Cherry Picking and Weekend Jaunts
I wish most ardently that each of you could see the cherry orchards right now. The trees are hung with tantalizing red cherries that are just begging to be picked and popped into your mouth. We spent a cool sunshiny morning picking to our heart's content. And possibly eating more than we should have. I wished I would have brought a blanket to spread on the newly mown grass beneath the cherry trees and just be for a few hours. The boys were thrilled to be running around the orchard eating cherries and finding cool sticks. Ezra would just bite the cherries and then put them back in the bucket. Elliot stopped to inform a lady that he had been asking and asking Daddy and Mama to pick cherries, and we were finally here picking cherries. So, that was the best morning ever. With cherry stains on our hands and bellies full of cherries we left with full intentions of coming back. There are countless U-Pick cherry farms around here. We have been frequenting the strawberry fields as well. One sunny day, I need not even say sunny for we live on the West Coast, we hopped on our bikes and rode to the nearest strawberry farm. I simply delight in such joys.
(And yes, WE GOT BIKES.) We hook up our little bike trailer, throw the boys in, and we can ride all the way out to the bay if we wish. We usually go after supper when it’s cool. “Lovey day out” says a little boy to himself as we speed past mountain and vale. Going home is always the best part because the wind is at our backs, the sun is in our eyes, the smell of jasmine is drenching the atmosphere, and sunset is finding the clay tile rooftops of a thousand California homes.
We had Princeton come for Sunday service in April. Rylan and Luanne Jantz, Allyn and Joyce Johnston, and Bryce and Sara Classen. It was really neat to be with some home folks again. We were so glad Bryce and Sara came. We drove to the top of Mt. Diablo after lunch. It was a beautiful clear day.
We spent Easter weekend in Glenn at Shawn and Eddie’s. Shawn took us for a boat ride down the river Saturday and that was surely the best part of the weekend. There was a wedding in Glenn that weekend so Cody and Jaci from Center, CO., and three youth girls were staying at Shawn’s as well. We went to Troy and Kayla’s Saturday evening for LA-style hotdogs, which proved to be almost as delicious as the company of good friends. Sunday, we went to the wedding and Sunday evening we were invited to Zane and Lindsey Geisbrect’s along with some other couples. We ended up spending Monday at Shawn’s as well. Brent went with Shawn on the truck and the boys, and I went to Savannah’s for coffee and good chats. Big, full, fun weekend. The next weekend, we spent time in Ballico with Bennie and Sher. We attended the Grace Home Day Saturday evening along with Ballico, Winton, and Livingston congregations. Enjoyed some delicious Superior catfish straight from Macon, Mississippi. Sunday, we went to Ballico for church and stayed for potluck. Lazy afternoon at Bennie’s. Dallas and Kristin stopped by and hung out. Sunday evening was spent at Livingston with Winton and Ballico congregations again. Grace Home reporting and singing. So many people. So many strangers. We drove home Sunday evening after snacks at Bennie’s.
Two Livingston couples about our age joined us on the first Sunday in May. Once again, we made some new friends. I feel a little overwhelmed by all these cool California people. We keep meeting more and more people that we love, and we only have a little over a year left here. That isn’t nearly enough time to be with all these lovely people as much as we’d like. But anyway, back to Sunday. We went to the park in the afternoon and then walked into downtown Brentwood to a coffee and ice cream shop that proved to be a most wonderful experience. So many yummy ice cream flavors. Exhausted Mom ice cream anyone? It only has a touch of bourbon in it. 😅 We will be back, although Sunday in downtown Brentwood is bustling.
Our neighbors from down the road, Curt and Lois, invited us for hamburgers one evening. Lois’ sister Sara Newsome was there as well. We had a very enjoyable evening. The boys had the most fun running around out in the yard. Elliot even got to gather eggs with Ms. Lois AND take a carton of eggs home. The highlight of his week for sure. Mr. Curt and I picked a large bag full of lemons, oranges, and grapefruit from their trees. Hamburgers grilled over an open fire. Coffee and lemon pound cake. It was a lovely time.
