Less Stuff . . . More Adventures

My daughter was celebrated at a baby shower last Saturday and has another coming up in 2 weeks 

In the midst of talking about what she should give the hostesses as thank you gifts, I came across this photo on Instagram posted by a local friend about Rose Story Farm.

 After reading Lori's response back to me on IG, I checked out the website and immediately emailed KC to tell her that a tour of Rose Story Farm would be the perfect thank you for my friend Wendy who hosted the first baby shower.

Of course that meant that I would be enjoying the tour also.

Yesterday Wendy and I headed up the coast to Carpinteria with the ocean obscured by the marine layer,

but in the hills just 24 miles north, the sun was shining and the sky was blue.

The bench sat against an extensive hedge of Sally Holmes roses.

The tour group was extra large that day, but we lucked out and had the owner of the farm, Danielle Hahn, as our guide.

The farm began in 1998 yet I had no knowledge of its existence until a few weeks ago.

 The beautiful farmland was enhanced by a riot of color.

everywhere we looked.

Cute little cottages from another era

dotted the landscape.

Look at the gorgeous bouquet of roses on that table.

This little rose covered cottage is a private residence on the property 

I love the attention to detail on the farm - even the cushions on the wicker chairs are covered in a rose pattern.

We were encouraged to stop and smell the roses - Danielle snipped off flowers for us to really breathe in the scent and I was touched by how much she loves her flowers. 

I am now following Rose Story Farm on Instagram - each post shows gives you a sense of how much Danielle savors her life on the farm.

Arches and arbors can be spotted all over the grounds.

Walking beneath this arbor, the path became a soft aisle of pink petals.

This curly willow arch was created for a wedding and no one remembered to remove it - by they time they got around to taking it down, it had filled in so beautifully that they decided to keep it.

This arch is very special - it was the site of the memorial for Julia Child and that bench sat in her garden.

Julia Child was a close friend of the family and this beautiful rose bears the name "Julia Child".

A difference fragrance greeted us with each new rose we encountered.

After nearly 25 years of not having a sense of smell, it has miraculously returned and I was in heaven enjoying so many different aromas.

The bees love Rose Story Farm too.

We ended the day on the lawn, eating a tasty lunch and chatting with people from near and far.

Two ladies were from Connecticut, another was from Miami and we all shared a love of gardens.

When KC gave Wendy the card with the invitation to Rose Story Farm, I loved her response, "This is so much better than another bowl."

And I must agree with Wendy,

I need less stuff and more adventures in my life.

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I am sharing with Jann of Have a Daily Cup for SYC