Coronado

I did not sleep well.  The guest room was comfortable, but I was worried about my mother.  Mom called earlier and had told me not to worry, that the staff at the home were taking such good care of her.  But as she mentioned that she had dropped her phone, I could tell her breathing was getting quite labored.  "Mom, we will get you a new phone when we get home."  I had no idea that it would not be necessary.  We still did not know that Mom was so close to dying.

Kathy, the wonderful tour guide she is, took us to Coronado.

The first stop was at a hot dog restaurant.  

I have to say it was my first time at a restaurant that solely served hotdogs. 

 Deluxe hotdogs.  Therefore, the name, Delux.

They serve all kinds of hotdogs.  All-American, the slaw dog, Reuben, Lebowski or polish hot dog.

 I ordered the "Tokyo", with nori, or seaweed on top.  Quite unusual, but good!

After filling up, we headed for the famous hotel.  We were able to park fairly close.  The dunes spell out "Coronado".

Look at this fancy elevator!  I wanted to take a picture of the little man that ran the elevator,

 but he was pretty firm that he did not want that.  

 Kathy explained to us that this hotel was destined for demolition, but the then-governor Reagan saved it!   So glad!  Isn't it just grand??

You can read more about the island and hotel here.

It was raining when we were there.

A storm was brewing and the waves were pounding the surf.

As we were leaving the island, we passed this fairy-tale house.  Oh my goodness!!  I would love to live in a house like that!  I'm afraid we just can't afford California, and especially Coronado, home prices!

The shuttles of His purpose move

     To carry out His own design;

Seek not too soon to disapprove

     His work, nor yet assign

Dark motives, when, with silent tread,

     You view some somber fold;

For lo, within each darker thread

     There twines a thread of gold.

     Spin cheerfully,

     Not tearfully.

He knows the way you plod;

     Spin carefully,

     Spin prayerfully,

But leave the thread with God.

Friends' welcoming home

After Kathy took us to Pt. Loma (prior post), she drove us to their home in Chula Vista.

Don had arrived home from work and was icing his foot.

He had had surgery and a day in shoes was still a little difficult for him.

I am not a dog person, but Daisy was pretty special!

 Kathy fixed dinner for us and we talked and laughed for a long time!  How good to reconnect with our friends who have moved to California.  We used to be in small group at church together and then they also worked with me in the nursery for some time as check-in workers.

Their home is just "delicious"!!  I told Kathy it looked like a Pottery Barn home!

When you live by the sea, of course, you have to have ornaments that reflect that!

 There was a picture of the grandkids, who attend church with us and are quite adorable!!  Luckily, Don and Kathy are able to fly back fairly often to give hugs!

 They remodeled this home and I just love it!

Don was in the navy and they spent part of the time in Japan.  There was a really nice painting of Mt. Fuji (Fuji-yama) on the cupboard.

I forgot to get a picture of the room we stayed in, but the quilt in there was red and so very pretty!  And at the end of the bed, she had draped a quilt made by her aunt that had red flowers on it.  Like I said, Pottery Barn style.

 The cool thing about California, is that you can spend much of your living time outdoors.  You can leave doors open and not worry about bugs flying in.  Kansas, not so much.  It is windy, it is too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, and of course, bugs all the time.  You cannot leave doors ajar!

You can see the mountains of Mexico from their back yard.

I could hear a little trill from the trees.

A yellow-rumped warbler, I think. 

 We had such a good time with these two!  Wonderful hostesses and friends!

San Diego

Jill called to tell me she had been with my mom.  Mom is getting weaker.  I am so glad we were able to move her into the home before we left for California!  God was just directing!  Mom told Jill, "God is so faithful.  He's so very faithful!"  She told Jill "Don't let your mother come home early from her trip."

We made it to San Diego and dropped off the rental car by the airport.  Look how insanely close that plane looks to the buildings!

Our friend, Kathy arrived to pick us up.

Before heading to her house, she took us on a tour to Point Loma.

Here is a veteran's cemetery overlooking the ocean. Just beautiful!

Point Loma is historically important as the landing place of the first European expedition to come ashore in present-day California. The peninsula has been described as "where California began". Today, Point Loma houses two major military bases, a national cemetery, a national monument, and a university, in addition to residential and commercial areas.

We saw a sub going out to sea.

It was getting dark, so it was time to go to Don and Kathy's home.  Next post....

Not in Kansas

We don't see this in Kansas....

some guy trimming palm trees with chain saws

Santa out in 70 degree weather 

 blimps  -  at least I've not seen any

piers on the ocean 

 

surfers

 waves

 we DO have Amtrak in Kansas, but we do NOT have a track along the ocean!

 a restaurant that sits above the surf

 we have land sea gulls (that sounds like an oxymoron), not sea sea gulls.

 fresh fish tacos