Trip to Santa Barbara

Our trip to Santa Barbara last week was full of all sorts of treats - good food, wine, company, sunshine, and on and on.

We arrived to Fritz and Susanne's in Los Altos Wednesday evening to big hugs and a great meal as usual.

Dad and Fritz climbing the oak to check out the honey bees that made honey combs in the branch. After some morning futzing around, we hopped in the car and drove the 4 hour or so drive to Santa Ynez, where we rented a 90 acre horse ranch in wine country near the half marathon race start.

View from the lodge porch! No other buildings in sight.

Walkway from lodge (where "adults" slept : ) to the cabin where Ashley and I stayed.

Our cute bed in the cabin.

Cooking dinner

Hats and chaps in the lodge

Relaxing with a glass of wine.

Cute Scandinavian town of Solvang

Dad and Fritz at Beckmen Vineyards

Birthday picnic at Beckmens

Picnic

Barrel tasting with Steve Beckmen

Grilling out

Birthday dinner

Saturday morning we ran the half marathon! (after a day of wine tasting. not the best idea, but hey, we finished the run!) Sweaty post run photo back at the ranch.

We spent Saturday afternoon lounging around the lodge, soaking up sun and sipping wine.

Not a bad line up for dinner!

Sunday morning we had a fabulous Mother's Day brunch at Wayne and Penny's beautiful home in Montecito (near Santa Barbara) and got a quick tour of Santa Barbara.

One of their beautiful collections

Sunday afternoon we drove back up to Los Altos. Monday morning we hung around the house, then grilled out with Hector and Juanita in the afternoon and met their adorable baby Sophia!

The week just flew by. There were so many other fun special details, too much for one post : )