West Coast highlights

My vacation to California, Oregon and Washington in late October and early November was filled with deepened connections and reconnections with dear friends and family. Below are the highlights. I didn't get photos of everyone...missing are John & Barbara (brother & sister-in-law), Elena (friend from high school and beyond) and Rick (first husband). Here's what I did capture:

Japan Town, San Francisco - with Victoria as my tour guide.

Victoria at the entrance to the Japanese restaurant where we dined in Pacifica, CA.

View from the Highlands Inn, Carmel, CA, where I breakfasted with Elena.

View from Pacific Grove, CA beach.

Brother, Chris, with little Arnold.

Me, enjoying the P.G. ocean air.

Jamie and me at Baja Cantina in Carmel Valley, CA.

Sisters-in-law.

Sister and brother.

Joseph at home in Walla Walla, WA (before his haircut).

Pigs!

Joseph and Aunt Nancy.

Joseph and Janet preparing to carve Halloween pumpkins.

Janet's creation!

"The Howling" by Joseph.

Halloween smiles from me, Joseph and Janet.

Joseph with the lighted pumpkins.

Heather and me playing "Parks."

Heather and me, at my Portland, OR, Vrbo cottage.

California again

Alex, Nancy, and Chris at The Giant Artichoke on Cannery Row

Dad/Jack enjoying The Giant Artichoke

Jamie, looking good!

Dad and Alex at CHOMP

Nancy and Dad at CHOMP

Dad and Alex at CHOMP

Dad and Nancy at CHOMP

Picnic at Pebble Beach

Nancy

Dad, Nancy, and Jamie

California highlights

Pops in his home environment.

Chris and Pumpkin, at Jamie's cabin.

Jamie and Pumpkin.

Chris and Nancy.

Chris and Jamie.

The doggies.

Jamie, Dad, and Chris at Point Lobos.

Nancy, Dad, and Chris.

Dad at CHOMP, with the orchids given by Jamie.

Jamie and Dad.

Dad, at Fandango's for Easter brunch.

Chris.

Joyce.

Motley and Pops.

back to the land

I've been talking about our land in the San Luis Valley, CO, for some years now. We purchased 36 acres of raw land in 2005, and have now visited the land and the general area 3 times. Our most recent visit to the property was nearly a year ago, soon after we moved to Durango. Since Alex is currently on spring break, we decided to take a trip east and show Mom the site of our future home. (And hers, as well, perhaps.)

We decided it would be fun to take the southern route there, stopping in Taos, NM for a short visit. We didn't have much time, so I wasn't able to get to any of the museums, but we enjoyed shopping and eating in the main plaza.

Here we are taking a break at The Gorge Restaurant, which overlooks the plaza:



Mom gets friendly with the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Bear:



Our first night we stayed at a motel that turned out the be flea-ridden and generally below par. So we spent our second and final night at the gorgeous and luxurious El Monte Sagrado. We didn't manage to get many photos while we were there, but clicking on the link above will provide an excellent idea of our experience.

Below, Mom and I pose in the hotel lobby:



On our way out of town, heading north to San Luis and the land, Alex couldn't resist stopping to take this photo of an enigmatic "Jesus Sale" at a roadside store. Makes me wonder what a "Pagan Sale" might look like.



And, finally, we make it to the property, which is just over an hour from Taos. I'm peering out the window of Mom's car which valiantly traversed the sage-and-tumbleweed terrain. In the foreground is the marker which indicates the far corner of our 36 acres:



Alex was quite content to brave the unusually fierce winds to take advantage of the photo-op at the above-said property marker:



This wide shot of the marker shows the view we have of the Sangre De Christo mountains to the east of us:



Mom enjoys taking in the views from the safety and warmth of the car:



Another of our requisite self-portraits:



And, finally, I celebrate our future dream home with a tumbleweed cheer!