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A Trifecta of Fun on Mother's Day

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass CA DRE# 01215160

Current Shelter-in-Place regulations certainly put a different spin on this Mother's Day. Having to create new habits and new mindsets has advantages.

This Mother's Day is a good example, and will go into my memory book as a delightful one, from start to finish.

It began yesterday, with the arrival of a lovely card from my daughter Elizabeth, and when I awoke early this morning the first message I saw was from Rachael, wishing me a happy Mother's Day. Next came this sweet FaceBook post from Susan.

Mother's Day message from my daughter

The morning's highlight was a family Zoom brunch with us all present, enjoying our chat, smiling at the dogs and cats that would pop their heads into camera view from time to time.

Enjoying view from Alta TrailShortly after that, Gene and I headed out for our favorite activity: a good hike! We drove the 7 miles to the Spencer Avenue trailhead in Marin County, where we knew we could easily stay away from the few other people using the trails. Up the Morning Sun Trail (don't you love that name??) and its 221 steps if I counted correctly, then along the wide Alta Trail (another great name) with amazing views.

Much to our delight, we discovered a trail new to us, so took the Oakwood Valley Trail down (185 steps!) close to Tennessee Valley Road. After a brief water and Clif Bar break, it was time to retrace our steps (185 steps up, then a mile or so along the ridge, ending with the 221 steps down.)

Returning home, it was soon time to get dinner ready. The new recipes I tried for dinner (healthy fried brown rice with lots of veges and fresh ginger; golden beets on a bed of arugula and spinach with a splash of lemon olive oil, balsamic vinegar and topped with roasted sunflower seeds and a bit of Gorgonzola) were both hits, especially appreciated after our hike with all its elevation gain.

 

A perfect day from start to finish; a real day off!

 Mother's Day dinner

 

 

Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning, Brian England - I enjoy leading hikes and sharing our wonderful area with others, whether a city hike or in the glorious open space that surrounds us. Some day .....

May 11, 2020 07:25 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning, Endre Barath, Jr. - we wore our masks when we spotted other hikers 20' or so away, then off they'd come, dangling from an ear, so we could breathe the fresh air. It's difficult breathing with masks on heading up steep hills. And we did a lot of climbing yesterday!

May 11, 2020 07:28 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning, Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS - allergy sufferers definitely benefit from masks. A Seattle friend of mine has used masks for many years to deal with pollen. I hope yours helps.

Hello Wayne Martin and Laura Cerrano - as we know well, we can't control events, but we can control how we respond to them. Short of not being able to hug my daughters, granddaughters and son-in-law, it was a perfect day.

May 11, 2020 07:32 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Myrl Jeffcoat - how delightful it must have been to have your daughter and granddaughter visit in person. It must have felt so "normal."

Nina Hollander - I hope you had an equally enjoyable Mother's Day

May 11, 2020 07:35 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello Michael Jacobs and Carol Williams  3 of my favorite activites in one day (family, earth under my feet, tasty food) rolled into one - life is good.

 

May 11, 2020 07:37 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD - we're fortunate to have so many hiking opportunities near us. We drove all of 7 miles to reach our trailhead yesterday -- it felt like a road trip! I hope you and your mother had an equally fine day.

May 11, 2020 07:40 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I find in time that you can have a trifecta of fun during a time where it’s harder to to go places, that’s a great thing!

May 11, 2020 10:11 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lottie sounds like you had a very well deserved special Mother's Day yesterday.

May 11, 2020 10:12 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Lottie Kendall - What a lovely post about family and coping with circumstances outside of your control. You are not quitters. You continue to strive to do your best and enjoy life while staying healthy and strong. I admire and respect you and your family, very much.

May 11, 2020 10:45 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello again, Laura Cerrano - I hope your day was special, filled with fun and good health. I know you and your husband are hikers, too - that fills me with joy as does my family.

George Souto were you affected by cold and rain/snow yesterday? I was talking with a friend, a former Realtor and accountability buddy, who now lives near Washington DC -- cold there. Whatever the temperature, being with family can warm things up nicely.

 

May 11, 2020 11:21 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP - I do gain a lot of strength from my family, and was touched no end when my daughter posted on FB calling me a "warrior woman." You've earned that title, too. Treasure it!

May 11, 2020 11:22 AM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Lottie

I hope you had a great Mother's Day and thanks for the follow, cheers cvc

May 11, 2020 11:37 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Glad you were able to have a wonderful Mother's day. Your dinner looks scrumptious.

May 11, 2020 03:16 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Lottie,

What a great Mother's Day you had.  And I drooled over the mention of Gorgonzola.  Happy Monday!

May 11, 2020 03:30 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Lotti,  Thanks for sharing your perfect day.  It really does sound nice.  Your positive spin on our situation here is inspiring to many of us.

May 11, 2020 07:01 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Lottie- I'm so glad that you got to do what you enjoy doing so much...hiking!! That meal looked not only healthy but yummy too. 

May 11, 2020 07:15 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning, Curtis Van Carter - I was surprised to see that I hadn't been following you; rectified that! Looking forward to the day when I can enjoy a daly in your lovely area once again.

Hello Sharon Lee - the dinner was great, although after a good hike most things taste great

May 12, 2020 06:16 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Ron and Alexandra Seigel - I rarely eat cheese, but certainly love it. One of our little corner markets, Mayflower Market at Fillmore & Jackson has good cheeses, cut in small pieces, so from time to time on my evening walks I pop in for a delicious cheese treat.

Good morning, Kathy Streib - family, a good hike and good food - the right combination for a delightful day.

May 12, 2020 06:20 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning, Bob Crane - when we look, we can always find something positive. I hope you, Sally and the family are faring well.

May 12, 2020 06:21 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good Tuesday morning, Lottie.

Have a great day and an outstanding week.

May 12, 2020 07:10 AM