#Mountain View CA Homes

[inboundremblog]

Savor the Flavors of Mountain View, CA, Restaurants You Can't Miss!

Credit: Image by ELEVATE | Pexels

Experience Authentic Cuisine from Around the World with Mountain View, CA Restaurants

Mountain View, situated in the central hub of the iconic Silicon Valley in California, is known to enjoy the modern side of living and its diverse culture. Establishing a rich culinary landscape that celebrates the diversity of Mountain View CA restaurants will give residents and tourists plenty of dining options to satisfy their hunger and indulge in a wide array of dishes they crave!

The increasing diversity of hip joints, simple grills, and sophisticated places in the capital is a clear example of the increased number of restaurant services. Let’s discuss this more in the succeeding sections.

Where To Go in Mountain View, CA

Like many other states in the United States, Mountain View, California, has various restaurants that serve food from all over the world.

Cascal Restaurant specializes in Spanish and Latin American food, including some culinary specialties that should not be missed, such as seafood paella or empanadas.

Alexander’s Patisserie lures with delicious French-inspired baked goods, including macaroons and croissants.

Oren’s Hummus Shop offers Middle Eastern cuisine, including sabich, falafel, hummus, and other tasty options.

For pizzas, Doppio Zero brings pizza in Neapolitan style with the use of Italian ingredients in preparing the pizzas.

The trendy Xanh Restaurant serves Vietnamese food with a touch of elegance, while The Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant offers traditional American cuisine and beer.

Hangen Szechuan Restaurant is known for its spicy food, including Kung Pao Chicken and Mapo Tofu. At Amber India Restaurant, you can savor Indian food options such as Butter Chicken and Lamb Biryani.

Residents of Mountain View and lovers of good food, in particular, may continue gorging themselves in an unending list of restaurants and eateries in the city. Be it Spanish, French, Middle Eastern, or hot Szechuan taste, you will get an assuage of what you crave in this lively city.

A Foodie's Guide to Culinary Delights

Here are some suggested dos and don’ts to follow if you are a first-time visitor to Mountain View or a local who wants to discover new restaurants.

Explore Castro Street Regarding dining, Castro Street is considered in the center of Mountain View. Bordering on restaurants, cafes, and eating joints, this business street has much to choose from.

Go out for a walk and spend some time window-shopping and reading through the billboards of different restaurants to choose a place to try.

Try Global Cuisine Dining in Mountain View offers an added advantage since everyone will be privileged to taste the diverse global delicacies.

From ramen shops based on Japanese culture to curry houses with an Indian flavor, Mexican tacos, Italian pasta, etc., the city offers many cuisine types.

Do not be afraid of experimenting. Go for dishes that are entirely new to you—you never know what you will like!

Farm-to-Table Freshness Mountain View has fresh produce since it is situated in the middle of California’s agricultural land and can source most of its food from within the region all year round.

Due to the climatic conditions of this region, most of the restaurants here leverage fresh produce and have adopted the farm-to-table style of meal preparation that best characterizes the harvest season.

Choose the restaurants that work with local farmers to provide you with fresh and eco-friendly products.

Don't Forget Brunch Every day of the week is full of opportunities to eat in Mountain View, but the weekend is charming for brunches. Remember to do this early enough since several restaurants serving their brunches attract many customers.

Embrace Food Trucks Apart from typical restaurants, many mobile restaurants are commonly known as food trucks in Mountain View. These are mobile food outlets selling everything from great burgers to quality tacos and other foods on the move, making it convenient for those who want good food anytime.

Some food trucks might share their locations on social media accounts or announce special events.

Save Room for Dessert Each meal should be complete with a course of sweets, and the restaurant that bears the name of the city of Mountain View has some extra servings of desserts for you.

Indulge in sweet and yummy cakes, tempting ice cream, or creamy chocolates in any of the delicious shops in the city.

Consider Dietary Restrictions Whether you are a vegetarian or a vegan, have gluten intolerance, or have any other food issues, you won’t have any problems finding what to eat in Mountain View. You are free to request suggestions from your server or to make changes to any of the foods being served.

Make Reservations Many residents and repeat visitors consider Mountain View one of the best dining destinations, and some restaurants can reach total capacity on weekends.

It is better to make a table booking to increase the chances of getting a table at this or that place, especially if you are ordering more than four plates or table tending.

Support Local Breweries and Wineries In addition to food, Mountain View has a brewery and urban winery on its streets. If you ever find yourself in breweries, vineyards, or even restaurants where meals are accompanied by different beers and wines, do not hesitate to take the opportunity.

Ask the Locals Last but not least, do not hesitate to consult the locals for suggestions on where to go. Your hotel bellhop, the Uber driver, or even a stranger on the street may be able to recommend the best restaurants in Mountain View.

Ask the locals since they will most likely know of good spots and lesser-known restaurants you cannot find in guidebooks.

Conclusion

To sum it up, eating out in Mountain View, CA, is an incredible gastronomic experience that awaits you and your taste buds.

Stretching from exotic food from different parts of the world to freshly produced harvests from the local produce, it is a city that offers every type of food and drinks one may fancy.

By adopting these principles and remaining flexible when it comes to gastronomic delights, you will indeed have a great meal in this culinary heaven.

Visit https://tracyhomesales.com/mountain-view-ca-best-restaurants/ to find out more exciting information.

