Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Donde yo frijole 2 (Labor Day 2010 edition)

So here's "where I bean" for the last few days.

Friday morning I enjoyed bird-watching with my beloved Jonathan, who'd just turned 11 (thus making him not only older, but more expensive to feed at many restaurants).


We spotted some jays, some yummy quails, and one huge unidentifiable bird, possibly a turkey vulture .



Then Sunday we all took off for the Monterey-Carmel area, to meet BSIL, DAOD, and little Timothe for a whirlwind o' fun.

Here's DAOD holding the delightful Mr. Timothe, as we visit the Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo.

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Mr. T. also rode.


I really enjoyed the replicated rooms, set up authentically.


Spot the toaster ovens:


Afterwards, we picnicked at the beautiful Carmel beach, got a bit wet and a bit burnt. Loved the crash of the waves, the coolness of the water, the beauty of the coast.


That night, we ate at the Sea Harvest Fish Market/Restaurant. Took forever to be seated, but oh! was it worth it! They are an actual fish market. If you see something in the display case that isn't on the menu, you can order it. That's just what DAOD did, ordering a local specialty, Sable fish. It was delicious. My son Josiah, not a seafood lover, decided to be bold and ordered a combo of fried shrimp, fish, and squid - and loved it! Valerie and Jonathan enjoyed fish and chips, and I went for...

...swordfish steak! Last I had was a few years earlier, and it was not fresh, and overcooked. This had been brought in the previous afternoon, and was perfect.

Next day it was the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

What odd creatures cuttlefish are. Sort of like fish version of platypuses — a little here, a little there.


My dear wife really liked the Leafy Sea Dragons. Try to spot them.



Then for our Monday picnic, here was our view:


Timothe was chillin'.


The trip home was less fun, as we seemed to spend half the drive locked in a long, long parking-lot that had been billed as a "freeway" (hahahaha). Late home, but after a lot of fun, and a lot of God's beautiful and intricate creation.

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
 In wisdom have you made them all; 
the earth is full of your creatures.
Psalm 104:24

12 comments:

Robert said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures...looks beautiful. And Timothe looks like a happy little boy. It is so wonderful to see and enjoy the works of God's creation.

DJP said...

Timothe is a terrific little boy, and I don't think I'm saying that just because I'm the proud grandpa. I can't easily recall a mellower, happier, brighter baby. Sure loves his grandma — smiles and laughs, the whole nine. Me, I get serious looks and some smiles. I just don't have baby magic. Dear wife sure does!

Maybe he's really wanting to get into deep theology, but just lacks the vocabulary.

Yeah... that's the ticket.

David Regier said...

Pretty sure that's a turkey vulture. Or buzzard, which is a more funner word. I actually saw a pair on our street last week, cleaning up a flat road rabbit.

Not pretty, but pretty cool.

GrammaMack said...

He's adorable, Dan! Isn't being grandparents fun?

We just found out on Saturday that our fifth grandbaby is on the way. After three sons and four grandsons, I would dearly love a wee girlie, but we do so enjoy our boys. We are blessed!

DJP said...

We're enjoying the heck out of it, Gramma.

Congratulations!

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Dan,

thanks for the peek into your area and family. Your grandson is making me "clucky"... what a cutie!

Julie

Rachael Starke said...

Oh, could that baby be any cuter!!!!

The Leafy Sea Dragons are my absolute favorites too, along with the jellyfish.

But we have annual passes so we never, never, have to travel the 101 on three-day weekends.

Moon said...

awww Timothe has gotten so big! such a lovely baby :D sounds like a fun vacation and nice way to spend labor day weekend :)

Mike Westfall said...

Sounds like a fun day. You didn't eat any shrimp cocktail, did you? Because that's an abomination, just like, umm.. you know.

Ron (aka RealityCheck) said...

"who'd just turned 11 (thus making him not only older, but more expensive to feed at many restaurants"

Boy did those words hit home. My daughter turned 11 earlier this year and not only did that put her past the "10-year old and younger menu" but she just simply wants (needs) bigger helpings of food.

Thankfully her mother has taking this as an opportunity to eat better herself by splitting meals with our daughter. I'd like to help out more here myself, but seriously, how is one supposed to "voluntarily" hand over half of a bacon cheeseburger at Chili's to someone who just a short time ago was happy with a kids meal?

Besides, I'm a growing boy myself... who says that width doesn't count as growing! ;-)

Pierre Saikaley said...

Timothe is a handsome lil dude.

SO what great theological works is he reading? ha. :-)

You're a blessed man, DJP.

Susan said...

Dan said: "Sure loves his grandma — smiles and laughs, the whole nine. Me, I get serious looks and some smiles. I just don't have baby magic. Dear wife sure does!"

I was just gonna tell you that I think he looks like Valerie, based on my memory of her in that one and only pic in which she unveiled her mysterious self! :D

Oh, and when you said you guys picnicked on the beach, I was doing a cursory reading and thought you said you guys "panicked" on the beach. That's some way to panic. :)