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A number of years ago I was on a tour of Highgrove Royal Gardens in England. At this, the private residence of Their Royal Highness, we marveled at the beautiful hostas and ooohed and aaahed over the meadows of wildflowers. It was all quite stunning, my dears. And at the end of the tour guide slowed her pace. She lowered her voice nearly to a whisper as she announced “And here … we have … the California Wild Lilac!” Sounds of delight and awe rippled through our tour group. My colleague and I exchanged quick glances—so much build up for a native California plant that we routinely fly by on the highway without a second thought (no booing here, I truly love our hardworking ceanothus). And I couldn’t help but think about how much coddling and care must go into keeping that Mediterranean climate-loving shrub happy so far from its native soil.

It took 160 hours of training for a 7 ½ minute improvement. To set a personal-record (PR) at the California International Marathon (CIM) in Sacramento on Dec. 4, I had to train harder than ever. That meant running 60 miles a week, six days a week (Sunday was my lone day off). My "recovery" runs were anywhere from 7 to 8 miles.

With mortgage rates rising quickly post election, there has been much more attention paid to Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loans. Many people have stayed away from these types of loans in the past 10 years as the fallout from the mortgage meltdown drove the market to fixed rates. Also, when long term 30-year fixed rates are in the mid to low-threes, it doesn't make much sense to look at an ARM loan.

The mood went from dawn to dusk, a collection of contemporary paintings spanning the brilliance of an entire day in Monterey.

On a crisp, sun-laden day, I paid a visit to Sycamore Creek Vineyards, newly owned by Frank Leal of Leal Vineyards. The driveway was lined with Manzanillo olive trees whose ancient, gnarled trunks belied their recent plantings. The olive trees, strung with twinkling lights for evening magic, along with the lovely working women in the tasting room and the very solid wines—all trademarks of Frank Leal’s success in the business.

It’s the beginning of a new year, which means one thing is certain in the fitness industry: more new members sign up in January than in any other month of the year.

Aaron Rodriguez was selling sushi out of his house while he was still in high school. He was building a business and clientele before most kids even entertain the thought of culinary school. Rodriguez, 20, says it was the support of his clients that encouraged him to pursue being a chef.

In this space a month or so ago we asked the question: what will happen to rates? The answer for the past few weeks since the election has been, they are going up.

Half way up the Wine Trail on Watsonville Road, is Aver Family Vineyards, a hill-top winery with 180-degree views of the Uvas Valley and surrounding vineyards below.

As the whirlwind year of 2016 finally comes to a close, we’ve been witness to an impressive series of monumental happenings in world history, sports, entertainment and of course politics. For those that have been too caught up to make plans to ring in the New Year, here’s a list of local events to raise a glass for “Auld Lang Syne.”