On this post – fun spots to check out in downtown Los Altos, Michelle Obama’s new style book, a hearty soup for November, Brunch with Bab’s charming basket house remodel, and more…
It is time for the Weekend Meander with Juliet and Elizabeth!
Hope you had a good week. My youngest son Griffin just moved home yesterday. A U-Haul was what he needed after five years of living in Utah. He gave away a lot of it, but his desk he built, plants he nurtured, and a bed frame he loves, plus his cello, skiing, bike, and hiking and camping stuff- meant he needed a small truck. Oh did I mention he has a sectional he found on Facebook marketplace he loves? We have a small home and tight garage so it should be interesting. Still I am excited to have my boy back for a bit. Hopefully he can save money and pay on his flight school loan and get more of his flight hours needed for commercial pilot. Luckily his close friend’s family just opened a new sushi restaurant and he will be waiting tables for them in between things.
Today is my dad’s Ray’s birthday! Dad is turning 86. Max is taking him to a casino and my brother is meeting them for a guy’s day out. This is something my dad loves to do, but rarely gets to anymore. He loves playing cards. Next week we’ll celebrate with my oldest Jackson who turns 27 on Wednesday! They are the November birthday boys. I’m so lucky to live close to my dad! This photo was from three years ago. He stays active and I hope I can be the same as him. He’s a lot like my grandma ( his mom), who almost lived to 101.
Downtown Los Altos
Last Sunday Jackson and Kristin met us in Los Altos for lunch and to walk around. Have you been lately? I forget what a charming downtown they have. They have loads of independent shops and restaurants.
I knew there was a sewing and needlecraft store there and told Kristin who is always in search of a new kit. We stopped in the charming Needles Studio first! This great space has so many beautiful fabrics and sewing needs, but it also had great kits for embroidery and crossstitch. I loved the vintage sewing machines as decor throughout. They hold classes such as sneaker embroidery, fabric gift wrapping (furoshiki), and for those who just want to get to an unfinished sewing project with some light guidance and help. Check it all out here. What a great addition to their community!
We popped into many of the small stores. Some I like and have frequented are Repeter Consignment (always great things), Alys Grace (the best sweaters and jeans), there is also a Manresa Bread and a wonderful Linden Tree children’s bookstore. (a cool table with crayons out front), Satura Patisserie is a wonderful place to grab a sweet treat and Red Berry Coffee has breakfast bites and wonderful coffee drinks and a nice patio.
Below is Chinello Design with gifts and neat plants. I tried and bought this fun sweater at Alys Grace. (The sweaters were 20% off!)
We also came across Tal Palo, offering free marigolds for Dias de los Muertos. Tal Palo is ‘Guadalajara (MX) inspired cafe cafe and tienda that celebrates Mexican heritage and East Bay roots.’ This cafe has no set menu and is small batch cooking with a big following. I’d love to come back and try their coffees and cake.
We also checked out the wonderful State Street Market, that has nine restaurants, and fun events. What a beautiful idea with open tables and patios. This is a great places for families and anyone who wants to grab a bite, and get out and with community!!
They have trivia night, chess nights, art doodling, hioliday strolls, live music and more.
I wish every little town had something like this. Max and I plan to go back and have a bite one evening. The kids took a pic in the photo booth…
Ski Soup
Since Griffin came home I made a soup that I haven’t for a while. It is a hearty one called Ski Soup and it is from the Après All Day Cookbook.
This soup is a take on a minestrone adapted from a popular one at an Utah ski resort. I would share my own photo, but at night it just was too dark to look good, so this is from the book. I use the book a lot, and it is chock full of yummy things to make in winter months. Max and I made these cheddar biscuits from it a few years ago at the cabin.
Bab’s New Connecticut ‘Basket Shop’ home
I follow Brunch with Babs and I love her great life tips and cooking. She bought this adorable 1830’s home near a stone bridge a few years ago nearer to her daughter. The house was a former ‘basket shop.’ I was waiting to see what she did and boy is it pretty. The design was by Blair Moore who took the cottage’s history into account in this fresh, but charming update. I especially love the window seats, the kitchen bars with hooks for baskets and things, and the scullery kitchen.
I adore this green paint and the door! In the kitchen the beams and the Delft inspired backsplash tiles are sweet. So many special details you must see and read the whole article.
Photos were by Jared Kuzia and the article and more are here on AD . Follow Brunch with Babs on Instagram.
