Mendo Magic

What can make Mendocino magical for me? A visit from my family!  Miss C and Mommy slept in the tent and Mama And our newest-Miss E- slept in the motor home. It's Miss E's first camping trip and at 6 weeks I think that's pretty special! The weather was the usual-very foggy and cool-but that didn't stop us from having a great time. I'll miss them when they leave tomorrow-it will be a few months before we meet again....

Miss C loves to roast marshmellows-but can't stand the taste of them!

Here's the gang o mine! Miss E's first camp out.

So tiny-

Miss C loved playing croquet-het style

"Hit it between my legs", says Miss C

And nothing tastes sweeter than fresh strawberries.....

Goodbye Mary & Jim

Mary and Jim Hambelton came to Mendo to get cooled off and attend some of the events at the Music Festival. They piggy-backed on my site at the maintainence yard. We saw the "Seldom Scene" a quintet specializing in bluegrass. What a great time!

Then on Friday, we enjoyed a performance of LaBoheme. 

Jack and Jackie came over for a fire and barbeque-they met Mary and Jim last year. 

They're leaving tomorrow-goodbye for a couple of months-I'll be back home by October! 

Mendocino Music

As you approach Mendocino from the South you see a huge white tent apparently right in the middle of the village...Well, that's not far off! We're in the middle of the 23rd Mendocino Music Festival-Music on the Edge of the World! And, it's set up right next to the Ford House! This is an extraordinary two weeks of jazz, pop, opera, orchestra, piano, bluegrass-need I say more? 

Last night's performance was "String Fever" with Alexander Markov. He is delightful-I met him at breakfast last week at the B&B where he's staying. I feel like I'm hobnobbing with celebrity. The performance tent is right next to the Ford House so while I'm working I can hear rehearsals or at night I can sit on the back porch and hear the music just as if I'm sitting in an orchestra seat! 

Mary and Jim Hambelton are here to visit and check out the volunteer situation and attend La boheme this Friday-but they can attend all rehearsals for free! I'm looking forward to this Wednesday's performance by Seldom Scene-Bluegrass!    

Happy 4th-Part Two

Yes, I'm having fun in spite of the weather!

We had a full compliment of Rangers, including Morgan Zietler who is in charge of the State Parks Volunteers for Mendocino County. 

Yum!

Lady Liberty in chains-symbolic, of course!

This is who is sleeping together....

Happy Independence Day!

There's something truly unique about Mendocino's 4th of July parade-not to be missed for sure! Each year the Ford House sells soda and polish dogs with chile and/or saurkraut as a fundraiser for our restoration efforts. This year was no exception-the parade was wonderful, the polish dogs plentiful and people had a great time. The only uncooperative aspect was the weather-wet fog in the am and cool temps all day. That didn't deter the parade watchers, though.

"Who's Sleeping Together?" Don't know, don't care!

Fawn (R) is proudly wearing her mother's cap-she's a volunteer at the Ford House when not in parades....That's Heather as cashier.

Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse's entry....

Gary wasn't here so I took up the challenge-wore a similar hat 

The cooks-Bob and Gene- ready for hungry customers

A Visit From the McClarys

Heather and JD are Volunteers at the Ford House-this is their second year here and their children decided to spend their vacation with them in Mendocino. They are from Phoenix so it was quite different weather-wise. It was clear they were happy to spend some time together.

Miss G (pictured above) celebrated her 9th birthday with Grandma and Grandpa.

Miss M snuggles up to Dad John

First night campfire-even though you don't see it in this pix! Miss M  makes a good pillow for Dad.