Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter in Cool

Steve and I took a road trip for the Easter holiday to visit Steve's brother and his wife who moved to Cool, California last fall.


We also got to see both of Steve's sisters and their families along with our nephew, his wife and darling little boy.


After a drive along a narrow winding road we arrived to this view of the back yard.


Next time I will be prepared to take a dip in the pool or be loaded with Skin So Soft so I can sit and read on the bench without being eaten alive by the No See Ums.


The incessant buzzing of the bees in this patch of purple could be heard from the deck.


Oddly enough, in this small town, we actually have friends who live in the same gated community so we walked over for a visit.


I love the variety of trees dotting the landscape


and of course there must be a few palm trees.


We passed gardens carefully planted by the homeowners


and fields of poppies planted by the wind.


Homes are distributed sparsely across the land


and many have stables for horses.


Our friends Joel and Suzette have created a beautiful garden surrounding their house.


But, Steve's brother has planted nothing in the time they have lived in Cool.


Geoff and Joanne have counted on Mother Nature to create a welcoming spot for viewing or relaxing.


We are back at home, behind in gardening, cleaning and blogging, but the short weekend escape to the country was wonderful.

55 comments:

  1. What beautiful ambiance for your Easter weekend. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous images of your visit, Carol. Cool is a cool place to live!

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  2. Cool looks like a beautiful place to live and visit.
    The purple flowers are so pretty!

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  3. I love the pictures from Cool. Love that name. It must be a nice place if your relatives and a friend have settled there. They houses are bg and beautiful. Glad it was a nice trip for you. Back home to your lovely cottage by the water.

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  4. Oh my goodness, how COOL!! The gardens are just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing the eye candy.

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  5. I enjoyed sharing your trip to visit family & friends. Such a difference to where you live. I too love the coast & the country, seeing those yellow & golden poppies growing wildly scattered by the wind is nature at its best. Sometimes we cultivate and if we only left it to grow naturally we could be pleasantly surprise of the beauty it gives us for free. Some of my garden will have to look after its self this summer due to back problems, I'll still be able to plant up my baskets & pots so that will give me pleasure and the rest will be scattered with seeds hoping they like where I scatter them.

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  6. Thanks for sharing all these photos, what a beautiful place. I bet they love Cool.. but what about the dive bar? did you ever make it there? :)

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  7. What a wonderful trip to Cool. The lavender plants and California poppies are among my favorite plants. I had poppies at my previous house that reseeded themselves each year in a raised flower bed.

    Judith

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  8. Some really lovely views here! :) Love that garden of your friends!

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  9. Now that is COOL, indeed. What a perfect name for a haven that has EVERYTHING! Horses, meadows, gardens, beautiful flowers and a ranch with a pool? How much better could that be, Carol?

    HAPPY TUESDAY! Anita

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  10. Oh how fun to be able to say, I'm from Cool California! :) Looks just beautiful! ♥

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  11. I love seeing the variety of trees and flowers and gardens!
    Not sure I'm familiar with the term "no see Ums"...though that is funny! I forget about SkinSoSoft ... I haven't had any of that stuff in years! I like vanilla dabbed here and there
    Looks like you had a great time on your visit with family mily and friends in COOL!

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  12. Inspirational and idyllic! I can't take my eyes off the beautiful landscape, filled with little bouquets of beauty, everywhere!! Thanks for sharing, Carol!

    Poppy

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  13. How lovely...never even heard of Cool..such a funny name. Sure is a pretty place, with a slow pace I bet.

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  14. Carol,
    I too can't help myself Cool looks cool. Spending your Easter with family is always a delightful time I think.
    The scenery of open pastures, horses, wildflowers and beautifully kept properties makes Cool a picturesque vision and worthy of one of Steve's painting.
    Happy Day my charming friend,
    XO,
    Vera

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  15. I'm a native Californian and I've never heard of Cool! Looks beautiful, but I doubt it's very 'cool' in the summer time. I prefer the coast myself for the weather. Thanks for sharing your adventures, photo collages and warm words.

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  16. Beautiful! I love fields of wildflowers! What a fun name for a town! Cool!!

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  17. Wow! What a beautiful place! Thanks for the tour! :-D

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  18. Oh what a lovely weekend. I have never heard of Cool, CA., where is it located at?
    Beautiful homes with lots of land and flowers. I know that you had a great time and your pictures are stunning. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
    Have a great week back home.
    Mary

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  19. I love the wildflower gardens ~ very serene...
    I'm glad you had a good time!

