Mendocino 2011

We headed north on Christmas Day, stopping first in Willits for the night; shopping the next morning at the toy store where I get art supplies.

Then on to Mendocino the windy roads through thick green forests until finally the ocean is in sight. We go to Frankie's for lunch, hot soup...a tamale...felafel's for a dinner there the next night. It's a small place reasonably priced and good healthy food.

 The sunset that first evening was nothing but spectacular. I kept running out of the shops to take more photos of it.

 The main street in Mendocino is old buildings now housing all sorts of shops across the street from the ocean.

 The ocean had more draw for me than the shops!

 Walking the village is always fun. Seeing what the locals are doing, as posted on this fence!

 A short trip further north, ten minutes away is Fort Bragg and the Town Hall where we were married in 1985. Can't go by there without taking a shot of it!

 More shots of Fort Bragg where we visit used and new bookstores, music store, yarn shop, and more.
I found a beautiful book (new) of Naro Knitting patterns that are to dye for! ;-) I also found Naro yarn, a first for me buying really good yarn, expensive yarn, beautiful hand dyed brilliant colored yarns to use to make some of the amazing patterns in that book! And I plan to make them for myself!

 In Mendo we stayed at this Hill House Bed and Breakfast. It's where a lot of "Murder She Wrote" movies were filmed with Jessica Fletcher. I found a Groupon in August for two nights stay for the price of one and scooped it up to use this Christmas week!

 Back in town where we ate at the Ocean View Cafe and I drew pictures from the deck. (I'll post them later this week).

 I like this organic grocery store in the old church building. Been there for as many years as we have been coming up here...over 30!

 But it's the ocean that draws  us in...so beautiful, waves crashing on rocks...

 Can't seem to get enough of it.

 Doesn't the sky here look like a painting waiting to happen?!

 The drive down the coast on 101 is beautiful too, although I knit a lot on the twisty roads overlooking the ocean as the views over the tall cliffs tend to take my breath away scaring me half to death.

 At Point Arena we get out to walk around. The holiday celebrated in different ways by different folks.

 And at Bodega Bay we get out again for Clam Chowder and Sour Dough bread for a late lunch on our way home on day four!

 Finally arriving at Pampered Pets where we rescue Henry from his "Condo" there where he had three shelves to jump to and a window to look out of...but believe me he much prefers being home.

We missed him and are all three happy to be home today!

Thanks for coming along with us and letting me share; and thanks again for all your many visits here during this year, your comments when you leave them; your support and shared inspiration,

all the things that make blogging so worthwhile.

I appreciate the friendships made this way all year long.

And I look forward to the continuation of it in 2012!

Hugs from me!