Mendo Part II

I showed you where I lived, now I'm going to show you where I "work". It's not real work, and the group that staffs the Ford House is just the best. I really think of Mendo as my second home.

This is the parlor  of the Ford House. The curves of the sofa are there so the person sitting could reach over the back to get  a drink from the table that was usually behind the sofa.

The door in the background is now used as the front door, and visitors come from all over the world to learn about the Coast.

This what I see every dy from the "back" door-which actually was the front entrance originally.

I wish you could hear the surf....extraordinary!

This is part of the Mendocino Headlands, and on the right is part of Main St. I'm taking this pix from the windo of the front room.

This is from the back porch-do you know this is a flannel bush? See? I've learned so much! 

More about Mendo-Part I

You'll be amazed about how much I've learned! 

This is part of my front yard. There's a Cala Lily and Bearded Iris.....

surrounded by beautiful geraniums!

When my front door is open this is what I see.

This is my site....See, there's lots of room for another rig or tent!

These are my neighbors, the Thompson's.

The Mendocino Coast

It was a dark and stormy night-oops! It's not night yet but still very stormy. The afternoon winds are going strong almost all day and into the night. Cecile and I decided to get some shots.

This is one of the many inlets that you see as you drive highway 1. In the distance you can see the Headlands.

This is a shot of Point Cabrillo Lighthouse-the pix showed a light coming from the top.

First Visitor to Mendocino

Wow! What a way to start hosting and introducing Mendocino to my friends! Mike flew his plane with his companion Barbara in to Little River airport Sunday afternoon. He had been visiting friends in Carmel and Salinas and stopped for an overnite on his way home to Boise, ID. We go back along way. We met when he was doing his residency at Valley Med, then became an attending for about 5 years. He is my"little brother" and Kristin's "big brother". We could always count on him for so many things. Mike will leave his practice and join the Peace Corps sometime next year. Our visit was long overdue, and we reminisced half the night. He liked my style of camping-even though he's a tent camper....I have so many special people in my life-I'm very blessed!  

Taking off or landing? They both look alike!

Mike, Casey and I just before takeoff...Casey is a 14 year old golden retriever-so good and gentle. I can't believe how well behaved he was all night.

Even Dr./pilots have to do those mundane chores-Mike is literally towing the plane over to the gas pump..wonder what his bill is?

First Weekend in Mendocino

Mendocino is just as I remembered-beautiful, serene and inviting. After an easy trip caravanning with the Thompsons we settled in on Wed. We officially checked in Thurs and found we were on for the Heritage Festival, beginning May 3 through the 11th. Mendocino is filled with special events during this time and the Ford House is host to many of them. Saturday was the big day-we dressed in period costumes and had several stations on the Headlands in the back of the Ford House. We had Mr. and Mrs. Ford there-Mr. Ford told of the hazardous trip from the east to here. We had children's games (appropriate to the 1800's) weaving  and knitting demonstrations, a real stagecoach ride through town, a pump fire truck, making ice cream, butter and corn husk dolls. Lots of fun! 

L to R: Cecile, Judy and me in our period costumes. Thanks, Denise, for all your hard work sewing our garments! Cecile was in charge of making ice cream, Judy- children's games, and I was in charge of making corn husk dolls. 

This young lady is busy at work making her first corn husk doll.

Cecile is making ice cream the old fashioned way. 

A group of juniors from the local high school came to see what their heritage was all about. They made some of the most creative dolls! 

St. Anne's Chapel

This is the entrance to St. Anne's Chapel. It was a one-room school school house then was sold to the church. The priests from St. Joachim's in Madera come every Sunday for 9:00 am Mass. 

This is the grove just below the church. This little grotto is dedicated to St. Ann, Mary's mother. We have May day celebrations here.

This is where I go to attend mass every Sunday that I'm home. It is a peaceful, pastoral place in the country, in the little town of Raymond. Raymond is even smaller than Coarsegold! I have a wonderful community of friends there; the Chapel is part of a parish (St. Joachim's) in Madera. I'll miss my community but look forward to my "summer" parish-St. Anthony's-in Mendocino.