The Second Half

The road back home was more about people and produce/food.

The first stop heading north was at a dear friends home for lunch. She always surprises me by the creative foods she shares. It was so good to sit awhile and just chat. Then for lunch she started with nibbles smoked under a dome. Then there was melon infused with lemoncello and a delicious chicken salad with tea.

 

 

That evening we continued our journey north and had dinner with dear, very long time friends.

The next morning we headed for Solvang, California, a Scandanavian community.  

I had seen some of the sights on previous stops, but this time we were searching for a troll by Thomas Dambo. Nope, that wasn't him, but we knew he was in the area.

 

We found him at the art museum, taking up the space of the full room.

After our stop to visit the troll and have lunch, we continued venturing north.

All along the highway we saw these bells and I was reminded of my California history from school. The bells were spaced along the Camino Real as the priests would travel from mission to mission they would ring the bell to let residence know they were in the area. It was fun to see they have been preserved. 

There were many windmills on the back roads and we enjoyed discovering some new roads to travel.

 A lot of amazing trees and brown grass and hills along the way.

Our goal for the next stop was Hollister, California at Apricot King farm. After all it was apricot season and that part of California grows that best apricots I have ever had. You just can't find a good apricot at the local market and I wanted some good ones.

I buy dried apricots from this farm each Christmas, but I wanted some fresh ones.

 

 

The farm reminded me so much of my grandfather and uncles apple farms when I was growing up.  The owner greeted us like long lost family and gave us the full tour of their facility, introducing us to the workers. What a delight. Can you believe that visiting an apricot farm would have been one of the top highlights for me of the trip. I loved it.

We brought home some fresh apricots and I have one pie in the freezer for this winter, but a small batch of jam too. They also grow walnuts, and a few walnuts also came along with us. The owner kept saying they are better than what we can get at Costco. 

Apricots drying in the sun.

OK, it was time to continue heading north and across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Just across the bridge we stopped by the bay for clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls. No picture of the food, but it was delicious. I did say this second half, headed home, was about produce and food.

Once we got to my hometown, where my sister still lives, there was a stop to place flowers on my grandfather and mother's graves. The cemetery is very old and not cared for as I feel it should, this reminds me I need to write someone and complain.

We met my sister and her husband for tea and French pastries and a visit while in town.

That evening we had dinner with a dear friend and I forgot to take a picture. It was a good, good visit.

With a brief check online I saw that Corey from the blog,  French le Vie, was visiting her mom in California. We would be driving right through the town where her mother lives and I said we must stop for a brief face to face meet and a hug. I have followed Corey's blog for 20 years and I was thrilled to finally meet her. What a treat.

Her mother's garden was enchanting.

I could imagine taking a nap right there in the garden.

 

One more stop at the Olive Pit. OK, don't laugh, but they have the best olives. We stocked up on olives and brought them home. And home is where I am now, resting, a good massage, and resuming day to day life. It was a good trip, but did I say exhausting. It was like a farewell to friends and places of memories one more time.

Now back to living in the Pacific Northwest and all the beauty that surrounds me each and every day. I love my little corner of the world.

Hoping each of you has adventures of memories, then has time to return home exhausted and happy to be home.

Sending love,

Marilyn