Summer update

It's been a month since I posted last, and that month has been packed. This has been the summer of visitors. It's wonderful to live someplace where people like to vacation or come for work trips. Our house hasn't stayed this tidy for so long since we first had kids.  And fortunately, we are close to the train station and airport. Yesterday we taxied two different friends to the airport - it only takes 15 minutes, and we have some trips coming up ourselves in the second half of the summer, so I'm sure the favor will be returned at some point.  

Instead of writing up all that has happened in the last month, here are some visual updates, beginning with most recent working backwards. There are far too many photos for what is seemly, but I don't have time to separate into different posts.  Much has happened that I would like to remember, and for my own record, I share it here.  This past weekend we hosted a couple of college girls, sisters of our oldest son's good friend. One of the sisters has an architecture internship in Santa Barbara, and her younger sister came along to keep her company. We had met them in the spring at the graduation and invited them to contact us if they needed anything or wanted to see San Diego. They were able to take a train down on Saturday and stay until Sunday. I first took them to Balboa Park to see the iconic buildings and perhaps go to the Art Museum, but it happened to be the Pride Day parade, so the park was packed, and the museums closed much earlier than I expected. So they got an eyeful. We headed home for dinner and took them around Coronado by bike instead of visiting downtown San Diego.  Usually we take guests to the beach for sunset, but the marine layer was too heavy, so we walked along the ferry landing for a view of the San Diego city lights.  On Sunday, we went to Mass, had a big brunch, and then visited the mission and the light house and tide pools. I was up for taking them to Old Town San Diego, but ran out of time. We ended up sending our middle daughter on the train with them to visit the cousins in Ventura, who were taking her on a rafting trip. It was a spontaneous visit, and I had a moment of motherly fear, when I realized she would be getting off the train in Ventura at midnight at an unmanned station - a situation I didn't realized when I booked the ticket. But her uncle was there waiting for her and all was well. 

Prior to the visit from the girls, my brother and two of his daughters came to California. They spent a few days at our house before I took them to Yosemite to hike the John Muir Trail for the next three weeks. I wish I could accompany them - every time I get up in the Sierras, I wish I had more time to stay there.  I was going to hike a couple days with them, but my husband had a work trip to Guam, so I took the two youngest girls and left the older kids home to work their summer jobs and hang out with friends. It was so beautiful, I regretted not making them come along, but hadn't given them enough notice to get off of work.  We also did some site seeing around San Diego during the two days they were getting ready for the big hike.  They had some prep to get done one day to make sure their food stores were ready and to mail their resupply bucket, so we had a beach day and took them to the Sunday evening concert in the park here, which happened to be  Beegees cover band.  It was packed with dancing baby boomers. 

The week before my brother arrived, we celebrated a few birthdays: Two of our own kids, and the good ole United States. This was the first year we just had our own family in town for the Fourth, but several friends joined us for our local parade party, and then we tagged along with another family to watch the fireworks over the bay.  We didn't have big parties for the two teenagers - just big dinners. My mother-in-law was here to help celebrate our oldest daughter's 17th birthday, so we took everyone out to a highly recommended Italian restaurant to relive our trip and eat heartily. It was reasonably priced, but still, taking all nine of our family out to dinner doesn't happen often because its an investment. It was a delicious meal, and very good and reliving the memories of our meals in Italy was well worth the cost. 

My mother-in-law, and my parents, some brothers-in-law, some cousins, and some good friends from Ventura were all here the weekend before the Fourth to attend my husband's change of command ceremony. He has moved to another job here in San Diego - his third tour here, which will bring our total stay to six years. That 17 yr old daughter is thrilled because she will graduate from high school.  I was not quite as thrilled when we received the news because this job will involve a lot of travel, and I was hoping to see another part of the country before our time in the Navy is up, but have come to accept the advantages of staying in one place (one being that we get to see a lot of friends and family). This new job is a command position, which means some pomp and circumstance when the command is passed on.  The previous commanding officer is really the central figure of the ceremony, as he gets to say his thanks and applaud his people, but it is a moving and patriotic event for all involved. We had a large party afterwards, which had me tied up in knots beforehand, but as usual, all went well, we had plenty of delicious food, and I think everyone had a nice time. In two years we will repeat this event, with my husband as the outgoing, and it might be followed by a retirement ceremony.

Just before the change of command, my sister came out for an impromptu visit - often the best kind. We were able to sneak away for a weekend - which was an absolute delight in terms of both the company and the location. I'm already hoping we can meet up more often for weekend retreats. It was a restful and restorative weekend. 

