Summer Pelican's & Anemone's

Song -The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti & Spearhead

 On Wednesday, my friend Jill, took me to Muir Beach for a belated birthday gift.

 

We stopped at the Pelican Inn for lunch before heading to the beach.

 

We used to go here quite often in our 20's and if you have never been.....well it's a place that is an inn, a restaurant and a bar but it's done up like an old English pub - the decor as well as the food.

They usually have a big roaring fire going but I think because it's summer they have the 

fireplace filled with candles.

 

Jill and I sat outside in the back courtyard because it was such a beautiful day.

After a leisurely lunch and a glass of wine we headed down the lane to the beach.

It was beautiful....filled with people enjoying sunshine, waves and each other.

See these muddy "donuts" above?

They are actually sea anemone's and if you gently stick your finger in the center 

they will slowly close up thinking they have caught a fish. 

 But if you are Jill and jab them, they will squirt water out at you!!!  

Wish I had caught that on my camera!

But when they open to the tide, they look like this.....

.....and this.....

.....and this!!!  Fun huh?

We saw other bits of animal life at the ocean.

 

The rocks were all loaded with muscles and other sea creatures.

 

 And the giant rock in the water had some yellow and orange plants.

 

I was thinking Iceberg but the petals look like starfish and the flowers are too tall.

Not sure what it is.

Hallowed out old crab shells looked like they were watching us. 

Heading back in the afternoon, Jill noticed this.....

The Farallon Islands were view able from the little road we were on 

and are 27 miles out from the coast.

 

And on the other side of the road was the above view of Marin and the Oakland Hills.

Driving in rush hour traffic we enjoyed a view of the above Sir Francis Drake 30 foot statue sculpted by Dennis Patton and located near the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.

“It’s better to be sorry for what you did, 

than for what you didn’t do.” 

-- Anonymous

(sounds a lot like something my bud Jill would say)

Surfing in Tahoe?

Song - Say Hey (I Love You) Giants Version by Michael Franti & Spearhead

Just returned from a weekend wedding in Lake Tahoe.  My nephew Paul got married on Saturday and it was a wild & crazy day.....weather-wise!

Friday afternoon and evening were beautiful at the Lake.  We sat out on the deck and enjoyed the evening stars.  Chilly but clear and calm.

Saturday morning we woke to high winds.  The pine trees were thrashing against the cabin.

We visited with my beautiful parents, enjoyed the fall color, went to breakfast and then a drive.

My parents were in Tahoe for the wedding as well!

 


Due to the winds the waves were big for Lake Tahoe.

Then guess what we saw?????

Ashley dipping her toes in the ice cold water!  Burrrrr.......


AND


Surfers on the Lake!

Until this moment, I had only heard that sometimes you (not me but you!) can surf the Lake.

I personally was amazed!

Mr. B, Andy & Ashley, and Jon all voted to return to the cabin to light a fire and play Canasta with Tyler!

Out of 8 boxes of cards we could only find 1 that was complete.

So then guess what happened?

Yep.....it began to rain, then snow.  It was majestically beautiful!



And oh so very romantic for the wedding.............


.....except the bride and groom were planning on getting married outside!



But as the 4:00pm wedding time began to roll around, the sky parted and sunshine showed it's sweet little face.  I think Mother Nature heard the brides prayers!

The staff set the chairs up on the dock and lit the heat lamps.

Then guess what happened?

Grandma Betty and Grandma Tillie came out as the "flower girls"!

And the beautiful, happy bride Katie and her father came down the isle.

Sunset on Saturday night.



Sunday morning we woke to a warm and calm day.  Go figure!


A GIANT footnote about the wedding:

Now, my nephew and his dad (my brother) are Giant fans, so since the wedding was being held during game 4 of the World Series, they were kind enough to leave a TV on in a separate room so those of us that just couldn't stand the torture could occasionally peek!  It was a great win and wedding!

Thanks Paul & Katie!

Thanks Giants!


“I don’t have a great answer for that (inspirational speeches),” Pence said. “I’ve read a ton of books. Not one in particular, but I consciously try to find the good in everything in every situation that happens. Was it Voltaire who said, ‘I choose to be happy because it’s good for my health”? Why not? Even through some of the toughest things that’ll ever happen to you, there’s something that makes you stronger, something you can reframe to make it good. It’s what I believe. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it makes me feel better.” --Hunter Pence (a Giant star!)