We return later today from a glorious long weekend, spent with Marissa and her boyfriend, Jeff, in San Francisco and Napa.

Marissa had a very busy and stressful work week, so I made dinner on Friday night in her very small kitchen. When I say small, I mean really small!

In May, Marissa moved from the Outer Sunset neighborhood to Pacific Heights. Part of the tradeoff to living closer to the center of the city was less space.

The closet-sized kitchen is only 7 feet wide by 10 feet long, with less than 25 square feet of walkable floor space and only 3 linear feet of counter space. No dishwasher, no garbage disposal, and a smaller than an average-sized refrigerator.

Speaking of the refrigerator… remember this Friday Funny I posted last week?

It is Marissa’s reality! Here is her refrigerator…

… and here is how mine typically looks. Just a bit of a contrast!

So, what did I make for dinner in the tiny kitchen, you ask?

After a quick trip to Trader Joe’s, I unpacked it all, which took up every inch of counter space, then I proceeded to make a one-pot (no drain) pasta dinner, rounded out with a salad and garlic bread. The salad recipe will be posted tomorrow.

The one-pot Marissa owned, that was big enough, had a lid with holes, for draining pasta. I needed a solid lid so I covered the pot with foil, then added the lid, for a tight seal.

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Each of today’s funnies have a little something to do with what’s going on with me this weekend.

We are in San Francisco not only to visit Marissa but to celebrate Dave’s birthday as well. On Sunday, he’ll turn 56, so vodka really only did come in one flavor when he became of legal drinking age.

This really is always my dream, but when in San Francisco, even more so!

No comment is needed for this one!

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Two years and one day ago, I posted THIS. It’s the easy instructions for making homemade vanilla extract. In it, I tell you to run out to Cost Plus Market and buy vanilla beans. That was good advice back then.

Today, I would like to revise that advice and tell you to run as fast as you possibly can (or drive the speed limit) to Costco and buy as many packages of their fantastic vanilla beans as you can afford, or as you can use, or as you might like to give as gifts. Personally, I bought 5 packages.

It has been about three years since I last found these vanilla beans at Costco, so I know they are only there for a limited time. They are amazing, they are super cheap … a steal really! Ten long fresh, soft and supple, superbly lovely vanilla beans for only $11.19 each. Trust me, you won’t find them cheaper anywhere!

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Happy October! 

I am so happy that it is finally October!

I love October!!!

Now that I got that off my chest, allow me to invite you to the …

2013 Fall Craft Party

I can not begin to tell you how difficult I find it is to even think about decorating this house for fall. It is still in the high 90’s during the day. Even attempting to place a real pumpkin outside would be asking for disaster.

At least the mornings and late evenings are finally cooling off to the low 70’s. That helps a little.

Plus, one of my favorite areas to decorate for the season is the front entry.

Last year it looked like this…

Today, it looks like this.

Hmm, at least the “caution” cones are a bright pumpkin orange. That might be all the entry decorating we get this year.

No matter ~ I vow to dig out the fall and Halloween decorations today and then do something with them.

The morning and evening cooler temps did instill in me the urge to make a double batch of yummy fresh corn chowder. A double batch because I wanted to share with my very generous neighbor, Cheryl.

You see…..

A few days ago, Cheryl anonymously dropped off culinary treasures at my front door (yes, she tromped through the dirt to get there). I don’t know for sure if she meant for the gift to be anonymous, but I wasn’t home and she left it with Connor.

Not surprisingly, Connor had no idea who Cheryl was, all he said when I ask who dropped it off was, “I don’t know, she was thin and pretty.”

Oh, thanks to Connor, that describes all my neighbors!

After a little detective work on my part, Cheryl fessed up.

This is Cheryl at the Christmas Crafts Class back in December 2012. On that note – watch for info tomorrow about my upcoming Fall Crafts & Decor Class …

So what was the culinary treasure that Cheryl gifted me with?

Homemade Croissants!