[besinaao3]

San Diego Craft Room Craft Room Mid-sized tuscan freestanding desk carpeted and beige floor craft room photo with beige walls

[hometoursandotherstuff]

This 1980 home in Big Sur, CA is made of two interconnected giant redwood wine barrels. 3bds, 3ba, 1,940 sq ft, $3.265m.

The front of the house is one barrel and the back is the other.

So, here we are in the wine barrel living room.

There's a rounded bathroom off the kitchen.

I guess you're paying for the land and the uniqueness of the home, b/c it doesn't particularly look like a $3m home.

View from the kitchen sink.

This makes it look a little like a windmill, up here.

Family room on the 2nd fl.

The primary bedroom has a nice round window.

Facing sliding doors, this bed has a nice view. It's not a terrace, but there's a safety rail.

This bath is big and has lots of windows.

Here's another small room and it looks like there's another kitchen down here.

Some decking around the house.

Small deck and picnic table. The terrain looks rough.

The same family owned the home for 40yrs. and left the land fairly natural.

This place is way up in the mountains with dirt roads.

It looks like the land is at the foot of the mountain top.

So, here you can see that they connected both barrels by a single story structure. The lot is 5.33 acres.

And, there's the Pacific Ocean below.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1-Pfeiffer-Point-Big-Sur-CA-93920/440534759_zpid/?

[deancasbigbang]

Song of the Loon

Author: Desirae

Artist: eggchef

Rating: Explicit

Pairings: Castiel/Dean Winchester mentions of past Dean/Lisa

Length: 24441

Warnings: N/A

Tags: Narrator Castiel/Campground owner Dean, strangers to friends to lovers, past family trauma, survivors guilt, past substance abuse, Nurturer Dean, whump!Cas, Hurt/Comfort, canon typical violence, angst with a happy ending, cabin by the lake fic

Summary: Dean Winchester is expecting a quiet, if not awkward, summer. His estranged brother Sammy was coming to visit from California, and all the chores around his lakeside cabin were not enough to distract him from his nerves. That is until an unexpected phone call from Sam’s sponsor, Gabriel, called with a favor: Could Dean put Gabriel’s brother Castiel up for the summer, no questions asked? Audiobook narrator Castiel Novak is exhausted and travel-weary. Fresh off of a book tour, Castiel arrived home to find his longtime online stalker has been to his apartment. At the urging of his brother, Castiel finds himself on a road trip to Angel’s Peak, Maine, where his host, Dean, is as stunning as the mountain view. Although Castiel and Dean feel an immediate connection, Cas is guarded, with emotional baggage he doesn’t want to inflict on his new friend. Will a summer in the wilds of Maine be enough for Dean to break through Castiel’s walls and prove that he is worthy of love and protection? 

Link to Fic | Link to Art

[jdeclerc]

to dream of you

pairing: rhysand x reader

summary: Rhys has come home. It is not the return of the mate you once knew but his homecoming brings a second chance nonetheless.

author's note: this idea has lived in my head for longer than I'd like to admit so I finally put fingers to keys and wrote it, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

warnings: some PTSD and slight allusions to SA

word count: 3,003

The sky outside of my room shows no sign of turning to morning, telling me that my fruitless attempts at sleep lasted much less time than it seemed. Sleep had evaded me from the moment I made my way to bed earlier in the night, as it had for the past half century. Falling into bed no longer held the same prospect of rest and retreat from the outside world, no sanctuary was to be found behind a closed bedroom door. And after the events of the last few weeks, I was beginning to believe it never would again.

 I rise from the bed and pull the robe I had discarded earlier tightly around myself. I give the bed a wistful look before making my way to the door and stepping into the hallway, closing it behind me as silently as possible. My feet begin following a familiar path through the hallways of the House of Wind, my steps seemingly having a mind of their own. It was only when I turn a corner, look up, and meet the eyes of the Night Court’s war general that I truly knew where my path has taken me.

Cassian gives me the smallest of smiles as I approach. Without a word he opens his arms for me to step into. As he wraps them around me and leans his head onto mine, I know that he could tell it is exactly what I need.

His voice is barely above a whisper when he says, “I thought I was meant to be the only one awake at this time of night. We agreed you would get some sleep, now didn’t we dear sister?”

“I tried Cas, I promise I did. Tomorrow…I’ll try again tomorrow, like we agreed.”

I step back from his arms, look to Cassian’s left forearm and then to my own, our matching marks staring back at me.

“I don’t destroy the training ring every day and you try to find rest by getting into bed every night…quite the pair we make.”

I can’t help but let out a small laugh at his words, “That we do Cas…you know I wouldn’t have made it through the last 50 years without you.”

“And you know both Azriel and I wouldn’t have made it 5 minutes without you Y/N, you saved us.”

“We saved each other, don’t ever forget that.” I can tell by the look in his eyes he knows this to be true, that our family could get through anything if it could survive what we had. “Has he gotten any sleep tonight, do you know?”

At my words we both turn toward the open door behind Cassian. Through it we have an unobstructed view of the bedroom, or rather the empty room that used to be a bedroom. No longer did the Illyrian sized bed or matching nightstands rest against the far wall. The ancient bookcase and large armchairs that surrounded the fireplace on the opposite wall were also missing. Instead, they had been moved to the balcony, protected by a ward from the elements. No entrance is granted unless expressly given by the balcony’s occupant. It is a room fit for someone who needs an uninterrupted view of the stars in the sky, to feel the breeze against his skin, and to smell the air coming off the mountain.

From our vantage point we can just make out a head of raven hair laying on the left side of the bed, turned away from the door.

