Saturday, June 18, 2011

Back to Reality

We woke up to a bright, sunny day in Pismo Beach today. Too bad we had to leave! Most of the time we were there, it was overcast and a bit chilly, but I loved it anyway. We were sad to leave, but still, we're looking forward to sleeping in our own bed tonight.

We made a last quilt shop stop at the Quilter's Cupboard in Atascadero--a favorite shop of mine and several of my friends when traveling in the area. And we stopped for lunch at Harris Ranch, a huge restaurant and hotel in what seems to be the middle of nowhere on I-5--we absolutely LOVE it! They raise their own cattle (they also market their beef in grocery stores here in California) and most of the produce used in their menu items is also grown by them or on farms in the area. They have a specialty foods store/butcher shop on the premises, so we came home with some choice rib eyes to grill on Father's Day. If you ever travel up or down I-5 in the central part of California, stop in for a meal--I don't think you'll be disappointed.

We arrived home around 5 p.m. and unpacked. After that? I cleaned house. Yep, the vacation's over! Seriously, the house desperately needed cleaning before we left, but I didn't think it would be a good idea with my sore shoulder, so I waited until our return. And really? I'm not sorry I did it tonight, because after sitting in a car for five or six hours, being physically active this evening was just what I needed.

I didn't cook dinner though--I'm not THAT good a housewife! No, instead we settled on Chinese takeout. Tomorrow, I need to sort out the good from the bad in the refrigerator, finalize my Father's Day menu plan, and do some grocery shopping.

Oh! And dream of the beach. After all, the hotel gave us a coupon good for $50 off our next stay. I'm thinking late September/early October might be nice . . . .

5 comments:

Josie McRazie said...

glad your trip was nice! I get o into one part of a blog that I someimtes can't concentrate on the rest of it and all I could think of was "Happy cows come from California"!!

strawberrycream39 said...

Sounds like a wonderful vacation, I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves!! Welcome back to reality. :-) Jen

AnnieO said...

A restful vacation is a soul builder for sure. Can't say as I would have ended it with CLEANING but there you go.

September/October is when the best coastal weather usually is, so that's a good time to choose. Plenty of sun and fewer crowds.

Miss Jean said...

So glad you made it safely home. We have always wanted to east at Harris Ranch, although we have stopped and looked through the gift shop.

I was looking at the hotel for October. The ocean room with a fireplace! Divine!!!

Marilyn said...

Hi Kim,

My girlfriend and I plan to be in Pismo the last week of Sept. We've been looking at places to stay (where you stayed would be our dream), but thinking it would be cost prohibitive. Any tips or ideas for us?

Thanks,
Marilyn (no blog)