Travel – p.s. bonjour

In Travel

3 Days in Yosemite

The drive in from San Francisco felt a little long. We chose the northern route and came into the Yosemite Valley through Sonora and Big Crane Flat (Highway 120). I kept waiting for mountains to appear but I just think the long series of switchbacks that led us into the valley didn’t reveal their elevation as we climbed the foothills. I was half expecting the Rockies or Tetons to appear on the horizon, but the Sierra Nevadas present their elevation much more subtly. I was also saddened by the amount of damage from forest fires we observed on our route into the park. It wasn’t until we passed the Tioga Road and drove through our first tunnel that I caught my breath.

Winter in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Coming into town via the Niagara Parkway I felt a sense of homecoming and calm as we rounded the corner by the fort and made our way onto Queen Strreet. Home because we’ve been coming to this quaint lake/river-side town for the last several years and I’ve learned more things about it. And home because it is a destination filled with the comforts that bring me back to peace and tranquility that often get away from me in this busy life. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a small town close to Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada) in distance but miles away in atmosphere. It quaintly sits at the end of the Niagara River where it spills into Lake Ontario.

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In Travel

Moonstruck CLE opens in Little Italy

Hi, friends! Today I want to write a post about an exciting event happening right here in Cleveland. My friend, Elisa Vietri, is opening a shop / gallery in Little Italy. She has been a photographer for many years and would like to showcase her work as well as the work of other artists in the community. She also loves the idea of upcycle, recycle, handmade and plans to share products in the shop that represent those techniques.

And psbonjour.com is a part of it all! Many of you know my other job is as web designer/developer and I created a website for Moonstruck at http://moonstruckcle.com. We will expand on it over time, but we wanted to launch a site to direct visitors to her store location and highlight her photography and special events. I’m so excited to help her with that all.

Next, psbonjour.com will be selling some products at the shop! I have a love of all things vintage and handmade myself, and Elisa is graciously including some of my collection at Moonstruck. Just in time for Christmas, we will have vintage skates, sleds, and other nifty holiday decor accessories. Plus, the handmade collection will include plenty of gift items for everyone on your list or yourself! from earrings/necklaces in the jewelry department and handmade wreaths for your front door, to winter scene shadow boxes and cocoa gift mugs.

Moonstruck’s featured artist of the month, Kris Platko Art and jewelry designer, Curvy Willow Studio will also have work on display and available for purchase this month! Elisa talks to Cool Cleveland about the shop and her plans:

Moonstruck’s grand opening is Saturday night, December 6, from 7-10pm. The shop will also be open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday in December. We hope you will stop by to say hi and shop with us!

Maison Rêve – Sausalito Dream Home

With the description, “1910 carriage house…in the beautiful back garden of owner’s historic family property in old town Sausalito”, I thought I might be in for a treat with lodging for our trip to San Francisco and Sausalito in May. This delightful 850 square foot home became the perfect base for our trip to explore Sausalito, the Marin headlands, the city of San Francisco, and Napa valley. I’m finding that the more I travel, the more I am enjoying sites like vrbo.com and airbnb.com and the rentals available.

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In Life, Travel

Avon Lake Summer Market

I have to share more details about this wonderful event I attended in July in Avon Lake, the Summer Market. I’m sure many of you have been there before as it has been held for the past 9 years! But it was my first time attending and I just had so much fun I decided it deserved its own post with a few more pictures than I posted on Facebook or Instagram at the time.

The setting for this market could not be better, right on Avon’s lakefront park at the end of Rt 83 next to the gorgeous historical Thomas Folger Home. The market also held a fundraising raffle of vintage and handmade items housed in the Lake House, a smaller property available for party rentals in the center of the market.

Some of my favorite vendors were there with lots of great goodies to share. Urban Chic Decor, a sponsor of the market, brought Memphis Drive-In memorabilia including marquis letters and drive-in speakers along with a tent full of refinished furniture and vintage decor. I absolutely loved Sew a Fine Seam‘s booth overflowing with whimsical signs, beautiful handmade pillows, and unique finds.

I was also delighted to discover many “new to me” vendors with so many creative pieces. I could not get enough of the anchor-themed goods at Girls By The Lake, the booth run by market founders, Kristen Weeden and Erin Stack. I truly admire what they are doing for Avon Lake and the city of Cleveland (read more on cleveland.com). And I spent a fair amount of time in Renaissance Man‘s booth with my own hubby and renaissance man, exploring the nooks and crannies of eclectic, refurbished goodies.

There were many great food vendors as well, including the Fahrenheit food truck and Cafe Melissa. We chose to stop by Moosehead for dinner after the market.

I’m so pleased we found this market and enjoyed it thoroughly – I hope you check it out next year! I know we certainly will.