“He has been asleep for almost an hour now, I’m not sure if it will last but I’m hopeful. It’s the fourth night he’s refused Madja’s sleeping tonic, each night has brought longer bouts of sleep…but the nightmares –”

“They wake him, every night. I feel it when it happens, he sends wave upon wave of distress and fear down the bond.” I can feel the tears in my eyes when I look up at Cassian.

“He doesn’t know you feel it does he?”

I shake my head, “I know he attempts to close the feelings off from me, but I feel it all the same. I have since the first night he returned. The bond has been dormant for so long that everything is heightened. It’s why I have yourself and Azriel stand watch, I need someone to be here for him.”

“It should be you Y/N, you’re who he needs. I know he hasn’t been the same around any of us, but we need to –”

“He flinched Cas,” the look I receive at my interruption is one of confusion, “He flinched when I embraced him the day he returned, and he has kept his distance from me since. He may never need…may never want me again…so I give him everything I can from afar.”

I had not told any of them about what occurred on the day of Rhys’ return, of how he reacted to my touch as though it was engulfed in flame. Our interactions since had consisted of looks across the dining table and passing glances in the halls. The closest we came to touching again was when I handed him the book I knew he would be looking for in the library, the one I had kept beside my bed everyday he was gone because he had been in the middle of reading it.

I don’t realize my tears have begun to fall until I feet Cassian brush them away.

“He will come back to you Y/N, he may not be the same as when he left but he will return all the same. His love for you may just be the most impressive thing I have ever witnessed. Well, that and Azriel’s wingspan...which I will deny ever having said but it’s true all the same.”

I match his grin with one of my own, “Oh, he’ll be hearing about this. Of that you should have no doubt.”

“Do what you must you cruel female, I will take any retribution brought to me if it means that smile stays on your face for a moment longer…it has been sorely missed these last fifty years.”

“Thank you, Cas, for everything. Come find me before you head to bed in the morning, I wish to know how the night ends so we can adjust things if needed. I’ll be in the office, or the dining room should Azriel wish for our meal together tomorrow to be breakfast.”

“You will have every detail Y/N. Promise me only mundane court affairs this evening, if you must work let it be menial paperwork.”

“Only mundane court affairs, I promise.” I give Cassian a short hug before departing down the hallway, I can feel his worry upon my back with every step.

The office door is ajar when I reach it but is empty upon my entrance. As I round the desk I find a steaming cup of tea, my favourite biscuits, and a note that reads:

Y/N,

The house promised to keep the tea warm until you arrived.

I expect to find an empty cup and plate when I come to collect you for breakfast in the morning. If you insist on working through the night, I insist on giving you simple comforts while you do so.

I love you sister.

Your favourite brother,

- A

I smile down at the note, knowing words don’t come as easily to Azriel as they do to Cassian. Prythian will never know the heart of the shadowsinger and how deeply his love runs for his family. But I cherish every moment he trusts me with it.

---------

I’m not sure how much time has passed when the heavy silence of the House of Wind is broken, broken by a voice I had begged the Mother countless times to hear just one more time. One I would never again take for granted.

“You look much better behind that desk than I ever did.”

It takes me a moment to gather the courage to look up. I am not met with a sly grin or cheeky look but one of deep longing.

“It is the view of you behind this desk I wish to have restored. Sitting behind it was never a burden I wished to carry.” I regretted my choice of words the moment they left my mouth. His face betrays no feelings of hurt though. “Rhys, I…I’m sorry, that was unfair of me to say.”

“Say it again.”

“Wha –”

“My name, say it again.”

“Rhys…Rhysand.”

I realize it is the first time I have said his full name since he returned, I have resisted using it because it brings emotions to the surface I don’t wish to face. But I feel his relaxation through the bond, as though his name on my tongue is a salve to a wound I can’t see.

We fall into a few moments of silence, both of us never looking away from the other. It is Rhys who speaks first. “Walk with me?”

I manage only a nod in response. Wanting nothing more than to be with him in any way he would allow and not wanting to end the closest we had come to normalcy since his return.

He waits until I meet him in the doorway to begin our journey. I am unsure of his path, so I follow him in silence, allowing him to take control. He leads me to the giant balcony off the main foyer of the house and comes to a stop at its edge. I do the same, leaving an arm’s length of space between us.

I can’t say how much time we pass looking at the stars over Velaris, standing in utter silence. It is he who breaks the silence once more.

“It was your voice.”

Four words that raise countless questions in my head, but I remain silent, letting Rhys speak freely. I simply watch his profile, relishing in the ability to do so.

“That is what I missed most. Not the stars in the sky, nor the wind upon my wings. Not your scent, not even the memory of your skin upon mine but your voice. I longed to hear it’s rasp when we rose early in the morning, how it skipped when I brought you to the edge of euphoria, your laugh in response to one of Cassian’s terrible jokes. Even recalling arguments in which you, deservedly so, yelled at me brought me comfort.”

His quickly glances over at me as his voice begins to catch in his throat, he does his best to compose himself before he continues.

“I can’t imagine how these weeks have felt for you, I have spent every moment trying to find the right words but all of them have felt wrong. But I know I want to apologize; I haven’t been who you hoped I would be upon my return.”

It is hard for him, I realize, to give words to the fae he had become under the mountain. How it changed and molded him into someone entirely different than the one who left. How he thought he was no longer the mate I knew and loved.

