San Diego and Julian at Christmas!

Yes, it's Christmastime but I was also heading down to San Diego to celebrate my birthday. I decided to get outta dodge and head south to see some dear friends and enjoy my old stomping grounds. (I lived down there at the end of the 80s and early 90s.)

A little Jazzy Christmas, if you're interested!

We decided to head to Little Italy for my birthday dinner. I know, sounds shocking with my Italy obsession ...

But, we actually went for Mexican Food and Margaritas! I saw online how festive the interior looked, and that they had my favorite tequila, so that sealed the deal. I had dinner with 3 of my oldest friends, Kristen, Amy and Erin. It was delightful! 

El Camino 

Love the decor and the Christmas decorations! So happy and colorful!

The enchiladas, guacamole and cucumber margaritas were all fantastic. Little tip though, we ordered the margaritas with the sweet agave nectar on the side, and it was a good decision because they were perfect without it! 

The big flowers on the ceiling reminded me of Alice in Wonderland! 

The quote, in case you can't read it says, "You can't buy happiness but you can buy tequila." So true.

Loved all the twinkle lights in Little Italy. The Italians know how to do lights. In Italy, every place I went in December, each street had their own decorating theme! I can't believe it's been 4 years since my last trip to Europe. Of course, it took me a year to blog about it, so I'm sure it doesn't seem like it was that long ago! (By the way, I'm planning a trip! More on that later!)

Balboa Park

One of the things I was hoping to do on this visit, was to head to Balboa Park. It's a huge area that's filled with museums (17 of them, including the San Diego Museum of Art!) green spaces, gardens, recreational activities, and performing arts including a big equity theatre. Oh! And the San Diego Zoo!

The land was set aside in the 1860s by civic leaders, and in 1892 park beautification plans started and then when it was set to host the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, things really kicked into gear. Then there was the Second Wold's Fair: The 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition ... I will link the history below. Today the total land parcel is 1,200 acres.

I headed over with Erin, and we found the perfect parking spot so it was definitely meant to be!

The Botanical Gardens building ...

The park was beautifully decorated for the holidays!

That's the moon!!!

A very beautiful and very red sculpture called "Odyssey III" in front of the San Diego Museum of Art. That's my hat shadow at the bottom of the photo!

And a Mirò sculpture, in silhouette, with strings of lights across the big square! 

The Old Globe Theatre

Balboa Park

 I loved all the projected lights!

Julian, California

Another adventure on my "to do" list, was to head up to Julian. When I lived down in San Diego, I loved driving up to the mountains to Julian for Cider and apple pie, and just for a change of scenery. A little over an hour, I think depending on where you're starting. 

It's a cute little town. One of those places you want to go hug trees and buy jam. O.K. maybe that's just me.

After realizing there was a chunk out of my tire, my dear friend Lisa was kind enough to drive us up. Fortunately, we are similar in our "likes" and we kept pulling over to check out various views and take pictures.

I mentioned pie, right? I bought two apple boysenberry pies for my host families. And ... yum. Mom's pies are delicious but I recommend going to the one just outside of town so you don't have wait in line. So, good. Especially warmed, with vanilla iced cream!

And, we found a little brewery. The "Nickel Beer Co" just off the highway about 1/3 mile east of the downtown.

They have 16 taps of house brewed beer but if you're like us and you can't decide, they take muffin tins and fill small glasses so you can try the various beers, and make a little graph to keep track of what you're trying out. Cute idea, huh? Lisa's favorite was the Pearfect Apple Pie Ale, which was like a cider, and mine was the Irish Red Ale. Very smooth.

Then Lisa took me out to dinner at the Julian Grille, for my birthday. It was a cute little place and I ordered chicken that was served with a sauce with warm peaches!  Mmmm  ... SO good. 

It was such a lovely day. We also went to Santa Ysabel, a little "sub-mission" church but since I hit two Missions on my way out of town I will post that later, with the others.

Oh, I have to throw in this shot of me in downtown Julian, outside the Julian Cafe, with Santa. By the time we were getting ready to head out, they were one of the few places still open to get a cider to go. They also have a fabulous selection of preserves, apple butter and yummy syrups! Great place to buy gifts! Shhhh!

I want to thank my dear friends and their beautiful families for their love, friendship and their hospitality! I'm so blessed and so grateful for all of you!

Links:

El Camino

Balboa Park

Balboa Park History

Mom's

Nickel Beer Co.

