Hearst Castle at San Simeon, CA

We'd always wanted to explore this place so after that brief stop at Cambria, arrived in time for our 11 am Tour. There are actually about 4 tours one can take, we opted for Tour #2 which gives visitors a closer look at the main house's upper floors, Mr. Hearst's private suite, the libraries, and the kitchen. Figured it was as good a place as any to start. The tour took about an hour and was great fun. We plan to return for the other 3 tours in the next months.

A few weekends ago we ventured over to the coast to "try" to escape this incessant heat wave. Thought it would be fun to tour Hearst Castle at San Simeon. Along the way we stopped at the little town of Cambria, I'd read about it in a Sunset Magazine a few issues ago, and as we were about an hour early for our tour (the castle was only another 10 miles north) decided to check it out. It was fun to brouse the little shops, but were shocked at the price of everything. A morning cup of coffee cost us $3 per cup!

On the way to the cabin driving through little Old Molson is a trip! One is instantly transported back in time, the old homesteads, stores, bank, farm vehicles - a "must stop" for anyone driving by.
"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there." ~Lesley P. Hartley, The Go-Between, 1953

Opened my email today to this cute card from my sister-in-law, it's SO cute, had to post! (click on it to enlarge, easier to read)

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into. ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

My mothers flowers on a summer morning.

My son's flowers on a summer afternoon. Corey planted these wildflowers for us at the cabin 4 years ago with his hydro-seeder. They come back more lovely and in greater number every summer. How I adore them!

Scenes from my parents back yard, just two weeks ago. The mallards cruising gently by, my fathers fishing boats, and my mothers chaises. Its a lovely place, serene and calm, helped soothe my fathers inner tempest, lighten the darker days of his aging soul.

The last picture taken of me and my dad, a year ago last spring as we were talking our leave (after a really good visit) back to California. We saw him again in the fall and again early this spring, but forgot the camera, to my deep regret.

The others are he and Derek (think Derek was 6)out in the canoe in front of their house on Lake Osoyoos, and the last, he, my mom and Corey (at 2 years old maybe). Dad with his camera which had by then become a permanent attachment. The photos he took and developed in his darkroom these many years will be cherished.











We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love. ~Madame de Stael