“Who I hoped you would be? You silly, foolish male.” I shake my head in disbelief. “Look at me Rhys.” He meets my eyes. I hold his gaze, wanting him to hear every word I am about to say. “My only hope was that you would come home. For fifty years that is all I have wanted. Even if you came home and felt differently about all of us…about me, it didn’t matter. You would be home.”

He gives me the smallest of smiles and closes his eyes as he lets out a breath.

“You must know, I could never not need you – and I’ve certainly never stopped wanting you.”

“You heard me talking to Cas.” It isn’t a question; we both know it to be the truth.

“After fifty years of being closed off it would seem as though the bond responds to you at every turn. I awoke the moment you stopped outside the door, just having you near was enough. I didn’t want you to leave on account of my being awake.”

I have no rebuttal; we both know that the distance between us has not been completely one-way. I have never found the courage to speak with him either.

“I…after you first got back, I didn’t want you to feel as though I was pushing myself on you. I knew I needed to give you space.”

“Y/N…” I can hear the catch in Rhys’ throat once more, can see him swallow and force himself to continue. “Over the last half century touch has been used against me. It never held true affection, it was used as a tool of manipulation and control. Yours was the opposite. I felt your utter relief and unending love at the sight of me – it was overwhelming, and I reacted without thought. I’m so sorry to have caused you to think I didn’t want you near.” I can tell he is struggling to form his words, to relive the nightmare he had only recently escaped. And I can’t bear it as tears began to form in his eyes.

“You need not explain yourself or apologize to me. I hope to one day be let into that mind of yours – to know all that you have survived so that I can give you support however I can, but it need not be today. Nor even a decade from now, I will take what you give when you feel ready to give it.”

“You will know, as you have known every corner of my mind since we were younglings. It may take time, but you will know.” It is then that he reaches for my hand, tentatively, as though he has never done it before. He grasps it in both of his own, never taking his eyes off of them. “The cauldron surely made a mistake in bestowing a mate like you upon the likes of me. I will never deserve all that you have given me or this court. It is a debt that can never be repaid.”

“Rhys…what do you mean?”

“I had Cassian and Azriel show me what occurred in my absence, what they allowed me to see that is. There were gaps in what they showed me…because of their love for you, I think. Some things, they said, are for only you to tell me. I hope to learn them one day, every single detail.” His brow furrows with his next set of words. He grips my hand tighter and locks eyes with me. “I saw you give away every piece of yourself, you faded away as you refused to let those around you slip.”

“I did what any of them would have done, it was what they needed – it didn’t matter what happened to me, it only mattered that you had something to come home to.” I don’t stop the tears as they come this time, they are matched by those in Rhys’ eyes.

“You are my home. You are what I desperately hoped to return to. You are more than anyone in Prythian deserves. I hope to, one day, be deserving of the sacrifices you made, the mate you deserve once again.”

“You have always been deserving of me, who you are at any given time is deserving. For the first time in half a century I feel like I can breathe, I feel complete with you here…no matter what that looks like.”

“And I am on my way there, racing as fast as I can to match you. My steps may be those of a babe for a time; short and unsure. But I want to move forward, closer to you, all the same. I love you more than you could know Y/N, give me time and I will show you this in every way imaginable.”

“The pace of your steps is irrelevant, I’m just happy I get to see them once again. We are in this as a pair, as we always have been.”

Rhys drops my hand and straightens to his full height, looking every bit the part of a High Lord. He extends his right hand into the space between us.

“Then let us strike a bargain. We do this together. We take steps forward to grow and heal, as one, never letting the other fall far behind.”

I put my hand in his and we close our grips around one another.

“As one.”

If the look on his face is any indication, I know Rhys feels the seal of our bargain at the same time I do. I look down to see identical markings on the inside of our right wrists.

We drop each other’s hands and fell into a comfortable silence, both leaning against the railing of the balcony. I can tell that Rhys is exhausted, both mentally and physically. He seems reluctant to leave, reluctant to admit how much one conversation has so utterly drained him.

“It’s alright Rhys.”

He hums in response and gives me a questioning look.

“Go back to your room, you need sleep. I will be fine.”

“Our room.” He frowns at his own words. “It will be one day again, give me time.”

I give him a tentative smile in return.

“We’ve got all the time in the world.”

He reaches down to squeeze my hand before releasing it and begins making his way toward the door. I call his name and stop him just as he reaches it and is about to walk through. He turns to face me.

“Do me a favour.”

“Name it.”

“Try and dream for me, you deserve the peace it will bring.”

My words are met with an expression holding a difficult story I do not yet know and before Rhys disappears into the house he says,

“I simply think of you darling and I’m already dreaming.”

[stupittmoran]

Shortly after Covid started, in July of 2020, my father died.

Before I ended the call with my stepmom, who called me when my my father collapsed, my girlfriend already had the car packed.

She knew what to do, and I didn’t need to say anything.

By the time I hung up the phone, he was gone.

We immediately drove up to Washington.

Not for the funeral, but for whatever it was that we did during Covid when a loved one died.

I got to say goodbye to him in an empty room full of empty chairs, with one occupied casket.

It was unfitting for how good of a Man my father was.

And poof,

just like that,

He was gone, and then we drove home.

It never really hits you until later, and it’s usually when you’re not expecting it.

But that’s another story for another time.

One of the more memorable things from our trip was stopping to get gas on our way through Oregon.

Forgetting that you’re not allowed to pump your own gas in Oregon, I began to get out of the car.

With half of my body hanging out the door, the attendant quickly ran up to me and asked what I was doing.

