Saturday, November 13, 2010

Autumn Day Trip

We have had a few cool nights here which is always a sign that the leaves are going to start changing.  One place that both my husband and I love to drive through is the wine country.  It is not only fun to see what is happening in the vineyards, but it is a gorgeous day trip.  On Veteran’s Day my vet husband and I jumped in the car and took off.


It is really only about an hour’s drive to reach the area, but there are some gorgeous sights along the way.  The surf was up and it is always fun to watch the surfers catching their waves.  This is the view from a piece of property that my BIL recently purchased.  They are planning on building a home up there.  Isn’t the view spectacular?


November 13, 2010 445

Can you see the surfers?  They look like little dots on the water.  The beach is a well known surfing beach called “the Rincon”.  We were fortunate to have been able to purchase one of the homes on the point about 30 years ago when real estate at the beach was affordable.  The family has enjoyed many wonderful times there and made some fabulous memories throughout the years.
 
November 13, 2010 447


It was a glorious day with warm temperatures and clear skies.
From there we headed north and into the wine country.  The leaves on the vines were all changing and made for a beautiful drive.

November 13, 2010 452


November 13, 2010 451


November 13, 2010 461

Do you think they have enough wineries on this one road???  This is the area where the movie Side*ways was filmed.


November 13, 2010 466

You can even see a little greening of the hills starting after our early rains of the year.

We took a side trip up to Figueroa Mountain – a climb of about 4000 feet.  It is mostly a one lane road – some paved and some not – so meeting another vehicle is always an adventure.

November 13, 2010 457

At some points there were even cows on the road!  They were probably wondering what we were doing there.

November 13, 2010 453


November 13, 2010 454


November 13, 2010 456

I loved how this tree looked like it was busting out of its bark.


November 13, 2010 459

These gates might look familiar to some of you who watched the Mich*ael Jack*son trial on television.  This is where the media waited to get a photo of him as he left Never*land Ranch each day to head to the courthouse.


I always have a hand project that I work on in the car when we are driving.  This time was no different as I wanted to finish up this months Raggedy Ann and Andy BOM. 

November 13, 2010 472

I have been working away on my blocks for the Thread Head Quilt Along too.

November 13, 2010 470

Lastly, I got caught up on the Christmas Cactus Quilt Along blocks.  Each block requires making four identical blocks, but the are really just nine patches and go up quickly.

November 13, 2010 467


November 13, 2010 469


November 13, 2010 476

This week I have a large order of embroidery work to do so there won't be much quilting to show in my next blog.

22 comments:

  1. What beautiful, beautiful country!! How fortunate that you have a home there!!! We don't get a whole lot of turning leaves here.

    As always the quilts are great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have very beautiful pictures of the country side. My husband and I have driven Highway 1 along the west coast many years ago. I really love wine country in California.

    The quilting projects are really nice!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like a great day to be out and about! I would never even have noticed the surfers if you hadn't pointed them out! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful scenic photos there! Thanks for sharing them! 8-)

    Your blocks are all looking great! You are keeping up will with your BOM blocks!

    Happy stitchings!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looks like a wonderful drive...thank you to your husband for his service.

    Love those thread head blocks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for the scenic drive. What a beautiful spot for your BIL to build.
    WOW the trees look so different to ours.
    You are doing really well with the Cautus Tree blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mary, that a gorgeous view you have got for us. I love watching surfing too. My favorite sport to watch. I too always take along hand stitching on the drive. Can't waste any time right? Glad you had a nice drive.
    Hugs
    Nat

    ReplyDelete
  8. Autumn for us means a lot of rain and falling leafs. Winter is coming. What a beautiful pictures from your country. I love your stitchery and the blocks you made.

    ReplyDelete
  9. These are beautiful photos, Mary! I love, love, love the area you visited. Highway 1 is never boring, that's for sure.

    Your quilting and blocks are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. When I was a little girl (about 55 years or so ago) my grandmother lived in California. It was so beautiful that even though I was a child I remember it. I haven't been now in probably 40 years and I'm thrilled to see that the beauty hasn't been taken over by the sheer numbers of people that have migrated there. Wonderful pictures. blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  11. That really is a view. Brilliant.
    I did enjoy Sideways.
    This area is south of where a distant cousin of mine owns vineyards and a hotel.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fantastic view from you BIL newly purchased property. Thank you for taking us on a virtual travel with you. Your blocks are all beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ah. Lucky duck. I can very much appreciate how much family history is in that holiday home of yours...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Now how did I miss a post....last week was on fast forward but hopefully this week will be quieter. There is always hope! ha!

    The pictures of wine country are just spectacular! My best friend Ann has a daughter and SIL that live there and they love it. She does too when she goes to visit which is fairly often if the price of tickets is down.

    I can see the surfers! They do look like little dots don't they?! Not something I think I could ever master! ha!

    Your quilt blocks are lovely as always! I have four things going at once right now. Sigh........ I must get them finished up!!! I need your help! :o)

    Flew down to visit FIL yesterday. He is doing well but anxious to come home. He is walking well with the help of a walker but still can't get out of bed by himself. It's been quite a journey for him but he has held up very well.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for sharing your beautiful trip. I love the ocean. That picture was my favorite. Your quilt blocks are lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello dear Mary, I'm back to blogging after my long break to renovate my living room...thank you so much for the compliments on it, it was indeed a lot of work, sometimes very frustrating, but well worth it:-) It feels so good to have time to visit all my favourite blogs now!!

    Such stunning scenery you show in your pictures, no doubt I could get used to waking up to that every morning! lol The water looks so brilliant.

    That signpost with all the little signs pointing to various vineyards reminds me of Niagara on the Lake, there are tons of vineyards up there as well. The only grapes left on the vines now are the ones used to make Ice Wine:-)

    Fancy meeting cows on that road going up the mountain...did you tell them to mooooooove it?? hehe I couldn't resist!

    I always love seeing what projects you're working on, you do such beautiful work. xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a beautiful day trip. Would love to go along for the ride sometime!

    Fun talking to you today!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful photos from your autumn drive! You are lucky to have a home near that gorgeous beach. Do like the green blocks with the Nicey Jane and Kaffe Fassett prints.

    ReplyDelete
  19. What beautiful pictures of wine country. It looks like you had a nice, sunny day. On another note, I love the green fabrics in your cactus blocks. The blocks look great.

    ReplyDelete
  20. wow! so beautiful there!
    love love the quilts!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Mary, I'm finally catching up with you...and enjoyed doing so.
    Ah, the ocean looks so peaceful with the sun glinting on the water, and yes, what a spectacular view!
    Vineyards make for such pretty countryside scenes. Glad you had such a nice day.
    Your quilting is always beautiful.
    I enjoyed seeing your Atlanta photos too. Guess you got your exercise with that walk :) The gardens certainly do look spectacular.
    We have periods of sunshine mixed with clouds and drizzle today, better than the very blustery, wintry day yesterday, but still, the temps are not warm.
    I hope you get some lovely fall weather - you deserve it after the cool summer you've had.
    The Hoya should do well for you over there. They are grown as tropicals in Australia (I think). Anyway, I'm sure they'd like your climate much better than ours. Mine is a houseplant year round.
    Thanks to your hubby and mine for their service :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete