Gardens and Lighthouse

Someone Mom met told her she must eat at Eggheads while in Fort Bragg. After waiting over an hour to be seated, Mom and Dad enjoyed their brunch, especially Mom with its Wizard of Oz theme.

We leisurely strolled through the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens . . .

enjoying all of the various plants and their scents.

After walking through the gardens, we came to the cold and windy beach. I wish that I had on my jacket!

The best way to warm up is to run around in the grassy fields overlooking the ocean.

Afterwards, we visited the Point Arena Lighthouse.

We enjoyed the views of the ocean and the coast's wildflowers.

Although the beach here is pretty, I am told that the Gulf's beaches are better because it is warm and there is soft sand, rather than sharp rocks. Maybe one day Mom and Dad will take me there. Until then, I will cherish these memories of northern California beaches.

On the way home, we went through wine country and saw vineyards after vineyards after vineyards.

We had a great time but are glad to be home and out of the cold wind!

Hope you have a happy Memorial Day!

Redwoods + Beaches = Fort Bragg

Today we went through the quaint downtown and did a little window shopping. Mom bought me a cute pink polka dot collar for $2.50. She wanted to buy my cousins' collars too but they did not have their sizes- it was a going out of business sale. Also, there were dogs everywhere (on leashes of course). I felt right at home in this dog-friendly town.

Then we rode the skunk train. Well, I slept in the car while Mom and Dad rode the train. I opted not to go on this one. Although dogs were allowed, I needed my beauty sleep.

Looking at the pictures, you can tell Mom and Dad had a good time riding the steam powered train through the redwood forests.

Can you believe how tall these trees are?

And how large the trunks are?

I would hate to know what critters lie inside that tree trunk.

After Mom and Dad ate at a local cafe, we went to Glass Beach. Can you see the broken glass that has been polished by years of crashing waves? This beach used to be the city's dump, closing in the 60's.

Needless to say looking at Mom's hair, it was COLD and WINDY.

Last but not least, we went to MacKerricher State Park, enjoying another beautiful, cold and windy beach. Mom and Dad kept saying they heard sea lions but never did see them until we looked at the pictures. Do you see them, blending in with the rocks?

A gorgeous sunset ending a beautiful day!

Fort Bragg, CA Here We Come!

We have been looking forward to Memorial Day weekend - a 3 day weekend since Mom is off from work and Dad is out of school. Friday afternoon, the bags were packed and off we went. We drove from the "valley", as the locals call it, into the foothills. It was a pretty drive with lots of winding roads, which were fun at first. After a while, it got old and Mom kept saying she was glad my aunt, Allison, was not in the car. She would be complaining of being carsick. That's for sure.

We reach Clear Lake, which reminded us of Smith Lake. I wish that I could have been at the Lake House with the family but I guess you can't have it all.

Then we went through the redwood forest, which was breathtaking and another winding road, weaving through the huge trees. However, it got cool and dark quickly underneath the tree's canopy. When we left the house, it was 92 degrees. Driving through the forest, the temperature was 54 degrees according to the car's thermometer.

Mom has been working with a lot of patients with Indian heritage - the country of India (not to be confused with feathered Indians). She has been using me as the guinea pig practicing how to put on sarees. I am always the guinea pig but I like the extra attention. Don't tell anyone!

I have to get lots of rest because I have another busy day in Fort Bragg tomorrow!

Bizarre!

There are some usual things going on around here.

I found out today that people out West eat cactus leaves. They remove the needles, cut it up into cubes, and boil it. They call it nopales. That is one food that you humans can have. I prefer dry dog food to cooked cactus any day of the week. I plan to never get close to a cactus again, with or without needles.

Secondly, I have been noticing these beautiful blooming plants everywhere, especially lining highways. They are always clustered together with various colors - red, pink, and white. Today, I discovered that they are POISONOUS oleanders. Mom has already lectured me to stay away from them, although they have a sweet enticing smell.

And last but certainly not least. At a local university's conservatory, there has been blooming "corpse flowers". They only bloom every two years and smell like rotting meat. Mom refused to take me to see it because she was afraid that I might try to eat it, knowing how I ate a raw pork chop (bone and all) and steak from kitchen counters. Since I could not see it for myself, I read about it at greenhouse.ucdavis.edu/conservatory/. I recommend you check out this unusual plant.

I'll be dreaming about eating raw meat and wishing that I had the aroma of the "corpse flowers" surrounding me this evening. I know that I sometimes act and even think like a human, but, let's face it - I am a dog.

Relaxation

Mom comes home and tells stories about her work at the nursing home - trying to communicate with a patient who is blind and speaks Spanish only or attempting to work with a patient who is combative some days or as sweet as pie the next. She says she never knows what she might face. Never a dull moment - that is for sure.

But, there is one thing that she can always count on - the beautiful flowers in the courtyard to brighten her day. Look at how big those geraniums are!

There are also these tall plants that resemble gladiolas, only they are much taller and larger flowers. They are as tall as the building.

Looking at these flowers automatically make your stressors seem smaller. I am sure that it helps the patients cheer up too.

After working all day, Mom has found her favorite spot by the pool, with a book in her hand of course. She is currently finishing the third book in the 9-11 series written by Karen Kingsbury.

Only one more day until the weekend. I can't wait!

Golden Gate Bridge

Finally, I get to go to San Francisco. On the way to see the Golden Gate Bridge, we cross the above pictured no-name bridge. I felt sorry for it since it is always in the shadow of the Golden Gate. Although you have to drive across this bridge to get to the Golden Gate Bridge and eventually to San Francisco, no one seems to care about it.

Before we got our destination, Mom and Dad ate lunch in Sausalito, an upscale town that one has to have lots of money to live in. It is located on the bay. Below was Mom and Dad's view as they were eating $15 hamburgers.

There were a lot of expensive boats in the water but no one offered us a ride. So, we kept travelling. . .

to our destination!

It is just as pretty as I thought it would be.

Afterwards, we went to the Golden Gate Park.

We just relaxed and enjoyed God's beautiful nature as we meandered around the trials.

We saw some very unique flowers.

And some rather large trees.

Mom loved every second of it.

I did not want to get too close to these roses. Seeing the thorns reminded me of the last time I got close to a spikey plant on the trip to California.

But the roses sure did smell good.

Have you ever seen a leaf so big?

I don't know what this guy is staring at!

Can't we all just get along?

After a long day in San Francisco, I was exhausted.

I hope that you had a fun-filled, relaxing weekend and a Happy Mother's Day!