Mushroom hunting and new friends

Thomas and I are part of a cool community called Couch Surfing. Since we won't be doing much travel this year and next we decided to make friends from around the world by inviting them to stay with us. In November we hosted our first CS friends, Wendy and Gary. They came to visit for Thanksgiving week and stayed with us for a few days. Gary and Wendy are a fantastic couple. On their first day visiting Sonoma County we took them for a late afternoon hike at Shiloh Park. (Following 4 Pictures taken by Wendy)

While the were with us we introduced them to Salvadorean food and curing olives and they showed us how to play Catan.


Who knew you could have fun with wood and sheep.

It was a fabulous time. Thank you G & W, hope to visit you some day in West Virginia.


In November we also attended our first mushroom foray with the local SOMA group. We brought Kayla along for the fun.


She was the only kid in the group that day and you could hear her kid voice in the forest every time she found a mushroom. Mushroom! Mushroom! Mushroom! Thomas I see a Mushroom!

There were so many great happenings that day. We learned to identify wild edible mushrooms, we played with Kayla in the forest, we made some great new friends, we ate some fantastic food and most of all we enjoyed abundant generosity. The folks at SOMA shared their knowledge and hunt with all who attended. Thank you guys and gals!

Love One Another

It was a rainy Friday afternoon but it was a perfect day. We had the wedding at the Yacht Club in Bodega Bay.


Dad, my youngest brother Marco and I awaiting the perfect moment to walk down the isle. I chose the Bach's Cello Suite No.1 in G major, Prelude by Yo-Yo Ma as my precessional song. When Thomas and I first lived together, Thomas would practice playing the cello everyday after work. Since he got home before I did, every day for a few weeks, he would great me with Yo-Yo Ma's rendition. It filled my heart with so much joy and I felt it again when I walked down the isle.

I borrowed an old Spanish tradition the 'Lasso' or 'Rope' which signifies unity. We wore it around our shoulders during our exchange of vows...
"With this ring, I give you my promise that from this day forward you should not walk alone. May my heart be your shelter and my arms be your home. May we walk together through all things. May you feel deeply cherished, for indeed you are. May you always see your innocence in my eyes. With this ring, I give you my love. I have no greater gift to give. I promise I will do my best. I feel so honored to call you my husband/wife. May we feel this joy forever. I thank you. May the blessings be."

We were both so happy.

Our first kiss as the Mr. and Mrs.

Witnessed by our family and friends it does feel official.

Marco was our ring man. He took his job very seriously.


My family traveled from El Salvador to be with us. In birth order, my brother Billy, myself, Cristy, Tony (11 years after I was born), and Marco (30 years later).

The Paine Family.