California Vacation 2009

California Vacation 2009

This is the time of year we always fly out to visit with my sister, Andrea, and her husband, Jim. We revisited several places we have gone before. We have such a lovely time together.

This year, we stayed at Baywood Inn again at our favorite place, sort of a bed and breakfast.

We didn't get to karaoke at the little bar there which was a bit disappoiinting, but hey! There were awesome costumes, and mostly we just sat, had drinks and observed, and maybe sometimes gawked. Maybe nothing! We GAWKED! It was so much fun.

We can't go without visiting the elephant seals.

Due to the lack of water, it was sad to see where once there were crops, there were only brown fields.

One of the fun things we did in Fresno was to visit the world-renowned Underground Gardens of Artist-Builder Baldassare Forestiere. If you haven't been, you simply wouldn't believe what one man did.

For 40 years, Forestiere labored in his spare time, chipping and carving away at the unforgiving earth. With only his farmer’s tools—picks, shovels,wheelbarrows, and a scraper pulled by his two mules, Dolly and Molly. No dynamite or modern mechanical methods were used.

Forestiere hand-carved in his spare time, a work unlike any this country had ever seen.

http://www.undergroundgardens.com/amazingfacts.html

http://www.forestiere-historicalcenter.com/Forestierebio.html

"To make something with lots of money, that is easy. But to make something out of nothing -- that now, is something!"
Baldassare Forestiere

October 28 November 4, 2009256 Images21214 visitsAlbum by Jacqueline

PA280003 10/28 Farmer's Market One of the lovliest you'll find and usually the first place we hit upon arriving.	PA280005	PA280007 An unusual array of mushrooms.	PA280008 I would love to try some of these, but I wouldn't EVEN have any idea what to do with them.
PA290010 Table Mountain Casino We had great fun donating a few dollars to the casino. We usually go there while Jim and Andrea work.	PA290011 One reason we love to come here is for their fabulous Ham Steak breakfast..and it's only $7.00. A word to the wise should you ever go there. They will let you share breakfast. Just remember that! And the coffee is terrific! www.tmcasino.com	PA290013 Sister, Andrea. Isn't she beautiful? She loves Spanky.	PA290014 Spanky's brother Butch. They are 13 but he is forever a 5 year old.
PA300015 The avocado at the back of Jim and Andrea's property. This avocado is a Suzanne, and other than the seed, you can eat the whole thing.	PA300017 There are three on the tree. They still had some growing time to go.	PA300018 Butch and Spanky's green pepper bush. They love those peppers. The peppers are part of their daily diet. Isn't that funny!	PA300021 Spanky - the boss.
PA300022 Butchy is getting so gray, but he's a lovely boy.	PA300025 Bad hair day??	PA300023 No, it's old man cactus.	PA300026 The bosses.
PA300027 My honey of 43 years, 44 in January.	PA300028 Peggy works for Jim and Andrea.	PA300031 I love this. "I hope you are having a good day. If you are not having a good day, then start having a good day." How simple can it be!	PA300032 The warehouse.
PA300033	PA300035 Up on the rafters. Some game they're playing!! Reminds me of a "hamburger patty on the ceiling game" many, many years. Never did find out who threw it up there. No one wants to fess up after all these years.	PA300037 The break/smoking area.	PA300038 Some of the copiers they sell.
PA300039 I don't know where this lovely fairy came from. It looks like it was drawn.	PA300047 I found these next few pictures scrolling on one of the computers in their office. Early 1960s. Had to have them, so I took pics as they scrolled by. This is mama and brother, Stephens. He has his Navy uniform on, so I suppose this was either before Viet Nam, or perhaps he was home for visit. I just noticed that he and mama have similar smiles.	PA300048 Somewhere in Mexico at a banana plantation. I didn't get to go for some reason. Their guide to the left. Mama, Andrea, Rebecca, Madeline, David, Sharon, and our son, Scott, in front. Don't see Stephens. Come to think of it, I'm not sure he went on that trip.	PA300052 I love this picture. Somewhere in Mexico. Scott was about three. I know it was before David and I married.
PA300051 Scott, probably around seven.	PA300053 We called ourselves "The Six Sisters and the Boy Next Door." William Everett Milton was our director, and left to right, me, Andrea, Madeline, Sharon, Rebecca, and Frieda, our sister-in-law. We were in a talent show. Seems we won. Eventually we sang at KVIL radio station on Ron Chapman's show, and I believe KVIL was in North Park at that time. We sang "Sing a Rainbow". It was great for harmony. Red and yellow and pink and green, purple and orange and blue. You can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, too. Listen with your eyes,listen with your eyes, and hear everything you see. You can sing a rainbow, Sing a rainbow, Sing along with me.	PA300054 One of our vacations. Royal Gorge maybe?	PA300055 Sharon.
PA300056 Bullfight in Mexico City. That was both exciting, and scary. Seemed to have a rather romantic flavor to the event at the time. I don't believe I'd want to see another. We were told that when a bull is killed, it goes to an orphanage for food.	PA300057 David's and my wedding day. January 29, 1966 My friend, Karen, was my maid of honor.	PA300058 There we are, the newlyweds. We married January 29, 1966, in Wolfe City, Texas. It was cold and there was snow and ice on the ground. We honeymooned at The Lamplighter Inn in Dallas, and ate at Shakey's Pizza that night.	PA300059 My father-in-law Bill Spradling back left. Mother-in-law Nellie. I really miss him. He was a good, good man. We are fortunate to get to see her often.
PA300060 Scott. Fishing off a barge somewhere in Mexico City. He is a beautiful child.	PA300062 We all know what this is. Back then, if you had been married before, you couldn't wear white. It was a lovely wedding, and I believe the whole thing cost about $250.	PA300063 Cathy, Scott, sister Rebecca and brother Stephens.	PA300049 Our Cathy. Maybe about four.