They're always after me lucky charms!

I've got so many photos now to blog about, I'm so behind. But I'm not stressed about it. I'm going to go back in time here and capture what thoughts I have on July.

The green shorts. That was Kim's line, perfect caption for this photo. We were at Target looking for swimming trunks for me. The one apparel item lacking in my wardrobe. Excited about going back to Calistoga and staying at the Calistoga Village Inn again, with its several pools and mineral baths. A pleasant stay, whether you use the spa or not. Kim and Gray have gotten massages, and Kim got a mud bath once. I can't get used to the idea of someone you don't really know doing that to you, so that's not for me. Thanks, I'll stick to the pool.

Calistoga Village Inn, mid-July. This is the main pool in the foreground, with the mineral bath pool to the left and the small building housing the big jacuzzi and saunas. It rained that morning before we got up but it was beautiful weather when I came down for a morning swim. Floating on my back, watching the clouds and hummingbirds glide by. I had a chance to swim for about 2-1/2 hours over two days. (No, I didn't buy the green charmers.) Very good feeling, very pleasant experience. Refreshing.

Just outside the gate to the pool were very happy gardens and critters.

Between the pool and the spa.

Entrance to the spa building with vineyard and hills and clouds.

When the sun was good and warm on the pavement, several lizards came out to bathe.

We ate good food on the trip; there are many places to eat and all have very good food. We visited a restaurant for dinner we hadn't tried before, Brannan's Grill. Kim had the chicken breast and I had the angus hanger, which was a little rare but juicy and seasoned just right. We split the caramel cheesecake, totally outrageous. I wish I had taken a picture of that!

On the way home we stopped at Taylor's Automatic Refresher roadside burger stand in St. Helena to try the fresh halibut fish and chips.

It's a beautiful place, with the parallel mountains on east and west sides of the valley. The weather was warm and comfortable, the traffic (mid-week) was lite. I look forward to our return. A good visit, a good trip.

Many thanks.