Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Sonoma Spa

This weekend was as close as I come to a spa. I just can't bring myself to pay for steamy stuff, bloopy facials and things with stones. The only times I've had massages, I spent most of the time trying to calculate the tip. Or wondering how long my face can hang through this hole before my eyeballs pop out.


But the last three days in Sonoma was better than a spa... with sweet reverie and relaxation by the pool at a small vineyard in Healdsburg. Fancy clothes were out: the kids had insisted on packing for me and I arrived with little more than a pair of Spanx, UGG boots and ski vest...so spent a lot of time with swimsuit and towel.

Jackson doing air guitar
We had "won" this weekend in the school fundraising auction: three nights in a old family home in wine country. The property was a paradise whatever your age, complete with a pool, a large pond squirming with fish and every kid toy you could think of including an electric buggy that Cy rode frontways sideways and backways around the pond for hours.

Cy rides the buggy
Friday night, Jesse, master pizza maker from Diavola fired up six pizzas for us while we ate roasted cauliflower and marinated eggplant by the pool. His triumph; the Rustica with house-smoked calabrese sausage, garlic, anchovies, ricotta and rapine. Not a first-date pizza for sure.

Even the coffee place at the corner, JimTown Store, was perfectly vintagely cream and Waltons green... without John-Boy's whiny voice.


In fact there was no whining all weekend. Okay, bit of an exaggeration but dang close - see you even start talking like John-Boy when you eat watermelon candy and play jumping beans near a hot tin roof.


I had another "spa" experience a couple of weekends ago when our bookclub met at Jean's house in Sonoma.  Her new home amongst the olive groves was a mix of soothing and stimulating with concrete floors and counter-tops, handmade wooden tables and bold oil paintings.


And it turns out that, yes, literary critical skills are absolutely sharpened with your toes in the pool and a chilled one in your hand.



What was your spa moment this weekend?


25 comments:

  1. Ah Jimtown! It's so cute and their sandwiches are amazing! I lived up in Healdsburg right after grad school, it's just beautiful and better than a spa, although even better when you're at a spa in healdsburg--but drink in hand and the pool is pretty great too. I'm still waiting for my spa moment--maybe next weekend!

    xo Mary Jo

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  2. Would love a spa moment(make that a full week)Maybe when the gang gone back to school!!
    ~Anne

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  3. I dreaming of my spa moment, but it will have to wait until November. We are heading to Napa / Sonoma / San Fran for a delayed anniversary trip. Ahhh, I cannot wait.

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  4. Oh I want to be there right this instant! Sounds fabulous. I love wine country :)

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  5. I have always wanted to visit the Sonoma area, but these photos and the description of your fabulous vacation, have made me realize I need to seriously do it!! How gorgeous and fun it looks! Okay, now I just need money to go! Haha! ;)

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  6. Oh what a perfect getaway--- my husband and I keep planning trips to Sonoma, but never get to it! This is another push for me to make it happen. (After all--- this was definitely not a spa weekend!)

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  7. My spa moment was watching Mike O'Brien float like butterfly off the diving board. I wonder why you didn't use that photo

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  8. Your spa weekend looks sooo relaxing. I've never actually had a professional massage which is crazy because I slump over and start purring any time someone accidentally brushes against my back. Something about making an appointment to have someone touch me. . .

    I think I'm going to have to figure out roasted cauliflower and marinated eggplant this weekend. It sounds so good!

    Jenn

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  9. My spa moment was a trip to Target by myself on Saturday morning, and a Latte to go with my shopping cart.

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  10. I would love a spa moment right now...but to be honest I don't think I'll have it soon..But we never know...

    Great pictures!You had so much fun! I love Jackson's air guitar!!!

    Hugs and kisses

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  11. Ohmigosh this truly looks like the most charming way to spend the weekend. I so want to pay a visit to JimTown store - it sounds adorable! :)

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  12. the closest i came to a spa treatment this weekend was tubing in a freezing cold river in montana. crossing my fingers for 5 minutes laying on the beach at home with no kids screaming...just 5 minutes is all i ask. ;)

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  13. Spa? Isn't that that hot pool of sulphur-water where the tourists go to clean off their outer layer of skin?
    Not for Bears, thanks.
    But glad you enjoyed your weekend. Sounds like it was a grand time.

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  14. What an amazing weekend! I got married in Calistoga near Healdsburg...Healdsburg is one of my favorite little towns. We went back last year for our 1 year anniversary. This makes me want to go back sooner than later!

    I love facials but am not a massage person...I too try and calculate the tip throughout ;) xx

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  15. wow, that looks and sounds absolutely heavenly! i think my only spa moment this weekend was a mani and pedi... that i did myself. ;)

    <3, Mimi
    http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

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  16. Wow - looks like it was a relaxing vacay! Can't believe you won that through a school fundraiser!

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  17. Spa moment? spa moment? what is this strange thing of which you speak? I live in the uk and at the moment it is cold grey and windy....I am DESPERATE for some sun/sea/sand and 'winding down'!!

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  18. Oh a spa! A spa! *weeps bitter, envious tears*

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  19. wow love spas! fabulous post as usual, I really enjoy reading all of your posts!

    xx

    www.sickbytrend.com

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  20. ahhh i miss sonoma! that's where we got engaged :) gorgeous photos. and so cute you let the kids pack for you. what a brave mum you are!!

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  21. ahhhhhhhhh. My very favorite parts of California. I am greatly in need of a spa moment (in the midst of back-to-school chaos). I'm having a margarita with my mom tonight before our "bookclub" meeting (seeing The Help at the theater!) tonight. Does that count?? :)

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  22. That looks like an amazing place. Im glad it was a nice relaxing place that the kids could enjoy as well. This passed weekend we went camping! It was fun! We also went to a nearby Amusement park!

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  23. THIS was my spa moment of the weekend.

    pfft!

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  24. How good to find someone else who doesn't really enjoy the proper spa experience; I just feel uncomfortable with all that touching from a complete stranger. I thought I was just a bit odd.
    This place you won for the weekend looks perfect. Good food and happy kids makes for a relaxing time.

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