Stories from Home

Azores, Portugal + California = Lots of Cows
  I just discovered something the other day.  I was reading some news articles about how Americans are currently flocking to Portugal right now and permanently moving there.  The climate is like California but with a lower cost of living....
Date Night in the Orchard
  From my previous blog posts, we have established that there is a lot of farming that happens in and around my home town; specifically almonds.  This means there are almond orchards everywhere.  The orchards look a little different than...
The Perfect House With a Lemon Tree - Citrus Sage Scent
  I've never been a die hard fan of lemons.  Not that I dislike them or anything, it's just a fruit that I wouldn't see at a grocery store and eat it plain.  I do like lemonade and lemon-ey treats.  I...
Spring Time in the Valley
  Spring time here in the Central Valley starts a bit earlier than most places.  This year I planted my garden during mid February without any fear of the weather turning too cold.  I am already harvesting sweet peas and am...
Call Me Cato
If you ever come to a family gathering, don't be surprised if some of my cousins are calling me Cato.  It's been a nickname of mine since I was around 7 or 8 and started working at my grandparents restaurant....
Where are all the bees? - Sage Lavender Scent
    I don't know why I assumed last summer when I planted my garden that bees would just automatically show up when blossoms came.  I had this, "if you build it, they will come" outlook about it.  And yet,...
Scents From Home - The Beginnings
  I grew up in a small town called Manteca (you read that right Spanish speakers, the Spanish word for lard).  The town is located in California's, Central Valley. I've always had to describe where my home town was by giving...