Batiquitos Lagoon

Took a walk with Maria down this path.  Well, she ran, and I walked.  I wasn't in training for a half marathon!

The beauties of California never stop.  There is always something new to see and do.  And the weather is nice enough to do them.

Winery

Danny and Maria and I took a beautiful Sunday morning to go visit a fall festival at a local winery.  It was a picturesque winery packed with unique little nooks and crannies everywhere you turned.  

But first. Coffee at Better Buzz.

Lunch date in LaJolla

Last week Danny and I went to look at a property in LaJolla as a potential investment, and while there we drove around my favorite place in CA and had lunch.

We drove down the street and saw one of the first places we ever rented as a vacation spot in California.  So many great memories.

We also went to eat at a little cafe in downtown

 Across the street is an open air coffee shop that really exemplifies how young Californians work.  On their computer, in a coffee shop, wearing shorts and feeling the breeze.

They have amazing coffee too.

Fall in California

Wouldn't be fall without pumpkin turnovers

And a scarecrow

A beachy twist on fall pumpkins, and even a white pumpkin spice candle which is a first for me

My beloved glass squash from Minnesota

The warm glow of the fall sun hitting our beautiful dog

I just know he is missing Ryan

Freya experienced her first loud thunderstorm while Matt and Maria were out so we went and rescued her and kept her safe and dry

Maryland

During our recent trip out east, we re-visited some old places full of memories.  Memories of days when we all lived together as a family in MD, memories of homeschooling days, and we remembered

 fondly our weekly trips to the library and the "country store."

Ledo pizza in Damascus - some of the best pizza ever and we don't have Ledo pizza out here on the West coast.  

The tiny, run-down, well-loved little library in the tiny, run-down, well-loved little town of Damascus. 

Our trips to the library or to art class almost always ended in a trip to the country store for a donut or ice cream or just a little treat.

How many cups of coffee did I pour myself from this counter in an effort to get just a bit more energy to finish out the day?  It was always such a treat.

It was kind of nice to see that none of these places had changed at all.  Not one little thing.

Pittsburgh

Brian and Shannon’s wedding! It was a beautiful day and it was so great to reunite with family members and see all the happy smiling faces!!  Hannah’s flowers were beautiful and all the girls were absolutely stunning in their wedding attire!  Grandpa even put on a tie! Haha 

It appears that none of the flowers made it into the wedding pictures so here they are!!

What a great couple these two are!

All dressed up and looking so so pretty.

Ed and Sue hosted a family get together as well as a football party the day after the wedding. Still the king and queen of hospitality for sure.

Cousins reunited!!!

Taken at the end of the night...the cousins who look like sisters.

 Both Lisa and Sue qualify as the worlds most patient and sacrificial moms.  

And LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!!!

Head of the clan!! Haha

Love these two so much. 

And whoa these two were HOT! Haha

I mean look at those shoes! Haha. At this point they were abandoned for the dance floor! 

A beautiful setting. 

And a wedding with donuts is a winner in my book. 

Everyone seemed to be having a great time!!