Family at the Table and Friends at the Beach

Our Thanksgiving celebration was last Saturday so all the kids (less Jeff in Seattle) could be with us for one last "big table" dinner. Every year Bill barbecues the turkey in the Weber, and makes amazing dressing. This year was Richie's turn to learn the process and help make the magic. 

Learning the secret of the bbq'd bird

If he can cook as well as he chooses football teams.....

Yes, you have to touch the nasty, naked bird

Corey and Nick sharing stories with their dad

It was a fun day of cooking and visiting - and getting everyone to take still more of our stuff! 

Nick taking his turn going through the tools

The dinner was perfect, and our table was beautiful. Of course I forgot to take a picture of this very important gathering so we will have to hold it in our memories - and our hearts.

The next morning we were up and out the door early, headed for the beach at Cayucos. Bill had many friends during his college years at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, but he was especially close to three of them. Two, Steve and Laurie, got married immediately after graduation, and moved to Orange County, where they live today. We've gotten together with them a few times over the last few years. But the third, Bob, moved to Costa Rica and his last visit to the states was over ten years ago. So when he contacted Bill several weeks ago about being in Morro Bay with wife Monica for their son's wedding over the Thanksgiving holiday, there was no question that we would make arrangements to get together. Steve and Laurie felt the same, and Sunday afternoon found all of us together in a lovely little cottage in the middle of Morro Bay (the town, not the water).

Pier at Cayucos under cloudy skies

I had not met Bob and Monica, but it was instant affection. For the college chums it was as if no time had passed, and the stories and laughter continued through a walk on the beach with the dogs, a wonderful home-cooked meal, and a perfect bonfire. They were off to San Francisco on Monday morning so we said our good-byes at our hotel with promises to not let another ten years go by.

College chums

Bill, Bob, Steve, Monica, Laurie and Java

We stayed another day with Steve and Laurie, and just enjoyed a slow and easy day relaxing at the beach and exploring the little towns of Cayucos and Morro Bay. Tessa and their dog, Java, were nearly oblivious to each other, playing independently on the sand, and hanging out with their respective people on the patio.

 

So much room to run!

 

Java and Laurie

Java loves the camera

 

Our patio at sundown

While Java prefers the safe familiarity of her crate, Tessa went everywhere with us. She's such a pleasure to take along :-)

Tessa out for a stroll with Daddy and his pals



Morro Rock across the bay



Great views with a few brews on the deck

The star is actually on the glass :-)



Our dinner at the Shanty in Cayucos was excellent, and after a day of walking all over in the fresh air, we were back in our room stretched out watching the football game before 8:00.

Rain was forecast for most of the state so it wasn't a surprise to wake up Tuesday morning to a downpour. A downpour that followed us all the way home. Strong winds added to the excitement of the drive around Los Alamos, and sections of Hwy 101 were flooded in Santa Barbara. Three accidents in 10 miles punctuated just how nasty it was. We ended up driving all the way home with one pit stop.

It was a wonderful few days away from the full-time focus of escrow, packing and last minute details to finalize the sale and move. Everything is coming together smoothly with the buyers completing their final walk-through today.

Yesterday was our LAST yard sale. No more purging. No more pulling boxes and tables of stuff out in the driveway. No more saying "I'll take a dollar for that." for everything from candles to power tools to avoid having to haul it all off to Goodwill. The house and the garage both echo now......it's lovely.

No more signage!!

No more stuff to sort and sell!!

Empty garage, garage, garage.....

Next week at this time we will be in the apartment. And we will be six months from realizing our dream. Wow.

Soon to be one of many back yard views.....