There were three of them!
Connor was home … so coincidentally there were three of us.
I ate one, and immediately hid the other two – eventually eating all three.
Connor did not know what was wrapped in the towel he had accepted.
Dave never knew they even existed.
They were mine. All mine. And they were delicious!
Thank you, Cheryl!

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Seriously! This is not a want, this is a need.

Construction, permits, late sub-contractors, inspections, failed inspections, rescheduling, early morning noise, dirt constantly at the front door, men, some men who act like little boys, “the city” and re-inspections.

I’ve been up since 5:45 AM, it is now 7:00 … and I need a cocktail! I did not have any alcohol (meaning a glass of wine with dinner) last night or the night before or the night before that. I am overdue and entitled!

I am going to throw caution and good sense to the wind and imbibe in a morning drink – I deserve it and I believe it will make construction more bearable.

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I can now share with you some exciting news about another big party scheduled for my new back patio.

In January, I’ll be throwing a baby shower for my dear friend, Tram Mai. She and her husband, Stephen, are expecting twins in March!

Photo credit

Yep, petite Tram is carrying twins! Crazy Wonderful! She and Stephen shared the glorious news with Dave and me over the weekend. Then Tram announced it on her show, EVB Live, yesterday. You can watch her sweet surprise live-on-air announcement HERE. I could not be happier for her!

Since it is now quite obvious that I’m not posting a recipe today, how about I also share with you my fun finds from last week’s Sweet Salvage sale?

This is the porcelain enamel scale that I so badly wanted to get.

Maybe I can incorporate it into the baby shower decor.

Until then, it has found a new home in our breakfast room.

I promise you that I will not be incorporating these creepy freaky doll parts in the baby shower decorations…

They, along with the skull and flashcard, are for my Halloween mantel.

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Aside from the abundance of new shade, one of my favorite features of the new patio is the light fixtures. They are reminiscent of wine barrel staves and I found them HERE.

Along with their rustic looks, I love the overlapping spoke-like shadows they cast on the ceiling at night!

Here are some of the closeup details…

I bought the two Hampton Bay Walnut Creek loveseats and small matching ottomans online from Home Depot.

I found the outdoor rug at Costco.

The large wicker basket with the cool hardware, that I’m using as a coffee table, was picked at last week’s Sweet Salvage sale.

The industrial side table came from Overstock.com.

The super fabulous vintage crate, on casters, with a grain-sack cushion top, was a real find! It came from Rust and Roses, which is just down the street from Sweet Salvage.

Oh, the two European olive baskets, on either side of the fireplace, are from Rust and Roses, as well.

Speaking of the fireplace, some lovely detail of the Cantera stone – from Stone Source.

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At the end of July we began the final stage of our backyard remodel. It is a project that we initiated back in 2008. At that time, our plans included a large covered patio area that was to extend off the covered patio attached to the house.

It would extend off of those two farthest right columns you see in the far right center of the photo above. We deemed it too expensive at that time and put it on the back burner.

Recently, Dave began talking about remodeling the front yard. A project that is long overdue, considering that we’ve been in the house for 14 years and never liked our front yard. That is all well and good, but I stood my ground and said that I wasn’t willing to begin the front until we finished that back. A girl needs what a girl needs, and this girl needs more shade for entertaining! I so desperately wanted an outdoor structure so that we could have some shaded areas in the garden and also have a place to dine outside.

Here is the progression of the back patio over these last 2 1/2 months:

June 29, 2013 – Footings for columns are poured.

July 1, 2013 – Columns and fireplace base are done.

July 9, 2013 – Beams are set.

July 15, 2013 – Trusses are attached as the mason works on the fireplace.

July 18, 2013 – Fireplace.

July 20, 2013 – Roof is being placed.

July 23, 2013 – The roof is on.

July 26, 2013 – Roof is foamed.

August 8, 2013 – Electrical is installed.

August 9, 2013 – Drywall is installed.

August 10, 2013 – Drywall tape and mud.

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