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Happy Anniversary! This last Sunday Fritz and i are married 35 years. It is so amazing how the years have gone by seemingly so quickly. Our early years together, raising a family for 25 years, and now the empty nest time for the last 6 years or so. On Labor day weekend we made a fun little trip up to San Luis Obispo to try something new. WE TOOK the TRAIN.! It was definitely a first for me to try this. We packed back packs for over night and we rode around the town, eventually to a park to relax. We had a small lunch at a little Belgium place BELFRITs that my niece Bonnie had showed me once. What a treat! We probably could have ridden to Avila Beach and next time we try this we probably will. I was the chicken. How many miles is it???? We rode up to the Apple farm where we stayed. Cute little place that we had never stayed at. I stop here every time I drive up to Napa and Pleasanton. Its my gas, coffee, bathroom break all in one. So to actually stay in one of the well decorated cute rooms was truly a treat. Especially the Hot Tubs! After riding up hill to get there, it felt so good. Fritz and i had a nice dinner out and we rode all over Cal Poly the next day. In our college days when we met, we were both going to Cal Poly Pomona. Well SLO Cal Poly has so many of the same buildings, programs, Dorms, etc that we experienced, so It was fun to ride around the EMPTY campus. ( Remember, this is Labor Day). We had a really great time and we a planning our next Bike trip down to see Phillip in Dana Point and getting off in San Juan Capistrano. For our anniversary dinner last Sunday, Fritz took me to the Stone House at the San Ysidro Ranch. It was a culinary treat for us. And then on the 14th I created my own chef's delight of Fritz' favorite dinner of Broccoli and chicken. ( any suggestions for a new name here?)
What a busy adventurous 2 weeks this has been. This last Tuesday night I flew to Boston Red_Eye to be with Rachel and Johan and see their new place. I had such a nice time with Rachel and we cooked one of their favorite meals-- Mexican Fajitas. On Thursday Marilyn from Kansas City arrived. I took her on the freedom trail, visiting all the main sites, plus the beautiful Boston Library, and the Boston Gardens and the Commons. Johan treated us to his now Famous French Onion soup. Rachel delighted us with her quiche. Definitely with the European touch which we love. We said our farewells and on Friday Marilyn and I were off on our adventure to Martha's vineyard. Traveling there is no easy task for a Californian who likes to jump in her car and go. Its walk with everything-- suitcase, purse, computer bag, shopping bag etc. We took the T-line to the train and bus depot, to take the bus to a harbor. Then we took a ferry across the channel to the island, again lug everything around to try to find the car rental place and finally jump in a car and go. Only took about 4 1/2 hours total to travel a total of 70 miles maybe? Actually at least 1 hour was waiting in the line for the bus at the station since I was off by an hour for our departure.
Details, details. .... This really is like a journal you know, if you have gotten this far. ....
Next we enjoyed driving all over Martha's vineyard and staying at a farm on the vineyard with ponies, llamas, sheep, goats, donkeys and a few skunks and snakes also along our path. Its was the most restful and beautiful little place I could ever have imagined. I was so blessed to be with a special friend, Marilyn and to be in such a beautiful place as this was. We were in heaven. The weather was wonderful, the walks on the beach, all the scenery ..... it was wonderful. What can I say? I am thankful for a Santa Barbara friend who gave me the opportunity to stay here. It was an incredible gift of time and relaxation.
As an artist I found so many wonderful places for artistic inspirations. We took pictures of all the lighthouses that I could get to. I have lots of material to paint and enjoy again and again. My very first canvas painting from Cal Poly days in the 70's was a lighthouse! My Dad has it now. Coming to the east coast in the past, the lighthouses inspired me to try painting again. And here I am... I shall be putting my artist's palette to use with all the pictures and inspiration I gathered. More lighthouse pictures to come!!
