January in San Diego

Friday's with Jim and Ginger

It was a perfect day in San Diego, clear skies, temperature almost 80 degrees. It almost felt like spring. Jim and Janeal were visiting from WA. so we took their family and Mike and Suzann and headed for the beach. It was packed with people who had the same idea. The water was too cold for me for swimming, but it sure didn’t stop the kids.

It was a perfect day in San Diego, clear skies, temperature almost 80 degrees. It almost felt like spring. Jim and Janeal were visiting from WA. so we took their family and Mike and Suzann and headed for the beach. It was packed with people who had the same idea. The water was too cold for me for swimming, but it sure didn’t stop the kids.

Friday's with Jim and Ginger

What could possibly be better than Christmas time in San Diego? It is really America's finest city! We began the evening with dinner on the embarcadero at Anthony's. All the ships were decorated in lights and the glow on the harbor was beautiful. Next we did a little driving to see the houses decorated and finally ended up in Balboa Park.

Balboa Park is the most amazing place. The magnificent Spanish-Renaissance style of architecture was originally created for the first World's Fair in 1915. It is always fun to just walk around, but it takes on a special feeling at Christmastime. If you only see it in the summer, you are missing the fun of bundling up in coats and enjoying both the lights and displays. Of course, a favorite is the Old Globe with 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

Don't you wish Christmas could last a little longer? Maybe without all the hussle and bustle but a little more time to reflect and enjoy.



Merry Christmas!

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

We had so much fun at the beach we decided to do it again. Friday was both the highest tide and also the lowest tide. The high tide was not as impressive as the other week because we didn't have any storms, so the waves were not as big as before. Still fun but not as good. However, the low tide was amazing. It was a minus 1.8 tide and it seemed like it went on forever.

We started at Sunset Cliffs and went from there to La Jolla. We walked out on the ramp by the children's cove, which is now taken over by the seals. It was fantastic with the waves crashing on the wall behind us and the seals in front of us. We stayed for quite a while and then worked our way up the coast to Carlsbad.

We took a break for brunch. We found a cafe that had great reviews, but our opinion was it was just OK, nothing special. Still after our diets, it tasted wonderful. We took our time and then it was almost low tide so we had to leave since we really came for the low tide.

Our next stop was Carlsbad where we took a long 2 mile walk along the beach. We stayed just out of the water, which required careful attention to the waves. I don't know when the beach was more beautiful. It just went on forever. After our walk in the sand, we were exhaused (at least I was) so we went to Noah's Ark and set up our chairs and took a little nap. Thought I might read, but the book was boring and I couldn't keep my eyes open.

We spent the entire day at the beach. Really a perfect day.

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

Friday we decided to do something we haven't taken time to do in a long time, spend a part of Friday getting away and just enjoying what San Diego has to offer. We really didn't plan on it, but we were talking about the big waves and decided to forget everything else and just go. It was a little after high tide but we went anyway. It was so much fun. A perfect beach day, overcast and foggy. It was almost like being in a cloud. The waves were still magnificant. We started at resturant row and went south all the way to Sunset Cliffs, stopping at every good spot along the way.
We had such a good time we decided to do it again at the end of the month. The last Friday in January there is a really high tide and a minus low tide, so we are going to spend the entire day at the beach. I think it will be neat to see the two extremes. I will post the photos.

A night under the stars

We had a fun night last night. Maren Romney got married and we went to her reception. It was in their backyard. It had been extremely hot durning the day, but cooled off just right for the evening. They had set up a million candles on tables, in trees, down walkways and it just sparkled. They had a full size band, all members of the church, playing and it was just great! Pres. Haynie was on the drums! Didn't even know he played! Just loved it. I am sure they switched to pop music after we left because they had a DJ set up. It was really fun relaxing under the stars visiting with friends. Of course, we couldn't eat anything. The only temptation for me was wedding cake. I really love wedding cake. The very sad part - I gained 1.5 lbs this morning and no cake. Not fair! Jim is really doing well, his Santa belly is almost gone. Why is it so much easier for men? I am committed even if it is going to take me twice as long. Dad booked a trip to Hawaii in February and I want to be smaller by then. Our Hawaii miles were about to expire and we didn't want to lose our free trip, so we will be enjoying ourselves courtesy of Hawaiian Air, hooray!

