First day, our first meal was at a German covered patio establishment right next to my hotel, on the boardwalk or trail alongside the Oakland waterway.Hotel room to the right of trees with a balcony.  German Beer Garden Restaurant, flying the US, German and CA flag, at end of the bay walking trail railing.   Dock and Port of Oakland to the left.

According to my NY daughter ‘connection’ who studies (among a host of other subjects) German and has lived in Berlin, Brotzeit colloquially means small snack or it could also be interpreted as lunch, but petite sized.  We were all pretty hungry and had huge not petite appetites.  They had every type of sausage, including vegan, which was incredibly good.  Alongside fries and a salad, our sausages in a bun with sauerkraut, jalapeños, two different types of mustards and pickled red cabbage filled us up. 

Not so crummy view first thing in the morning, walking Cindi on the Bay Trail.

The Homewood Suites Hotel by Hilton, besides having a great view you don’t expect,  provides breakfast every morning for three hours and dinner with cocktails, Monday through Thursday 5-7pm.  

Breakfast is extensive.  A different potato dish, protein and eggs everyday.  Cereals, a waffle bar, bagels, hot oatmeal, muffins and pastries, hard boiled eggs, an array of teas, coffee, extras and toppings round out the scene.   As a vegan, I opted for hash browns (they were cooked in oil), salsa and a bagel.  Everything was fresh. There is an indoor dining area as well as an outdoor patio.

The night I arrived, they were serving a fiesta of fajitas with chicken, rice, beans, tortillas, salsa and a salad bar.  Thursday, they had barbecues fired up in the large patio area overlooking the yachts and were grilling burgers and hot dogs served with potato salad, chips and fresh fruit.

Although I didn’t take full advantage of the food available, I am highly recommending this place for families and you can bring your pets whether they be cats (bring litter box) or dogs (bring a crate or carrier).  

When our three children were younger this is just the sort of place that would have saved us money, gas and time with meals and made everyone happy.  

Plus there is a free shuttle service (with certain windows of opportunity, but it is doable) within a two mile radius and free easy access parking which is a premium in the bay area.  Jack London Square ( a waterfront open mall, dining, entertainment, business and tourist destination ) and the Oakland Museum of California are within that radius.  Because my son is .8 miles away, I have been using the shuttle unless we need the car (be aware that on weekends – it does not run, though) or… I walk over.  

Huge Mural painted in 2013 on side of Brotzeit.  

Teach only love for that is what you are.

Whatever you extend or project – you believe.  When you extend love you will find unity and peace.  When you project your ego you will hurl away thoughts of guilt and falsehoods.

This is the key to healing the thoughts of separation and fear from our minds.

Don’t let your peace be contingent on another’s behavior. But you must also be willing to give up your perceptions and ask, “Is it possible that this thought in my head is incorrect?”  Be willing to see differently.  Be willing to give up your judgments so you can remove the blocks to love.  It is a choice.

This is what I contemplated on when I meditated on my budding exotic scented daffodil blossom.  Its flexible, feathery, silk, deep saffron center and light buttermilk petals were a labor of love coded into its bulbous DNA.  Spring bursts with the fruits of past endeavors in our garden like when we act ‘as if’ to feel differently.  Love is first an action that consequently, brings up an emotion.  

At the vet today for an ear check up, I noticed a colorful display for potential dangers in the garden for my pet pooch.  I did some further research and was astounded by the list of plants I own that could be hazardous to both felines and canines.

Obviously, if you use chemicals or synthetic fertilizers, follow directions or stop using them.  We have ant control here and spider/ant control up in the mountains.  Our pest control here is toxic but dries within an hour and is then safe, especially after three days.  Up in the mountains, our inside and outside are sprayed with organic, safe combinations of essential oils.  I think I am going to have to insist on non-toxic from our local company and call them this week.  It has never been an issue before because our cats are indoor only but as I veganize plus fall deeper in love with Cindi, I become more and more protective, educated and alert.

Other scary vegetation besides above picture:  Aloe Vera (all over my backyard- gel is great for burns though), Amaryllis, Ferns, Baby’s Breath, Bird of Paradise, Boxwood, Ivy, ALL Lilies, anything from the onion/Allium family including Society Garlic and Chives, Mums, Daffodils, Delphinium, Dracaena, Elephant Ear, Eucalyptus, Ficus, Foxglove, Geranium, Gladioli, Holly, Hydrangea, Iris, Lantana, Larkspur, Lupine (a California native), Marigold, Morning Glory, Mountain Laurel, Narcissus, Poinsettia, Poison Oak of course, Pencil Cactus, Poppies (more natives), Primrose, Snowdrops, Sweet Peas, tomato (any nightshade leaf), Wisteria and Yucca plants.  Basically, anything irritating to us like certain saps, it seems all bulbs (so don’t let Spot dig and chew up), and the litany of Ivies, Ferns and Alliums (onion type).  Check out the Pet Poison Hotline if you have a concern about a particular plant.

