A Special Place

    There was that special place we went to in WI every September….. renewing for the soul.  Now that special place is in CA in May.  We headed up to an area near Bakersfield and had wonderful days there.  It is at a farm that grows pistachios, walnuts, cotton and alfalfa.  This is the area of CA that is flat, flat, flat and only grows tumbleweeds if not irrigated.  You folks in the Midwest probably get a majority of your fruits, nuts and vegetables from this area.  To get there you travel over the Grapevine- a road that takes you up 4000 ft of elevation to get over the mountains.  It is a 3 1/2 hour trip if there aren't any traffic/accident delays.  It was very toasty hot there-especially on the weekend- high 90's.  I went earlier than Dave and this was one of my traveling companions :)

Well watered grass and areas of much appreciated shade.

Tenters stayed among the pistachio trees.

Pistachios

It is hard to see what Kenny has in his hand but he was quite pleased for that meeting. Dave caught a frog that was hopping through the meeting tent!

The road home- fields and fields of crops.

Grapevines

My new infusion pitcher from C&B.  Love the tasty water!

Monday night we beat the heat by heading to the coast. We did our 4 mile walk along the beach. Then we picked up carry out and this was our view for dinner! Very inexpensive beachfront dining. And that speck in the sky is Dave's plane! 

Catching up

Looking out form the stadium to the bay

  I have fallen behind on the blogging….my interest has waned a bit. Just too busy living and enjoying life here in sunny Cali.
   Our Brew Crew came to town so we ventured out to Petco Park to cheer them on. And we recruited Jacinda (formerly of Waukesha,WI) and her San Diego born husband Chad. It was a beautiful Monday evening near the bay. A beautiful baseball stadium.

Brewer fans

Gorgeous view of the SD skyline from our seats.

Ha ha! This is what native San Diegans do when it drops to 60 degrees!

So glad these "kids" don't mind hanging out with us older people!

Celebrated Jane's Birthday recently. My 2 beautiful friends who help exercise me.

Special brunch companions. Ayla and her mom Jeanelle. 

And Grannie Denita my cousin:) visiting from Oregon.

   Last Sunday we had a lovely day spent with friends. A wonderful morning fellowship meeting then lunch out. Then…… the big hike. We have been meaning to hike Mount Woodson for awhile now.  It is 6.4 mile roundtrip and 2000 ft elevation increase. So we were prepared- I am in much better shape than I was 1 year ago. It was a semi warm day that grew to feel HOT once we started hiking. Here is the mountain lion that is always advertised but rarely seen. Don't we look all set?

Lake Poway

This is as far as I got before collapsing in the shade with my power bar and water.  A new medication I am taking affected my metabolism/blood sugar and I decided to stop before someone had to carry me out! So I didn't get to the top.

Potato Chip Rock and a conquering Dave!

Trae and Dave

The crew minus Dave and me. Jeannie, Brooke, Scott, Jeanette, Colleen, and Trae.

Dave on his i pad playing me in Ruzzle while enjoying the couch he said we didn't need! He is a pretty awesome husband :)

Avocados, avocados, avocados

   Every April for the last gazillion years or so Fallbrook has hosted  the Fallbrook Avocado Festival. It is held on Sunday only. Last year we missed it so this year I was determined to experience it!  As many of you may know, Fallbrook is " the avocado capital of the world"  It is quite an honor to actually reside in THE AVOCADO CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!  Dave and I do our best to consume multiple avocados every week.  Dave likes his best all mushed up in guacamole. The festival involved some competitions like cars built out of avocados and the best guacamole. Sadly we missed these stellar events because we had a more important place to be on Sunday morning :) Apparently thousands of people clog the streets of downtown Fallbrook for the event. Main Street and the side arteries are crowded with tents/booths selling everything imaginable- junk and treasures alike. And food, food, food!  I wanted you all to get a taste of the festival so I snapped a few photos…..

Posing with the proteas

Mounds and mounds of fruit

Manila mangos are the BEST

Avocados anyone?

One of Fallbrook's building murals

This guacamole has won many competions and it was delicious!

Check out the guy to the left in the tight pink leopard capris….pretty sure he doesn't live in Fallbrook

The Avocado Growers were displaying the 100 varieties of avocados

Saw this at a booth- not tempted to apply!

Walking

     Walking has become my mission!  One month ago I had an eye opening appointment with an amazing doctor. She pieced together the whole picture of what has been going on and I am grateful! I won't bore you with all the details but I was very excited when she told me my thyroid had given up the ghost! It sure explained a lot and it sure is an easy fix- for less than $2 per month I can take a tiny pill. There are other things going on also but nothing that can't be fixed.  And you know doctors they think lifestyle changes should go along with the little tiny pills.  That being said….. I did some major dietary changes and am committed to exercising.  I detest the gym and with our AMAZING weather ( 80's today) there is no reason not to walk outside every day.  So I now put in between 3.5-7 miles a day and most of that is hills.  The weight loss is slow but the inches are dropping off and I feel so much better.  I try to mix it up so I don't get bored- the plan is to walk the beach tomorrow if this stupid newly acquired cold abates.  Here are some photos from recent walks.

The bloom from a passion fruit vine. 

Yes that is bamboo! Although I am not sure why anyone would plant this unless they had a pet panda.  It is a grass and it takes over.

Our friend Bill showing how huge this cactus is- not too beautiful in my eyes.

Sherry and Jim examining a gigantic geranium.

A close up.

Amaryllis in April? A friend of mine gave me several bulbs which I plopped in my beds in Dec.  Well lookey lookey here one is blooming!

My best walking buddies Julie and Jane.  My 7 mile walk day is with these ladies and it involves Starbucks for breakfast :) I am so sad that my cold made me miss this walk today. Guess I better go bake it out of me by sitting out in the warm sunshine!