going to california

Tomorrow we leave for eight days in California! Our excuse for going is a wedding in Sonoma, so we're flying into San Francisco and renting a car. After the wedding — and exploring wine country — we'll drive down the coast highway to Los Angeles, where we'll leave to fly home on Mother's Day. We're planning to see a few friends and relatives along the way, though there won't be time to meet up with everyone we know in the Bay Area. We aren't even planning to go into San Francisco itself.

All week I've been humming that Grateful Dead song (Estimated Prophet — I had to Google it for the title) that goes:

California, preaching on the burning shore
California, I'll be knocking on the golden door
Like an angel, standing in a shaft of light
Rising up to paradise, I know I'm gonna shine.

That, or the Led Zeppelin song:

Made up my mind to make a new start
Going to California with an aching in my heart.

Last night, we were out in the "back 40," transplanting some perennials and digging up a new spot in the yard that we're converting from lawn to garden. Daniel sat on a blanket and pulled up grass. He's been getting outside with me this week while I pull weeds (which I find strangely satisfying), and we have a good time in the fresh air. I can't wait to get back so we can really get our hands dirty. But for now, I have loose ends to tie up before we go — laundry, dishes, and figuring out how to pack eight days worth of baby clothes, diapers and formula.

Have a good week, all!