Good Things
The Look Michelle Obama, a book on her style evolution as First Lady is out and I can’t wait to get a copy! I was a huge fan of her style and how she mixed J. Crew and Ann Taylor with more high end designers. She has great taste and flair for color.
It has been fun to see her in recent interviews talking about those years. ( So miss them.) She sat down with Tracee Ellis Ross for Elle to discuss the expectations of her and the challenges with her hair as the first black First Lady. She was also criticized for things like her sleeveless shifts and toned arms. God forbid! She discusses more of it here.
Have you seen the Manet & Morisot exhibit at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco? I am very keen to get over there and see it before March. I loved this short clip by the museum about they influenced each other’s art and were friends and later family when she married his brother.
State of the Union
I am feeling a lot more hopeful this week after the elections! I believe we the people have more power than we think. This election was a huge referendum on Trump and his policies. I was also elated to see so many new women take office and two become governor.
Thursday I went to mail a package to a friend in the U.K. and unbeknownst to me, on August 29th, new duties and tariffs took effect. For those sending parcels overseas- even a gift, the recipient must pay a duty based on the cost of the item cost and its tax and shipping fee. So for my small package, my friend would need to pay between $60 and $80 to receive the package and there is no way I can pay it on my end, and I couldn’t do that to her. We are just about to hit gifting season, and this is almost nowhere to be found online or in news. Just a heads up if you intend to send a holiday package overseas this year. This will hurt small businesses here and abroad.
Back to funding SNAP….If we have the money for so many ICE hires, for other nations, we can find the money to fund our air traffic and TSA people. This week a judge ordered all SNAP to be fulfilled and then Trump asked the Supreme Court to stop it late last night. In the SNAP 60 year history, no president has ever refused to use contingent funds during a shut down.
How does a man sleep at night who actively (along with JDVance) says SNAP is not a necessary program, and at the same time, throws a lavish Gatsby party, brags about redecorating the Lincoln bathroom in marble, and sends $40 billion to Argentina just because?
To top it off, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has instructed grocery stores not to offer special discounts to approximately 42 million Americans who use food stamps. Doing so they claimed, would be discrimination. This at a time when grocery prices have skyrocketed. As Max said, cruelty seems to be the point with all these people. This photo! Would be funny if it wasn’t so awful.
If you missed last weekend’s post I shared my skincare I am loving, cute winter handbags, and how to help those affected by the SNAP program cut.
By the way I bought two of the furry bags, on that post, so I’ll report back when I get them!
Have a lovely weekend,
Kim
Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs for more good things…
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
To get Northern California Style by email, subscribe to the blog here for a free post in your inbox every Saturday.
Must be wonderful having one of your sons back home and good luck with his flying career. Do the major airlines in the USA offer cadet ships, which train aspiring pilots and then employ them with the airline? I know QANTAS does (not that is helpful for your son, unless he wants to migrate). Or, if so inclined many commercial pilots had previous careers as military aviators, but that is not everyone’s ’cup of tea’. With regard to posting parcels to the UK, any duties collected would go to the UK government. I have received several parcels (online orders) from the USA recently and did not have to pay any duties my end (Aust). Same for the UK where I order my bed linen from the White Company. Not sure if it is a ‘tit for tat’ scenario between the UK and the USA,
Hi Susan, Yes they do and he can apply to SkyWest and others here which are regional airlines that you can start at. He has done that. There is also a hiring freeze around many airlines in the states right now. Things are in the upside down here. We don’t have enough and yet we have a freeze.
Funny this doesn’t seem to be affecting some shipping, but a British friend who lives here in the Bay Area confirmed she cannot send her mom chocolates right now as she usually does and this year no gifts between family, so this is hard to understand…. And it is not just UK, it is other nations too.
Kim, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the duties your friend would have to pay in the UK has nothing to do with Trump, but the UK Government. Those changes came in following Brexit and applies to any goods or gifts (between a certain amount) sent from countries outside the UK. Where Americans are really getting stung, are those American tourists who when travelling, send home anything they have bought (one of the downfalls of carry on luggage only), if it is over the allowed duty free limit.
Interesting because it is hard to find on a news source. My post people claim it is i retaliation for the tariff we imposed. If this is the case, how come it is happening in Japan now too? A mother was in the same post office and was sending cheetos to a student there and he was going to have to pay $75 in Japan to pick it up.
