Day Trip to the High-Hand Nursery & Cafe in the Sierra Nevada Foothills + Summer Finds

Happy Saturday, friends!

It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on. On this week’s meanderings: a day trip to the High-Hand Nursery & Café in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, summer shorts of the longline variety, and romancing your home with a beautiful new book.

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It’s hot. The kind of hot where everyone is irritable. I feel terrible for the kids going back to school this week, earlier than ever for our area. So much for new fall clothes. But let’s be real, it’s the teachers who deserve our sympathy and support.

Over at the Folly things are moving along. I say that every week and it tells you absolutely nothing, but we are in the final month-ish when all the finishing touches come together and it’s total chaos. The dining area soapstone countertop is in which includes an integrated sink. I hemmed and hawed over buying a bar sink versus springing for an integrated sink and now that’s it’s done I’m happy to report that the splurge was – probably – worth it.

Last weekend I lamented my failure to take advantage of my year of pied-à-terre living to get out and about more exploring cool things around Northern California. Last week I got up to Napa Valley and this week I’m at it again, with a short road trip to a destination nursery in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.

Let’s get to it ~

High-Hand Nursery & Café

Loomis is a darling small town in the Sierra Nevada Foothills that holds a special attraction for me … the High-Hand Nursery & Café, a sprawling plant nursery with artisan shops, a farm-to-fork cafe, and a brewery. It’s just minutes off the I-80 making it a perfect stop on the way to or from Lake Tahoe … or a destination itself.

For me it’s a destination because niece Sophie and her family live nearby in Grass Valley and it’s a great meet-up spot with entertainment for all ages. And one of us just turned 5 so we were there to celebrate.

But first, a look around the nursery packed with an amazing assortment of plants – trees, shrubs, perennials – from top growers like Monrovia as well as a greenhouse filled with house-grown plants. The nursery offers a wide variety of beautiful Japanese maples. I wish our garden was closer to planting.

There are several rusted-out trucks and tractors around the property to keep the littles entertained, as well as a multi-level waterfall spilling into a koi pond that’s a magnet for the kiddos.

The Café

The highlight of any road trip for me is lunch, so a couple weeks before our meet-up I booked a table at the High-Hand’s very popular Café (reservations strongly recommended). When we arrived at 11:00 to wander around before our 11:30 reservation, a long line had already formed outside the Café.

The entrance to the Café’s atrium dining is enchanting. When booking a reservation you can order a floral arrangement for your table. Fun idea for a birthday or other celebration for the guest of honor to take home.

Café seating is indoors or out, but it’s essentially the same. The ‘indoor’ atrium is open on three sides with ceiling fans whirling overhead. Outside swamp coolers and overhead misters keep it tolerable. Loomis, and the Sierra Nevada Foothills in general, is very warm – ahem hot – in the summer months. The cafe menu is extensive with wood-fired pizzas and flatbreads, meal-sized salads, sandwiches and wraps, and a ton of other yummies like the house-made chips with artichoke dip which, of course, we ordered.

For lunch Jim had the roasted cauliflower tacos with mango salsa; he said it was amazing. I had a prime-rib sandwich, also yum. Sophie ordered the chicken salad sandwich and the kids shared a grilled cheese that came with more chips. Are there ever enough?! Everything was delish.

BTW Haddie was thrilled with her pink paint splatter Crocs that I mentioned a couple weeks ago. We brought a little something for Everett too … Wheelie Board books (the firetruck and dump truck) that I found at Orinda Books. A fun gift for the 2-5 year-old set.

For dessert we shared a brownie a la mode and an enormous slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. OMG.

 

After lunch wandered over to the old fruit sheds (fruit packing and shipping is a significant part of Loomis history) that are now High-Hand’s shops for fun things like garden art, pots and planters, a flower market, oil oil tasting, an art gallery and gift shop.

The gift shop is adorable. Haddie was taken with this Butterfly book and spent a good 15 minutes looking through it and she wanted to take it home. Is one ever too young to begin a coffee table book collection?

The Brewery

Just beyond the shops is the High-Hand Brewing Company, open Wednesday through Friday from 3-9pm (opens at noon on weekends). It looks like a cool spot for brews, bites, music and dancing. See the upcoming music schedule here.

Since everyone’s talking about Christmas 😑 I’m thinking the High-Hand will be a fun place to visit during the holiday season.

Long Line (Bermuda) Shorts

Did I mention it’s hot this week? Sadly my summer beach body has not materialized nor has the mid-summer sun-kissed glow that makes up for a multitude of sins. Nevertheless … tis the season to break out the shorts and if shorts are required I’m grateful that Bermudas are back in favor. Not that they’re ever really out, but there’s been a resurgence of a longer-line short this summer and as I said … no one is more thankful than me. I’ve been living in these Gap denim shorts in white (warm white).

I’m pairing them with Spendid’s high-neck bamboo blend tanks (similar). My arms leave something to be desired, I know many women my age have shut the door on sleeveless, but I refuse. I slather on this body serum, put on my rose colored glasses (avoid mirrors) in favor of being cool and comfortable. Oh, the horror of it all.

In other long-line short news, I’ve been bumming around in these racer striped sporty shorts also from the Gap. They’re only available in XS and XXS. That said, I bought small and they’re definitely generous (a little too roomy) and XS would have been the better fit. They pair well with my favorite boxy cropped tee.

Also in my Bermuda arsenal, these linen blend draw string shorts from Uniqlo (medium is best size for me) and trouser shorts from Gap. Speaking of Uniqlo this linen blend blouse is breezy and fun (small is perfect fit for me), I have the white, but love it so much I’m going to buy another color … or two..

If you’re in the market for a basic pair of flip flops, these are great and come in lots of colors … and have arch support.

The House Romantic

A couple of weeks ago I participated in a virtual conference where Haskell Harris was the featured speaker. Haskell is the founding style director of G&G magazine (one of a handful of print magazines I still subscribe to … although Julia Reed’s column is sadly missed) living in Charleston. In addition to her editorial duties, she publishes a popular Substack, Gander, and unbeknownst to me, published a book – The House Romantic: Curating Memorable Interiors for a Meaningful Life – a couple of years ago. Of course I ordered it and it’s a delight.

Odds & Socks ~

• The Home Edit gals – Clea and Joanna – are on The Mel Robbins Podcast … after 4-years under the Hello Sunshine umbrella, the gals have bought back The Home Edit and their Instagram is back to the pre-purchase fun, and they’ve launched a Substack, The Home Edit Group Chat.
• Farm Rio Summer Sale 50% off + additional 30% using code: EXTRA30. I bought this for a fall wedding in Maui. Opps, looks like I snapped it up just in time, it told out, but check out more on-sale FARM Rio dresses here.
• I like my workout tops on the looser side, I just bought these three … here, here and here. At Lulu and Alo I always size up.
• Minnesota retirement home dwelling seniors fight for their right to happy hours … and win. Cheers!
• Cotton Cashmere Polo … yes, please.
• Local friends, the monthly Contra Costa Vintage Market is this Sunday, August 9th, from 10-3 in downtown Lafayette.

Current Favorites ~

And that’s all I have for today. If you missed last weekend’s post, I shared brunch at Clementine, the most charming restaurant in Yountville, and visited the newly renovated Robert Mondavi Winery; catch up here.

Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE

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