San Diego Through the Lens

San Diego Skyline view from Coronado.

My view from our room at the Westin Gaslamp District.

Mom & I just got back from a girl trip to San Diego, California. Both of our husbands were invited, but they didn't think that it was a good time for them to take off work, so it was just us. We saw everything in the 4 days we were there. We took the Old Town Trolley Tour a total of 3 times because it was our main means of transportation, so we are both experts on the history of San Diego now. We also rented a car & went to Miramar, La Jolla, Qualcomm Stadium (where the Chargers & Texarkana's own Brandon Jones plays), and we hit 2 places that were featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives.

The Hotel Del Coronado where Edward & Wallis met, where they filmed Some Like It Hot, & where we saw Cameron Diaz (she was trying to blend in with other vacationers).

Let's talk about Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives.... Those people know what they're talking about when it comes to good food. We ate at El Indio - They claim they invented taquitos in the 1940s. Best Guacamole on Earth! Filippi's Pizza Groto - This place looks like every grocery store in Italy, but you walk on around to the back & Bam!! There's a restaurant & the Pizza is killer!

The above pictures were taken at Seaside Village which was built by the same people that built Disney Land. It was really pretty.

The Naval Ship Yard - they are building 7 new aircraft carriers like the U.S.S. Midway.

In Balboa Park the Cherry Blossoms & Naked Coral Trees were blooming.

This was the view at Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach. It was so beautiful that I almost cried. God does beautiful on a BIGGER scale than any canvas could ever hold!! One of the most breathtaking views I've ever seen.

Of course we went to the San Diego Museum of Art. It was small, but they have a really nice collection. I loved the Georgia O'Keefe!

Seals at La Jolla, they were so cute! They were just swimming, playing, & talking! The waves were really crashing!

Riding the Skyfari at the San Diego Zoo!

My all time favorite wild animal! Jon & I love meerkats! How could you not? They are precious!

Peacocks are the coolest birds on earth! Seriously, don't argue with me about this one ;)

This peacock came walking through all of our tables while we ate a snack at the cafe!

I've never seen Flamingos laying down like ducks! I guess I thought they slept standing up on one leg!

This Mommy Giraffe had just had her new calf seconds before we walked over there, & we got to watch it try to stand for the first time! How neat is that!

Oh, this is "The Baby Daddy!"

My Favorite Place... So Far

My favorite thing to do is travel. Luckily my parents were the kind that took my sister and I everywhere. Jordan and I have gone to many places where we were the only kids anywhere. I'm really thankful they took us along, because we learned so much from traveling. When you go somewhere different, your eyes are opened to different food, scenery, lifestyles, and cultures.

The BEST vacation we ever took was to The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan. There are no cars allowed on the island, so everyone gets around on bicycles or horse and buggy. In the evening there is a dress code. Women must wear a nice dress or dress suit, and men must wear a suit and tie. Beautiful music played by a violinist and pianist flood the entire hotel. The dining hall is one of the longest in the world, the front porch is the longest, and at night there is a full band, and a dance floor filled with couples. The hotel has 385 rooms, and no two are decorated the same. The movie Somewhere in Time was filmed there in 1980. It was a very appropriate film for the location, because when you're there you feel like you've stepped back into 1910. The island is covered with little romantic hidden alcoves here and there. When we went I wasn't very old, but I remember so much about it. Now that I'm an adult, I'd like to go back and share it with Jon. I had always dreamed of going there on my honeymoon, but since Jon and I got married in November we weren't able to because it is closed from October to the middle of April.

100th Post! The Art of New Mexico

I can't believe I'm already at my 100th blog post. I started this blog because to me it is a lot cleaner way to "scrapbook" things. Although I am an artist, I absolutely can't stand all the mess that scrapbooking with little stickers and paper ziblets can create. I can say I did honestly give it a try, but it didn't take long for me to decide... Not for me! Don't get me wrong, I have seen some people who make amazing scrapbooks that are absolutely beautiful, and I would love for someone else to take all of my pictures and fix them up for me, but if I'm going to make a mess... Let it be a paint mess!

I want to thank everyone who follows my blog, and let you know that I read every one of the comments you leave me! Lots of times I will write a response under the post you leave me, so check back, or leave me a message on facebook.

I'm really glad that my 100th post fell right after my trip to Santa Fe & Taos so I could share some pictures with you of one of the things I love most... ART! Santa Fe is the number 2 best place to buy and sell art in the country. #1 is New York, #2 Santa Fe, & #3 Los Angeles. On Canyon Rd. alone, there are over 100 galleries, and over 400 all together in Santa Fe. Jon and I really loved it there, who knows maybe I'll find a way into one of those galleries one of these days :) I have tried to include the artists' names on the paintings that I know, but some of the artists were street sellers that I am not familiar with. I hope you enjoy a few of my favorites.

If you go to Santa Fe, of course you've gotta see some Georgia!

This was her Abstraction Exhibit! My second time to visit her Gallery!

No photography allowed, so here we are outside. Oh well I've got books

full of her work to look at whenever I want.

Miguel Martinez

Harry Greene

Kim D. Wiggins (I loved his work, and since I wasn't

allowed to take a picture in the gallery I uploaded one!)

Romero Britto (You may know him from Betthany Getting Married)

R.C. Gorman (hard to get a good shot with the glass)

A famous Navajo artist

I got to meet & visit with Inger Jirby

She's quite famous - doing this years Art Pilgrimage of New Mexico Poster

I wish I'd taken my Art Journey of New Mexico with me, so she could have

signed her entry.

Me & a really cool horse painted by Inger Jirby

Diego Lukezic (I love this bad little dog!)

If I had the big buck, this Bronze Indian Statue would be in my Formal Living Room!

What is this beauty doing outside???? Look at that Quilt! Breathtaking!

I can just imagine gazing up at this in my bedroom!

Navajo Painted gourds Jon got me one :)