My dear friend Elana lives quite a ways out of town in the boonies. She’s such a sport to drive into town for work and social functions on a daily basis. We city folk don’t venture out of the city limits too often, but a group of us piled in a couple of cars and took a road trip to the country yesterday for a visit.
We drove, and drove, and drove for miles on a winding road. The scenery was beautiful and there wasn’t a traffic light anywhere in sight!
After about 40 minutes, we left the marine layer behind and arrived in lovely Leona Valley.
Elana and her husband Brent have a beautiful home surrounded by mountains and enormous trees.
We visited their newly planted garden…an actual garden with vegetables and everything,
and peach and apple trees.
To further prove we were no longer in the city…THEY ALSO HAVE GOATS! This place is like a farm!
from left to right - Nicole, her baby Harlow, and Paris. (You can take the girl out of the city…) 
The baby Harlow 
Jason, the goat whisperer. 
Homemade country drinks!
Mike enjoying country life…
and maybe too many homemade country drinks?
After a lovely lunch on the patio, we were off to pick cherries! 
The Leona Valley is widely known for its cherry orchards. 
The cherry pickers! 
Sundays are usually my self-imposed day of rest. This visit was so nice though, it was worth the trip. Thanks Elana and Brent for such a beautiful day! I can’t wait to visit the country again!
It looks like a wonderful time! I would LOVE to go cherry picking : ) I would also love to goat whisper ; )
ReplyDeleteAh, fresh cherries. Brings back memories of my childhood when I used to pick cherries by the bushel at an orchard to earn a few cents spending money. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.
ReplyDeleteSo now, at least, you know where food comes from.
ReplyDeleteLove those photos.
Your Frind, m.
p.s. you should keep Jason away from those female goats.
@Becky and Ron - Oh, the cherries were so delish. The Rainier cherries are due to be ripe for picking in the next week or so. I may have to take a trip back.
ReplyDelete@Mark - The photos are ok considering I used the crappy iphone camera. On a clear day they take pretty good photos. I had the big, fancy camera in the car but the phone is so much more convenient.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lovely day was had by all.
ReplyDeleteDid ye fill the buckets.
And is there a downside to living outside the city.
@Vince - The buckets were a quarter full. Too many cherries would go bad before I could eat them all. It IS pretty nice and quiet there and no traffic which is heavenly. On the other hand, what's there to do at night? I guess one is too tired from working in the garden and feeding the goats to care.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I wasn't invited to this!!!! Bring me some cherries tomorrow!
ReplyDelete@Jen - Oh like you would have come anyway! :) You can come with me when I go back to get those Rainiers!
ReplyDeleteI am so bummed I couldn't end up going. It looked like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteMmmmm, those look way to good! What a fun day....someday I will live in the country somewhere......
ReplyDeleteWith all the wonderful fruits, veggies and animals, the only thing missing would be horses for Pumpkin to ride. I love how the country is just a stone's throw away from so many big cities in CA.
ReplyDelete@Lacy - I know we missed you!
ReplyDelete@GJ - Ahhhh, I know! Don't think that having horses again wasn't in the back of my mind. I think I even whined, "I want a horse," to those in my car every time we passed one. :)
ReplyDeleteIt really was so much fun!
ReplyDelete