A Happy Day in Julian

Julian is in its absolute glory right now.  The fresh plants are weighed down by huge, colorful blooms.   Apple trees are covered in sweet smelling white and pink flowers.  California poppies spring up with their happy orange faces all over the roadsides.  Fat horses and cattle graze in lush meadows.  Groups of turkeys scour the orchards and meadows for snacks. 

This is where I spent my Saturday.  I left the projected heat of 97 degrees in the Valley for a gorgeous 70 degrees.  A view of beauty like this can't help but make my heart smile. 

I took the girls and my mom up for the day.  Cousin Ellie and Ayron also met us for the morning.  This was our Mother's Day gift to eachother.  After a day like this, I can't imagine a better gift. 

We started the day at a little mining camp and farm in Wynola.

They had a real watermill with troughs for sifting out the real gold flecks from the fool's gold and gravel.

A surprisingly friendly teenager helped the girls learn the proper panning technique.  Sorry, I was a rude teenager so stumbling upon a friendly one is a little shocking at first. 

The girls took it pretty seriously. 

Cubby had a little assistant. 

Her specialties included smiling, laughing.....

....digging in the dirt with her fingers....

.....and eventually using the pan. 

The poppies were at their absolute peak!

The pie shop was the obvious next stop on our trip to Julian.

And here's my lunch! 

Dad didn't let that happen.  After working all day in the orchard, a little pie and coffee were the perfect reward.

Then we made our way back to mom and dad's cabin, where we searched for ladybugs.

They weren't hard to find, those little guys were having a feast up there!

Little girls and ladybugs, the perfect combination.

The bigger and fatter the ladybug, the more likely the girls were to pick it up and let it crawl on their arms.

These were some of the biggest ones.

Then grandma decided the girls needed to throw some rocks into the pond.  The girls were not opposed to this idea in the slightest.

E didn't let go of her scroll.  It was an invitation to the ball (as in Cinderella's ball), you see. She had made it at lunch, and wouldn't put it down for anything.  Not even for rock throwing. 

Grandpa found the best rocks for skipping.

Grandma made sure everyone had an equal share of rocks to throw. 

Then it was time to go.  Danny had made this day possible by agreeing to watch the twins for me.  On this particular Mother's Day weekend, a day away from the routine, and at this time, the mess and chaos of a home in the midst of a remodel, is the best possible gift.  What better gift than to have a Mother's day spent with my daughters, mom and sister? 

We drove away from the beauty and bounty of Julian, and I couldn't help but snap these shots of my favorite views from around the property.

I think we'll be back next weekend.  May is too beautiful to miss in Julian.