Visible Monday: Anniversary, Gifts and a Big Announcement!

My husband and I celebrated twelve years of marriage on Saturday.

October 13th, 2000.
It was a Friday the 13th AND it was a full-moon.
Can't call us superstitious!  

Bill and I didn't make any special plans. We left our options open; going with the flow.

The day began in our usual way with coffee in bed. We exchanged anniversary cards over mugs of java. Earlier in the month we agreed not to do gifts this year.

Someone, who is not me, did not keep his promise of no gifts and bought me (us) a new camera!

On the left, the new camera. Our four or five-year-old Rebel xsi on the right. 

It's a Canon 7D with two lenses, one he bought used from a co-worker for a great price. I was so excited about receiving this camera, I teared up. It's something we've both dreamt of owning for well over a year, once we started outgrowing our Rebel.

I plugged in the camera battery as quickly as I could because I wanted to see what this new toy could do as soon as possible.

While the battery was charging, we got dressed for the day. I received a lovely and unexpected surprise in the mail on Friday. Barbara, dear friend and reader who was featured in this "How I Wear My" post, sent me a winter white Max Mara skirt all the way from Italy, where she lives! I was thrilled and wanted to wear it right away.

It fits me perfectly and is ideal for fall as the material is a thick gauge cotton, like denim.

I wore it with an olive green safari shirt (thrifted $5.00), a favorite top of mine,

and my oxfords.

We didn't go far. Landmark Vineyards is just a stone's throw from our house and it's an ideal setting for a picnic. Dogs are allowed so we brought the girls along.

In the tasting room, I purchased a bottle of Lorenzo Chardonnay for our picnic....

while Bill grabbed our favorite table next to the bocce court.

We stayed a couple of hours, people watching, taking loads of photos, eating....

letting the dogs run through the grass...

making friends with bocce players

and just enjoying our surroundings, each other and our dogs.

You can take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage around the vineyards. 

We returned home, did a few chores then changed for dinner in Sonoma. We walked around the square, stopping off at my favorite leather accessory shop, Large Leather. I ordered a small crossbody bag in a cognac shade that Jessica, one of the owners, is going to make for me.

For dinner, we tried Harvest Moon Cafe on the plaza for the first time. It's just a few storefronts down from Large Leather. It was fantastic! The food was outstanding, the service impeccable and it has a lively, fun yet relaxing atmosphere.

We rarely eat desserts anymore. Sugar is a 'special occasions only' treat for us. Since a wedding anniversary falls into that 'special' category, we decided to go for it. We had not one, not two, but three desserts!

L to R: Layered homemade sorbets and homemade vanilla ice cream,
S'mores with a layer of peanut butter mousse inside, topped with marshmallow cream,
then toasted with a torch.
Pots de creme....all were delectable but this was my favorite.  

It was an ideal way to welcome in our 13th year of marriage.

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I have a BIG announcement!

Something I have been waiting for weeks to tell you all about.

I'm writing a regular feature for the online magazine, Skimbaco.

'Luxury living on a budget' will be my focus,
including topics such as wine country lifestyle, fashion and travel.

Please stop by Skimbaco and check out my very first article.

I'd love to hear what you think!


And, I am linking up with Visible Monday.

Be sure to stop by Patti's blog and see what everyone is wearing today!

Happy Monday!

XO, 

Adrienne