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  20. looks like a fun Easter. gorgeous blooms. one reason why i just love spring oh so much. ( :

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  21. I have never heard of Cool. How very beautiful! "No see ums." So funny! xo Jen

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  22. Carol, those views are just stunning! Sounds like you had a wonderful Easter visiting family and friends :)
    Susan

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  23. What a beautiful place to visit!!

    Judy

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  24. What a very place to visit, so many lovely things to see.

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  25. I love that area! Sounds like you had a great time visiting even though it was a short trip. Gorgeous pictures.

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  26. IT looks like a delightful place and a wonderful get away for you.

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  27. Oh my...what a beautiful place Steve's brother lives. I have never heard of Cool! What a cool name for a town...lol! Looks like you had a lovely visit. Thanks for sharing the photos...so pretty! Have a wonderful Wednesday...Vicky

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  28. What an amazingly beautiful landscape! Glad you had a good trip and thanks for taking us along.

    Jeanette

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  29. What a pretty place Cool, California is!! Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
    hugs,
    Cindy

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  30. I live in the suburbs of a major city. I forget that places like this still exist. Thanks for sharing and giving me something pretty to dream about before bed!

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  31. Oh My, the very first time I encountered no see ums was when our family moved to Bridgeport, CA and I tell you I thought I was going crazy. It's really bad when they are true to their name, you can't see them but your head is itching and making you nuts :) Cool is a beautiful area! Hope you enjoyed!! Blessings, Cindy

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  32. What a place! First off I am glad you had a lovely Easter! And how cool is Cool!!! HA! I just love the name and the feeling of this town! It is so magical with those sprawling gardens...your friends have done a fantastic job echoing the surrounding landscape into their garden...It reminds me of the beginning of Little House on the Prairie when they are running through that beautiful field! Just amazing! You have a good week friend! Nicole xoxo

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  33. pretty nice blog, following :)

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  34. What a "cool" place to live! It is gorgeous. Perfectly extravagant!

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  35. What a beautiful place to live. Thanks so much for sharing your photos of your wonderful Easter trip.
    Looks like you had a good time!
    Hugs,
    Jody

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  36. Such gorgeous pictures of a beautiful place! I was fascinated to see these amazing views and so many colourful flowers. And what a great name for a place to live....Cool!
    Helen xox

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  37. What a beautiful place to live - it took my breath away! Of course, most of California is gorgeous. How lucky you are that you can live at the beach and visit "Cool"!!

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  38. It's lovely to see a different part of California with you. It is such a contrast to the area where you live.
    Sarah x

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  39. How fun to live in a town named Cool! Boy, no-see-ums are the worst.

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  40. Dearest Carol, how WOnderful to see your comment today on my special day. Have a cozy evening in your cottage; it is raining here so gently. Anita

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  41. So much beauty!!! And what an interesting name for a town. Love it!
    Mary Alice

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  42. Beautiful place to go for Easter. So pretty.
    Kris

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  43. Wow, what a beautiful place to visit! I even love the name of the town. I wasn't familiar with it, so Brian and I were just doing some Google searching. Hadn't heard of the bug, No See Ums either, so had to look that up, too. We have a ton of mosquitoes here.

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  44. Thanks for these
    cheery colors ~ even
    the beautiful greens
    are a balm for the spirit
    of this winter-weary
    Minnesotan : ) Looks
    like a trip packed with
    wonderful and relaxing
    moments!

    xo Suzanne

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  45. Cool is very cool!! What a beautiful place to visit!

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  46. Hi Carol, I'm catching up with you. Your photos are breathtaking. What a lovely trip. I've never heard of No See Ums...

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  47. Wow! What a beautiful community. Who wouldn't want to live there?! I love all the land that comes with each house. That backyard pool was my favorite! I'm sure you really enjoyed that trip.

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  48. How is it to live in a town called Cool. First time I heard a town called that. Not only is it a cool name but looks like a really cool place to live! Lovely gardens and homes. Thanks for the tour. Hope you and you family had a very nice Easter.

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  49. Beautiful place. Beautiful scenery at both homes.

    Sounds like a nice time for you.

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  50. Beautiful pictures and a beautiful place! We loved driving hwy 49 whenever we could. Mimi

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  51. What a gorgeous place to live! Very cool~

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  52. What a beautiful, tranquil place. Thanks for sharing your visit.

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  53. Such a quaint name for a great place. I enjoyed all the scenery and the flowers especially. Hope all the family was well.

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  54. Carol,
    Living in California, I know exactly where Cool is. It's a nice place to visit. What lovely pictures these are. Nature always brings me peace.

    ~Sheri

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