This seems short-sighted as who will be able to ship things?
Also the $200 limit coming home was already in place this summer when we came back from the UK and no one was checking.
Kim, Check the UK Government website. Things changed in 2020 in the UK, regarding postage of goods/gifts into the UK and those rates apply irrespective of c where they were sent from. If the gift to your friend was valued over £39, you will be slugged. Not sure about the chocolates your friend wanted to send though. In regard to US tourists, it seems (from what I read on Rick Steves web site) they ship separately vast quantities of olive oil and wine, and in France, retailers won’t post them any more
Thanks Susan. I will do this and see. I also noticed some retailers like Liberty have their own shipping companies they use and don’t seem to be impaired by the US delivery. It’s hard to explain and a mess.
How great to have your boy home…even temporarily. I love Michelle Obama’s style!
I know so nice!
I love Michelle Obama too! x
I think I have to visit Los Gatos. I miss independent boutiques and quirky cafes. I just saw the Manet/Morisot show and it is delightful. Plan to grab lunch at the museum cafe. It was delicious. Must be so nice to have your son home. Enjoy the November celebrations.
Hi Kim: the Manet – Morisot exhibit is fabulous! My husband and I were really impressed. You should definitely go before the exhibit moves on.
Thank you Sally! I am so glad you liked it. I hope to soon! xo
I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your blog writings. I so identify with you. Even though I’m not an American. My grandparents came from the US in the 1920s via Iceland and Norway. So thankful in light of recent politics. I love your insights on the situation and your interests align with mine. You seem so real which I appreciate!
Aw thank you so much for this note.
I know we are living in crazy times. It helps to hear others feel the same way.
I am so glad you found the blog. xo
Kim! I’m so glad you mentioned the overseas shipping, this week I tried to order something from The White Company and their site says they’re not taking orders or shipping to the U.S. I meant to ask you what you knew. Oof. Well, you’ve said it all and I’m not going to pile on because how much more horrible news can we take. Better days are surely ahead, but it looks like we’ve got a long wait. But let’s segue to happy stuff … Happy Birthday to your Dad and welcome home Griffin! Love you little tour of Los Altos which I remember as such a charming town. And the Needles store. Back in the day (high school) I used to spend Saturday mornings at the fabric and notions store and the afternoons at my sewing machine. I loved looking at patterns, threads and trims. I wish I hadn’t stopped. State Street Market looks like the coolest place. Thanks for the soup recipe … it’s soup season for sure although I love it year round. Wishing you a happy weekend with your fuller nest! xo
Hi Juliet,
I just saw that too! This has to be hurting so many small businesses not to mention other countries!!
Los Altos is so cute. I didn’t know you sewed! You should get back at it. I wish I could. I am awful at it.
xo
Kim, just love seeing your blogs and posts pop up. You are living the very best busy life, with being able to still enjoy your Dad while watching your boys navigate adulthood. I loved that time, yes, I’m aware it looks different if caregiving comes into the picture, but even then, that, too, is a beautiful privilege. ENJOY every single moment!
What a nice thing to say. Thank you Maureen for this.
You are so right. Each stage of life seems to bring some joy of its own!
Thank you for the reminder to find the fun in the chaos. Life goes too fast doesn’t it? xo
Hi Kim, I’m sure you are happy to have your younger son back home, especially during the holiday season. Happy Birthday to your November birthday boys. I celebrated my birthday last Friday in the City, and spent the day at The Legion with my hubby. You will love the Manet-Morisot exhibit. We enjoyed it so much, as well as a fabulous lunch at the cafe. I would also recommend a wonderful jazz supper club in the historic Jackson Square called Bix. Great place to celebrate a special occasion. Xx
Hi Karen! I know I am excited to have him with me during the holidays. What a fun way to celebrate in SF. Happy Birthday!
Ooh I have to check out Bix! I think my son would love it too. xo
Hi Kim,
Los Altos looks like a quaint town to visit. So many places in California to see…we are talking about taking a little road trip maybe when my husband is off on Christmas break.
How nice that Griffin is back to stay for a while. I am sure you are enjoying his company, Sounds like your dad is doing well and has some fun birthday activities planned.
I bought my granddaughter a baby blue furry crossbody bag after seeing your post last week. Hope she loves it, she is quite the fashionista for an 8 year old and has quite a good eye. She even has voiced how she wants some of our stuff “when we get old”. LOL.
