animal love

A few years ago during my first stint living in the Bay Area I stumbled upon a darling winery in Half Moon Bay called La Nebbia on one of my many all-by-myself adventure days.  My adventure days are some of my favorite days; just me myself and I exploring a new area with only a book, my ipod and a snack in tow.  On super brave days I don't bring anything and work to be present without any distractions. I've taken many a pal to this little adventure day discovery and was thrilled to share my secret spot with my good friends Jenny and Zack yesterday.  Cheers to great friends and all-by-myself adventures becoming joint adventures!

The winery is small and charming, sweet and quietly tucked into a pretty hillside. Only a few miles away is the stunning California coastline with beaches and sweeping views of the Pacific ocean.  The wine is great, the snacks they serve are great (they make a garlic mustard to die for) and the gorgeous garden seating area is so beautifully peaceful.  Tastings are only $5 and you get to keep the glass! But my favorite part of the joint?  Doodle. 

Doodle is a chubby, sleepy barn cat with the tiniest paws and the sweetest disposition. She lets me pick her up, cuddle her, kiss her and ooh and ahh over her for as long as I want.  It's been difficult not having any animals here with me to love and care for; I've grown up around little creatures of unconditional love and I do feel a bit lacking in the furball department. They sure do help out the lonelier moments of life.

Animals are so healing to me.  They are calming, comforting and fulfilling.  They're often crazy selfless, incredibly brave, admirably forgiving and just so...easily content and happy.  It probably wouldn't hurt to emulate some of those finer qualities. I am a huge animal lover.  If I'm honest, it's part of the reason I've been struggling with the choice of whether or not to be eating meat.  I was so happy to visit my old friend Doodle (we'll have known each other 4 years this August!) and to feel the human-animal love connection waves flowing between us as if we hadn't missed a beat.  

She still comes right to me....

And we have a much needed love-fest...

She's purring like crazy in the photo of me holding her. I think I may be purring, too. 

Thanks for the snuggle, Doodle.

In Gratitude,

Trish