Meeting Susan....

On Saturday, we drove to Remnants of the Past immediately.  It is $10.00 per person to get in and they give you an arm band to wear.  That covers the cost of coming back on Sunday as well if you'd like and they were donating a lot of that money to a local women's shelter....I thought that that was a great gesture.  

 The Alex Madonna Convention Center is where the event was held this year....the first time ever....it had always been held in a barn owned by the grandparents of Judy Watkins, the founder of the show....however, it had gotten so big that they had to move to a new location.  If you don't know anything about the Madonna Inn, it's worth a look at the link....it's a pretty unique place with themed rooms and unique characteristics.  It's NOT my kind of place, I'll have to admit, but I do think you'll get a kick out of looking through the rooms.....it's just a little on the weird side for me, but that's just me.  On the other hand, the external structure and the grounds are magnificent....

These large angels guard the entrance to the inn's grounds

 After the very early plane ride and then the 4 hour drive up the coast, THIS was a welcome sign.....

Poetic Pumpkins graced the entrance with this gorgeous scarred pumpkin

If you live in the area, Rutiz Family Farms allows people like you and I to come into the field and 'engrave' or 'scar' a pumpkin and then pick it up when it's ready.....they are an amazing organic farm, which, like our local Grant Family Farms, has a harvest box 'club' where you can 'subscribe' to receive a monthly harvest box of whatever is fresh at the time.  Everything is organic and fabulous.

When we got into the event, we were amazed by the grandeur of it all.....many booths, and each so beautifully decorated.  Each was like a little Anthropologie shop!  Susan showcased a lot of vendors and you can go on the Remnants of the Past site to see even more....she's also on Facebook.

I'm actually working on one of these myself!

A beautiful Mess 

These 'upcycled' wool handbag totes really caught my eye....they are MUCH cuter in person and I was just amazed at how well constructed and sturdy they were...

 And of course, I finally met Pammy....I've been following Pammy for awhile through her blog and have gotten to know her and her family through her stories.  At one point, Rod and I thought of the idea of Idaho as a place for a bed and breakfast and I wrote to her asking her about how she liked living there.  Of course, we quickly came to the conclusion that we can't live far away from the daughters....at least not by OUR choice, so we've kept our search aligned with places in Colorado that are on the east side of the Rockies....

I've loved her blog and her stories and I think her jewelry is AMAZING....she also makes the annual Christmas ornament for Susan Branch.....so, do you see all the connections here?

Here's Pam Johnson and I inside her darling booth, Pammy's Attic

 Pam is beautiful, charming, warm, and genuine and now works at a local church (in Idaho) as a set designer.  She says that she LOVES IT, but of course, is juggling this new career with her art and family.  Her daughter was there on Saturday, so I got to meet her, too.  Her daughter, an amazing writer, pens Higher Highs, Lower Lows, a blog about early parenthood and marriage.  It's funny and so down-to-earth.  You'll love it!  Making the connection with Pam and seeing her in person was just heartwarming....another sister of the heart!


NOW, before we move on to meeting SUSAN, I have to tell you that Saturday afternoon and into evening was AWESOME.....we drove up the coast past Hearst Castle and went to a location where I remember there being elephant seals on the beach.  Lo and behold, there they were!  We took lots of pictures which I'll include in the next post, but I know you're waiting to see Susan....so here we go!

On Sunday morning, we ate our yummy breakfast at Petit Soleil and then tidied up our room and headed back to the Remnants show.  I browsed for a bit, but had done my shopping the day before so I'd have my time on Sunday for Susan, so I got in the increasingly elongating line to meet 'our girl'!   Then, they made an announcement over the loud speaker that she was arriving......my heart started to beat faster....THEN....there she came, into the convention center and walked right in front of me.....I stepped out of line for a moment and said, "I'm Joann from Colorado!" and she said, "Who?"  No, she didn't.....she gave me a BIG HUG and then she said she was happy I came but that she had to get to her spot to sign autographs.  When I stepped back in line, the gal in front of me said, "You two are friends....that's so nice!"  YES, I'm a tweetlette (I didn't tell her that)....

look at that beautiful face and that pretty suit she was wearing...and there's Joe toting a box of books or something....what a wonderfully supportive man he is....and she deserves it!

 It seemed to take forever until it was my turn, but the girls in line were awesome and we chatted up a storm...
and then, finally, it was MY TURN!

there's Bonnie in the apron next to Joe....I would ADOPT HER she's so precious!

