The Delta & Time With Friends

The sun was bright, the temperatures were in the 70’s & I LOVED being with my girl friends….  After leaving San Francisco we headed east to an area called The Delta & hooked up with my gal pal Joy Campbell.  The next day we went into Lodi to hook up with Natalie Hansen.  I had taken classes with Natalie (see a cute interview, photos & some of her jewelry designs HERE) in Dallas at The Gilded Life (held in the amazing Church turned Home/Art Studio) & we have been at Events hosted by Kim Caldwell together but, this time we went to visit Natalie in her stomping grounds.  We had so much fun having lunch & shopping.  After leaving Natalie Joy, Tina (a new friend met through Joy) & I headed to Jessie’s Grove Winery.

Joy was into the spirit while the huge OLD BARN was the back drop.  We did a little wine tasting & found a few we really liked. Cindy & I swear Joy NEVER takes a bad picture.

This winery is so pretty with all the old trees & there is so much history here.  I had borrowed a book from Joy about  this family & their struggle to keep the family farm.  We bought our wine & headed back to The Delta are where our hubby’s were waiting.

A very interesting area where the Sacramento River & San Joaquin Rivers meet before emptying into the San Francisco Bay.  The water ways are HUGE with amazing boats of all types & sizes.  It is a huge area where many crops are grown & shipped all over the United States.  The soil is fertile, the climate mild, water is readily available for irrigating & the crops are yummy!

We went out with Joy & her hubby on their boat & enjoyed an amazing afternoon.  See how wide that river is…

We docked & went into a little Marina for lunch.  The poor puppies had to stay outside (we thought we’d be able to bring them on the patio but, NO!).  I can tell you Joy’s DUKE barked & told management his thoughts on separation anxiety.  Elle was left on the bed in the boat & wiggled so much that the carrier had dumped to the floor when we got back… After that the two of them had a great time being out on the boat with us.

Duke & Tina

Daddy & Elle (she has quiet the life doesn’t she?)

Huge bridges spanning the river that you can go under.

Bridges too short so you have to radio the operator to open them.  Fascinating!

I wish I had taken more photos of the houses built along the river.  Sooooooooooooo charming most of them.  Each with a dock out back & swimming platforms.

Thank you Joy for hosting us in this fun wonderful place.  We got to see a totally different side of California here.  We loved meeting Tina & Mark.  Natalie… I can’t wait to see you again at the next event… better yet, let’s plan an event here in Texas & have you come out here to teach!  If there are any of you in the DFW Metroplex that would like to have something like that please let me know so I can start an email list to notify you as I really do want to do something here in Texas for those of you who can’t travel so far.  Leave me a comment with your information or send me an email. 
In the meantime… enjoy this cooler, rainy day we’re having.
HUGS! Charlene