weekend getaway at Mammoth Lakes

taking horseback ride…It really reminds us of the last time we were on horse back – in Patagonia, Argentina! can’t believe it’s been over a year and half since we did that. doesn’t time just fly? 

 

Karen and Patrick’s new born

welcome to the world, Nicola Miauton! 

okonomiyaki party at the Liu’s

Nell & Larry came back from their extensive vacation in Taiwan and brought back lots of goodies. Among them is the ingredients for japanese dish Okonomiyaki. They had us other on Sunday to have okonomiyaki party. it was absolutely tasty! :)

Val’s bday

some yummy pictures from Valerie’s bday dinner at Left Bank in Santana Row. :)

from left: Kathy, Valerie, Anauld, Pascal, Patrick and Karen. As for me, the photographer :)

Dine alfresco!

Weekend is always fleeting. Lately I’ve developed an interest of hanging out in the backyard. And everytime I lie on the grass reading or just listening to my ipod in one of those lazy Saturday afternoon, it reminds me of how much I love California (of course, there are other reasons too!). We recently got a patio set, so guess what? we are dining alfresco today! I made chicken parmesan and tofu tomato salad, simple but tasty. Dining in the summer breeze is so enjoyable, and it brought much memory back. Last time we dined like this was last summer, outside Simone’s lovely house in Ollon, Switzerland. It brought back the sense of leisure we were able to have most of the year last year on the road. Things are much different now, but that makes me treasure those moments even more.

An evening on the hills of Berkeley

I was invited to spend Friday evening in this awesome house up on the hill in Berkeley. The house is so cool, in a very original and artsy way. It’s situated on the hill with a great view, you can even see bay bridge afar.

Avocado ice cream..yum

I was sooo impressed by last Friday’s visit to Citizen Cafe, so when Pachi told me she made mint ice cream, i challenged her to make an avocado one! – and she did! :-) She invited us over to taste, I brought pine nuts, strawberries, and raspberries over for toppings. they are so yum!!!

snapshot from an afternoon coffee break

a happy hour gathering with some former coworkers