                        Eucalyptus trees line the driveway leading to the property

You may know the history of San Ysidro Ranch--Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier stayed here as did Jack and Jackie Kennedy for their honeymoon. It is a gem of a hideaway.

The pretty reservation office with the nicest staff who didn't mind me roaming around with camera in hand.

This lobby is my idea of a perfect family room--wood floors, white walls, lots of pillows and comfy seating.  Which is why I am now thinking to paint most of my interior walls a soft white (goodbye Golden Gate, you've served me well).

Let's drive back to the guest cottages

Even the parking slips are enchanting

Climbing roses are in abundance

Star jasmine climb the posts and clematis covers the pergola

Another guest cottage

Hydrangeas galore

Herbs planted between the paving stones that lead us through an arbor

So much lavender and rosemary.  The fragrance, colors, texture work so beautifully together that when I returned home I planted a bunch around my pool.

This is the Stonehouse restaurant.  Very swanky dining on the property. 

Vegetable gardens for guest dining (you know, in the restaurants, not for munching away in the garden)

Hydrangeas along the stone steps 

I did grab the opportunity to tour the Laurel cottage. I didn't take any pics but it was what you would imagine.  Four poster bed, stone fireplace, wood floors, comfortable seating area, indoor and outdoor shower. The darling bellman told me everything in the minibar was gratis for guests (which seems only right given the nightly rates start at $600).

Time to leave.  But, I'm telling you, someday I'm going to splurge and stay here for a few nights. Oh, yes.

SANTA BARBARA and MONTECITO--my new faves!

Well, this little vacation was a piece of heaven.  Five days of bliss.  Santa Barbara and Montecito have been on my list to visit ever since my friend, Ashley, and her family have been spending July in Montecito.  We have similar taste in just about everything so I knew it would be lovely.

Took the first flight out of Phoenix and arrived around 9:00 am.  Too early to check-in so we headed over to the Santa Barbara Mission.  And can I just say that the Santa Barbara Airport is now my favorite airport ever.  A bit of style, nice and small, no shuttling anywhere to pick up a rental car.  Loved it.

A very pretty mission, Santa Barbara is similar to San Juan Capistrano Mission (which I actually prefer).  But this is definitely worth a stop.

Yellowed-stone, purple agapanthus, greenery, and little red roofed tile thrown in is a gorgeous combination. Look at that deep window sill.

Next, we drove to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.  Picked up a discount coupon at the airport from one of those little visitor brochures displays.

        It was a bright, hot day in Santa Barbara when we arrived.  Still cooler than Arizona, though.

            Love a split log bench.  Someday I'm going to do a post of all the benches I've loved.

Now, time to check-in.  The heavens parted and we walked into the Four Seasons Biltmore.  We could have just stayed at this hotel the entire time.  Staff is friendly and helpful. Rooms are pretty.  Common areas all have that Four Seasons touch. And, see that Moravian light fixture?  I think that's what I want for my entry hall and library.  My only hesitation is how the heck do you change the light bulb?

                                             Love the Santa Barbara design style.

                                                  Nice stenciling surrounding our door.

                                                         Pretty, airy, comfortable room.

I've been wanting to try those acai bowls and vacation is perfect for trying those new-to-me foods. First, how to pronounce acai? Ah-sah-EE  (accent on the EE)--there, now you know.  Backyard Bowls
in Santa Barbara is delish.  The blue bowl above is a SMALL Island Bowl--yes, small.  The smaller bowl is a KIDS size acai oatmeal bowl. If you go, call in your order and pick it up.  It is crazy busy and although we ordered quickly and found a table (lucky!) it took quite a while to receive our bowls of goodness.  Those in the know called in and picked up their orders to either eat there or take away.

This gorgeous building is the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.  It ranks #2 on Trip Advisor for things to do in Santa Barbara. Yes, it is worth visiting.

         Here is the view from the top--no charge.  Elevator or stairs will take you to the top for this sight.

           

                                        Hall off the main entrance.  Reminded me of Istanbul.

