Every year about this time, I head up to Lake Tahoe to spend time with a couple of girlfriends I have known for 18 years or more. We all lived in the same neighborhood when we met, and one of the trio, Diane, moved to Lake Tahoe about 12 years ago. Ever since, we have gotten together at Diane house which overlooks the Lake up on Kingsbury Grade.

We all have summer birthdays, so we exchange gifts the afternoon we arrive. And it never hurts to celebrate with a little wine and a few things to nosh....a little triple cream cheese with fig jam....do not mind if I do! We discovered that a few sprigs of Lemon Thyme in a dry Sauvignon Blanc is quite wonderful as well! We caught up sipping cool wine and took in the breathtaking view. The weather decided to be very kind!

 As for the gifts, we know each other very well. We all love to cook, and garden and entertain....so pretty easy to please us all. I gave the girls each a set of napkins and some great marinades for Asian cooking. Diane gave Lori and I some special herb and spice blends from her company, Heart Rock Herb and Spice Co. (ahem....we were hoping she would! They are so fantastic and makes dinner that much easier). Lori gave us beautiful candles, one shaped like a pear, and a pair of tapers...perfect for hosting that next party!

 We talked and talked while letting go of the weekday world. Pretty soon it was time to hit the hay.....

The next day we relaxed over  a breakfast of pastries from HERE and peaches from my tree HERE. Then we headed off to the Thunderbird Lodge, where Diane is Master Gardener. We never pass up an opportunity to use the beach there. It is one of the most beautiful anywhere around the lake. We caught a glimpse of the Thunderbird Yacht, the 55 foot speedboat owned by the infamous George Whittell commissioned while he was building his beautiful estate on the shores of Lake Tahoe. It was completed in 1940. The Yacht has quite a formidable history....  HERE

 I little more relaxing was in order before freshening up for the drive up to Incline Village, home of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. I had never been, although I had known of the Festival for years. I was so happy to get a chance to experience a little Twelfth Night with beautiful Lake Tahoe as the backdrop, stars onstage and stars overhead. If you are ever at the Lake when the Festival is open, it is not to be missed...

 It was worth the wait. The sets were exotic...

 Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek left us in stitches....

It was a beautiful performance and a beautiful night....