I just wanted to reach across the table and squeeze her....like seeing an old friend; the connection was immediate

                                        Can you see the line behind me?  YES, this gal is popular!

I can't say all that she was signing here, because it's a surprise for someone

do you see how she's tilting her head?  That's how a girlfriend listens to another girlfriend, right?  We were both wearing little lapel flowers, too, only mine had flopped in a weird fashion.....I didn't care. Her hair was precious, with little highlights; her eyes bright and twinkling....she's like an ornament, actually!  :)

Joe is as warm as can be....he and Rod chatted it up a bit and then we got a picture together....what a nice man, but would you expect anything less from our girl Susan....she deserves the very best!

I had asked Susan weeks before the event if we could have a cup of tea together and she said that she'd have to see if time allowed for it.  So, when it was my turn in line, I asked again and she said that I should stick around until after the signing and she'd see.  We had already done our shopping, so there was a place called 'the man cave' where there was some furniture so sit down on and a snack shop.  Rod and I got some water and fruit and waited...I kept checking on the line to see how it was going, but she had a popular day....and it took a couple of hours.  Of course, she's wonderful to everyone who comes through the line....we ALL love her! As I saw the line dwindling, I got up and moved closer....when the last person had her book signed, I went up and Susan and I talked for a bit.  She introduced me to a couple of her girlfriends who were local.  Donna, who is a nurse, will be retiring in October, and she and I talked about retirement and health benefits and what it's like living in Colorado.  This we did while Susan went to the little girl's room....I mean, she had been sitting there for a couple of hours signing books and sipping iced tea for Heaven's sake!

Susan told me that she wished we could but that she had not seen these friends in years and needed to go.  We had a few last hugs, and off she went and Rod and I turned and walked back to our car.  I was a mix of elated and sad, so I said that we needed to go have tea anyway.  We drove to Solvang...a Danish settlement that originated in 1911 and has grown into a very popular tourist site.  Unfortunately, it was mostly closed and so I was just able to peek into the windows; however, a bakery was open until 7 pm....hmmmmmm....

me just outside the event center (taken on Saturday)

Rod loved this old truck!

Driving into Solvang.....

Solvang, California

I've created a link for you to check out this wonderful little community--it's definitely worth a visit if you've never seen it before!  The last time I was there was when the girls were really little....

and yes, there are a few windmills here and there...

yes, a bakery!!

ahhh....what to choose; anything gluten free??

yes, an almond paste nut horn....and Rod got a raspberry cream cheese pastry.  And, of course, tea for two!

up close....can't you just taste it?

Closed, but I snapped a picture of this adorable quilt shop through the window

thatched roofs on several of the buildings still are sturdy

                    We walked around holding hands and talking about life and the day's events.....and of course, the events of late.....it was getting dark and time to head north back to San Luis Obispo and to our bed and breakfast....time to start packing up so we could quickly grab breakfast and make our drive back to Los Angeles......

                              Feeling thankful and blessed for all that I have.....
             And to all my wonderful girlfriend tweetlettes, soul sisters, wonderfully supportive women, you were all with me in my heart.....here's a little video to hopefully capture a bit of the day:

                                              see video HERE
                                            

And off we go..................

On Saturday, October 8, we embarked on a journey of a dream come true.....

I've been a fan of Susan Branch since my children were little girls.  I connected with her on a level that wasn't quite 'in,' at the time.....I was all about my home and family and cooking and making things pretty and special....and the world was evolving into those kinds of tasks being 'mundane'.....

I've never thought them to be mundane.  I've thought them to be one of the highest orders of callings in the Universe.....making a house a home, and loving your family with all your heart....

There have been some very tragic events of late, and I don't want to fill this wonderful journey with any of that, so I'll leave it for later, but I want to say that it has been in the past 12 years that my 'calling' was truly appreciated.....it always has been from my daughters, but this time, a man came into my life who said, 'I didn't even know all that I needed until I found you.'  

Susan Stewart Branch inspired me to stay with my purpose....to do what I love....to honor what brings me joy.....

I thought of her life as I went about mine.....her coming out to Martha's Vineyard....not knowing what might lie ahead of her.  And there, in a restaurant....she met her soulmate....as I met mine in a restaurant almost 12 years ago.  The stories are different yet similar....I had three young women in my household to care for....so I wanted a partner, a dad, and a future grandfather.....Susan's love of family made me realize it was OK to want all of that...and need it, too. 

