A Wonderful Weekend

I feel so blessed. My second wonderful weekend in a row.

Friday was spent relaxing with a good magazine and a creamy mocha, getting my creative juices revved up.

Saturday was spent with Brie and my little family out in the Desert at the Riverside County Fair. We stopped at In-N-Out on the way for nourishment. For me it was a photo op because who doesn't love the light that is abundant in every In-N-Out restaurant.

Brie made a comment later on that I am always taking pictures. Made me wonder if I'm too over the top, but hey, I'm not asking anyone to pose, stop what they're doing or otherwise directing them for a shot. And I did stop once I got a few cute pictures.

The fair was sooooo much fun! Most of the time was spent at the children's ride area which made this little guy very happy.

Almost as happy as the cotton candy that he was able to talk me into buying him. That's what grandma's are for (with mommy's approval of course).

I did good at first walking around, but after three hours, I pretty much hit the wall. It brought the fun to an abrupt end. Fortunately the babies were tired, too, so I didn't feel quite so bad about being a party pooper.

Brie and I ended up driving straight home which was probably a good thing because the rest of the evening I spent recuperating. Much of the drive home was spent in happy silence broken every now and then as we remembered something happy from the hours before.

This morning, I woke feeling rested and ready to start the day. I didn't have anything on my calendar other than church so the day was mine to do as I pleased. Words cannot express how much I enjoyed the day.

I spent the morning reading my bible, puttering around the house, cleaning my room and then I went out to Old Town Orange, where I did some walking, enjoying the weather, working on my laptop at a local coffee shop, taking pictures while window shopping and eating lunch at a restaurant I never tried before.

I seriously wish I could rinse and repeat....over and over again because this weekend was wonderful.

Wind in my Sail

For the second day in a row, I felt energetic enough to go out with my camera in hand and enjoy the fresh air. With my camera, I am excited again.

I forgot how inspired I feel as I look for the things that are both obvious and that others miss.

I felt bold as I took pictures of the outside looking in, not worried what the ones sitting at the tables might think.

I welcomed the sun as my partner in crime. It did not disappoint.

I watched people enjoying life as I enjoyed it too.

And I found that I didn't even have to stray that far from home to experience beauty in unexpected places.

Tomorrow I begin chemo again, but that didn't stop me from enjoying today.

Exploring Apple Hill with a Camera

I never got to post about the day Eliz and I went to Apple Hill to drive around the country. We started the day off in Placerville, walking around the town. It was a gorgeous spring day. We could not have asked for better weather.

Apple Hill is a farming community a few miles from Placerville. In the summer months, the area is bustling with tourists as most of the farm owners open their doors up for city folks to come get a taste of the country. Since it was the off season, the roads were empty which allowed us to drive around unimpeded.

It also meant that most of the farms were closed, but we didn't let that stop us. The area was so pretty. It was wonderful having most of the farms and roads to ourselves. Even though it was a little on the cool side, we put the top of the bug down which made the experience even better. Instead of just our eyes taking in the view, we could hear birds singing and the sound of leaves rustling and we could smell the land and even the not yet budding fruit. I just wish I would have gotten a picture of the car stopped in the middle of the road.

One of my best memories of the day was passing a group of people walking on the side of the road. It was seriously like a movie. They called out and waved to us and we smiled and waved back. That was just the most fun I've ever had in the bug.

Exploring Folsom with a Camera

Did I mention that my sister loves me? If there was any doubt, it was completely erased last Thursday because after spending the morning in Old Fair Oaks, she proceeded to go to Old Folsom with me so we could check out one of my favorite antique (vintage) stores and take pictures for the thousandth time.

As we drove to Folsom, we stopped at a park along the American River so we could see the ducks. Not to sound like a broken record, but the weather was absolutely gorgeous.

It's amazing, all these years I've been visiting Eliz and it's the first time I've ever been within a big toe of the American River. 

There were actually some crazy people playing in the water. I love how woodsy it is in the Sacramento area. I've loved it from the moment I first visited almost 14-years ago. I would give anything for my sister to move back down to Southern California. But after a day like this, I can see why she hasn't packed her bags.

We walked up and down Old Folsom which is about twice the size as Old Fair Oaks, which isn't say much, but half the amount of traffic. A walk down the old town isn't the same without a stop at Snooks, a candy store that has been here almost as long as I've walked the earth. They make 1963 look like it's a 100-years old. 

Exploring Fair Oaks with a Camera

My sister loves me. She loves me so much that she took two whole days of her precious vacation and went exploring with me, never once complaining that I would stop in the mid-sentence (hers or mine) and take a picture with either my 40D or my iPhone, often times with both.

She actually suggested places that we could go. One of which was Fair Oaks where roosters and chickens roamed free as birds throughout the town.

I have to admit, when she first told me about the roosters, I was not overly impressed. Until I got there. Then I was fascinated. There were a LOT of roosters roaming around. Cars had to stop. Cars behind the cars honked their horns. I learned that roosters apparently even have tree climbing skills.

Who doesn't love an old town with a genuine coffee house where the locals gather.

And eclectic houses with character...and art studios (my heart was swooning, yes, swooning!)

Real antiques.

I decided that if I ever relocate, I would move to Fair Oaks and become the Chicken Lady.