Farewell California

My husband and I have just returned from a three day visit to San Francisco. We wanted to say good-bye to some of the places we have come to love and some of the people we know there. First we said good-bye to Sons & Daughters. We have been going there since they first opened when they were the new kids on the block trying to make their name. Now they have a place on the Michelin lists and the price has gone up accordingly. But the food is always innovative and delightful, and the staff is professional and attentive. It's the kind of place that keeps track of their loyal customers, even the ones like us who only come once or twice a year since we live so far away. So we are always greeted enthusiastically with no hints of smarminess.

We also said hello and good-bye to Britex Fabrics. The hello was for their new location, one block up from Maiden Lane on Post Street right next door to Gump's. There are only two floors here, with enormously tall ceilings and long ladders (not for the customers thankfully), and everything in a delightful maze with discoveries around every bend. I think they have added some staff but perhaps it's just that the previous employees are simply on two floors instead of four, but there are people all around to help you find what you want or need in the new location so even though it is a little confusing it is also very easy. I didn't need any quilting fabric but I did buy a piece of fine wale corduroy to make a pair of pants and a remnant to make a pillow cover. The remnants are now scattered by type on both floors which is both good and bad. I am not sure I saw all of them but then again I can go totally crazy when I see a whole table of delicious remnants at reduced prices.

The final good-byes were for the two museums we like best in SF and to Souvla, a very good Greek place with a quick but super fresh and tasty menu. The SFMoMA had a big show on Rauschenberg along with the usual and some new exhibits. Same sort of deal with the Asian Art Museum--all of the old classic sculptures and ceramics along with new pieces by interesting new Asian artists.

The frightening part of the visit was that here it was February and the daily temperatures were above 70 with clear sunny skies each day. Now SF is coldest in June usually, but clear and sunny and above 70 is not normal for February. The same has been true of Salt Lake City this year in many ways. We haven't quite been above 70 but we haven't had much snow at all, just six inches or so on Christmas Eve and very light sprinkles scattered since with nothing even to shovel where I live. The daytime highs have been above 60 as well. That doesn't bode well for the water year since both places are at below the 25% of normal range. That is one of the reasons we are moving away from here and our new property has both a spring and a creek so water should not be an issue there--at least not in my lifetime.