Dec 3, 2015

I should visit this blog more often! After all, it's only the good stuff, the stuff that sums up the day when I can come to the conclusion that life is good. Just one week ago we were back in Rancho Santa Fe for the first Lester Thanksgiving at Villa Fiona. It was an amazing day! Nickie & Eric roasted 3 turkeys and a ham. Friends and family brought side dishes and desserts and more than 40 of us shared a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. And to see their kids, Alex 16 and Monica 14 growing up to be such great people is heartwarming. And the youngest of our nieces and nephews, Austin, Giana, Peyton and Parker had such a good time! They are all ages 2 -4 and are all so amazing!
We gathered in the living room and Nickie said a Thanksgiving prayer before dinner, we all have a lot to give thanks for. It was the kind of day that stays with you and reminds you how truly blessed life is.
And now today! Lunches are made, Doug has left for work, I've just finished my coffee, next is feeding Annie then it will be time for me to head off to work too. I just need to take a short drive to the post office to mail packages of stamps I sold on Ebay! This Ebay experience was a good one, sold 8 stamp sets, netted $54.30 and everyone paid the first day!

Mt Soledad

Doug was going out on the bike this morning with friends so I decided to take my own ride in the truck! I remember days past when I didn't have much money but I had a full tank of gas - thanks to gas prices being just over $2 / gal right now, today was one of those days!

I decided to head to Mt Soledad. The cross used to sit on a mound of dirt with nothing around it years ago. It was erected in 1954 to honor those who served in Korea. I knew a memorial had been made at the site as a result of local legal challenges saying the cross had to come down. This memorial with the steps up to the cross and the walls of pictures has all been paid for with private funds. There are plaques honoring young soldiers in WWII who died very young as nothing more than a Army PFC, there are former POW's like Admiral Stockdale who returned to his home in Coronado after being held prisoner by the Viet Cong for 8 years. Some of the plaques honor whole families of brothers & fathers & grandfathers, many honor husband and wives who both served. The views from up here are amazing, you can see all the way to Mexico and past Ramona to the snow covered San Bernardino Mountains.

Next on my drive was a stop in downtown La Jolla where is was easy to find a parking place for the truck. I walked a short block over to the beach. Watching the waves and the surfers I could easily see how the ocean captivated my mother, seaside living and visits to Hawaii were her favorites. I even went down to the waters edge to take more pictures and pick up a pocketful of tiny shells, rocks and a piece of sea glass.I'll probably send a few of the shells to my niece Lili since she too loves gathering shells and rocks at the beach.

As I drove through La Jolla and Pacific Beach it was interesting to see how the communities have evolved. La Jolla was the first place I lived when I came to San Diego and it is still my favorite place, Ramona is my second favorite! So at the end of the day what does that say about me? Well I think it just says I'm a small town girl who likes things simple!

My last stop before heading back home was Fashion Valley Mall for a visit to the Godiva Chocolate shop! In 2010 when I visited National Harbor, MD for the CTMH annual convention the tiny town had a Godiva Chocolate shop. The friendly young man told me if I would give the shop my email address I could join the Godiva Chocolate Rewards club and get a free piece of chocolate - every month forever! Well I still have my Godiva Chocolate Rewards Club card! But the 2 stores in San Diego are not very close to where we live so I don't get to visit every month. I went in to choose my free candy and decided to indulge myself in a Godiva style soft serve ice cream cone, price $6! This was a sugar cone, coated on the inside with chocolate, a chocolate nut covered edge and filled with chocolate / vanilla swirl ice cream! So good!

Hope you're enjoying your day too!

Hugs,
Patty

Tonight's sunset as seen from our backyard.
This was our off Friday and it almost seemed like a vacation day. Took Annie for a walk in the morning. Had lunch out on the patio in the warm sunshine. Did a little laundry and got the grocery shopping done so now I have 2 days to spend having fun!

Hugs,
Patty