And we played . . . .

The trip to the beach was great. We started with a totally decadent and yummy breakfast at Camp 18. This landmark restaurant used to serve the logging crews of yesterday and has kept up with the decor. It's a log cabin with an axe handle for a front door. Inside, the atmosphere is warm and causal. We watched little yellow and black birds and little brown birds with red heads feeding at bird-feeders right outside the window by our table. Lovely breakfast entertainment.

Outside, we had a brief encounter with none other than big foot. After a quick photo-op, he excused himself to his next engagement and we piled back into the car for the final leg of the journey to our "promised land" for the day.

The clouds were out but they didn't dampen our excitement. Brad and the kids went tidepooling as we arrived just at low tide for the the morning. They had fun looking at starfish and other critters nestled in the rocks.

And we played. And I read (The Devil Wears Prada). And we napped. And we played some more. Then, when we were fully soaked by the sea air (and the kids were soaked by the sea water) we headed north about 20 minutes to Seaside - a tourist trap of a coastal town but one that offers some old-fashioned arcade entertainment.

A ride on the carousel, the bumper cars and some hamming in the hat shop provided some good laughs. We finished the day with an awesome meal of seafood at a local fish joint.

We all came home tired, but with our batteries recharged for the busy week ahead. It was a great day of rest and play!

Tomorrow is our neighborhood block party. We're baking package after package of brownies at the request of my neighbors. For some reason they love those packaged brownies and gladly trade me their homemade delicious Mexican dishes for my little old Betty Crockers! A sweet deal! I'll try to post some pictures Wednesday of the bash - happy 4th everyone!