Thursday, February 5, 2015

A Visit to Pacific Grove, CA 02-05-15

Yesterday Mary went to be with Joe at the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNIF) and I drove to Pacific Grove and Monterey.  I just couldn't convince her to go with me.  But I remember how I felt when my husband was hospitalized - I wanted to be there to keep track of every pill and to be sure he was well taken care of. 
 
Lunch with Gail Abeloe and Joan Hughes was lovely.  We went to the Red House and I had their special grilled cheese sandwich - with artichoke hearts and chopped bell peppers, it is delicious, but not photo worthy.  Also had huge latte in a cup that requires both hands.  We shared all our news and talked about quilting friends and quilting in general.  And, of  course, fabric.  After lunch I went shopping at Back Porch.  Oh, dear, decisions, decisions.  I always think I would like to go into a shop and just say cut me a yard of everything, but what would I do with it, I have so much fabric now.  There were some great things on the sale table and I picked up a few yellows for my friend Liz, who is always raiding my boxes of yellows, and a couple choice pieces to send to Ruth McDowell who doesn't have easy access to any quilt shop, much less one of Back Porch quality.  Then I was exhausted from spending so much money and I drove back to  Mary's intending to take a nap, but never quite got around to it. 
 
It has been quite cool and I am definitely an old lady who needs at least 70F to be comfortable, so I stay bundled up.  The weather has been cloudy and rain is predicted for tonight and the entire weekend. 
 
Monterey Bay was mostly covered with clouds and fog, but there were several sailboats out, keeling over in the wind.  There is actually one in this picture just above the projecting rock in the middle. 
 


This crow was watching from the fence!

Heading back to Mary's on CA156 one passes several of these eucalyptus woods, planted at the turn of the 20th Century to use for railroad ties, until they learned that the wood was no good for that purpose.  All the seedlings were imported from Australia and there are many remaining wood lots all over central and southern California. .

The Acacia trees are starting to bloom, with the clouded sky it is hard to take a decent picture.

Here is another shot along US101

Mary and Joe live high up off the fertile plain on a steep winding one and a half lane road and there is no cell service.  Many people stop at the foot of the hills to make their cell calls, as I did here, just on the south edge of San Juan Bautista.  This is one of the few fields of wild mustard I saw on my trip to the coast and back. 
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1 comment:

Sherrie Spangler said...

I was at Back Porch a few years ago and loved it. I always enjoy your road trips!