A Day in San Francisco

Today my husband and I went to San Francisco for the day. We wandered around Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, The Cannery at Del Monte Square, Hyde Street Pier and all over the nearby area. Although we go to San Francisco quite a bit, we saw quite a few things that we had never discovered before. I think we walked all around the area for about 7 hours or so.

We had lunch at the Boudin Bakery in Fisherman's Wharf. They have been making the traditional French bread since 1949. Boudin is also San Francisco's oldest continuously running company. They say that a portion of the original mother dough still starts each and every sourdough loaf they make. So in addition to being famous for their bread San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is also known for it's clam chowder. So of course we had to order the bread bowl that is filled with clam chowder so we could enjoy both of their specialties. Since the weather wasn't too cool we decided to pick a table outside and we enjoyed our lunch watching the people pass by and listening to some street musicians perform.



We then walked to The Cannery at Del Monte Square. This is where the Del Monte Corporation used to actually can their products. The cannery was built in 1907 and was once the largest peach cannery in the world. It has been closed for many years and is now a vibrant waterfront marketplace featuring one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants, offices, live entertainment, and a world-class jazz club. There is just about something to suit everyone's taste there.





Just a little bit farther is Ghiradelli Square. There are some really nice specialty shops, restaurants, wine bars and of course the famous Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop which the entire area is named for. They still make some of the chocolate there and you can watch the machinery process the chocolate while you sit there and indulge in either some of their decadent chocolates or what I prefer, a delicious ice cream sundae made to order with your favorite ingredients. I love their caramel sauce so I had a Hot Caramel Sundae and my husband had a Hot Fudge Banana Sundae. Yummy!















After leaving there we walked down just a little bit towards the water to where there is the cable car turnarounds. The lines were pretty long with people patiently waiting their turn to go for a ride on the cable cars. I love to look at them and listen to the sounds they make and their bells ringing. We decided not to ride them this time and just continued walking down towards the water back towards Fisherman's Wharf.





We got a pretty good view of the bay with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. It was nice and clear today without the famous fog that San Francisco is know for so you could see the bridge pretty well today.



We then walked over to the Hyde Street Pier where the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is located. I had never before ventured that way so I didn't know for sure what exactly there was. It is part of the California Parks Program and there are several different types of boats and houses on display there. I believe there was a total of 7 boats that you could tour and many more that were on display there.



They had some of the tall mast ships that they have totally restored. In addition to going on board and viewing them you can sign up for a real adventure. You can work on one of the boats for the day and also stay the night just like you would have back in that period of time if you were a sailor on a ship.





They had several house boat type dwellings that you could tour also. They were built around 1905 and were used for vacation homes on the bay for some of the wealthier San Franciscans. Some of theses were moored in Sausilito, which is right across the bay, in addition to some other nearby places. They typically had two bedrooms, a front living area, a dining room, a kitchen and a bathroom. I think they would be fun to spend the summer living on the water.











There was quite a few workshops on the pier also where they were restoring more of the boats. I think they said they had over 100 different types of boats that they own and rotate on display. They even have programs where you learn the craft and they teach you how to restore the boats or you can volunteer your time to be a docent if you are already knowledgeable about the subject.








At the end of the pier we had a really clear view of Alcatraz Island , or "The Rock" , which is where the famous prison was once located at. The prison closed in 1963 after 29 years of operation and in 1972 it became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Visitors can take a ferry ride the 1.5 miles to the island for tours.


We had quite a nice trip today to the city by the bay. I'm so glad that we are within an hour or so drive to San Francisco. It makes it possible to visit quite often and I don't think I'll ever get tired of finding some of it's hidden gems like we did today.

More Fall Fun!

About a week before Halloween we had our Grandson for the day, and since my husband was also home, we decided to go to a small pumpkin farm at one of the local churches in town. He had fun walking through the corn maze and playing in their little pumpkin play yard.





He picked out a few little pumpkins to take home to paint. Here is some of the beautiful artwork he painted on his pumpkins. I think Connor did a great job! I displayed his beautifully painted pumpkins on my front porch for all of the Trick-or-Treaters to enjoy.





A few days before Halloween my son and daughter-in- law hosted a Pumpkin Carving Party at their house. They invited quite a few of their nieces and nephews to come carve pumpkins. All of the kids really enjoyed it! I think I know of a few adults who had a good time also and really got into carving their own pumpkins. I won't name names but you know who you are...






