Waterwise

After we left Carolina and California Girl yesterday, Meg and I drove to Del Mar, past Camp Pendleton a huge Marine base on the other side of the hills from where Rick and Meg live in Fallbrook. From there we hear explosions and Blackawk helicopters beating overhead at all hours of the night and day. As we drove along the ocean side we could see fake desert tent outposts, miles of sand dunes and a helicopter on the horizon just about keeping pace with our car. I suppose this should make me feel more secure, but somehow it doesn't;.

We met niece Annie, her husband Davide and Emma who spend summers at their condo in Solana Beach and all trooped out to dinner at a wonderful, old school Mexican restaurant called Fidel's. Emma sat at the head of the table making origami paper cranes from her place mat which she learned how to make, her mother explained to me, from an old lady at the Hiroshima Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park . Apparently she also learned to make jumping frogs for she made one that jumped right into a bowl of salsa.

Having driven what seemed like hundreds of miles (thanks to the wonderful Meg at the wheel) we all seem inclined to stay home today, enjoying the view and the perfect weather. Some of us took a quick trip to a nearby growing nursery called Waterwise Botanicals which has desert plants beautifully displayed in many different ways. There are ponds full of fish, a rusty metal flying pig which I would love to have in my garden, and places to sit and watch the butterflies.

Rick stayed home to do some work and babysit the brisket which has been on the barbecue since 8am.