Looking at the gloomy sky this morning and the rooftops slickened by rain, it’s strange to think that, less than a week ago, the weather was sunny and bright and we were on our way to Half Moon Bay. Needless to say, it’s been a long week–one of those weeks that seems endlessly plodding, like you’ve lived through more moments than a week can possibly hold.Â
It wasn’t my first time in Half Moon Bay, but it was the first time for my mom, aunt and the puppy. We had breakfast at home and then, after a ridiculous amount of Bay Area traffic, finally reached our destination. The town, which was gearing up for its annual pumpkin festival (this weekend!), was incredibly festive. Given my pumpkin love, I was thrilled to be there, to be surrounded by all the signs of fall. We went back to Pasta Moon, a restaurant I could eat at everyday and never get tired of its offerings. It was a bit uncreative for me to order the same thing I ordered last time, but call me a sucker for the combination of butternut squash and mascarpone cheese. Guilty as charged.
After grabbing dessert from the Half Moon Bay Bakery, we took the dog to the beach. I can’t remember when I last laughed that hard: it was pure enjoyment to watch watch her sprint up and down the beach, first following the Greek, then following me, then trying to steal shoes and, finally, digging in the sand as if her life depended on it.
There are moments in life that you wish you could bottle. For me, this day, with its winning combination of sunshine, family and good food, was one of them.
Dining with Dostoevsky 
This is such a beautiful post, perfectly capturing a beautiful day. It makes me so happy to hear about you laughing harder than you can remember; those are some of the best moments in life!
And, for the record, I could order a dish involving mascarpone and butternut squash 100 times!
The pictures of the puppy on the beach are the highlight of my morning! What's the beautiful skillet of food in the second picture? A delicious homemade savory breakfast?
Thank you, Moriah! It's really all about the pup; she has such a positive effect on our mood. You can't not laugh and enjoy yourself when there's an adorable puppy whose ears flap wildly in the wind. 🙂
The good food (squash!) doesn't hurt, either.
Thank you, Ann! She is the embodiment of delight–especially for us! Glad that she's bringing you some joy, too!
As for the food in the second picture, that's a frittata with arugula, spinach and the last of our batch of heirloom tomatoes. We had some leftover creme fraiche from the garlic tart and some fresh parsley in the fridge, which led to a very satisfying (and colorful) breakfast!
Ah, I love these pictures! And I am so happy you had a great visit and a chance to relax, even if those accursed papers were hanging over your head–I know the feeling all too well! I am still kind of slowly getting caught up on everything, and I can't tell you how much it makes me smile to see Elektra on the beach! 😉
Thanks, dude! The beach trip with Elektra was definitely a highlight for all of us! 🙂 And, even though paper 2's deadline is fast approaching, I'm happy to be enjoying a brief respite–despite the fact that this weekend is being eaten up by a conference (The Greek and I are escaping to Monterey next weekend; I think we need this). Looking forward to chatting soon (once you're settled, let's definitely skype!) 🙂 and am enjoying the Isanbul posts!
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