A Sunday Drive

TRIP ~ DAY 3
more story than pictures . . . 

I was an odd kid.  I loved Sunday drives with my family.  They were pretty.  And quiet.  A lovely respite for me from the constant chatter of my mom & sister.  My dad loved California, having moved here in 1938, when he was 12.  He liked wilderness and trees and he drove us some fun places.

So last Sunday I drove my daughter & her boyfriend North.  It was a beautiful day for a drive.  At the Flea Market sign I got some interest.   My daughter has been dragged to so many flea markets and they aren't her thing.  Who knew her boyfriend was such a sport?  We stopped.

Not my usual flea market.  Here we saw beautiful First Communion

 . . . and Quincenera dresses!

Colorful fruit and veggies . . .

 

. . . and the young men selling them.

They  were teasing each other about being in my photographs, so I made them both stand still for this one.  I probably should have gotten vegetables also, but my daughter was worried they were making fun of us so I took this quick.  They weren't making fun, they were just cute kids.  When I pointed out that she & I know enough Spanish to know when we are being dis-ed, she was ok!

On through Napa, Healdsburg, St Helena . . . wine country.  

We didn't stop at any wineries or vineyards.  Nor did I take photos.  Trust me, it was beautiful, even with the grapevines dormant!

Calistoga

Almost 40 years ago, when I met my husband, this was a sleepy little town.  We used to come here on our days off from summer camp to do laundry and get soup at a cool organic, vegetarian restaurant.

 Victorian Cottages

 Great Porches

Architectural Details.

I wanted to live here, heck, I still do.  But my DH has never thought there would be enough work for a jazz musician.  He's probably right, but I get nostalgic for the life that might have been whenever I visit.

 Redwoods, looking up

Up over the hill we drove to Middletown, the former home of the summer camp where my chosen family (as opposed to birth family) began.  I met my husband there, and years later our son, age 9, & daughter, age 6, started going.  They spent three summers, loving the place every bit as much as we had!

We drove back on the Silverado Trail.  I love that name, so romantic.  Years ago it was rural and western.  Today its mostly wineries and vineyards.  It's still beautiful and it was a lovely day spent with my dearest daughter and her equally dearest young man.  This was an absolute perfect day for me!

Japanese Tea Garden

TRIP ~ DAY 2, part 2

After the Academy of Sciences, I kind of dragged the kids over to The Japanese Tea Garden, also in Golden Gate Park.  I love this place.  I try to get here whenever I am in San Francisco.  My daughter & her boyfriend had never been and he perked up everytime I  mentioned it, so I made sure we got there before they closed.  So glad!  Both kids loved it and probably will go back. 

 

Beautiful Vista.

Red Pagoda.

An elegant path.

It's difficult to get the full scope of this garden at a single spot.  The paths twist and turn.  Around each curve, there is some element of beauty or surprise.  That is on purpose.  The idea is to keep the visitor focused on where they are walking.  Then each new element can be seen separately. It is very peaceful!

A large pond with many overlooks.

Path over stream.

Designed so you have to watch your feet crossing!

Large Lantern.

Steep stairs.

High Drum Bridge.

More steepness.

This image is from google.  My photo had the kid's heads cut off! 

Sand Garden.

I love these, they are so peaceful.

The sand represents water.

Buddha

After walking through the garden in chilly temperatures, we went to the Tea House for tea, mochi (rice paste sweet treats) and hot chocolate.  My daughter declared it the best hot chocolate she's ever had!

California Academy of Sciences

TRIP ~ DAY 2

The second day of my winter trip.  My daughter & her boyfriend took me to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.  What an amazing place.  We could have spent the entire day there.

First up African Penguins . . .

 The keeper, hosing down their living quarters.

It was fun to watch them interact with her!

 Fronds distributed to the birds.

Some grabbed them.

Some did not.

 

Penguin carrying frond into cave.

Are they food? 

Nesting material?

Art supplies?

We never figured it out, but had fun watching!

Seahorse railing.

It keeps visitors from falling into the albino alligator pool.

Bugs, Butterflies, Sea Creatures.

The words are not the creatures' names, but human -- adopt a creature, support the Academy -- just like those who's names are above each metal seahorse.

Frog on plant.

You can see I did not pay attention to names and classification.  The shapes, the colors, the composition - that I paid attention to!

Sea Anemone.

My camera supplied this color.

