In mid-October, Joy and I were able to fly out to northern California and visit my sister Gail in Willits. Though she had come to MN on occasion, we had not been there in over 20 yrs., so it was a long overdue visit.
On the first day there, Gail and her daughter Lisa took us south into the Sonoma valley, the land of grapes. Francis Ford Coppola recently bought a Souverain winery, and has transformed it into a showcase of his life's work.
Above is a display case with his awards, and the desk that appeared in The Godfather. Costumes and other items from the sets of his and his daughter Sophia's movies were on display.
The next day took us up north into the Avenue of the Giants, the coastal Redwoods. Here is the "Drive Through Tree," and we saw a number of cars fold in their mirrors and creep through the opening. One gal from New York got so excited that she started guiding cars through and volunteered to take pictures for people with their cameras. Before she left she had to make one more drive-through herself.
Gail and Lisa sitting in the opening of a felled Redwood tree.
Lisa packed a picnic lunch for us and we found a beautiful open spot near a river. The mountain air was fresh and sweet.
Then to the picturesque oceanside towns of Fort Bragg and Mendocino.
We were treated to Olallieberry pie and tea in a beautiful historic hotel in Mendocino.
Gail was working on a project of making crafts for a local garden club fundraiser, and she asked Joy to teach her, and her husband David (so he could remind her of folding steps she might forget after we left) how to make origami ornaments.
Thanks Gail, David and Lisa for an unforgettable week!
On the first day there, Gail and her daughter Lisa took us south into the Sonoma valley, the land of grapes. Francis Ford Coppola recently bought a Souverain winery, and has transformed it into a showcase of his life's work.
Above is a display case with his awards, and the desk that appeared in The Godfather. Costumes and other items from the sets of his and his daughter Sophia's movies were on display.
The next day took us up north into the Avenue of the Giants, the coastal Redwoods. Here is the "Drive Through Tree," and we saw a number of cars fold in their mirrors and creep through the opening. One gal from New York got so excited that she started guiding cars through and volunteered to take pictures for people with their cameras. Before she left she had to make one more drive-through herself.
Gail and Lisa sitting in the opening of a felled Redwood tree.
Lisa packed a picnic lunch for us and we found a beautiful open spot near a river. The mountain air was fresh and sweet.
Then to the picturesque oceanside towns of Fort Bragg and Mendocino.
We were treated to Olallieberry pie and tea in a beautiful historic hotel in Mendocino. 
Gail was working on a project of making crafts for a local garden club fundraiser, and she asked Joy to teach her, and her husband David (so he could remind her of folding steps she might forget after we left) how to make origami ornaments.
Thanks Gail, David and Lisa for an unforgettable week!
