Moving Day!!
I finally have taken the leap from the free http://www.smilinginsonoma.wordpress.com account to my very own self hosted version http://www.smilinginsonoma.com. Please update your reader list! I definitely want to keep in touch … Continue reading
Just Jump!
I jumped and landed on my feet! That was my first text to my son and my pops to let them know I survived my first skydive! This has been … Continue reading
Kent Lake-Marin
If you were asked which hike is your favorite right now…what would you say? Could you decide? I know I would have a very difficult time! Possibly the one where … Continue reading
Bald Mountain
360 degree views from 2,729 feet above the Sonoma Valley floor out of the fog and in the sunshine with no one around but dragonflies and soaring vultures. AMAZING day!! We … Continue reading
Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve
Can you imagine that the lovely rhododendron bush in your yard could get over 20 feet tall and survive for lifetimes? These beauties are gorgeous in spring! After checking out the … Continue reading
Bowling Ball Beach
The Mendocino coast is known for it’s gorgeous rocky beaches but bowling balls on the beach? Why yes! They are large (rare) round sandstone formations that can be seen at … Continue reading
Oat Hill Mine Trail
There’s more to do in wine country than drink fabulous wine and eat tasty food…seriously! We have nature lovers (like us) who love to explore every inch of land whether … Continue reading
Muir Woods a Tree Lover’s Monument
I love that my future grandkids will be able to see the same redwoods that we saw on our visit to Muir Woods! So grateful for our national monuments, state … Continue reading
Gerstle Cove State Park
Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! That’s all I have to say about our northern Sonoma coast! We don’t have sandy beaches with blonde babes in bikinis laying out like our SoCal counterparts. … Continue reading
Flat Rock Park
I love that social media, in this case Instagram, can not only keep you up to date on the goings on of the world, your family, and long time friends … Continue reading
Hike, Wine, Sunsets
Go for a hike in beautiful countryside in the morning, grab a bite at a local restaurant serving local ingredients, taste wine at an organic winery in the afternoon and … Continue reading
Devils Punchbowl Waterfall
I had found a new to me Napa Hiking website last week and saw Devils Punchbowl Falls listed so of course that peaked my interest! It says it is only 1.2 miles round … Continue reading
Sonoma Coast Sunset
It’s hard to handle seeing this kind of beauty every day! It’s even harder deciding which photos capture the essence of the moment in time we are trying to keep … Continue reading
Tubbs Island Wildlife Refuge
While this is a nice flat 8.1 mile trail along the marshland to San Pablo Bay where you have uninterrupted views of the city, take a hiking partner with you that … Continue reading
Top of the World!
It was a foggy morning as we raced to get to the top of Armstrong Woods to experience being above the clouds before the fog burned off. We had heard you … Continue reading
Jenner Serenity for the Soul
Serenity, the state of being calm and peaceful. This past weekend we had some crazy waves along the northern coast of California and amazingly warm weather so of course I … Continue reading
Wineland 2015 Day 2
Day 2 started with the hubs on a wanted poster! I’ll explain in a minute 🙂 We hadn’t been to Rodney Strong Vineyards yet and were eager to check out since we … Continue reading
Wineland 2015 Day 1
Snow falling in Sonoma? Only at the wineries on the Wine Road Winter Wineland Event this past weekend! The hubs and I spent hours figuring out which of the 140+ … Continue reading
Olompali SHP
Palm trees, Grateful Dead, Chinese Cedar trees, Miwok Indians, Dentist, historic battle, giant Madrones, dairy barn, hippie commune and hiking. Did I get your attention yet? Normally we are flying through this area … Continue reading
Olive Sonoma
I love olives and I love Sonoma! Welcome to olive season here in Sonoma! I know, I know, any reason to have a celebration right? Absolutely! We attended the blessing … Continue reading
Liebster Award I love our wonderful blogosphere and how nice it is that everyone supports each other! Smiling in Sonoma has been nominated for the Liebster Award which shows some … Continue reading
Merry Snowmen
Here in Sonoma County we enjoy any reason for a celebration! This was our first year attending the Lighting of the Snowmen Festival at Cornerstone in Sonoma. We really had … Continue reading
Goodbye Grapes
This fall was full of amazing colors throughout Sonoma County. The grapevines showed bright yellows, reds, oranges and greens and now it is flowing into winter. The beauty of the … Continue reading
Riverfront Park
The great explorers were lost from time to time, right? I usually have a handy printed map with us on our hikes since we don’t always have reception where we … Continue reading
Thankful
Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a day most of us sit down with family and friends over a gigantic meal and give thanks. Here I go, sitting with a cup of coffee … Continue reading
Angles
When you look for angles you find them everywhere! I decided to interpret the weekly photo challenge ‘angular’ literally and find things to photograph that have angles but of course was also sidetracked … Continue reading
Shiloh in fall
We are finally official trail walker volunteers for Sonoma County Parks! We met with the nicest ranger on Sunday at Shiloh Regional Park in Windsor for our field orientation and … Continue reading
SOFA Parade
Your town doesn’t have a parade of couches all decorated and lit up cruising down the street? Seriously you’ve never been to a sofa parade? Clearly you need to experience the wonder of what … Continue reading
Nature Lover
Did you see me on the side of the road, top down (the car top not mine!), standing on the seat of my car poised and ready to take fall … Continue reading
Holy Fall!
When did fall sneak up on us? When oranges, reds, and yellows exploded all over the greens! The views while driving in Sonoma are hard to beat any time of year but … Continue reading
Water in my life – Bodega Bay
We have a favorite place in Bodega Bay to sit out on the deck along the water and enjoy the bay and local wildlife (people included!). If I could live right … Continue reading
Sonoma Plaza
Sonoma Plaza is always a great place to take a leisurely stroll, taste some cheese, sip some wine, immerse yourself in California history and enjoy the shops and restaurants. If … Continue reading
Home
Home is very elusive. For today’s first post to Photography 101 we were asked to post a photo of “When we think about this word home, we might picture different … Continue reading
Leaning Over
This week’s photo challenge is Descent. We have been going to Spring Lake here in Santa Rosa to capture the sunset lately with the beautiful fall colors. As we parked, … Continue reading
Paradise Ridge
Do you ever have those moments when you sit back and realize, wow I live in an amazing place? I do! Every time we get out and enjoy what the … Continue reading
Crane Creek
Crane Creek Regional Park was a perfect short hike to get our hiking legs back. We haven’t been out in a few weeks and needed a touch of nature to … Continue reading
Sunflower
Weekly photo challenge cover art post #2. “For this week’s Photo Challenge, stimulate your creative process and imagine which of your images you would like to see gracing the cover of a book, an album, … Continue reading
Cover Art
This week’s photo challenge is Cover Art. I chose the below photo for a cover to a newsletter or flyer or insert in a magazine to protect our wild horses. … Continue reading
Look Up Look Down
I have been enjoying reading a great blog Travel With Intent! She has some amazing pics and I enjoy her posts. Travel with Intent is hosting a blog challenge, Look … Continue reading
Jack London SHP
One of our favorite local hikes is at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, CA. The Valley of the Moon Natural History Association has done a wonderful job preserving … Continue reading
Smiling in Sonoma 