I returned from my driving trip to Oakland White Elephant Sale. It was terrific, so nicely organized. I recommend it to anyone in the area to attend. They are known to quilters as place to see a variety of used sewing machines. They are all checked over before being put out for sale. I had thought I would get a different machine since I have had such a hard time finding a service to do annual maintenance of my machine here. The places I have called want close to $200! I got distracted at the White Elephant event, and didn't buy a new machine. But I did find and get two Blue Nordic plates, and 6 luncheon sized green glass plates that will match what I already have. I also got several quilting books - and found a copy of Liberated Quilting so C was able to have her own!
I think I left around 9am on Wednesday.
I stopped at Knott's Berry Farm for lunch, and bought some boysenberry preserves to give as gifts for people I was going to meet on the trip.
I drove the 101. I witnessed and smelled smoke from the fire near Oxnard. It was like a wall of white just appeared! I didn't know there was a fire there, but after I first saw the smoke there was a temporary sign saying highway five because of the fire. Things cleared up after a little bit and I continued on my way. It got dark and I stayed in Buellton. Pea Soup Anderson's was closed for renovation (convenience store lady told me), so I just had a candy bar for dinner.
The next morning I went to Solvang for a walk around and a nice breakfast of aebleskiver and Danish sausage. I don't remember having the sausage before, but it was the star. Came with a lovely mustard sauce - somehow made with cream, egg and honey. I would have needed a refrigerator to buy any for home. It was nice to walk up and down the streets. I remembered visits with my parents and with our son. One time my Dad and son were there and son was so excited to discover a "new" TV show. He had trouble waiting for my Dad to come out of the shower to tell him about the show. It was the I Love Lucy Show. We had a good time together. I think that was the trip where the three of us drove up to Oregon.
Anyway, this time after Solvang I pulled over the road a few times to see the ocean, and went to a winery in Palos Robles before meeting up with friends who attend high school with my son in San Jose. They used to come over for Friendsgiving and she and I would cook together. Lots of fun. They are are going to have a son next week (Feb 14). She has high blood pressure so the doctor set a day to induce labor. It was lovely to see them - such a treat to get to see her so pregnant! They treated me to dinner at a lovely Italian Restaurant - The Eatery? it was in a huge mall. Delicious food and so nice to chat with them.
After San Jose it was a quick trip to Berkeley. I first went to OakTown Spices to get a few, then arrived as C's for another delicious dinner at her place. She made beautiful vegetables, salmon, and dessert for 8 other people. I stayed at her house then until leaving Berkeley. I met C online - she was new chair for a quilting guild and needing people to sign up for a class - so lucky to meet her.
We went to one of her singing practices, out to dinner, to the Oakland Art Museum, and she met me at the White Elephant event in the afternoon.
I got to meet other people from the guild for breakfast and one of them went to the White Elephant too.
We also had time to be together while she was prepping for a quilting class - I pressed pieces after she put them together.
When I left there I made my way to Sacramento and took the husband of a friend who recently passed away out to lunch. He picked In and Out Burger - always a treat. They lived in a 50 and older community for seven years. It was really interesting to see all the services provided. You can have grandchildren or other younger visitors for up to two months without raising an eyebrow. I hadn't seen either of them for almost 30-years. So unexpected that she passed away. When I gave him the Knott's preserves, he had such a strange look on his face. It turned out he had proposed to her while at Knott's. I didn't remember hearing that story, but it was so nice that he shared it with me now. There house is so nice. Two bedrooms, an office, three bathrooms, nice kitchen and great room. So nice to have everything on one floor.
I drove on to Rocklin to stay with a friend from the Parent Association We went out for really, really nice dinners. She woke early for work so I had coffee with her, then we met for lunch or/and dinner.
The first day while she worked I went to visit another student my son went to high school with. Once or twice a year we have been writing to each other, it was nice to get to see them finally again!
Shirt Steak - Special of the Evening
Walnut Chocolate Pie
Chicken Jerusalem
Revolution Winery in Sacramento
Garden Center Rocklin
Garden Center Rocklin
Breakfast at Garden Center Rocklin
Trader Joe's Crossants!
Interesting Tea contraption used for loose tea.
Lemon Chicken Soup and Gyros Plate
Soup by my friend and BBQ Chicken Pizza
Nyquel added to the meal.
Halibut - Special of the Evening @ Red's Bistro
Leatherby's Rocklin
I think Washington by Rocklin
Mars in Gemini @ Dutch Flats
Morro Rock fog
Malibu
Santa Barbara
Note: The driving map changed to this after I stopped at a grocery store for a little break in Malibu.
Before that it had me routed to Santa Monica with no mention of the fire.
I don't know California geography very well.
Unfortunately, I then go sick with a cold - and ended up passing it on to her so she actually missed a day of work. I appreciate that she insisted I stay on until I felt better so I did. Too bad we both weren't up to doing something on the weekend. (I had taken a Covid test and it was negative.)
The day I left it was raining and there were signs on the freeway to stay home to avoid the bad weather. I was lucky and didn't hit too much rain. I tried to see Morro Rock, but it was foggy. Stayed I think in Santa Barbara.
In the morning I went to Carpenteria for anice breakfast - chicken and biscuits and eggs. Saw a sign for PCH and decided to go on that for long as I could. Beautiful ocean views. Went to Malibu and realized I was very near the fire area, so drove Malibu Canyon to the 101/5.
Drove thru LA and could see lots of helicopters and police cars as there was a protest against ICE round ups. It was lovely to see all the flags from the people on the overpasses.
On return I wasn't really tired, but it was nice to be relaxed and home again. Got back on Monday, the cold lengthened the trip by about five days!
The next day my face felt like I was sun burned. Then the next day my eyes felt like I was crying, and the whites turned red. The next day even after lots of Refresh eye drops they were even more red so I called eye doctor and snagged some time with her. She thought from what I told her I was having a reaction to all the chemicals they used to stop the fires. So I have OTC and Rx eye drops now for ten days.
I managed to sleep one day, then did go thru two boxes. So only 400 more to do. Ha Ha.
I listened to several Audible books while on my drive. They made the time pass very quickly!
- West with Giraffes - Rudledge. Based on a true story that ends up at the San Diego Zoo. Amazing to listen to!
- The Life Impossible - Matt Haig, The narrators voice was pretentious - I didn't enjoy listening to her at all.
- The Thursday Murder Club - Didn't like it that much. Too many characters to keep track of. Trying too hard to make the old people so smart and capable.
- Organizing from the Inside Out (Spoiler: The trick is to just do it)
- The Testaments - Atwood. Very good - scary but good.
- The Housemaid - McFadden I think this is a series. It surprised me, but isn't my cup of tea. Too much violence spelled out and meaness against others enjoyed.
The 101 is a very enjoyable drive, as much as I earlier enjoyed driving up on the 15, this is a better way to drive.
