Back to our California trip. We visited the incredible garden in Santa Barbara called Lotus Land. It was a private garden and residence for many years, but now is open to the public for tours on a limited basis. These photos do not do it justice. You think you're taking the most wonderful photo and it is never as spectacular as it really its. One of those places where you really have to be there. The tree below is a very old Cypress. It's is being held up and together with wires. There are something like 7 or 8 individual gardens within Lotus Land. Each one more impressive than the last. If you're ever down there, try to visit.
I'm taking a little "rabbit trail" from the California trip pictures. On Sunday, Jolene and Dalene took Jacquie and I out for a afternoon of shopping, eating, pampering and a little more eating. We had a great time! Had a great dinner and did some shopping and had our nails done. Really nice. The picture above is, of course, Jolene the about to be mom. Below is Jolene, her sister Dalene and Jacquie. Thanks girls, it was wonderful.
Our first Mission stop was here at Mission Delores in San Francisco. This is really a jewel, very lovely. It's has been beautifully restored and maintained and worth a visit. So much California history is wrapped up in these Missions, it's hard to read it all and try to remember it. They all have lovely gardens and in future blog's I'll post a couple.
Then---sort of from the sublime to the ridiculous, I guess. We visited Alcatraz. It's very sobering. A difficult place to be incarcerated for many reasons. However, as I read about many of the inmates I realized how most of them were extremely hardened criminals and were reaping the benefits of what they sowed.
I think this is the closest thing I have to a belly picture. She just looks sort of round. =) I think by the time she gets up here for J's shower, she'll have a more pronounced belly. She is standing near a very old tree whose limbs are being held up by wires. The docent wouldn't let her stand underneath. I'll have more photos of our trip as the week goes on. We had a wonderful time, but are very tired at this point. 
On our first night in San Francisco we met up with Marlene, who introduced us to Thai food. We had something with pumpkin curry. Wonderful! We hadn't seen Marlene in a while, it was great to see her and she looks great.