So, this wonderful man of mine and I boarded a plane on Saturday morning....even though the week was sunny and warm, Saturday morning was quite different.  It was 39 degrees and dark and rainy; it was snowing in the mountains and my oldest daughter woke to 3 inches on the ground.  We left the house about 3:30 am to catch the earliest flight to Los Angeles Airport. 

 There it was.....city sprawl....but there it was......

 You can see the downtown area in the distance and the hills beyond....

 Once we landed, we taxied to where we'd disembark....

 The terminal had some emergency going on....I never learned what it was...

 After we got our rental car, we got on the 405 freeway to I-10 and headed north....

 Lots of Halloween stores seemed to have emerged along the highway....

 But the ocean and the gorgeous beaches of California were as beautiful as ever....

 Some pumpkins were floating....

 The landscape before us was beautiful blue skies touching crystal blue seas...

 Something tragic had happened here on our journey....there were dozens of emergency vehicles

 And close to our destination is Pismo Beach.....exit 193 and one of Susan's favorite places to eat.  Just days earlier, she spoke of this place in her blog....where she showed the adorable handbag with the cutie pooch?

 Yes, the Spyglass Inn and Restaurant and here we were, sitting looking out at the ocean with snow and freezing rain falling in our home state we had just left earlier in the day....

I had the lettuce wraps which were so flavorful, fresh and delicious----

 Rod had the shrimp in tequila and lime, with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables....I stole about 1/2 of those potatoes, which were out of this world...

 And.....we cleaned our plates!

 Well, except for the noodles, which aren't gluten-free

 Then, we just sat a bit and soaked in the sunshine and the view....

 Then we were off....on the way, we passed this group of 'adults' playing Quidditch....a fictional sport from Harry Potter; I'm not sure how you play....other than running around in crazy costumes!

 And then we arrived at our inn, Petit Soleil....  a whimsical bed and breakfast which was 're-born' from an old motor lodge...it was quite cute....

The breakfasts were delicious on the two mornings we were there, but we had to RUSH on Monday morning since we had such a long drive back south to Los Angeles...
Here's a picture of the inn's courtyard.  There are bikes to borrow, too.  I do recommend it....if you're ever in San Luis Obispo.

         OK, that's it for this post.....I'll continue with the visit tomorrow....stay tuned!!  I hate to make you wait, but it will be worth it!!! I love you all.....I carried each of you with me as we drove along the coast....I know you love her as much as I do.....
xoxo  Joann                                                                

watching the elk (and the tourists) in the river

Estes Park is one of the towns situated near Rocky Mountain National Park; thus, many tourists from around the world visit this gorgeous location.  Some come to hike the mountains, known as the 14-er's; some come to experience the crisp clean air; others still come to fish.  Many, however, come for the wildlife.  Alaska has its bears and Estes Park has its elk.  The guidebooks tell visitors to keep their distance, but especially during 'rut' season, elk can go after a human.  Rut is mating season and it begins in September through October.

There are several rivers that flow through Estes Park.  The elk, of course, LOVE to get drinks in the river and even lie down in the river to cool themselves.  Fishermen who know the area can easily manage fishing and not disturb the elk.  The elk almost have an intuitive sense of what people know what they're doing!  Visitors, however, just can't keep their distance sometimes....

I had gone up to Estes Park on Tuesday by myself to visit a home for the 3rd time.  On my way back down the mountain, a number of cars were pulled over to the side of the road.  A man of Nebraska (I later found out) said to me, "There's elk in the river!!!!!)  He was so excited.  The other couple they were with had gone down into the river to take CLOSER pictures.  Do you see where this is going??

large bull elk in the river, but what you don't see are the dozens of cows (female elk) he has nearby

                                                           I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to capture the woman who was chased down in the river until she fell head first into the icy waters, completely clothed and with camera and binocular around her neck, but I was able to capture the rescue of one of the gentlemen who now was yelling HELP ME to the nearby fishermen.....

they look like peaceful creatures......but they don't really want to be petted....

one of the nearby fishermen

one of the rescued visitors....in the river with his shoes and socks

So, there's always something to see in Nature.....and sometimes, it's silly humans doing silly things.....this made me smile all the way home......

OH, and no one was hurt.....just embarassed and soaking wet!

This time....