an artistic weekend
Oct. 13th, 2005 11:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deborahjrossThis last weekend, Rose and I went up to Mendocino for the opening reception of my sister's latest art show. Sister is Elizabeth D. Ross, who has been well known as a printmaker in Northern California for some decades now. This show was new work in oil, mostly on board rather than canvas. more on the art later.
After some fuss, because just about every place in Mendocino itself was either sold out or required a 2 day minimum stay, I found a B & B in Ft. Bragg, just 10 miles up the coast. We had a lovely drive up, taking the back road along Skyline until just south of San Francisco, then up 101 and cutting across to the coast at 128. Golden hills, the sort of countryside I grew up in, with stands of oak. Quite different from redwood forest. Stopped in Healdsburg for lunch -- nice little town with a lovely park in the center, surrounded by touristy shops and cafes. Alas, the brewpub that looked like it would have fast service didn't, and it took us 1 1/2 hours to get out of there, not counting time for Deborah getting lost. Out in the country, heading for Boonville, we saw a flock of wild turkeys by the roadside - I kept pointing and Rose kept saying, "Where?" so I stopped the car and backed up until we were almost on top of them. Fortunately, turkeys don't take things like cars seriously, so they were leisurely in going on their way.
B & B was a place called The Atrium, http://www.atriumbnb.com/ a remodeled Victorian drenched in atmosphere -- I felt I should be wearing a long dress with a high lace collar -- but light and air and clean and comfortable. Our room, "the Oasis room," came with an enormous claw-foot tub. Nice touches you don't get in hotels, like an extra-plushy (but not saggy) mattress and FITTED SHEETS that don't come undone when you pull back the covers, lovely detailing, not to mention a sumptuous breakfast "How would you like your eggs?" as they're whipping them up in the kitchen and the sense of community, other guests smiling good morning and exchanging pleasant conversation. So unlike hotels.
The reception was gorgeous. In the past, Elizabeth's work has been much darker, sometimes distraught, full of pain. These pieces were vibrant with color and movement, often joyous. Anyone in the area, go see it at Glendeven in Little River. Afterwards, we hung out and talked until almost midnight. Alas, Elizabeth had a commitment for the next morning, so Rose and I, after the abovementioned sumptuous breakfast (eggs, turkey sausage, skillet potatoes, homemade banana nut bread, fresh squeezed OJ, etc., etc.), toddled down the coast. Aside from the amount of driving, it was a lovely weekend, and now I know a getaway place for me and Dave, maybe some rainy weekend when there's nothing to be done in the garden?
After some fuss, because just about every place in Mendocino itself was either sold out or required a 2 day minimum stay, I found a B & B in Ft. Bragg, just 10 miles up the coast. We had a lovely drive up, taking the back road along Skyline until just south of San Francisco, then up 101 and cutting across to the coast at 128. Golden hills, the sort of countryside I grew up in, with stands of oak. Quite different from redwood forest. Stopped in Healdsburg for lunch -- nice little town with a lovely park in the center, surrounded by touristy shops and cafes. Alas, the brewpub that looked like it would have fast service didn't, and it took us 1 1/2 hours to get out of there, not counting time for Deborah getting lost. Out in the country, heading for Boonville, we saw a flock of wild turkeys by the roadside - I kept pointing and Rose kept saying, "Where?" so I stopped the car and backed up until we were almost on top of them. Fortunately, turkeys don't take things like cars seriously, so they were leisurely in going on their way.
B & B was a place called The Atrium, http://www.atriumbnb.com/ a remodeled Victorian drenched in atmosphere -- I felt I should be wearing a long dress with a high lace collar -- but light and air and clean and comfortable. Our room, "the Oasis room," came with an enormous claw-foot tub. Nice touches you don't get in hotels, like an extra-plushy (but not saggy) mattress and FITTED SHEETS that don't come undone when you pull back the covers, lovely detailing, not to mention a sumptuous breakfast "How would you like your eggs?" as they're whipping them up in the kitchen and the sense of community, other guests smiling good morning and exchanging pleasant conversation. So unlike hotels.
The reception was gorgeous. In the past, Elizabeth's work has been much darker, sometimes distraught, full of pain. These pieces were vibrant with color and movement, often joyous. Anyone in the area, go see it at Glendeven in Little River. Afterwards, we hung out and talked until almost midnight. Alas, Elizabeth had a commitment for the next morning, so Rose and I, after the abovementioned sumptuous breakfast (eggs, turkey sausage, skillet potatoes, homemade banana nut bread, fresh squeezed OJ, etc., etc.), toddled down the coast. Aside from the amount of driving, it was a lovely weekend, and now I know a getaway place for me and Dave, maybe some rainy weekend when there's nothing to be done in the garden?
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Date: 2005-10-14 02:12 pm (UTC)