On May 9, a certain little redhead turned three, and his daddy turned “furty”. Brent cooked breakfast on the Blackstone and then we took a long bike ride. The days are starting to get quite warm, but evenings and mornings are always cool. We met Bennie, Sher, and Jesse at The Boat House for supper. It was a really neat place we had never been. A big outdoor eating area overlooking the water. Delicious food and free dessert. Saturday Bryce and Savannah and Bryce and Janae came for the day. We had a brunch of cottage cheese pancakes, sausage, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. In the afternoon we went to a steam train up in the hills of Orinda. (About 45 minutes from our place.) It was a beautiful day, and I will say that I think the adults enjoyed the train ride through the Redwood Forest just as much as the kids did. We stopped at an overlook on the way home that presented amazing views of the bay, the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, Oakland, etc. Back home, Brent made discada on the Blackstone and we had a little fire truck themed birthday party for Elliot. (And Brent;) The best day with friends. We were actually sad to see them go. I am still trying to process the fact that I have a three-year-old. I am curious to see what Elliot will talk to strangers about now. Because for the last how many months he has been telling everyone that in May he’s gonna be three and he’s gonna be huuuge and he’s gonna be strong and he’s gonna driiiive and all kind stuff. He does love to talk to strangers, and it keeps us humble as we never are quite sure what he will say. The other day Brent and Elliot were playing disc golf, and a lady was right where they needed to throw a disc. So, before you can stop him, he’s hollering to the lady’s husband… “Um excuse me, sir, can you please move your lady?” Or the other evening in town he let an elderly lady go in front of him and said… “Go ahead lady, you cute.” Most times people seem a little shocked that a small boy is addressing them. I wish he wouldn’t have to grow up this fast, but all at once he’s small again and giving me a hug or saying, “You’re doing ‘mazing Mom.” “I love that blue dress on you, Mom.” “Hi Dad, I love you. Thanks for coming home.” “Little precious lovey (Ezra) is awake!!” “Mom, please have little prayer with me.” “And thank you for my church pants, Amen.”
The next day, Mother’s Day, we were invited to meet Troy and Kayla for lunch and later tour the Oakland Zoo. We enjoyed a most delectable lunch at the Emeryville Public Market. There was Indian food, Greek food, Peruvian food, BBQ, Asian food, and so on. After a scrumptious lunch of gyros and BBQ, we drove down to the Emeryville Marina Park and walked amongst the gusts of cool wind. The views of the bay were beautiful, and the ever-present Golden Gate Bridge was shining in the sunlight. The Oakland Zoo proved to be a very large pile of fun. So many animals and even a gondola ride up the mountain to see more animals. The gondola ride did include a most wonderful view of the Bay Area below.
The golden hills are back with us. Suddenly one morning we awoke and found ourselves among golden hills instead of wildflower-strewn green hills. All the vineyards are leafed out in glossy green and if you look closely, you can see tiny clusters of grapes forming. The wild sunflowers are once again nodding sunny hellos from the dusty ditches and the oleanders are in full-fledged bloom too. Oleanders happen to be a nuisance here, but you must forgive them for being so for they are blooming so merrily this time of the year.
Several people invited us to Glenn for their year-end program. We ended up going. Shawn and Eddie were not home, but they kindly let us use their house anyway. We missed them so much, but it was lovely to crash at their quiet place. We slept with open windows and in the morning the sunshine streamed in along with a delicate, cool breeze. The sprinklers were humming, the grass was lush, and the hydrangeas were bursting forth with elegant blooms. I just wanted to stay forever. Oh, peaceful lovely countryside, we do miss you.
Glenn has their year-end program on Saturday morning with lunch and play-day following. I loved this, as I grew up with the year-end program being in the morning. I used to think Macon’s last day of school was big, but Glenn and Princeton’s was a lot bigger. We escaped sometime after lunch for naps at Shawn’s. 😅 We were invited to a river supper with all the couples our age that evening. Forty-plus people with all the kids. The guys grilled delectable wings, we sat around a fire, and the kids got covered in sand. Sunday, we ended up at Troy and Kayla’s for ribeyes. (Felt a tad spoiled.) Matt and Sabrina were there also, and I think they were steaks that Matt had from a cow he had butchered. Monday was Memorial Day and Bryce and Savannah invited us to their family deal. We ate discada on the back patio, the guys took boat rides and played Wiffle ball, and a delightful time was had. We ventured on back to the city yet that night.
There. Is that enough about our social life? 😅 We have had a lot of weekend plans lately, but never fear, for the weekdays have been spent doing tracts and living a pretty normal day-to-day life. Brent has had some interesting run-ins with different people on his routes lately, but maybe I’ll save that for the next post as this one is quite long already. Good day to you all, and don’t forget to pray for the work here. (Also, pray for Brent. He is low-key losing his mind over the traffic.)
And P.S. If anyone in Macon is tired of the rain, just come see us over here on the West Coast. :)