Totally disgusted with Trump, every day is another disaster with him. I usually donate to a few organizations, but right now I’m focusing on the Food Bank or Feeding America. My neighbors belong to a large group of people attending weekly protests and one of them has grown from a handful of people to over 3000 attendees now. They also organized a food drive for today at a local mall. While we were out on our morning walk today, one home had a mini food drive in front. Full of all kinds of non perishable goods for anyone that wanted to take some. Nice to see so many people stepping up when our current administration just can’t get it together. And shame on the Supreme Court. So many Americans being harmed by this. Can’t wait for the midterms. At least this last week was a glimmer of hope for the future.
Linda
Hi Linda!
I know I have so many California towns on my list to get to still.
Oh that sounds really cute in baby blue! I bet she will love it. Ha! She sounds like fun already liking on your things. I was like that with my grandma too! She must have fun with you.
Thank you for those two places. I am going to add them to my list to possibly give to also.
I agree there has been so many good people out there caring! They give me hope when we have a rich man for president who is going multiple times to the courts to end SNAP. How does he justify that?
I agree let’s keep the faith even though Congress has been a disappointment too. I have hope in the electorate. xo
Hi Kim,
How great Griffin is back home. What a special treat this is. Wow, less closet space is so hard.
Love the pic of you and your dad. Good for him liked to hit the casino. Nice Max and your brother are having a guys day together. Between your dad, Jackson and me we three are Scorpion’s. The ones that do not sting. We are Eagles.
What a fabulous town of Los Altos. I had clients back in 1970 something. Beautiful town. The stores are awesome. The Needles Studio looks special. I used to sew most of my clothes when I was in middle and high school. Many years ago I donated my 1970 Singer seeing machine. It was in good shape. My costume designer friend was not happy. It probably could had been put to use in a seeing costume designers studio in Phoenix someplace.
Loved you tie dyed sweater, adorable on you. I used to tie dye lots of my clothes. Brings back great memories. My Berkeley peace marching days. The Vietnam War.
Hi Katherine! You are a November birthday girl too. You all are special. I have so many November friends!
I know Los Altos is a great little town. Oh how cool you made your clothes… and tie-dyed. I love it. I did not know you went to UC!!
Makes so much sense you care about so much! I have to hear more. xo
Kim hot post is always jam-packed with helpful info. I have been stung by the tariffs a few times as well. Can’t wait to see those furry bags!!
Cindy they make no sense! I hope the bags will be good! x
Hi Kim, I too just drooled over the basket house!! Every detail was just perfect!! too bad. We can’t find an old basket house in California.!!
I’m excited that your son has moved back to California and is working on his hours for flying. Now that he’s here the Bay Area I’m sure I can get them to meet up with one of our pilots. We have so many Long San Jose overnights. I’ll see what I can do.
Martha me too! Wish we could find basket homes. LOL.
Thanks Martha for all the encouragement for him. Fingers crossed he finds an instructor job. xo
Hi Kim, I hope your Dad had a great birthday. I see your resemblance to him. My Mom will turn 86 in January, and I’m so pleased that she is still able to live in her house and is doing relatively well. I’m her primary care partner, and though it is challenging, I remind myself all the time how lucky I am to have her around still.
The election results gave me a much-needed dose of hope for our future. I still feel pretty devastated that Trump illegally tore down the East Wing of the White House, but I feel even more devastated for those who have lost food assistance due to he and his administration’s callousness. This past week, I donated again to our Central Texas Food Bank. They, as well as the Austin Humane Society (I’m a monthly donor to them) are also providing pet food so that people may not have to surrender their pets during these tough times. Our pets are our babies!
Overall, I know that we will make it through these times, continue to resist, and we will come out on the other side even stronger, and certainly valuing our democracy so much more. I’m so happy that we have Barack and Michelle Obama on our side, they also provide hope for a better future (for ALL!).
XO and hugs for the kittens!
Thank you Lisa! How nice your mom is also able to live in her home. You sound like a wonderful daughter. I know what you mean we are lucky to have them.
I know that election was truly a shot of hope. We so needed it after 9 months of darkness.
I feel so sad about the SNAP too. How nice you are helping. I love the Humane Society helping too. You forget about that pets need food too.
You are right there will be a time when we come through this. I loved seeing the Obamas too. They remind us how good we had it and we don’t need to have an employee who behave as Trump is.
xo and thank you from my kitties!