At that point, I said sorry, I forgot you’re not allowed to pump your own gas in Oregon, all while trying to force through a smile, not realizing he’s angry.

From beneath his annoyed masked face, he asked me “Oh, so you’re not from Oregon, why are you traveling out of state during a Global pandemic?”, with his liberal Oregon condescending accent.

He continued to demand I get back in my car, but not before taking my credit card, after being face-to-face with me, and no further than 2 1/2 feet away.

Covid brought the authoritarian out of so many people.

He wasn’t scared of Covid. He wanted to assert some sort of dominance.

Here we are at a gas station in Eugene Oregon, and the gas station attendant feels he has the authority to question where I’m traveling, why I’m doing it, and demands I get back in the car.

He didn’t do this out of fear. If he was scared, he wouldn’t have approached me at all.

He would’ve been very careful to keep his distance.

He did this because he was given the smallest amount of authority, and it made him cruel. This is how people behaved before vaccines became available.

This is how people behaved before they were calling for doctors, nurses, and hospital staff to be fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

This is how they behaved before they were calling for forced COVID-19 vaccinations within the military.

This is how they behaved before the president of the United States of America tried to take the livelihood of every American that refused the COVID-19 vaccine, that worked for a company with 100 employees or more.

It was never about science, it was never about your health, it was never about your safety.

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT YOUR COMPLIANCE.

We can never forget how people behaved during Covid.

But more importantly, we can never let people forget how they behaved during Covid, or they will do it again.

I am here to remind everyone, and I will continue telling my story.

You should tell your story too.

People would love to hear it.

I know I would.

Thanks for reading.

Shared from Santa Cruz Mountain Goat @SCMountainGoat On Twitter/X

Photo by Mike Oxford Sr. (My Father) Bob Weir and The Grateful Dead Shoreline Amphitheater Mountain View, Ca May of 1991

[bobwess]

How about an Only Human Chapter 9 WIP Excerpt...

Sorry. Here you are.

This time the sight of hell sent a shiver up his spine. 

Dean frowned, looking around the once familiar torture chamber. He took a second to appreciate the table again. Fully adjustable, you can have them at any angle. It’s the little things. 

“You’re different.” 

Dean turned, unsurprised to find Amara standing there. 

She tilted her head. “More… human.” 

“Is that a good thing, or a bad?”

“It is nothing.” She said simply. “I am curious though.”

“Trouble with a witch.” He said simply. 

“You are still traveling with the angel.” 

“And?”

She didn’t respond. “What is it about this place that draws you to it?”

Dean frowned, feeling his breath catch in his throat for just a second. “It’s familiar.” 

“You were here for a long time?” 

“Longer than on earth.” Dean said. “It was my home…”

“You like it here.”

“No.” Dean said with a shrug. “Like I said, it’s just familiar.” 

Amara studied him for a moment. “You are fascinating.” 

“I know.” Dean answered. He frowned, looking her over. “You look different too.” 

“I’m learning.” 

“That doesn’t sound ominous at all.” 

Amara turned, looking down at a long narrow table against the back wall. She ghosted her fingers over the tools thoughtfully before looking up at him again. “So much suffering.” 

“Yeah that life’s in the rear-view for me.” Dean said, pointedly ignoring Amara’s revelation last time that he was the one who brought them here. 

“Not hell.” Amara explained. “On earth. My brother’s creations are howling, groping in the night, entirely forsaken. So they turn on each other. Even a righteous man tears a knife into flesh after thirty years of resolve he never would.” 

“You’re not wrong.” 

“It is disgusting.”

“Plenty of worlds out in the universe. Maybe you go give them a visit and leave ours out of it.” 

“None of them matter.” 

He looked at her. “Why’s that?”

“Do you know what I miss?” It wasn’t her voice.

Dean blinked, the oppressive walls of hell snapping away to a cold landscape amidst the trees. He moved back just slightly, giving him just enough space to look at Cas. He suppressed a shiver but he kept his voice even. “What?”

“Duff’s.” 

“Yeah?”       

Dean looked up. The sun was just cresting the peaks of newly discovered mountains to their left, casting long shadows over the small clearing they had settled into during the night. The meager fire in front of them had nearly extinguished, the last sticks they managed to pry free in the darkness almost used up. 

He shook off the lingering unease from his latest… vision? 

Cas hummed a quiet agreement. “I had a very good evening before the accident.” 

“Sap.” Dean ribbed, shoving Cas slightly under crinkling mylar. 

“I didn’t enjoy this part of it.” Cas said, annoyed. 

“Except this time you have the benefit of my wit and commentary.” 

Cas frowned for a moment, considering. “You’re not unconscious and we have this blanket. I suppose we are better off at the moment.” 

“Yeah.” Dean groaned. “Except I don’t actually think we’re about to be found and rescued by anyone.” Dean said, slumping back slightly against the tree. “And I don’t think either of us is getting our mojo back very soon.” 

Cas lowered his head in agreement. “And we do not have a roof over our heads.” 

“And we have no idea where we are.” Dean sighed. “Might as well see what we can see.” He looked over at Cas. “Ready?”

“No.” 

“Too bad.” Dean shrugged free of the emergency blanket, letting a rush of frigid air settle over them. He closed his eyes, breathing through a fresh sear of electricity through his nerves. 

“How are you feeling?” 

Dean pulled back his jacket, looking at his shoulder. “It’s better… I can move it now without almost passing out. Still got a ways to go.” He sighed. 

