Weekly Photo Challenge : WATER

Being on vacation at the beach was perfect for this week’s photo challenge.  I have to post a few from the many that I took, because I had many favorites.

Where Am I? – the conclusion

For the last 2 days, I have left a series of pictures and clues, hoping to see if anyone could guess where I went on my mini-vacation for the long holiday weekend.  Thanks to everyone for your comments and guesses.  To end your suspense, I will now tell you that I was in Pismo Beach, CA!

 

It is about a 3 1/2 hour drive northwest from my home, up to central California.  The drive was really scenic, some of it along the Pacific coast, some through long stretches of farm land.  I got to blast my music and sing my little heart out in the car.  I went to visit my fabulous friend Cathi, her son Jeremiah and her fiance Jeff.  I met Cathi 5 years ago when I first moved to California, where we both worked together a group home for abused and neglected children.  She and Jeremiah moved up to Pismo a year and a half ago to be with Jeff, and I hadn’t seen her since.  She was not only my friend, but also my mentor at work and a fun adventure partner.  We would go try all sorts of new types of foods and local activities.  We also used to do some scrapbooking together (something I miss doing).

 

It was so much fun to reconnect with them. They took me to see lots of sites in Pismo Beach and surrounding beaches, as you can see from the last 2 days posts.  I can’t wait to go back again to spend more time with them.  Next time I’m making sure to pack lots of sunscreen (see yesterday’s picture).  I think I have 2nd or 3rd degree burns as I ended up getting sick during the night.

 

Today was the long drive back.  Because of the end of the long holiday weekend, there was a lot of traffic.  There was a long stretch where cars were bumper to bumper going no more than 15 miles per hour.  It ended up taking about 5 hours to get back.  I made sure to wear a longer sleeved shirt to help block the sun from burning me more on the drive.   I hope you all had a great weekend, and remembered to thank our service men and women, past and present, for protecting us and our freedoms.

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Happy Memorial Day

Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone
bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land
they honored.  ~Daniel Webster

 

For love of country they accepted death…  ~James A. Garfield

 

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

Today, as we celebrate Memorial Day, let us remember all of those that fought, and even died, for our freedoms.  HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Where Am I? – day 2

Like I stated yesterday, I went on a mini-vacation, and I was posting some clues and pictures to see if any of you could guess where I was at.

To recap, here are yesterday’s clues (written only):

• Clue #1 I am by the ocean. Last night I went out on the sand, and its the only beach that allows cars to drive on the sand.
• Clue #2 Today we went downtown and enjoyed many yummy strawberry goodies.
•  Clue #3 I also mentioned in the comments that I was still in California

And this is what I ended up looking like at the end of the day…..I could have been a strawberry at the festival since I was the same color as them:

Here are today’s photos and clues:

 

Clue #4 In the neighboring town, we went to a restaurant for breakfast where one of the first major land developer’s vision was to have a community with a hotel and railroad station near the beach.  He promoted the town as “the place where the tide lands and the rails meet.”  This is a picture of our order number that you put on the table and they bring you your food.

 

After eating we went to the beach again so I could take some pictures of the water (that I will post another day for the weekly photo challenge).

 

Clue #5 Where I am is considered a nostalgic California beach town.  It has a 1,200 foot long pier and hosts annual events such as a classic car show, the strawberry festival (the pictures from yesterday) and a July 4th fireworks display held right at the pier.  Here are pictures I took on the pier.

 

 

Clue #6 The ***** Clam was named for the long wide beach where so many were once found. Once so abundant they were harvested with plows on the beach, giving the city the name “Clam Capitol of the World”, the *****Clam is now greatly diminished.

clams

Clue #7  Next we drove by the well-known Monarch Butterfly Grove.  From late October through February, thousands of Monarch butterflies gather in this grove, clustering in the limbs of Eucalyptus and Monterey Pines.  I borrowed my friend Cathi’s picture of it, since there were none there today.

 

 

Clue #8 We finished out the afternoon going wine tasting at a few different wineries, located in the next town over, also another beach town.

 

 

There’s all the clues and pictures for today.  Can you guess where I am???

Where Am I?

I decided to go on a mini-vacation for the long holiday weekend.  To make it fun, I am going to post photo clues as to where I might be and see if any of you can guess.  For the people that I am staying with, and the select few that know where I went, please don’t spoil it for everyone else just yet.

 

Here are today’s photo clues:

Clue #1 I am by the ocean. Last night I went out on the sand, and its the only beach that allows cars to drive on the sand.

 

Clue #2 Today we went downtown and enjoyed many yummy strawberry goodies.

 

I got these, since I'm trying to be good with my diet. My friends got theirs with brownies, cheesecake or banana.

 

Any guesses as to where I am?

Five Question Friday

1. Do you apologize to your kids?

I do not have kids, but if I did have them and I did something that warranted an apology, I totally would apologize to them.  I think we need to set an example for our kids in every situation.

2. What color are your nails right now?

They are natural, as in not painted, not even with clear polish.

3. When you were growing up, how difficult was it for you to stay home from school sick? (As in, did you have to vomit or just say “I don’t feel good”.)

It wasn’t too hard to stay home.  And if I couldn’t convince my mom, then I would leave (I walked to school since it was so close, then I would wait until she left for work and then turn around and walk back home.

4. When is the last time you bought a new comforter for your bed?

I think it was 2 years ago…maybe closer to 3 but not longer than that.

5. Favorite website(s)?

my blog 😉

Facebook

all my blog buddies sites

recipe websites

TMZ

Picnik (for photo editing)

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