Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay - September 08 2007

Dulce with members of her extended pack: Maggie and Gromit

along with their attendants: Julie, Lori and Bob

Lori with Maggie (L), Dulce (peaking out from the back) and Gromit (R)

Dulce retrieves her red football from the ocean

Maggie playing with the red football along the shoreline











Maggie and Gromit playing

(Which is which? Only their hair dresser knows for sure!)

Gromit












Laurie and Bob with the brindle pack: Dulce (L), Gromit (C) and Maggie (R)

Cambria - September 2007

Cambria is a charming oasis located along the northern end of the central coast of California - a quaint small town (about 5 blocks of gift stores and restaurants) with the most friendly, down-to-earth people I've met in a long time.

Dulce and I spent two nights at the Cambria Shores Inn to conclude our week-long vacation. My friend and Dulce's godmother, Michele, joined us on this leg of the journey. This small inn has postcard views of the ocean. Its humble exterior is deceptive; The interiors have been totally remodeled with impeccable taste and for ultimate comfort. The succulent landscaping, with an abundance of well-positioned Adironack chairs, is seductive.

Cambria Shores Inn is a dog-friendly establishment. I was fortunate to find it. What a great place to celebrate Dulce's 9th birthday. Most of the other guests were accompanied by dogs as well, so Dulce had lots of territory to mark! The owners had a few of their own dogs and treated all of the guests, including the four-legged ones, as family. Dulce was provided with treats, we were provided with a basket delivered to the door each morning containing a continental breakfast. Snacks were offered in the lobby each afternoon and brownies each evening. Home sweet home!

It was not easy to leave this lovely place. Michele and I agreed that this is a place to which each of us will return. That was a common exclamation I heard from other guests I met; my parting greeting to each of them (and the owners of the Inn) was, "See you again next year!"

Santa Monica - Labor Day Weekend 2007

Rochelle, Ivan, Julie & Dulce spent a few days visiting Yana, Brian, Shayna and Jordan over the Labor Day weekend. Here are a few of the memories from the visit:

Grandma Shelly with Shayna having lunch at Prizzi's Italian Restaurant





Grandma Shelly with Jordan at home (who's that girl in those foster grants?)




Breakfast "Back on the Beach" in Santa Monica - Shayna gets a head start on the available food while Yana remains optimistic that she'll be able to eat something before the twins pull her away from the table :-)




The twins enjoy swinging on the beach with an ongoing plea to Grandma Shelly and Mommy to push them ever higher!




Yana and Jordan at Bucca di Beppo's in Pasadena (pre-pasta)




Brian and Shayna at Bucca di Beppo's in Pasadena (pre-pasta)




Jordan anticipating her macaroni & cheese




Shayna being patient before the food arrives.




Rochelle is blissfully unaware of the mass quantity of food about to be delivered to the table.




It's a family affair at Bucca di Beppo's. Not yet overstuffed, we can still all smile for the camera.




Yana and Brian on their way out of Beppo's with the twins. The bag of leftovers was too big to fit in the frame.