“What is our plan?”

“Step 1: you don’t die.” 

“Step 2?”

“Working on that.” Dean said passively. Dean pushed himself up and the rest of the way out of the blanket, pulling his coat closer to him and giving a shiver. Behind him Cas pulled the mylar back before getting to his feet and following Dean without letting it go.

[awesomefringey]

Hi Sabine, here’s the link to Briana’s house that sold. I compared the kitchen from the real estate images to the deep fake video of Freddie in a kitchen and they match. Being in this fandom has improved my FBI skills no end 😂

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4612-Cielo-Cir-Calabasas-CA-91302/79804322_zpid/

Oof... okay, let's read up:

Sold: $1,600,000 Sold on 12/27/22 (Zestimate®: $1,735,400)

Quintessential Calabasas living! - Gorgeous 4 bedroom home located within a gated community, The Colony at Calabasas. Built in 2006 this beautiful 2 story home boast hardwood floors, new carpets, granite counter-tops, stainless steel appliances, 2 fireplaces, 2 car garage, spa-like master bathroom, with dual walk in closets. Perks include community pool and playground, balconies off the bedrooms, tranquil yard with picturesque hillside views and only minutes from Malibu Country Mart, The Commons of Calabasas, Pepperdine University and Westlake Village. Easy to show. View Virtual tour for Interiors!

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 4

Full bathrooms: 4

Flooring: Carpet, Hardwood

Appliances included: Dishwasher, Freezer, Garbage disposal,

Laundry features: Room

Total interior livable area: 3,078 sqft

Fireplace: Yes

Parking features: Garage - Detached

Spa included: Yes

View description: Mountain

Lot size: 4,748 sqft

Home type: Single Family

Year built: 2006

Has HOA: Yes

HOA fee: $260 monthly

County: Los Angeles

Heating: Central

Property Type: Residential

Rooms: Breakfast, Living Room, Powder, Master Bedroom

Equipment: Other, Gas Dryer Hookup

Laundry: Room

HOA Fee Frequency 1: Monthly

Source Living Area: Vendor Enhanced

Parking Garage: Garage - 2 Car, Driveway

Source Lot Size Area: Estimated

Style: Spanish

Pool Description: Community

Listing Area: Calabasas

Listing Status: Pending

[winnix85]

Finally! I found the house Lewis Nixon grew up in Santa Barbara

His mother took the family to move to Santa Barbara in 1929, and bought a house in 1930. They lived in this house until at least 1946.  So Lewis Nixon lived here from 12 yr old to adulthood.

In the social notes, it’s frequently mentioned that their address was “180 Cold Spring Rd. Santa Barbara, CA”. However, if you search in google map, there’s no 180 Cold Spring Rd anymore, the house numbers all changed.

But I noticed that mama Nix bought this property from Mr. and Mrs Geoffrey Courtney. A little futher research showed that the full name of the seller were “Geoffrey Stuart Courtney” and “Marguerite Ravenscroft”.

Long story short, this article is about and her home (which is a historic site now) https://www.montecitojournal.net/2021/04/22/marguerite-ravenscroft/

“On October 24, 1929, the stock market crashed, ushering in a worldwide Depression. Information about Geoffrey (Geoffrey Stuart Courtney) and Marguerite is scanty for the next few years, though they seemed to spend much of those years abroad. In 1930, Marguerite sold off the western portion of her property, leaving herself with approximately one acre on which Casa de Campo/Ravenscroft stands. By 1933, she and Geoffrey had parted ways. “

And, here is the map of this historic house “Ravenscroft House” at “779 Ayala Lane, Montecito, CA”, which showed that at the beginning of the Great Depression,  Marguerite Ravenscroft sold the Western half of the property to Mrs Stanhope Nixon:

The old map corresponds to this house in google map today (today’s address is 778  Cold Spring Rd, Montecito, CA):

“The house featured a sweeping view of the valley, channel, and islands from the south and a mountain view from the north. The architect Russell Ray designed an H-shaped frame house clad with three-inch brick veneer for fireproofing. The two wings were connected by a staircase hall, and the living room comprised the whole of the west wing. The dining room, kitchen, and servants’ dining room lay in the east wing. Affected by the destruction of the San Francisco earthquake and fire, she was reassured by the numerous hydrants, hoses, and a nearby reservoir. The second floor contained four bedrooms, dressing rooms, three baths, and sleeping porches. A third story on the west wing contained bedrooms and baths for the maids. As far as landscaping, the orange grove was central, but the house would be embellished with a terrace across the front and a large pergola on the east. There was also a stable, male servants’ quarters, and, of course, a garage.”

By the way, the Ravenscroft house is a rental holiday home open to public so you can find plenty of inside photos and videos LINK

[samkat10423]

As promised, here are a couple of pics of the back of my Town Hall. It's a pretty nice place for sims to gather and enjoy the views. They have easels and telescopes, live music, and a small outdoor cafe.

Moving right along, here's the new abode of that runaway princess. Inside, I used Sandy's Tiny Houses set to furnish it. And it is very barebones. As her mother likes to say, "You want to live like every-day sims? Well, have at it!" No more royal allowance, servants, clothing allowance, jewelry - whatever. Since the princess only finished less than a half of a semester in both Communications and Fine Arts, she has no marketable skills. (Yes, I did take away most of her skill points since she was pampered all of her life - and all of her money). When I took her into CAS, I gave her a haircut and crappy dye job - she did it herself! - and new clothes more in line with her new circumstances. I also changed her traits. She now has that Diva trait instead of the virtuoso one. She also does NOT get along with her co-workers - especially her boss - because 1) they expect HER to work Every. Single. Day. And actually work - like a peasant! And apologies to any of my Brit friends, but I modelled her on the current whiney royal who lives here in my country - who has done nothing but criticize us since he got here. Sorry, guys! I love Brits - but they're too much.

