Santa Barbara

One of the (only) benefits of Mr. Bechtel traveling is that he accumulates hotel points.  So although we have no money for hotels, we managed to stay in a very nice one in Santa Barbara and spent several lovely days lounging at the pool and pretending that we belonged there.  Charmed, I'm sure.  

The weather was extremely nice, and we even had authentic tacos at a little hole in the wall complete with Jarritos soda.  Santa Barbara is beautiful.  But we like the little town and beach at Carpinteria even more.

The Beach at Carp

Flag is Up Farms

Flag is Up Farms is one of my favorite places.  Last year when I came I just fell in love with it and knew I wanted to bring the spy twins to see it too.  The boys have read all Monty Roberts' books and know all his horses and his story so it was extra fun to let them come see his ranch.

I love the layout of his buildings and how, even though beauty is not essential to horse training, everything is landscaped and thought out so well.

There were a lot more horses there this time.  There was a join-up 3 day class, and people exercising horses, and just lots going on.  The track was empty though.  Just these 3 cute children!

We tried to choose our favorite horses there, but they were all beautiful.  We were able to visit with Monty's daughter, Laurel, who said Monty now rides a horse named Chrome, and his wife, Pat, rides a horse called Steel Buns. (very funny name).  The house is up on the hill and overlooks the training facilities.

Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral

On Sunday Grandma, Grandpa and I went down to San Francisco to get Golden Delicious.  She was on tour with her high school choir.  That morning they were singing at a Cathedral.  The plan was to go to Mass, listen to the choir, and then bring G.D.  back to Gravenstein's house so she could spend the rest of the week with us in California instead of riding home on the bus that afternoon.

I had never really attended Mass before.  (once I went to midnight Mass in Brussels on Christmas eve which was super exciting, but so packed we couldn't see what was going on.)  This time we got a program that listed the hymns and scriptures and latin text they would be using so we could follow along and participate.

St. Mary's is a huge cathedral.  The ceiling goes up 194 feet, with 4 enormous concrete pillars swooping up on the corners, and stained glass on each of the four sides representing the four elements of the earth.  It was also absolutely freezing.  About 50 degrees.  The priest said they have their own weather patterns in the church because it's so big, and I think he meant that even if it's warm, sunny, and pleasant outside it is bone chilling cold inside.  I really didn't see any way to fix that problem though.  It was probably quite warm 194 feet up.  I'm sure all the heat floats right to the top of the cathedral.

The choir sounded fantastic.  Of course they sang Latin stuff that seemed very appropriate.  (No Praise to the Man, etc. )  The organ was excellent and I was swept up in the whole ceremony from the instant it started.  I especially loved the girl that carried the burning incense, swinging it back and forth at the end of a long chain in front of the Priest as he walked in.

My other favorite part was the sign of peace, or sign of friendship.  Everyone greets their neighbor with hugs, handshakes or smiles.  I felt very welcome and loved greeting these good people who come from all over the city to worship.  It was a lovely way to start sunday.

Solvang

Mr. Bechtel and the boys met up with us at Gravenstein's house on Monday. The spy twins had a wonderful time in Nevada with cousins, and wished they could have stayed for days and days and forget about going boring places like California.  But we did our best to distract them.  Half of us stayed with Gravenstein and Pink Lady and half of us stayed at the hotel.  The kids were arguing (embarrassing to admit) about who would get the chocolate chip cookies from the hotel, and so Pink Lady made a whole batch of cookies for the ones who stayed at their house - which were much more delicious than the ones at the hotel.  And continued my belief that everything Pink Lady makes is yummy.

We drove down the coast and stopped and played in the ocean at Monterey and then ended up for the night in a little motel in Solvang.  We chose Solvang because #1 it is close to Monty Robert's Horse ranch that I went to the year before and wanted to take the boys with me this time, and #2 it is an adorable little danish town with marvelous pastries!

The pastries were as delicious as last year and we managed to spend $60 on them!  What??!  Then we had to enact austerity measures so we didn't starve the rest of the trip.  

Bodega Bay?

I put a question mark here, because I really don't know if that is how you spell things!  The next day it rained and rained.  We were so lucky with the weather on our helicopter ride the day before!  We headed out to the bay for clam chowder.  You could choose white or red.  Granny Smith and I chose white.  Then we headed out to watch the waves and eat our soup.

While we were perched in the car, savoring each bite, and watching the waves crash on the beach, I got a text from Braeburn in Utah.  He was wishing he was with us.  We were wishing he was with us too.  School can be such an inconvenience!  I sent him this snap shot to show what we were doing.  

After the soup was gone, we brave souls took umbrellas and hiked to the bottom.  Before I knew it Granny Smith was wet to him waist trying to outrun breakers.

I discovered it is impossible not to get wet on the beach.  Just impossible.  Sooner or later part of you gets wet, and then a little more, and then just a little more, and pretty soon you're drenched.  And it's all very fun until you try and get in the car without hauling 50 pounds of sand with you.

Helicopters over Sonoma

 The first morning we were at Gravenstein's he told us we were headed off on an adventure at 10:15.  We all got ready and he drove us to the airport!!!  Granny Smith and I looked at each other.  What was going on??  Gravenstein and Pink Lady were going on a helicopter ride and we were invited!  We went up in two groups:  Grandpa, Gravenstein, and Pink Lady.  And then Grandma, Granny Smith and me.  Little E. (aka Honeycrisp??) stayed on the ground and had a nap.

This is what it looked like.  Gorgeous!  The pilot also flew us over the beautiful mansions up in the hills surrounding Sonoma with their swimming pools, lakes, gazebos, and sculptures.  One in particular was fantastic because it had this triangular pool with three large cows, each the size of a car, guarding the pool.

And here is Granny Smith, riding shotgun, enjoying every second!

After our flight we went to the Two Niner Diner and had hamburgers and milkshakes.  It was an absolute highlight of our trip.  So wonderful.  Thanks guys!