Julian Grille

Julian Cafe

I want to get a post up of the beautiful "Enchanted Forest of Light" before the holidays are over! We'll see. It's obviously been a very sporadic blogging year for me. I hope to catch up with everyone over the holidays! Speaking of which, I hope you are all enjoying the holidays with those you love. 

Sending out the very warmest of wishes!

blessings and light!

OH ... and a few vintage winter songs! ;) 

(Love the old version of Button Up Your Overcoat!)

A Long (Wonderful) Weekend in San Diego

Pacific Beach

San Diego, California

Before teaching summer art workshops, in L.A., I headed to San Diego to kick off summer and visit some of my oldest and dearest friends.

My friend Lisa, lives in Pacific Beach, not all that far from where I used to live. (I lived down there for four years studying art and theatre.) Lisa and I have known each other since we were 4 or 5, and being with her feels like home, wherever we are or happen to be.

I think Lisa said these little bungalows have been there since the 30s and you can still rent them. Wouldn't that be fun? It's called the Crystal Pier Hotel, now.

We walked around Pacific Beach, bought some fun tank tops, took lots of pictures, then stopped at this little hotel on the boardwalk for for ceviche tacos and pinot noir. (A very yummy combo!)

Bar at Tower 23 Hotel

Lisa and me photographed by the bartender!

There were some very fun little shops on Garnet with all sort of goodies. For the most part, excluding the neccesary summer tank tops, I managed to keep my wallet in my pocket!

In California, we often call June weather "June Gloom" and though there might have been some clouds in the sky, it definitely did nothing to dampen our spirits or our wonderful visit.

I had a great visit with my friend Kristen and her family, in Point Loma, as well! 

I love photographing kids, as you might have noticed, from some long ago posts. This first shot is of Kristen's son.

Nate, 7 years old (check out that dimple!)

Libbey, their new, and very sweet, dog. Biggest lab ever, by the way, but look at those eyes! 

Sofia, age 11 and recovering from a slumber party.

We had a fabulous dinner out in Mission Hills, near yet another place I lived, in San Diego. I think I moved 7 times in 4 years. That's Lisa again in the middle, and Kristen on the right.

After hanging at the beach, I headed out to see my friend Erin on the East side of town. She took me out to this lovely garden place. Well, it's much more than a nursery, as you'll see.

Summers Past Farms

Flinn Springs, Calfornia

As you can see, it turned into a gorgeous day out there!

I spied this little one on the bridge, watching the water ...

It turned out that that morning was their annual fairy festival!

We missed the events, but there were still some fairies hanging around. This one looks like she might be doing something she knows she ought not be doing! Taking a dip in the pond!

There are two very cute little shops, with various treasures.

I bought a hummingbird feeder here for my dad.

They also have an array of native plants for sale, a chicken coup, a little place to by ice teas and treats and little places to sit an enjoy the lovely views.

The following day, I went with Erin, her husband Jimmy and their kids, out to Lakeside to her parents ranch. I love going out there!

Rancho Puesta del Sol

Lakeside, California

Below is the view looking out across their backyard. The little structure on the left is her mom's new art studio! Can you imagine? So fantastic.

Erin's daughter McKenna, who is 7, and you can see by her cheek is a big Padres fan.

This is Erin's son Cooper. Erin was the first of my closest friends to have a baby ... and now he's 15!

As you can see, her parents' home is warm and so inviting!

Feathers they've found on the property ...

A friend of theirs found this skull and gave it to Erin's mom Sandie. She decorated it, and it looks amazing!

She has be creating beautiful watercolors for years, but recently started doing some abstract pieces, which I LOVE. Here is one of my favorites!

Watercolor abstract by Sandie Seckington

Down the hill on a neighboring ranch, there were two new baby llamas to see!  The brown is the older baby.

And lying in the grass ... the new baby! So cute!!!

Erin and I took her dad's golf cart down and frankly I wasn't sure we'd make it back! It was like Mr. Toads Wild Ride at Disneyland! We were laughing so hard. Here's a shot I took with my iphone on our wild ride!

A Friend

May well be

reckoned the masterpiece

of Nature.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The weekend just couldn't have been any better. Thank you, my friends!

Growing up in Southern California, my family used to listen to this, on the 8 track, in my parents' big white GTO, especially on summer rode trips! Enjoy!

Blessings and light!