Staycation Part 3 - Winchester Mystery House

 When we first moved to California, my mom started talking about taking a trip to go see the Winchester Mystery House. We never made it and then when she moved here, she wasn't in any space for long drives or walking any distance at all. It's far enough away to not be convenient, but not far enough to warrant a "vacation." BUT, it's the perfect daytrip to cap off a staycation! 

All five of us went and it was SUCH a fun day. So fun, in fact, that no one complained about the nearly six hours we ended up spending in the car. The house was super interesting and not cheesy at all, we had a really good lunch there, and there was something for everyone to really enjoy. I'm so fascinated by Sarah Winchester and we all have our theories on what actually drove her to build the bizarre house. I'm sure she was maybe "eccentric" but I also wonder if part of it was because she was making sure that she could keep her staff employed without appearing to be giving them charity. She treated them all so well it would be weird if that didn't motivate her, at least in part. 

Spooky basement where apparently a ghost with a wheelbarrow is regularly seen

Stained glass windows that survived the Great San Francisco Earthquake

Door to nowhere (one of many)

The most gorgeous indoor garden room 

Sarah Winchester's bed. She was 4'10" and everything in the house was built to those dimensions. It made a huge difference in things like doorways and handrails! She also had custom "easy riser" stairs in all of her areas of the house, which were nearly, but not quite, ramps. It was kind of a mind fuck to use them if you weren't careful. 

Staycation Part 2 - Go Touch Some Grass

While it wasn't a full blown camping trip, it was a day spent in the dirt next to water and that's about as close to heaven as I get. I packed poorly in the interest of "just get out the door" so I didn't have a book or my knives or anything, but I had my goofy sidekick and my favorite ride or die and it was as delightful as I hoped. 

This one is a little mountain goat with absolutely zero fear of slipping and falling into cold running water

And also a butterfly whisperer

 

Staycation Part 1 - Broadway!

Part of Averson's birthday present was tickets to go see The Six on it's tour in San Francisco. We got a great deal on a nice hotel literally across the street and got all decked out for a mid-week show. They've been listening to all the songs, but hadn't seen any of the choreography. I decided not to do any prep, so all I knew was that it was about Henry the 8th's wives. I was blown away. It was SUCH a good show and we had a great time just the two of us. Averson did my hair, helped me pick a tiara, and we ate a fancy dinner complete with a giant gourmet milkshake (not pictured but still appreciated) Afterwards we were the first to the stage door and Averson managed to get autographs from five of the six queens (including her favorite, Alize Cruz/Katherine Howard. 

Could they be any cooler?

The next day we got breakfast at a diner that I realized was the same one my dad took us to on our last trip together. Averson said the breakfast changed their life it was so good. Then we wanted to go thrifting so we hiked too far in a neighborhood that was...not family friendly. But Averson was a trooper and didn't even bat an eye after the third "don't step in that!" and was rewarded with some very cool new vintage t-shirts. 

 It was such a great trip and I'm so grateful that I got to have a solo adventure with this one. As it worked out, we're taking each kid to a show/concert solo this year and I'm pretty sure it's going to have to be a new tradition. 

Strongman Saturday

 At the end of last year, my gym had all of us right our goals on a board and they took our picture. My goal for the gym was to get a pull-up (still working on it) but I also had a goal that I didn't necessarily want to put up on the wall

And look what I fucking did this weekend!!!!! 

I promise it was harder than it looks. But also, when I got to the end the lady next to me said very decisively "You need to do two trucks next time." So I'm v strong, obviously

I was going to bail because I woke up Friday with a weird shoulder thing, but then I asked Averson on a scale of 1-10 how much they wanted to go and they said "7.5" So I pulled the truck and then played paparazzi while they did the rest of the fun stuff. (Averson pulled a truck too, and we did one together. It was pretty amazing and my mother would have been so proud) I don't know that I've ever loved a picture more than I do this one of Averson with the Axle over their head and the look of sheer joy on their face. Who knew that they'd love Strongman stuff? I'm obsessed and I can't wait to go back