Good morning Kim, happy Sunday!
How wonderful to have your son back home! I am sure that his hard work and diligence will pay off and he will find his dream job. In the meantime how blessed you, Max, the cats and the rest of the family are to have him home.
Happy 86th birthday to your dad, it sounds like a fun day out. And how wonderful to have him so close by.
Babs house is fabulous, just my style, old and collected!
The Manet exit looks so interesting, wish I lived closer.
Have a wonderful weekend Kim!
xo
Hope you had a great week Elizabeth. Aw thank you about Griffin – and dad.
I loved Bab’s house so much.
I hope you had a great week too. xo
As always I enjoyed this post. Love the occasional good recipe and your shopping and restaurant finds, along with peeks at your personal life with family. I often check out the websites when you’ve found a store that hits my “like” buttons!
Keep voicing “resistance” in the posts, too! I am 76 and still protesting, writing posts cards, making weekly phone calls (using the terrific “5calls”app), and meeting with like-minded local groups. Smiled a rare smile on Tuesday night!
Hugs from Kentucky to you and your family.
Missi thank you! I really appreciate that. I think it’s so cool you are still out there and protesting and calling and writing ! I am thankful for all the seniors as they seem to be a huge part of this resistance. You are inspiring. Yay for Kentucky. My husband is from there too. We love Governor Andy! xo
Love your post as always Kim. I don’t always comment but do enjoy an insight into life in Northern California from my home in Scotland. Your comment about the postage costs rang a bell with me and I remembered reading something in The Guardian a couple of months ago…https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/26/postal-services-suspend-us-usa-deliveries-how-will-it-affect-you
I don’t think it is to do with Brexit as such (I might be wrong!) but more to do with Trump removing the ‘de minimis’ rule so that parcels that were once considered of too minimal value to bother about now fall within the tarriff changes. Hope this helps! Perhaps more reported on over this side of the pond? Seems another petty and vindictive move by this awful man.
@Lesley. (Not Kim here). I did some investigating into this as Australian Post Offices will not post packages to the USA for the time being. As for packages posted to the UK, irrespective of the point of origin, duties are paid depending on value. One official website explained changes were made due to Brexit post 2020, the details too long to include here
I know for sure this took effect after August this year. Last year, this was not an issue at all, and it is due to the de minimus being removed.
Problem is Americans have almost no guidance on this and the USPS is trying it’s best to figure out how to advise when every nation has it’s own retaliatory duty in place.
Thanks for trying!
The thing is none of us want this- Americans or those overseas! More garbage by a man who wants to play with our norms, and has no problem damaging international relationships and ruining businesses and our economy if it makes him look like he is ‘cutting deals.’
Yes, Kim, spot on. It’s not really to do with Brexit as such but related more the removal of the de minimis rule which has all countries (not just those involved in Brexit) trying to figure out the best way to deal with these charges which were never in place until very recently. Yes. the duties are paid on value but the USA removed the under $800 rule recently, hence the extra charges. Quite rage-inducing and I am not even in America! Sadly, as with all of these tariff smokescreens the people most affected will be Americans. He is literally damaging his own economy and claiming it as a ‘win’ 🙁
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-de-minimis-tariff-shipping-b2799175.html
Sorry to be a dog with a bone, but I think there are two separate issues here. One is Trump slapping tariffs on goods received from other countries, so now many non US companies will not post them at all. However, Kim’s issue was with her friend (in the UK) having to pay duties on a personal gift sent from the USA. Those duties have nothing to do with Trump, but with the British govt. Following Brexit, the UK govt had to revise all of their VAT/Duties etc. Kim’s gift to her friend must have been valued at an amount which attracted duties. I could be wrong and please correct me if I am
Susan you are right. I think I can also find some other carrier like DHL which may avoid this.. Stay tuned. x
I know it is insane. Making the whole world mad at us and creating a mess.
Our economy is in the dumper. Yet the Great Oz claims it’s great. x
Lesley thank you for this. That was maybe the most information yet on it. Yes you are spot on it has to do with us, or rather Trump, and his rule.
Yes another of thousands of petty vindictive actions the man lives and breathes to do.
Thank you for reading from Scotland! I love your country and the people. I can’t wait to get back there. xo
I really hope you do make it back here sometime! Would love to meet up if you do 🙂 xo
Lesley that would be so fun. I hope so too. xp