Ahhh, California

I just got back from a week in Southern California, where I met up with my sister to visit our mom at her senior living place and soak in the beach atmosphere from LA down to Oceanside.

We hit the beaches from Oceanside north through Hermosa. The weather was perfect, ocean warm and skies blue.

Our mom is doing well. She's been there over two months and has settled into the routine of meals, bingo and the occasional other activity. The staff all know her personality and take it with good humor.

We visited the park, above, where our parents used to go for picnics on the Palos Verdes Peninsula where they lived. They would bring their lawn chairs, a little table, food and wine and look out over the ocean.

This is the cliff top path that connects to the picnic area. I can't believe I've been walking those cliffs for almost 40 years, but when we sell the house I probably won't be back. Have to soak it all in while I have the chance.

 

We also went to a great little Mexican restaurant minutes from their house that my sister didn't know about and I hadn't been to in at least 15 years. It had colorful chairs outside and great mural inside.

In Oceanside we went to Petite Madeline and were gaga over the bake case! I had French toast and bought an apricot Danish for later that was heavenly.

We also explored Carlsbad, and the beach was wonderful. The sign above this mural says "The Colors of Carlsbad."

This is Rat Beach (stands for "Right After Torrance"), where my sister swam with some pelicans.

The rest of these photos are from Hermosa Beach, where it was hopping because it was a sunny Sunday afternoon.

My 30-year-old Tevas bit the dust after too much time in the saltwater. The bottom of the right sole came unglued. I didn't actually wear them for 30 years because during one of our moves they got packed away and I forgot that I had them for a long while.

We found another good cafe in Hermosa.

Back at the house I had my coffee in the backyard, getting wistful knowing we'd have to sell the house soon. I'm sure going to miss it. My kids have been coming here since they were born.

I brought a stitching project along but didn't work on it much because we were either busy or I was too tired.

 

Now it's back to life in the desert.

Have a colorful day