The kids either loved feeling all of the goo and seeds as they were scooping them out or they were totally grossed out by it! I think they saved the seeds to roast. Yummy!



G-Pa and Connor picked out a big one to take a closer look at!

Fall Fun!!

I love Fall! Did I tell you that before? Well if I didn't tell you before let me tell you now that I absolutely love Fall....



I start looking forward to Fall each year once all the kids start going back to school and the days start getting a little shorter. There is a crispness in the air and it starts getting dark a little earlier each day.





I love the cooler weather, the changing of the colors of the leaves, pumpkins, pumpkin bread, caramel apples, our family trips to Apple Hill, apple cider, all of the Fall foliage and decorations.





I love going up to the apple farms and taking a hay ride or going through the corn maze. Picking out the perfect apples and pumpkins with my family to either cook with or decorate with.



The scents of the season, baked apples, cinnamon, spices....mmmmmm I love the smells. Bringing out the blankets and throws on the couches to snuggle with while watching a favorite tv show. Adding the electric blanket to our bed and snuggling into the warm flannel sheets.

Another Apron Swap - Yeah!!

Shawnee over at the Flirty Apron Swap is hosting another apron swap that I just had to join! I mean I love aprons and I also love Fall so it was 2 of my favorite things so of course I had to jump right over and join.

I really need another apron like I need a hole in my head but I just couldn't help myself. I've been trying not to join any swaps lately, and I haven't for quite some time, but I just did it anyways. I already got my swap partner's information about her likes and dislikes and her preference for what style of an apron she would like me to make. So I'm making a full bib style apron with a ruffle and a pocket.

Finding the fabric was fun. I couldn't believe it when I found what I wanted at my first fabric stop. I had a lot of different choices to pick from. She didn't want a Halloween apron, and would prefer a more Thanksgiving or Fall type apron, so that is what I chose for her. I think she'll like it. It is a Debbie Mumm fabric with little pumpkins all over it and a cute border of a bunch of squirrels wearing pilgrims hats and holding pumpkins. It is so cute! I'm also using the border part of the fabric for the ties and for the pocket.

Now I need to go and finish finding all the little tuck in gifts to go with it. I'm planning on making her a pumpkin pincushion in addition to a few other things I plan on making for her. I'll post a picture when I get it finished!

Hawaii

I also made a solo trip to Hawaii for 10 days to visit my daughter and son in law. They are expecting their first baby, and although she was visiting us in early May when she shared the news that I’d waited a lifetime to hear… Heather and her hubby Ryan were expecting a baby!!!


I wanted to be able to see my little baby in different stages of her pregnancy. So when I found out she was having a couple of doctor appointments and another ultrasound, that would probably be able to tell them the sex of their baby, I planned my trip around those appointments. I really wanted to hear the baby's heartbeat in addition to finding out whether or not it was a boy or a girl!


So luckily I was able to go to two of her doctor's appointments and the ultrasound appointment in that one trip. She is a little thing so even though she was only 4 months pregnant at the time you definitely could tell she was pregnant. She had a nice little bulge to her belly. Hearing the baby's heartbeat was wonderful! That was one of my sweetest moments I remember from when Brenda was pregnant with Connor also. I mean you know their pregnant, but when you hear that little thump thump thump of their little babies heart, it just makes it so real. I had such a warm feeling come over me when I heard that precious baby's heart beating so little but so strong! I can't wait to welcome Grandbaby #2 into this world and hold it in my arms and love on it. I've got lots and lots of Grandma kisses ready to shower it with.

Then to get to see him on the ultrasound! Yes it's going to be a little BOY. My baby is expecting a baby boy! He looked absolutely perfect, healthy and growing strong. 10 little fingers and 10 little toes! The doctor said everything looked great and there should be no problems at all. This baby is going to be so loved when he gets here! We can't wait to meet him!! He is due sometime in mid January 2011 around the 14th.


I also spent a lot of time at the beach working on my tan. I did manage a little shopping and a little sightseeing too. I also went on my first kayak adventure with Heather. We were able to spend the weekend at her in law's home and took the kayaks almost out their backyard right into the ocean. I had never been in a kayak let alone paddled one. We had a blast though and went to a little secluded beach and had our picnic lunch there. We then looked for seashells and I collected some sea glass also.