So then, I got interested in food of course:  Don’t give your pet – Avocados, obviously no alcohol or caffeine, apricots, bread dough (really?), cherries, chocolate (the darker, the worse), garlic, grapes (and by default – raisins), hops (not even near beer), nuts, mushrooms, moldy food like blue cheese, onions and Allium family, salt, star fruit and xylotil  (sugar substitute).

I hope this helps anyone out there wondering why their companion animal is barfing or acting lethargic.  Do not rule out a seemingly innocent answer to your mystery.  And it’s possible, just rubbing past some of these plants can be an irritation or give an allergic reaction.

Something else I learned today:  When I asked how to introduce Cindi to her human siblings ( they are all in the Bay Area right now), I was told to not yell and scream and be all excited with her by my side.  Instead, I am to leave her in the car, watching (we are driving up in a few days) while we greet each other.  Then, to let her out and invite her to approach everyone else (four new personalities) on the floor at her level, within her own time, going slow with introductions.  That is a lot of excitement for her, after a long, all day road trip!  I am going to sweeten the deal and be a little sneaky (creative) by giving all three of my kids and my son’s girlfriend – doggie treats too.  If you want your pet to have treats though, you must decrease their food ration and they should not be used instead of their food (just saying).  After all, treats are like dessert or snacks and should be used for your pet accordingly.  You know how it feels when we overindulge – lol!!

While ML was here we ran into a new found treasure at the Anaheim Garden Walk.  We initially set off and spent time and money at LUSH, one of my favorite handmade cosmetic and socially responsible stores (see past posts – just write Lush in search box).  While gallivanting through the open mall, we stopped in at a used book store called The Mind Traveler.  Coincidence 1.Every book is $2 and after five book purchases, the price drops to $1!!!!  Hello? We are hardcore readers, here, and we were in heaven.  Most books were spanking new.  Needless to say, we spent a few dollars and a few minutes here.  Notice how the sales counter is held up by hundreds of books.  I only saw that somewhere else, once, later that week at the Seed Store (environmentally friendly and handmade everything store) at The Camp in Costa Mesa.  Clever.  Coincidence 2.The bookcases are made from corrugated cardboard and are an engineering marvel as they hold a great deal of weight.  Against the brick wall, under the window and in a niche is a ‘couch’ made from books.  We were directed here when we queried why there was no where to sit and peruse.

After getting lost somehow we ended up at Unity Gardens where tranquil spaces, including a labyrinth, are etched poetically on the Unity Church grounds.  Divided into separate but unifying areas, the gardens reflect all forms of worship, devotion and spiritual paths.  This mattered to both of us for deeply personal reasons and hit a soul note for each of us.  Coincidence 3.

Then, I remembered there was a vegan cafe not too far away and navigated our way over to Free Soul Cafe.  Here, we ate under the covered atrium and salivated over our lunches.  Old Town Tustin is a quaint area and many buildings have been remodeled to reflect urban chic. I had every intention of heading out to a different location when I got lost yet we ended up here and this really hit the spot.  Coincidence 4.We munched on a 5 mushroom burger (the chef spent months perfecting it) on a made on premises bun (you can imagine), asparagus soup (they also had butternut and they always have chili), a pesto panini, organic green salads and a variety of tasty beverages.  Their menu changes frequently and we can assure you – we will be back.  Supposedly their in house pizza is made with an incredible crust.  Maybe, next time.We optimistically left with a few desserts ( yes, I gained a few pounds ) for later.  Red Velvet Berry Cake,  Berry Cheesecake, a peanut butter chocolate cookie/bar (not shown) that I had had the pleasure of trying before and knew I would love and Key Lime Pie with vegan whipped topping.  My favorite (guess) was the PB morsel.  ML’s was the Lime sweet.

It was all very decadent but sampling a myriad of desserts is no coincidence for us!

We had a blast checking out all the vegan eateries and eco friendly shops while we vacationed together ‘right in my own back yard’.  Lots of synchronization was part of our experience.  Lots of food and good times, too.  I am in a state of gratitude.

Some memories are realities …
and are better than anything that can ever happen to one again.

Willa Cather

Bower’s Museum is open regularly from 10 am to 4 pm and is located in Santa Ana, CA.  It recently went through a remodel and extensive addition.  It was a place we wanted to revisit.  ML and I had been here years ago, maybe twenty.

We were happy to visit the small Beethoven collection which included rare artifacts (like his hair), letters, compositions, music scores and other memorabilia from the era.  ML’s son studies music and bass (the big one) at NYU.  He is extremely talented and is being educated one on one by some of the best.  In fact, tonight, ML and my daughter are meeting up in NYC to hear and see her son play with the NYU symphony orchestra.  Wish I could be there.

I hadn’t been able to enter the Pacific Islands exhibition last time due to the negative, scary vibes I felt when I opened the door (not knowing what it was about).  I just thought I was tired of the museum and was on art overload.