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

This Friday we took a short trip to Carlsbad to see the flower fields. The Ranuculas were in full bloom. It was just gorgeous. We got out and walked around a little. We didn't go up into the fields because they now charge $10 apiece and I thought that was crazy. So I saved the $20 and bought 3 bouquets for $12. Quite a savings and I get to enjoy them for a week.

It was a gorgeous day and you could see the ocean sparkling in the background when you went to the top of the fields. It really makes you feel like Spring is here.

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

This Friday we did something different! We went to the San Diego Opera and saw Don Quixote. It was fun getting all dressed up and having a night on the town. Don Quixote is a spanish opera but they have english sub titles so you know what's going on. The opera stage was really well done. The orchastra was wonderful. The costumes and scenery were exceptional. I expecially liked the windmill scene. However, Don Quixote is a very, very slow moving opera. Don Quixote does most of the singing and there is not too much action, at least not in the first half. There were quite a few people around us that were sleeping.

The second half? Not sure, we left during intermission. We decided we could stay or go get a bite to eat. The stomach won that argument. We just barely made it to Anthony's before they closed. We had a window seat with the spectacular view. I just had a cup of chowder and a shrimp & crap cocktail since it was so late. It was the perfect meal and a great way to end a fun evening.

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

This Friday brought us a wonderful change of pace. We decided on a movie and dinner. The movie was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I wasn't sure if it would be good and Jim really wasn't sure about it. I like deep movies, he likes comedy so I won on this one. It is the story of a man who is born old and gets younger each day. It is a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the movie verson stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. How can you go wrong with that?

Anyway, I absolutely loved it! I am going to have to buy the book. There were so many little treasures throughout that I want to remember and maybe even quote. I don't know when I have enjoyed a movie this much.

Dinner? Taco Bell. Couldn't have been better.

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

Friday's adventure was a fun trip to San Diego and Balboa Park to see the Christmas Lights. We drove by the embarcadero and grabbed a bite at Anthony's. The entire city was lit up and it was gorgeous. We finished the evening with a drive through Balboa Park. We were going to get out and walk around, but as you can see by the drops the rain started coming down hard and we were without umbrellas. So we settled on a beautiful drive. It was a fun evening.

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

We finally had a semi-cool day and we decided if we were going to experience autumn we would have to go to it - it wasn't coming to us. So we embarked on a fun day trip to Julian.


Our first stop was at the Tenaja rest stop for a quick hike and our first look and feel of mountains. No fall color, but lots of pines and oaks and fresh air.

We continued on through Julian up to Cuyamaca. There is a ranch I have always loved. It has a beautiful meadow and is surrounded with pine trees. It also had a beautiful ranch house that had a fire going in the winter with smoke climbing out the chimney. Imagine my surprise when this is what we found.

Amazing isn't it! It was gone, burned to the ground! The entire Julian/Cuyamaca area is burned out; nothing but dead trees and stumps. Very ugly, and sad.

We were happy to see the lake was still pretty and we even saw a flock of Canadian geese on the shores. (If the pictures are too small - click on them to enlarge - they are fun.)


No fall color; not this year!


Onward and upward to the best part of the day! Shopping in Julian and apple pie. They have the very best apple pie in the world. It was hot out of the oven, smelled as good as it tasted. Yes, we brought a pie home. I was sorry we didn't buy two! We then went shopping and I hit the jackpot with a fabulous store 'The warm hearth', that went on forever, upstairs, downstairs, basement, back room, on and on, filled with wonderful treasures. It was such a temptation not to go crazy and buy it all. I had great self control.

Overall - a really fun day! We'll go again when the snow comes!

