Santa Cruz in the Rain.

My view of the Santa Cruz boardwalk –across from the pier where Randy and I headed out for lunch.

It’s usually NOT this grey.

But I stood there in the driving rain in the parking lot on the pier trying to get a photo of a place that meant a lot to me as a kid – SO MANY childhood memories happened here.

Can you even see the old wooden roller coaster?  It's the first one I ever rode.

Growing up in Almaden Valley in nearby San Jose, it was often that we'd make a Saturday excursion going "over the hill" to Santa Cruz, where we would park the old Volvo, grab the cooler and the beach blankets, toys, umbrella, sand bucket and shovel from the trunk to spend the day at the beach.

Arms laden with all needed beach materials, we would trundle off from wherever we had miraculously gleaned a hard-to-find parking spot, walking beneath the fragrant eucalyptus trees and pathways edged by ice plant (succulents) overgrowth to claim our small spot of paradise on the beach for the day.

I was really young at this time – maybe 10.  My brothers were 3 and 6 years younger than I, and we would wade out into the water, going only as far as our ankles until those body parts were fairly numb enough to wander in further.  

Eventually we’d come screaming back up on the sand,  lips chattering and blue, our bodies covered with goose flesh - making a beeline toward the sun warmed beach blankets and towels for whatever lunch the cooler happened to hold.

Things I didn’t realize until way later on: 

While all along I thought these special beach trips (that definitely put the SAND in SANDWICH) were magical excursions, (and they were, memories as priceless as gold) it is only through having a family of my own that I realize that to my parents - these were simply affordable trips that required little more than grabbing a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a half a tank of gas.

These memories make me smile.

Rain on the window from our booth at lunch.

Our first stop of the day, before lunch – best idea ever – Massages at Well Within.  Click to play:

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Mar 1, 2018 at 1:31pm PST

I have to say this was likely the BEST massage experience I have ever had.  And once you are done with your fabulous massage, your therapist will escort you to a private room with a shower.  After the shower, step through the sliding glass door into your own private patio area, and sink into a bubbling hot tub guaranteed to make you more noodley than you already are.

It’s just that kind of over the top.  Wonderful.

Icing on the cake!

Scotts Valley’s newest quilt shop, Modern Handmade!

There just may have been a bit of fabric fondling going on!

More pink blooming things.

With the rain stopping, it was time for a quick round around the neighborhood to get some steps in before dinner.  I love walking through neighborhoods and seeing who has planted what and what is coming up, and the different personal touches people do to their homes and yards.  Temps were only around 50 at this point, there was much walking with hands in jacket pockets.

Hexie stitching in between everything!

That is when Max isn’t demanding some pets while you sit there!

How can he be 9 already?  Remember when he was a puppy?

Randy shared her hourglass Leader & Ender challenge!

Way to go!

She still has the purple round left to go, but isn’t it looking great?

I’m so glad I came out one day early to have this time to just relax, hang out, and acclimate myself to the 3 hours earlier time zone.  The plan today is also easy.  This is posting early because another friend Claire is picking me up to take me to breakfast, some sight seeing and eventually winding me down to Pacific Grove and Asilomar.  I’m so grateful for the extra play day and the time to spend with friends I haven’t seen in a while.

Next post – from Asilomar!

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Vintage Dresden Plate quilt from Randy’s collection.

Happy Friday, everyone!