We Arrive in Mendon

When we left San Jose an hour late we flew over Fraser in his office at Apple Park. Its an amazing place but I won't be able to visit it on this visit to California as they still don't allow visitors in. I would love to walk round the gardens with the recently planted 7000 mature fruit trees, most of which ar Apple.  

This is Carlo and Sidne's house in Mendon taken from the back garden. It's even more spectacular from the front but the sun was shining into the camera so I will take a photo tomorrow morning. 

Carlo has about 5 acres of Alfalfa which should be harvested soon. He needs to irrigate it twice a week or nothing would grow, but there is plenty of water from the snow run off in the mountains and underground springs.This is only one of his 2 fields.

The view of the side of the house

The view from our bedroom window. The town of Logan is in the distance but in between is marshland so there should never be any development there. There are lots of Sandhill Cranes that have spent the summer here and will shortly be heading off to Mexico for the winter.

An Afternoon on Capitola Beach

I love walking along beaches and my favourite ones are in the Outer Hebrides but a close second is the beaches of California on the Pacific. Today we headed for Capitola Beach which is 45 minutes from Frasers home in Saratoga. I had set off very early this morning to finish my painting project in the new house and by 10.00am it was done so I could go to the beach with a clear conscience. Tommy and his mum were unable to go as he had another Soccer match and won it 6-0. Eleanor just loves the beach and was great company with her granddad.

Fraser with Elliot. Elliot used to be scared of the surf but now just loves it and ended up with a huge wave knocking him off his feet but he just picked himself up and waited for the next one.

Waiting for that big wave

Big waves are no bother to Eleanor

I prefer them small but got caught unawares when I went for a walk and a big wave drenched me.

Gaye is not really a beach person but enjoys a short walk along the beach 

Plenty of action all along the beach

There are some very colourful beach houses in Capitola 

Under the pier

Capitola beach from the pier 

Eleanor back among the surf. She also loves surfing on a body board but not today. 

Next to us on the beach this girl was trying to put up a shelter and it took her exactly 55 minutes to do it. Several times somebody offered to help her but she refused all help. It was great entertainment as it was a job that most people (not me) could have done in 5 minutes.  

The southern end of the beach which is predominately for surfers

Graham Family Painters

The house Fraser has bought in Saratoga was built in 1969 and the kitchen is the original. He has a lot to do to get the house ready to move into including complete rewiring, new floors, new windows, new bathrooms, and complete decoration so him and Leslie have decided to improve the old kitchen but not replace it for a couple of years. They have bought new oven and hob but the cupboards have all had the doors taken off and they will be sanded and painted by Gaye and myself during our holiday. Its a big and messy job but we are enjoying it. 

Gaye is doing the difficult bits 

The sanding has been the dirtiest bit but its all complete now.

This is the primer coat which has to go on both sides and then probably on Friday and Saturday we will finish the gloss coat before we head to Utah for 5 days.

Another Day and Another Pool Party

Day 4 of the Labor Day holiday weekend and another Pool Party. This time its a friend of Leslie's and the pool was at her mothers house. Her husband works for Tesla so I learnt a bit about the Electric Car business in California. The kids had a fabulous time and worked on diving techniques.

The host had a lovely dog who would steel your food given half a chance but it was done with such grace and style you could not be angry at him. 

A year ago Elliot was not keen on the pool but private swimming lessons have given him great confidence and now he is loving it and jumping in without any bother. As a non swimmer I get very envious.

Eleanor must have spent 3 hours in the pool and will certainly sleep tonight as she swam many lengths and dived in  dozens of times

The pool was a bit different from last nights one as it is much older.

Tommy also honing his diving skills

Elliot loves spending time with their neighbour Kelly 

Eleanor with neighbours Mallory and her brother William

The Graham Clan

Campbell Farmers Market followed by a Pool Party

An early start for Campbell Farmers Market which is spectacular and very busy even at 9.00am in the morning.  It was warm even at that time and we had breakfast there. Gaye looking very fashionable. 

Plenty of fresh vegetables but they are not cheap, although that's probably just California for you.

Sunflowers were very popular and loads of people were buying them.

Loads of fruit and we bought Corn cobs for the BBQ

Elliot and Tommy bought these stone items but it was the popcorn that they really loved. 

Elliot was looking after Granny 

After the Market we spent a few hours at the new house doing some more sanding and then headed to Frasers friends Aurelian and Emma for the Pool Party and BBQ. Aurelian is French and Emma is from Edinburgh so it was a real Auld Alliance evening with wonderful hospitality

Elliot and his best friend Maxine 

Leslie enjoying a swim after a dusty morning at the new house

Thomas and Fraser. 

Fraser & Leslie have great friends and their life in California seems to be one of high quality 

Cooling off from 90F temperature 

Gaye with a large Gin & Tonic, or maybe flavoured water.

Cooling her feet in the pool. We ended the evening with a most enjoyable Islay Malt and the kids by now in their pyjamas ready to go straight to bed after a 5 minute car journey. A wonderful evening in smashing company. 

Eleanor's 10th Birthday Party

Eleanor celebrated her 10th Birthday with a small party for her best friends. This is her Ice Cream Birthday Cake. The friends were a cross section of children who have a parent who works for Apple. President Trump wants to stop immigrants coming but today we had lovely people from Scotland, Brazil, China, and even 2 from USA but not California. Apple needs these clever immigrants to maintain its status in the world so would be a much poorer company without them. 

Fraser has a huge trampoline in the garden and with the temperature 92 degrees it was perfect that it was just above the lawn sprinkler system. 

Eleanor in the middle with her friends

Gaye enjoying the goings on in the garden

The girls enjoying the trampoline with the sprinkler underneath.

The day had started with me working at Frasers new house and sanding the kitchen cupboards..