While I was in that area, I placed @icemunmun-spicy-scalpel's lovely replacement lot for Hans Tavern. She called hers the Natural Woodlands Cafe and it's zoned as a hangout. I added the bikes out from, but otherwise did nothing to the outside.

This is the cafe area. There's that coffee thingie from Uni and I may have added that jukebox. Otherwise, it's as she designed it.

There's a small hallway between the cafe area and this room. I did make some changes here. I added the rug, the lights from wonkymoon over on TSR, the artwork, and the bookcase.

There is a 2nd floor, but all that was up there were some sleeping bags - which I left. The only change I made was adding @mspoodle1's poker table so my hikers can get in a game or too, after a long day up on the mountains.

And finally, @11 Meadow Beach Drive, I placed this shack to replace my diner rabbithole. It's currently for sale, but once buyers walk inside and see all the rats scurrying about, they leave. Local sims tell newcomers - when they ask about the food - that it serves as a reminder of why sims learned to cook and eat at home.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Finally, a tastefully done mansion that isn't a big white marble mausoleum. It was only built in 2021, but looks older, in Pacific Palisades, CA. 6bds, 10ba, 9,351 sq ft, $24,995m + $31mo HOA. I still wonder why the rich build and furnish these homes so carefully, then put them on the market within a few years.

The entrance hall. The decor was created by the renowned interior design firm Pierce and Ward.

The living and dining rooms are directly on opposite sides of the entrance.

The cozy living room has a real mix of styles from traditional, to Art Deco, to contemporary, plus a mid century bar in the corner.

The dining room is kind of small, but I like the wallpaper they chose.

Open family room/kitchen.

Nice, sunny room.

Walk out to the pool.

Very nice guest powder room. I wonder if they let the designers choose the colors, or if they requested this palette.

Huge TV/rec room with a full size bar.

A little disappointed in the primary bedroom.

Also not too impressed by the ensuite.

Needlework in progress in the closet/dressing room.

The designers put in this 4 bed bunk room suite.

Large hall w/stairs in the back of the home have access to the patio/pool and at the top of the stairs there's a sunny sitting room.

This 2 room suite has a sitting room, a beautiful view facing the mountains, and is decorated in mid century modern style.

And, this looks like a young person's room.

Pink and green suite.

Very nice home office.

This is more of a private TV room than a home theater.

This patio looks like an outdoor bistro.

Down here, there's a private hot tub area.

Playing area. Looks like Bocci Ball or something.

Beautiful pool with a fireplace sitting area under a pergola, plus a full outdoor kitchen. The lot is .39 acre.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1529-Amalfi-Dr-Pacific-Palisades-CA-90272/20546226_zpid/?

[deancasbigbang]

Title: Song of the Loon

Author: Desirae

Artist: eggchef

Rating: Explicit

Pairings: mentions of past Dean/Lisa

Length: 24438

Warnings: n/a

Tags: Narrator Castiel/Campground owner Dean, strangers to friends to lovers, past family trauma, survivors guilt, substance abuse(not Dean or Cas), Nurturer Dean, Hurt/Comfort, canon typical violence, angst with a happy ending, cabin by the lake fic

Posting Date: October 24, 2024

Summary: Dean Winchester is expecting a quiet, if not awkward, summer. His estranged brother Sammy was coming to visit from California, and all the chores around his lakeside cabin were not enough to distract him from his nerves. That is until an unexpected phone call from Sam’s sponsor, Gabriel, called with a favor: Could Dean put Gabriel’s brother Castiel up for the summer, no questions asked? Audiobook narrator Castiel Novak is exhausted and travel-weary. Fresh off of a book tour, Castiel arrived home to find his longtime online stalker has been to his apartment. At the urging of his brother, Castiel finds himself on a road trip to Angel’s Peak, Maine, where his host, Dean, is as stunning as the mountain view. Although Castiel and Dean feel an immediate connection, Cas is guarded, with emotional baggage he doesn’t want to inflict on his new friend. Will a summer in the wilds of Maine be enough for Dean break through Castiel’s walls and prove that he is worthy of love and protection? 