Fridays with Ginger

This Friday, I discovered a new fun thing to do! It is the October Harvest Craft Festival!! It is in Del Mar at the fairgrounds. It was amazing, it has been going on for years and I didn't even know about it! It takes up several buildings (the Bing Crosby Hall, etc.) It is filled with thousands of booths. This is not Jim's thing - he pretends he likes it, but gets bored after a few booths that seem the same to him and wants me to hurry up, anyway since he is dieting he can't eat all the free samples. So I went with some friends and left him home.

Every kind of crafty thing you can imagine is there. I tried to take pics but my camera said it was protected and locked. How did that happen? If anyone knows how to free it, let me know, I would hate to have to buy another one of those little card thing-es. So I could only take one picture on my cell phone since I can't figure that out either.

But back to the fair. I was delighted with all the different things to buy. It took so much self control to just limit myself with so many choices before me. I settled on: A really cute Christmas shirt with matching earrings. Some fabulous, fantastic scrub ( mine is 'Sex on the Beach' and 'Waterfall Mist' - yes I bought 2), it is a overall body scrub, but really, really good for feet and hands. I also bought a hanging potpourri decoration, but it stank so bad I had to hang it in the garage until the smell goes away. It is still a cute hanging thing. Then I bought some special dips for the holidays, or whenever I get a craving. That was it - great self control!

Too bad this only comes along once a year. I will absolutely never miss it again!

Fridays with Jim and Ginger and family

This week it was a short drive to Valley Center to Bates Brothers Nut Farm!

Yes it is an old family favorite, especially this time of year. Lauri and family and Susann and family joined us. That made it lots of fun! It was about 90 degrees so it didn't really feel like autumn but that didn't stop us. We loved resting on the picnic tables in the shade when we needed a break.

Bates has been here ever since I can remember and just gets better each year. The highlight of the trip was the pumpkin patch where each kid found their ideal pumpkin. The little ones just wanted to play and it wasn't easy getting them out of there. I should have gotten a giant pumpkin for the front door, but didn't.

From there we went to the animals and bought 10 bags of food so everyone could feed the animals. Ducks, chickens, geese, goats, lambs, llama and horses were there for the feeding. Of course, everyone loved it and when the food was gone the kids picked up spilled corn from the dirt to continue the fun.

We stopped by the country store and controlled ourselves by just buying trail mix and nuts - leaving the fabulous candy alone. I don't think that was a good choice, but I will get another chance since we are going back to buy the stuff for my world famous fruitcake. I might even share that recipe this year (It is a family secret given to me by my Aunt Dorothy). They also had some wonderful decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Definitely will be going back.

Fridays with Jim and Ginger and Lynda

Yes, that's right this Friday we shared it with my sister, Lynda. Lynda came from Santa Rosa to spend the weekend with me. Actually it was to attend our niece Bethany's wedding. But I know it was really an excuse to see me. It was so much fun. We laughed and laughed. It is wonderful to get together again. It is interesting that no matter how much time passes we just pick up where we left off as if only a few days had passed rather than a whole year. We spent a lot of time together when our kids were growing up so we both love each others children. We love to hear what is going on with everyone. So what do sisters do when they get together? -----They Shop! Where do they Shop? You got it! So for our Friday adventure we headed to our favorite store.

The shopping was great, a perfect way to spend an afternoon. It was particularly funny, don't know why; it just was. Even the sales lady was having fun. We both got new tops for the wedding and then let Jim join us at the Brigatine for a yummy dinner. We all licked our plates clean and of course saved room for dessert.

And the wedding was beautiful, Bethany was a knockout. See Lynda's blog for more photos.


Next time we are going to buy twin outfits and have 2 desserts!

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

Delicious and Beautiful! For this Friday we decided to take a short drive down to San Diego Harbor. It only took about 20 minutes to get there. Of course the main reason was to stop by Anthony's and have a delicious shrimp boat. For years this has been a family favorite. They have lots of things to choose from but we always come back to the shrimp boat. When the kids were little the containers actually looked like boats, now they just look like they taste - delicious!