Back in Montecito in the lower village, we stopped by Scoop for some perfect gelato.

                        Salted caramel ice cream within walking distance from our hotel.  Tragic.

                                          Butterfly Beach at sundown. Perfect stress reducer.

HOMEMADE TRUFFLE POPCORN

First--our family loves homemade popcorn.  For years I've been using the Whirley Pop by Wabash Valley Farms and love it.  Just drizzle a little oil such as olive oil or grapeseed oil.  Sometimes I use a chili or vanilla bean infused olive oil--sometimes I use both. Then I add a little kosher salt in the pan, 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels and heat it up.  Takes 3-4 minutes for a full pot of popcorn.

In order to get the yummy salt to fill the little kernels requires a little something to make the salt stick. Love this Trader Joe's Coconut Oil Spray--zero calories!  I spray the freshly popped popcorn with the spray and toss on the salt.

Now, on to the truffle salt.  World Market (aka Cost Plus) carries a reasonably priced truffle salt -- about $12.99 instead of $30. The trick with truffle salt is to add a tiny pinch because the flavor and the fragrance is very strong! So, I add the kosher salt and then a pinch of the truffle salt when I want a savory, earthy flavor--love it.  Give it a try!

BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE

Another great treat from my friend, Ashley.  How she ever came to think of peanut butter mixed in with all this is beyond me, but it is delicious.

Serves 2

1 cup Greek yogurt
1 1/2 cups frozen berries
2 tablespoons of peanut butter or almond butter
2 tablespoons of flaxseed
1 cup of water

Mix in blender - drink up!

ARABESK - Barbara Nadel

Arabesk by Barbara Nadel

When you travel do you try to read books that relate to your destination?  I've done it a few times but it always had to do with Great Britain (surprise).   My friend, Liz, directed me to Barbara Nadel who writes murder mysteries that take place in Istanbul. I downloaded her book, Arabesk, to my Kindle and read it during my visit there last summer.

Lots of fun to read about real neighborhoods and sites in a fictional book as I roamed around Istanbul. The star of the series is Inspector Cetin Ikmen, who is home on medical leave and getting pretty antsy.  So his, protege, Mehmet Suleyman, is in charge of the newest murder investigation.  Normally, these exotic names would be hard to keep track of but they became the norm during my travels.

The story is about the murder of a young mom with connections to a famous music star and an aging actress.  Lots of interesting characters who I think are part of the series with a few side stories that also kept my attention. I'm needing an Istanbul fix so I will add another of Nadel's to my reading list.

PETER PAN AND A LONDON MEWS

How about a roam through a park and a classic London mews? The blue skies, no clouds, no rain in sight here in Arizona is getting to me....

All photos taken by Kimberly Wold

                            We will start by entering through Lancaster Gate entrance at Hyde Park.

              Rain has stopped so fingers crossed we can make it through the park and stay dry.

             We'll make a quick detour over to Kensington Gardens to say hello to Peter Pan and pals.

                           This statue is a favorite of mine.  Sir George Frampton is the sculptor.

                                        Just look at that detail.  Thank you, Mr. Frampton.    

                                    Still no rain, so let's slip down this street and walk about.

           A mews is a little back street of houses that were former stables or carriage houses.  Very little traffic so roaming around is even more of a treat.

Yes, this door is as narrow as it appears.  But the high gloss black paint, silver hardware, thick white trim, not to mention the lead planters filled with greenery all make that little door inviting, don't you think?

The sea glass green paint caught my eye along with the pretty wrought iron balcony.  Such a delicate and feminine house front.

                                    A little left over Queen's Jubilee exhuberence at this flat.

           A nice breeze in the air, scarf around the neck, still no rain, so we will keep walking.

                           The black striped garbage can adds an unexpected detail.

                   That's it for our walking tour of the mews.  Now we need a little break.

                    Despite the 108 temps outside, I now have a little spring in my step.

                                            (All photos taken by Kimberly Wold)