In two years we will also have another wonderful event to celebrate -- our oldest son just got engaged! I should share a photo of the ring. This was not a surprise; he has been dating the same girl for 3 years, and they both just graduated. However, our son is doing a 5th year to finish a second degree, and our soon to be daughter-in-law is committed to a program called Alliance for Catholic Education, in which she will spend two years teaching at a Catholic school, and summers earning her Masters in Education.  So the summer of 2021 will be a time of change and new directions.  We have much to anticipate.

A view of the San Diego de Alcala mission, the first founded by St. Junipero Serra. Every time we visit I learn something new. This past weekend just happened to be the 250th anniversary of the mission (and of the founding of San Diego itself) so the parish was having their festival of the bells. We missed the bell ringing, but were able to enjoy the booths selling tamales, ice cream, Mexican drinks, books, a Mariachi band, and games. I also learned something new about the name of the mission. It isn't named after St. James the apostle, but San Diego de Alcala.  Apparently, San Diego de Alcala is also known as St. Didacus. His 100 year old incorrupt dead body was placed in the bed of a sick, young Spanish nobleman, which resulted in the healing of the young man - and the canonization of St. Didacus.

Magnolias are blooming

The Alcazar gardens at Balboa park - lots of salvia and cosmos, almost as colorful as the people congregating for the Pride day festivities the same day. We happened to arrive just after the parade had ended. I didn't consult the events calendar before showing up at the park. 

Last week we spent a couple days in Yosemite with my brother and his two girls. These photos are in reverse order - this is the lake in Tuolomne Meadows.

Setting off on a 200 mile trek over the Sierras

I wanted to go, too! One of these days I'm going to take off on my own backpacking trip.

Scenic overlook - Halfdome in the distance

Yosemite Falls

We met a bear on the path down from Vernal Falls

A steep fall down!

Vernal Falls from the Mist Trail

Hail, El Capitan! Did not spy any free climbers this day.

The creek near our campsite. I need to double check the name. Because all of the Yosemite sites book up quickly, we stayed in a National Forest campground just outside of the park on the east side closer to the northern entrance. There were plenty of first come, first served sites available in this quiet, spacious campground. Limited services, though - no running water, no flush toilets.  Primitive campsites keep things quiet. 

Can you spy the iridescent bluebird? A companion on my morning walk.

Our campsite among the pines.

Another variety of lupine - smaller than what we saw in the Angeles National Forest. 

At another national park, Cabrillo or First Landing, we admired the work of this plein air painter. 

Birthday whipped cream wars

Concert in the park goers

Some people put on a much more deluxe affair.

You can tell we're not tourists by the rust on our bikes and the lopsided helmets

We've had a couple beach days with friends on the gold specked beaches of Coronado.

Happy Fourth!

My friend's son is a piper - I'm hoping it's not too late for one of our kids to pick this up. He joined in high school - a friendly bunch. 

Sporting our patriotic colors

Another birthday - seventeen annos.  Cheesecake this time around. 

Birthday dinner out al fresco

Folk songs with friends

A new family fun game - Frisknock - like horseshoes with frisbees.

My husband accepts command of the Amphibious Construction Battalion 1

Adding the command pin. I sweated finding a new dress and my daughter promptly snagged it with her bracelet. 

The family

The Navy's construction crew

VBS: Roar! Us and the rest of America

My son built new planters! I need to take a picture of the succulents in pallets on the wall. The backyard is transformed.  Plus I bought a new outdoor sofa for all the company. Often, I regret big purchases, but pleased with this sale find. 

My sister visits! And even better - we take off for the hills, just us. A delightful getaway to hike Mount San Jacinto and eat and sleep in Idyllwild. Need to work on my selfie skills.

The lovely and delicate Mariposa lily thrives in the rocky soil of the Sierras after wildfires. It was once called the Madonna of the Rocks.

A view of Mount San Jacinto State Park

Not sure of this wildflower - abundant blooms throughout the woods

Admiring the mountain lupine

The snow plant (sarcodes sanguinea) is a saprophyte that grows in the Sierras amongst decaying pine needles. One of a fascinating class of living things that doesn't fit common categories.

Ahh! Cool Mountain springs!

Staying safe on Suicide Rock

You can't tell from this photo, but rock climbers are ascending this monolith, It appears God is watching over them.

Good night, San Diego!