Excerpt: Castiel or C.J. Krushnic as he was known in the literary world, had spent the last few months doing the convention circuit promoting the latest book in the paranormal series. Very much an introvert, these events pushed Castiel far beyond his comfort zone, but the book series' popularity had made conventions a part of the job. This latest had been his third and he was getting better at sitting up on stage with fellow panelists. Castiel’s heart beat a fast staccato, as he answered questions about what it was like to give voice to characters like The Wesson brothers; his face a stoic mask as Castiel adhered to the requests to read book passages aloud in his distinctive gravelly voice.  He’d gotten through it, but now Castiel was drained and all he wanted was quiet and space.  Peering over the railing, Castiel heard the belligerent bellowing of a taxi driver and the jarring blare of a horn being pressed. Castiel sighed again. He needed to get away. Somewhere quiet, where he could just exist in peace and solitude. Castiel left the balcony, closing the doors behind him. With a jaw-cracking yawn, he dragged his boned tired body across the living room, back through to the bedroom, and into the ensuite bathroom. He set his now empty whiskey glass on the counter with an audible click. Tired blue eyes stared back at him from the mirror above the sink. Frowning, Castiel tore his gaze away from himself and turned on the water, cupping it in his palms before scrubbing it briskly over his stubbled face. His dark hair stood in tufts and he could use a shave, but Castiel just didn't have the energy. Wandering back out into the living room, Castiel absent-mindedly clicked on the television, noting that an old season of Tournament of Champions was playing. He left the cooking show on and grabbed the mail from on top of the suitcase. Slouching back onto his couch, Castiel rifled through the thick stack. It was mostly junk mail plus what looked like a belated birthday card from his older brother Gabriel that said I wish you love, laughter, and ha! Penis. Castiel snorted, fingering the last envelope in his hand. Furrowing his brow, he realized it was blank, save his pen name in a loopy scrawl. That was strange. Nobody had mentioned anyone dropping anything off for him when he picked up his mail at the front desk. Castiel opened the envelope and pulled out a slip of paper. His stomach plummeted unpleasantly as he read the words on the page. The sound of your voice, the way our eyes met, it is inevitable. You belong to me. -HeartsAflame With shaking fingers, Castiel pulled out his phone and quickly tapped on his brother's icon. Gabriel picked up on the first ring.  “Hey, broseph! How was your tour?” Castiel ignored the question. “Gabriel, they found my apartment,” he said, voice audibly shaken. “Sit tight, Cassie. I’m on my way.”

DCBB 2024 Posting Schedule

[dunjadojcinovic]

Kozara hike

⛰️Activity title: Kozara hike

⛰️Duration and time: 8 hours

⛰️Date: 24th of March

⛰️Type of activity: activity

Activity description

⛰️Our school organized a hiking trip to a mountain nearby. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day but we went anyway. We traveled by bus, got there at 9 a.m. hiked to one top called Kozaracki kamen and then continued on our route to Mrakovica, where the monument is located. We had a lunch there, pasulj, which translates to bean soup, a traditional dish to those regions. After that, we went to a coffee shop to warm up, because our clothes were all wet and muddy. With our tea we played a few card games and went back home.⛰️

Learning outcomes

Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.

Reflection

⛰️This was a rather unexpected adventure. The rain just added to it. It was enjoyable to spent time outside of the city. Reaching the top of Kozaracki kamen felt like an achievement, and the view, though clouded, still carried a sense of accomplishment. Overall, the trip was a reminder that even when conditions aren’t ideal, making the best of a situation can lead to lasting memories. The pictures are here to show that we were STRUGGLING, but still wearing happy faces.⛰️

[astramthetaprime]

IceMav Landmarks

For the curious, here’s a few real-world points of interest with regards to the Shooting Star series:  

Ice and Mav’s first little house that they buy in “The Night Road” is located just to the west of Oxnard College in Oxnard, CA.  There is no specific neighborhood to pinpoint.  It’s within a quarter-mile of the college, with a natural foods co-op market within a mile west or southwest of it.  

Their second house is located in Simi Valley, in a relatively new and actually quite wealthy subdivision.  It’s within 2 miles of the Simi Dog Park, so that when Mav goes out for his daily run he runs to the dog park and back for the full 4 miles as he intends to do in “Hiding and Hunted”.  Ice and Mav mostly designed the new house (with the help of an architect) and had it built in 2018, so it’s still very new.  

Sarah’s psychotherapy practice is in Pasadena, CA.  Look up the Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA and the picture that comes up on Google Maps is the model I had for her office as used in “The Devil You Know”.  

NAS Point Mugu and Point Mugu State Park are as in the real world, though of course with my own inventions as to their layouts and contents.  They’re quite a ways west of the city, on the coast.  Oxnard is north and west of the base so it’s an easy drive in to work for Ice and Mav, and not too much longer later once they build the Simi Valley house.  

Slider went home to New York after he left the Navy but once Avex Aeronautics became a real going concern they relocated their operations to Phoenix, AZ and he relocated there himself.  I don’t have a specific location for where he lives though, but I imagine it’s near Sky Ranch at Carefree in the northeast part of the city where he keeps the little red jet.  When he comes up to see Ice and Mav he flies out of there and lands at Camarillo Airport which is near their Simi Valley house.

Sayyad, Kholm, the AH-76 and FOB Robatak in "The Night Road” are real places, as is the narrow valley where Mav was shot down.  Look up Sayyad, Afghanistan and you’ll see the AH-76, then just west of that you’ll see the mountains that constitute the narrow valley.  The south end of those mountains are the narrow part where Mav flies sideways on one wingtip, and what told Ice he’d been bored with the patrol pattern and was playing when he was shot down.  The place where Mav was found by Bowcott and his squad is Saighanchi between Sayyad and Kholm.  I used the pictures on that entry quite a lot as to what the terrain was like in the area, the caves, etc.

Dryden Flight Research Center is a real place, though these days it’s been renamed to NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.  If you look it up on Google Maps and switch to the terrain view, look at the dry lake bed to the east of the center.  They’ve got a very convenient compass and several landing strips carved into the dry lake bed.  Almost directly east from the center, at the edge of the lake bed, you’ll see a small mountain with no name that looks like it’s been split down the middle from east to west.  This is Turnaround Hill, where Slider and Sarah went to watch Mav on his Mach 10 flight in “The Shooting Star” and where the disturbance and Alan appeared in “Windfall”.  

Hope you enjoy!