Southern California -- Day 1

In the middle of the snowiest, coldest, Maine winter, we managed to escape to visit our friends in Southern California. Our trip was delayed due to a blizzard that wasn't, so we lobbed off the first part (sorry Venice Beach, next time) and with a shortened itinerary, prepared for as much warmth and sun as we could pack into four days.

We arrived at LAX at 10:30 pm (that's 1:30 am east coast time), so stayed at a cute 1950s Travelodge neat the airport. Not the most posh hotel, but we enjoyed their courtyard gardens (any blooming plants are a feast to the eye after months of winter tundra),

bird of paradise

pygmy palm

got some jet lagged sleep, had a run among the strip malls and parking lots that surround the airport, then headed north to visit our friends who live in Santa Barbara.

Some lovely coastal views along the Pacific Coast Highway brought us to Carpinteria, where Mary Anne met us for a taco lunch,
a stroll around town,

and a walk on the beach.

This sweet, little town on the coast made me start thinking about retirement in Southern California -- forget the fog of San Francisco, when you can have warm weather all year round -- but that's a while away.

The boys and I spent our afternoon lounging at our friend's house who live on the grounds of the school where Joel is headmaster,

while Liam and Mary Anne watched Natasha's middle school basketball game. She has never played indoors -- all outdoor courts!

An Italian dinner, some ice cream at Rori's, a game of Scattergories, and the end of our first day filled with reconnecting with old friends and relaxing in 70 degree weather.