We arrived home Tuesday from our 50th anniversary sojourn to California and back. I took many photos in the car and at the beach house and still, I missed some important people. I have tons of our vivacious Paige and none of her beautiful mother. I will share what I have. I was hoping for the professional photos taken on Saturday morning, but I do not have those, yet.

We hit the road, with Scooter, on Wednesday and drove along the beautiful Umpqua River Valley to the Oregon Coast where we stayed in a less than stellar motel. Brookings seems to be a long series of strip malls along Hwy. 101. We picked up takeout at the grocery and ate dinner in the motel with Scooter.

The next day, we headed south on 101 to California. We stopped at an Elk viewing area. We could see them far away, but not close enough for photos. It was a pretty area with a creek and beautiful grasses and cat tails.

We stopped for lunch in the Victorian village of Ferndale. I found a vegetarian restaurant with lots of gluten free options and an outdoor seating are. Mario, the owner was a delight to talk to, and he brought Scooter water and a plate of food.

At some point, we left Hwy. 101 and took the winding, hairpin turns of Rte. 1 on our way to Mendocino. We had to stop soon after so that I could drive. I get car sick easily and if I drive, I do better. We drove through beautiful redwood forests for much or our drive in CA. I love the smell of these old forests.

We love Mendocino and have spent many fun times there over our the time we lived in CA. We stayed in the little yellow cottage in this photo.

The cottage was a special one for guests with dogs. Scooter enjoyed it.

We walked around Mendocino and picked up some breakfast food. I loved this yarn bombed tree.

For dinner, we got room service from the Inn at Little River. It was delicious.

On Friday, we found our way back to Hwy 101 and drove to our old home town, Santa Rosa, to pick up some needed supplies for the beach house. We arrives in Bodega Bay at our big house on the golf course in time for a quick lunch before the family started arriving. The weather was fantastic all week-end. We had blue skies and warm sunshine the whole time we were there, a rarity on the coast of N. California.

The view of the bay from our patio.

We had egrets and herons making regular visits to our backyard.

Jayme and Mark did not arrive until late on Friday night after she finished her stint at SF General in the NIC ward. She had a grueling month doing a practice residency in pediatrics so she was really ready for some R & R. The rest of us went out to dinner at Rocky Oysterfellas in Valley Ford.

On Saturday, our children prepared a beautiful feast for Saturday evening. There was much coming and going, looking for all the ingredients. In the meantime, my puzzle helpers and I worked on this.

Here is the food they prepared.

That last dish is salmon. Mark bought a whole salmon and had it fileted. He saved the head and trimmings which were used to make chowder the next day.

Lisa and Clay brought gluten free and delicious cake and cupcakes for the kids.

The cake was very tempting for little miss Paige.

Steve’s brother, Mike, and wife, Ann, came up from Southern California. So good to see them.

Here is Ann with her daughter, Jessica, who lives in the area.

All the cousins were having a great time in the garage/game room.

Miles and Jess’s daughter, Viola.

Paige and Jess’s daughter Celeste.

They look a little somber, but they were really having a fun time.

Here is Mia, taking a break from the pandemonium.

Mark – my handsome son and super dad.

Lisa, relaxing in the sun.

Clay and Wilfredo.

So, I didn’t get photos of the elusive Jack, Stephanie and Jayme. I got lots of photos of Paige!! Here she is in the fort that Clay made out of pillows.

It was a fun day and we greatly appreciate all the work that went into this by our children and their partners.It was what I most wanted – a relaxing time with the family. Mr C and I are so proud of the accomplishments of all of them. We are truly blessed.

On Sunday, the Barnes family left to get back to Portland for the start of school for M & M. Lisa and Clay went home so that Lisa could get back to work on her latest book which had a deadline of this week.

We enjoyed time with Mark and Jayme and Paige. Mark made this incredible chowder for us.

We went to the beach.

Paige sat still long enough for some time with Poppop.

After breakfast with Mark and Jayme, we packed up headed out for our two day drive home. We drove through our old neighborhood of Sonoma vineyards.

Today us our actual anniversary. We are going out to dinner and will have a quiet day.