This time, I was brave and I followed ML into the rooms full of primitive art objects but I had to leave promptly due to the uneasy energy, like dread and a distinct plummet in my life-force that felt sort of like the heebie-jeebies.

Well, lo and behold, this is an exhibit primarily of the headhunters and spiritual shamans of Oceania.  It was creepy and I didn’t see anyone staying long.  I am even kinda afraid to share this picture I took with you.  Yikes!In contrast, I stepped out into the large foyer and stood very close to the Chinese drum found in a Daoist Temple.  My frazzled body became replenished in its presence amid the natural lighting coming in from the zen gardened wall of windows.  The grand drum is divided into eight pictures like the eight limbs of Patanjali’s yoga or the eight noble truths of Buddhism.  In this case, it is the eight immortals of Daoism which together on the wheel signify happiness.  They are symbolized by a fan, castanets, a sword, a flower basket, a flute made of a gourd, a lotus (we see this a lot in Eastern philosophy), bamboo and drum rods (sticks).More about the Bower’s visit tomorrow……

When I asked the gal at Green Door Cafe if I could get a certain burrito without the tortilla she said, “Sure, in a bowl?” like over rice I imagine she meant.  No, I explained, over greens.  “Sure,” she said, “over arugula? “.  Ok.  That sounded great.  She offered to make it any way we wanted it since we were going to eat it.  Now, I call that common sense.

“My husband would like the Gouda grilled cheese, please.” I ordered. He was outside with Cindi securing a sunny place in their garden patio.  Plus dogs aren’t allowed inside eating establishments.

“Ok.  One Artichoke and Fennel Gouda sandwich.”

“Oh, no.” I uttered in dismay knowing he didn’t like artichokes.

“Let’s omit the artichoke spread?” she asked.

“Yes, can you do that?” I asked tilting my head in a question.  Then, feeling daring I proceeded to ask, “Can you add caramelized onions instead?”.

“Sure” she responded.  “Any which way.  We make them to order. Change it. Add or delete anything” she explained without flinching, in an even tone of voice.

Imagine that? I really love this place and I can sit outside with my dog – yippee!Ranchero Burrito with walnut ‘sausage’ sans the burrito and tofu instead of eggs.

All vegan.

A non-vegetarian friend told me about a vegetarian/vegan eatery she is eating at daily and losing weight because of it.   Go figure.  So, my husband and I finally checked it out yesterday for our Friday night out meal.  The place is funky and decorated with Mead’s rustic metal, carved wood and painted art.  Front and center is a green door.

What’s great about this location is its proximity and its varied offerings.  They serve eggs, dairy and breakfast all day.  They also have some superb vegan food.  You step up to the counter, order, go find a cozy nook with a table, sit outside in the patio or atop stools at the two bar locations and wait till they call your name when your order is ready.  Super casual, garden fresh and it keeps the price reasonable.

Their straight from the oven baked goods are from both denominations.  We almost tried all the cookies, scones and cakes.    He had the non-vegan chocolate graham cracker brownie and the chocolate covered sugar cookies and I had the vegan sweet potato scone, chocolate chip cookie, walnut drop and kale muffin.  Mmmmmmm.  I had plenty left over for breakfast this morning with my left over juice from yesterday’s blog.

For dinner, he had the Hawaiian Pizza with plenty of cheese, pineapple, vegan bacon and a coffee date smoothie.  Meanwhile, I had the Taco Salad with an Italian sparkling water.  Any of the pizzas and most of their selections can be made vegan.   You can choose scrambled eggs or tofu at breakfast, you can add smoky tempeh, vegan chicken or roasted tofu in your salads and they offer many gluten free choices such as type of bread on the menu too.  My taco salad consisted of Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower (which blew me away with its spot on sauce), black beans, corn, the tangiest olives (ever), avocado, pepitas (shelled sunflower seeds) and an exquisite vegan Chipotle Ranch dressing on the side.

A band was setting up as we were leaving and being so close to both Chapman University and the Orange Circle it must attract an interesting crowd.  I am sure we will be back because we can both enjoy the menu choices equally and the food is pleasantly delectable.  I cannot wait to share this place with others and especially my newly vegan friend from NY when she comes to visit in two weeks.

Next time I would like to try the Blue Plate Special which includes roasted potatoes, house made vegan ‘sausage’, onions and peppers, all of it smothered in country style gravy.  Or, one of the many daily handwritten specials you don’t know about till you get to the counter.

One of the reasons I will miss the girls when they go back to college this weekend is this lovely breakfast in bed we were served.  Grapes, rose petal jelly, fresh squeezed orange juice and homemade still warm from the oven bread. Flowers from the garden.  No wonder I am struggling with my weight these days!

When is the last time you made a similar tray for your loved one(s)?  How about for yourself?  With the weather so sunny and warm lately, if you live here, take a tray outside and enjoy!  Full moon again tonight- check it out!!  Plan your breakfast treating for this weekend!!!