Okay, enough about the weather, what have we been up to this summer? Lots of stuff. I never did get to my kitchen cabinets this summer, I got zero cooperation from my boys when I asked them to remove the cabinet doors for sanding. I should have unplugged all forms of electronic entertainment and social media. I drew out a plan of possible improvements to the back yard and trust me anything would be an improvement. The hubby and I took a quick turn around trip to Vegas to see his D.O.D. (dear old dad). We went on a week long (sort of) vacation up the coast. I finally got to the Garment district in LA and I sewed.
On they way home from our Vegas trip, we stopped at Peggy Sue's 50's diner. We usually stop either in Baker at the Mad Greek or Barstow at the In n Out. When the kids are with us, we hardly ever get past the In n Out, for them it's the ultimate.
My cold frosty Diet Coke at Peggy Sue's! It was over 100 degrees in the high dessert on this day so this was totally worth it!
Part of Peggy Sue's, the place is bigger than it looks from the freeway, not too far away is a Marine Corp Base, they apparently deliver. (Peggy's delivers, not the Marines base) They also have a "Dinersaur" park that fronts the freeway. It reminds me of Tom's Farms near my house but quirkier. They also have a duck pond, with ducks that aren't shy about quacking at you if you get too close.
Next up our vacation up the Coast, first stop was for lunch in Downtown LA, we stopped at Phillipes and had French Dip Sandwiches, THE BEST!!! I don't know anything about this woman but she has been there for years and makes the best sandwiches!
So we hit the road and traveled onward. Next stop, the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. This is the place with the themed rooms. The hubby was able to cross off visiting the men's room from his bucket list. The men's room has a waterfall urinal. My boy's didn't want to use it. The ladies room was an extremely tacky shade of pink and gold. Now I like the color pink, but this was even too much for me. Below is the dining room of one of their restaurants.
We stopped for the night in a little coastal town called Cayucos and stayed in an old fashioned motel/motor lodge. After checking in and freshening up we headed into town, so to speak, for dinner. We parked right on the beach and then went for clam chowder at a place called Duckies. I highly recommend this town and restaurant!
Cameron digging in and Jordan mocking me for taking pictures.
The next morning we headed out about 8:00 and hit the road again. Prior to leaving we stopped at the Post Office so John could send a post card off to Andrew while waiting in the car I spotted this gorgeous house across the street. I could happily retire here.
We stopped about 10:30 for something to eat in Big Sur at the Big Sur Bakery. While the boys thought the place was gorgeous they were not impressed with the food. Very organic and as they put it, very much a hippy place. Well you can't please everyone.
This is the ladies restroom, very picturesque with a fully functioning toilet inside.
John walking one of the paths. I stopped in the gift shop because I love little shops. I was neither impressed with the prices or the wares. It was the same stuff I have seen for years at the Renaissance Faire but at 3 times the price! And believe me the prices at the Renaissance Faire are ridiculous!
Next stop Carmel, gorgeous town! I could retire here too. Of course I would have to sell everything I own including my kids. This is where I learned something about my son Cameron. He likes traveling but he likes getting to where we're going. He doesn't like stopping. We told the kids we were going to spend a few days in San Francisco so that's what he was focused on. All the stops for him were annoying because they delayed him from where we were going. Who knew? Jordan and Jonathan just sat back and enjoyed the trip. We used to call Cam our 100 mile kid. When he was little he was good in the car for 100 miles, 101 miles and he would start to scream. Not great on trips where you have a hubby who is competing against some past record where he made it to Vegas in 3 hours 37 minutes.
The Carmel Mission this was about an hour or so side tour.
My boys looking at the bell tower
We stopped for a late lunch/early dinner in Santa Cruz at the Santa Cruz Diner. We're big fans of Diners Drive inns and Dives with Guy Fieri, I also have the Flavortown app on my phone and this was on it so we decided to try it. Not great, I was underwhelmed by the food. Santa Cruz is a cute town I wouldn't have minded spending a day or 2 there. Sorry no pictures of the diner.
As we traveled up the coast, I realized I didn't bring any jeans with me for San Francisco where the weather was in the balmy high 60's. So we stopped at Walmart north of Monterrey. John had forgotten to pack a belt and Jonathan a jacket. John and I found what we needed but we couldn't find one sweatshirt in all of Walmart! We did see some interesting people in there. I wish I had gotten some pictures.
Here is Cameron in the car after Walmart, Jordan pointed out that he had color coordinated his clothing to his snack: That's my boy! As you can see he is just done with this road trip. I also promised him I wouldn't post this pic on Facebook, I made no promises about the blog.
We arrived at our lodgings for the next few nights and decided to hit San Francisco early the next morning. We stayed in Millbrae about 20 minutes south of the city. The first place we took the boys was the Golden Gate Bridge. This is from the car driving across the north bound side
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| Alcatraz from the North side of the Golden Gate |
My boys on the bridge. Jordan and Cameron decided to walk all the way back across the bridge, we drove back and picked them up on the other side.
Cameron at Ghiradelli Square. Did we have lunch here? Nope, we had lunch at In n Out on the Embarcadero so Jordan could cross that off his bucket list.
It said photo spot so I took a photo
A woman's biggest complaint, restroom lines. For every one restroom built for men 4 should be built for women!
This was the next morning, before we boarded the Duck Tour, we stopped in at the Musee Machanique or however it's spelled. You may recognize this machine from the movie "The Princess Diaries"
Jonathan on the Duck Tour. They tour you around the city then drive right into the bay in the same vehicle. It's a lot of fun and they let you steer the vehicle when you're in the Bay.
After lunch we took a trolley bus to Union Square so I could visit Britex Fabrics. 4 stories of amazing fabrics. I was with my boys so I'm happy for the 20 minutes I got in the store. I could have just spent an entire day in there. Then an uphill climb to Chinatown. This is the first vacation I've been on where I lost weight even though I ate everything in front of me.
Jordan wanted to buy rainbow shoes for school this year and we found these. He decided not to get them since he is not a big fan of Converse.
Jonathan found this hat.
After we got home my some Andrew emailed me this picture of him and a lady he has been teaching. I love how happy he looks.
Our trip home was accomplished much more quickly than the trip up. We came down the 5 fwy through the Central Valley. We stopped outside of Gilroy at the Casa de Fruta for fruit and snacks. I found sugar free chocolate covered macadamia nuts the size of large cherries. It was excellent. We had a few beach trips this summer and most of the sewing I did was alterations. I have two other projects to do for friends that I need to start then hopefully my time can be spent cleaning out and organizing my house and garage. I always have these ambitious plans at the beginning of the summer that never happen because like my kids I like to play in the summer. I was invited to Los Angles by my friend Natalie last week and I scored some sweet deals on fabric. I found a few pieces that will add to my fall wardrobe and some other stuff I can use to make clothes to sell. So many ideas I don't know where to start.
Well it's now 10:05 in the morning and I am still in my robe, I need to get going, eat something then get laundry sorted. I will try to post again soon.
Take care,
Terri