Even though you can sit out front or on the side patio, we always go the far back and sit on the outside deck where we can see the water lapping beneath our feet. I love the smell of the ocean, the sounds of the gentle water and the seagulls squawking. The view is unobstructed and amazing. A gentle ocean breeze lifts your hair and cools you off. I think I have found heaven!

We talk and linger until the sun starts to set. A few sailboats drift by. We gaze at the large ships docked across the harbor. A naval carrier is there tonight as well as a luxury yacht. We watch the airplanes land and take off at Lindbergh Field. A helicopter Flies overhead. We enjoy the setting of the sun. It won't be going into the ocean today, there is a fog bank in the distant so the sun slips behind it and the fog bank is rimed with gold. I never forget why I love San Diego when I am here. It really is paradise.

Fridays with Jim and Ginger

This Friday we decided to do something a little different. The new Sprinter, a fast rail transit system, just opened up in Escondido. It goes from Escondido to Oceanside. It is only a very short drive from our house. So we decided to take the Sprinter and go to Oceanside to walk out on the pier.




For only $2.00 we were able to purchase a round trip ticket. As we were boarding I noticed that some of the passengers were a little iffy. One was obviously a homeless woman and a couple of others looked like they had been working in the fields for a day. I don't think I would like to ride it during rush hour. But for the most part, it wasn't too busy and we had good seats going forward not backwards (important for me). It was fun seeing the backside of buildings. Boy, do some people have a mess behind their houses! It did take an hour with all the stops compared to the half hour it would have taken to drive. But it was very relaxing and gave me a chance to talk with Jim.

When we got to Oceanside we were just a few blocks from the pier so we walked to the pier. If was a beautiful day, warm but with billowy clouds and the sun starting to set. I love the smell of the ocean and the cool breeze. As we started walking out the pier we realized that there was a surfing competition going on. So we stopped and watched the surfers for awhile. We you are on the pier you are even with them on the water and can really get a good look.

There was quite a few people fishing. It looked like a good day, most were catching fish. I think I would have thrown some of the small ones back, but all the fishermen seemed to be keeping them. Not worth the cleaning to me.

At the end of the pier is Ruby's Diner. We had cheeseburgers, onion rings and old fashioned milk shakes. It was soooooo good! Probably the best cheeseburger I have had in a long time (yes, it was better than In-n-Out) and the shake was it's equal. As we were finishing up the waitress kept walking by with banana splits, hot fudge sundaes and all kinds of fantastic goodies. But we decided to be good, since we already blew 2 days calorie allowance and decline. So we are going to have to go back just for dessert.

The trip home was after dark so not as much fun. I think the first seat I sat in had a previous problem since there was sawdust on the floor. We moved to new seating and the rest of the trip was fine. A fun trip, we'll do it again.

Friday Fun with Jim and Ginger

Well, this Friday was a little off track. But it couldn't have been more enjoyable! We had a visit from Tony, Lauri, Hannah, Bailey, Grace, Ethan. Tony and Lauri went to see Eric in a play so I had a slumber party with the kids. Hannah called Anneli to come join her. Eberly was at a soccer game and couldn't make it (we missed you). Kyara drove Anneli here and when she came in asked, "room for two more?" Of course, so Kyara and Rommers stayed for the night as well.

We had a great time eating, watching TV and swimming. I thought it was cold but that didn't stop them from having a ball. Of course, Bailey was absolutely perfect the entire weekend. Lots of laughter and lots of fun.

Then the best time of all: Lauri taught me how to do blogs! I think I can make the backgrounds and headers now. We'll see, I haven't had time to practice but soon I will do it. So Fridays can be fun even at home.

Grammy's Slumber Party

Friday Fun with Jim and Ginger

This is a new addition to the blog. We decided to discover and do all the fun things San Diego County has to offer. We will then share it with you. Kind of like a personal travel log. Then when you come here, you will have great things to do also. This is the first thing we decided to do.

OK! OK! I know this is a cop-out but really....it is still in the 90's here and it still feels like summer. Why hike, sweat or drive when you can just do this? My idea of a perfect Friday!

The big gulp is waiting by my towel!