COOL!

Jelly Fish

A light source supplied a rainbow of color.

This jelly is translucent white.  They are in a circular tank because they move with the current and if their tank is square or rectangular, they would all end up stuck in the corners.

Don't you love learning new things?

I was so enthralled I sometimes forgot to take photos.  My daughter kept reading signs and telling me cool info.  It was a marvel.  And we didn't even see the planetarium or rain forest!  If you're in San Francisco, do visit.  It is worth the price, really!

The University of California, Berkeley

TRIP ~ DAY 1

The first day of my winter trip.  Little did I know California would really feel like Winter!  Honestly, it's in the 40's in the Bay Area, not a usual thing.  Wish I had brought more turtleneck sweaters!

 

That said, there were more than a few of these blooms on a tree at the entrance to Cal, the University of California, Berkley

 

A stream on campus.

 All the rain has made these streams lush.

 A perfect place for playing "Pooh Sticks."

Even college students need children's games.

 It should be no surprise I was drawn to the library.

Also, I needed to recharge my camera battery and I knew they would have plugs and lovely places to sit & read!

Indoor staircases.

Periodical Reading Room.

Amazing Ceiling!

This one is in the Periodicals Room.

 North Reading Room

North Reading Room.

 

Reference Stacks.

I feel so at home!

 Couches, waiting for students to return and sit on them!

After I left the library I wandered back to town, marveling at the architecture of this magnificient campus. I was not a student here.  During my freshman college year, I visited a high school friend who was.  As vibrant and beautiful as it was, I knew I needed a much smaller campus with many less students to enjoy college!  

 

Artsy shot of the Clocktower.

I love these trees!

This building is across from the Library entrance.

Close-up of above building.

 Classical Architecture.

 Do you like the botanical (tree) framing the building's name?

 

A beautiful modern building.

Just outside campus, a Mission-style church.

Thanks for hanging in til the end of these photos.  There was so much to see and photograph, and it was so beautiful!  California will always feel like home.  I had a wonderful day!

On My Way!

The winter trip for My Birthday Year has commenced!

I'm visiting my daughter.

Since Ice Age was a real favorite of hers, this video seems so appropriate!

I had quite a few blogs in my head that I wanted to post before leaving home -- about the birthday year, my travel style, all sorts of things.  But I was stretched for time.  Packing for a month was hard enough.  Finding photos that would go on the blogs was time consuming.  And I might have enough time if I forgot about trying to find that perfect sweater for this trip in a pretty oatmeal shade.  blog or shopping?  tough decision and I haven't made it  before leaving.  Of course I could always have decided to rearrange the furniture.  This is another thing I have done just before leaving for a trip.  Sanity, I tell you is an issue before the train, plane, automobile departs!

What I've Learned As A Mother

I got an email from a new friend with a new baby who wrote "I have been overwhelmed and undersleeping. He is my first and I am clueless."

I thought, "Weren't we all?" 

Over the course of the last 26 years I have learned a few things ~
*  Never wake a sleeping baby.
*  Listen to your kids.  Even as babies, mine would communicate what they needed.  If I listened, it became easier to meet their needs.  It also eliminates the "mommy, mommy, mommy" chant in the grocery store.
*  I need to be the mom.  My kids will make lots of friends in their lifetime, but they only have one mom.  Much as I might want to be their friend, I have a different job in their life, at least til they're grown-ups.
*  Parents love their children.  Sometimes we just need to learn how to express it.  This book really helped!
*  Children love their parents and want to please them.
*  Sometimes when a kid knows they have done wrong they will feel so bad that yelling at them is overkill.
*  At some point every child will say, "I hate you Mommy."  Hope & pray that on that day you feel so calm that your only response is, "I'm sorry you feel like that.  I love you very much."
*  It's a wonderful thing to get the baby's father involved in their care.  If he dresses your girl all in green camouflage, be grateful he dressed her, and say thank you! 
*  If you're going to give your kids choices, be sure you are OK with whatever they pick!
 *  Sometimes the only thing to do is stop and pray.  

Does it get easier?  I don't know.  Eventually they sleep through the night.  Then they become college students and again want to be fed in the middle of the night.  Luckily you can tell 18 year olds to get their own food.

   Waking my daughter is still not a good thing.

Yelling at my son is still overkill. 

I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.  Being a mom is the very best thing gift I have ever been given.