A Love/Hate Relationship

California - my home state!

California has been my 'home' for approximately 45 years what with living in Idaho for 2 years, Utah for 3 and Minnesota (yes, even though I was age 3-6 it still counts!) for 3 years. How I love California, and how I've grown to hate certain things here... mainly the politics. Though I am so very grateful that the CA courts upheld Prop 8 yesterday I know that is a small victory in this important conflict.

But, enough of that! I thought I should share some of the many things I love about California, because even though the politics stink, it's overcrowded, our economy is in the toilet, etc., etc, I am still so very grateful and feel very blessed for the many years I have lived here. (No, we are not moving, I am just being appreciative!) I love the beauty found here, the fresh produce, and many of the people (who, like us, would leave in a heartbeat if they could!) There are so many memories I hold dear - going camping in Yosemite when I was a little girl (seeing the firefalls!), living near the ocean, going to Disneyland all the time when I was growing up, being near family, living in Paradise (one of my personal favorites) and raising our family here. Memories mixed with good times and family equal great happiness. Which means, I am a happy woman. :)

Some of the sights I love:

Half Moon Bay - just southwest of San Francisco -
they seriously have the best fish and chips there and its beautiful!

Huntington Beach, CA - where I spent most of my growing up years.
I so love the ocean!
(not to mention my beautiful daughters!)

Mendocino, CA - about 150 miles north of San Francisco:

Carmel, CA - just south of Monterey... breathtaking.
(and yes, that is Pebble Beach in the background)

Big Sur, CA - about 25 miles south of Carmel, CA - so gorgeous!

San Francisco Bay - Golden Gate Bridge. It's so pretty on a clear day!

Yosemite - probably my most favorite place on earth.
Yosemite Falls...

Half Dome - simply amazing...

Paradise, CA
While I only lived there for 5 years myself, my parents lived there for over 20.
I am in love with it even now.
Daffodil Hill

Pat, Amy and I went there a few years ago for the first time...
thousands of daffodils all in bloom! Beautiful!

Obviously, not a daffodil but a really pretty flower that Pat took a pic of when we were there. Some of our other pics are hanging in our bedroom.Disneyland!!!!
'The Happiest Place on Earth!'
So many wonderful memories, and so much fun!
Me being a kid at Disneyland! ;0
Oakland Temple - you just have to have been there to appreciate it. Really.
It truly is one of the happiest places on earth... if only everyone could go.
How I would love that! :)

One of the other things I absolutely love, love, love, love, love is our fresh produce!
You can literally go to the corner and find a fruit/veggie stand!
Here are two of my favorites, though there are many more:
Asparagus:

... And Strawberries!
There used to be a stand in Modesto that had the biggest, juiciest berries but they are gone now... sadly Vella Farms is no longer. My parents used to love going there and getting the berries. Now, we just drive a mile plus and we have fresh strawberries - they just aren't quite as good as Vella's were, but they are still really good!

What I love mostly about this wonderful state is my home...
not the building/home, but my family/home.
All the places I've lived here, all the sights, sounds, scents and tastes of California always bring me back here... home. That is where my heart truly is.