They also have recently bought a sailboat and have been working on sprucing it up and making it their own. We took it out for a few hours and sailed around Honolulu. We saw quite a few large sea turtles swimming around and I was on the look out for a dolpin but didn't see any. It was the wrong time of the year to see the whales.





We did a circle island tour again and Heather stopped at a few of her favorite beaches for me to get out and look at. We had a great lunch at a North Shore island favorite restaurant. They had huge hamburgers and some killer cake! Yum Yum!! We stopped at the famous Pipe Line on the North Shore and was able to also go to the beach for awhile where the large sea turtles hang out at. There are "Turtle People" there watching the turtles and making sure that the tourist leave them alone and for the most part let them be. There was a few on shore and the most I had ever seen swimming real close to shore.





I once again had a great trip to Hawaii!!! It's really cool that my daughter lives in paradise and is so close to the beach. I think I could get used to this.... I guess I'll be racking up the frequent flyer miles when I come to babysit!



“Grandmas are the people who take delight in hearing babies breathing into the telephone.”

Connor's 2nd Birthday Party

Right after we got back from our trip to Mexico it was our only grandchild Connor's 2nd birthday. We helped our son and daughter in law throw a large party at the park for him. We held it under a canopy and was able to hang decorations and streamers from the ceiling along with decorating the tables. He had a Sponge Bob themed party as Sponge Bob is one of his favorite characters right now. There was BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers, chips and dips, a couple of different kinds of salads, fresh fruit, soda, water and of course cake, cupcakes and ice cream.



I think there was about 60 or more people that made it that day to the party. In addition to the playground to play on there was of course several other games for the kids to play. They had a pinata with lots of candy in it and then there was treat bags for the kids also.




They kids really enjoyed playing in the little pools full of bubbles. There was wands and other things to use for the bubbles but a few of the littler kids, including Connor, had more fun playing in the pool of bubbles then out of the pool using the bubbles.



Of course there was presents galore! I think little Connor got a whole new wardrobe and many many new toys for him to play with. He got a little tricycle that came with a little storage compartment on the back from his Grammy and Gramps. He couldn't quite pedal it at first but he climbed right up on it and wanted to stay there for a long while. He also got a child's size lawnmower and a shopping cart filled with fruits, vegetables and other products. He also got a big wheel vehicle which when his daddy was a little boy it was one of his favorite things to play with.



The best part of the party was seeing him interact with his little and big cousins and all of the other kids. In addition to David and I, his other grandparents were there too along with 1 great grandpa and 2 great grandmas. Many of his aunts and uncles and other family members were able to attend that day too. There was quite a few of friends of the family in attendance also.



The weather was very nice that day and his party was just perfect. I can't hardly believe he's 2 already!

Where Has The Summer Gone?

I can't believe that summer is over! Where did it go? It seems like this year in particular summer just flew by us. As a child I thought summer didn't last nearly long enough and now as I get older I seem to be having the same feeling about it not lasting long enough.

I thought I'd make a few posts and include a few pictures of what I did over this summer to refresh my memory. That way I can see just exactly what I was able to do over these past few months of summer.

I went to Mazatlan Mexico with my husband for the first week of June. We try to go there every year as we just love vacationing there. The resort that we usually stay at is so nice and relaxing. The people that work there are very accommodating to your every need.

They have some of the most beautiful sunsets that I've ever seen. Each night we would watch it dip into the ocean either from our balcony or from the waterfront restaurant that was just a few steps away.

We spent a lot of time just relaxing by the pool and working on our tans and taking siestas in their hammocks. Nothing taste as good as some delicious nachos and a cold margarita when your just laying around the pool working on that tan!

We did manage to do a little sightseeing though. We went to the downtown historic part of the town on a trolley tour. We saw the cliff divers, the old cathedral and the market place. We toured a jewelry store that does their work on-site. They specialize in diamonds and Mexican fire opals. We also did a little shopping downtown and then went to the newer area of town where most of the clubs and restaurants are. I managed to do a little shopping there also.

You can take me out of the country or anywhere for that matter and I will still be able to find someplace to do one of my favorite activities which is shopping! My friends tell me I'm one of the best shoppers they know. I'm like the Energizer bunny when it comes to shopping. I can go and go and go the distance and last a really long time when shopping is involved!