Saturday morning we got up early and had breakfast from Flake, a little hole-in-the-wall that makes the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever eaten. We've spent so much time in Santa Monica lately that we're developing a list of favorite restaurants...Scary for two people who hate So Cal and begin grumbling about the congestion and smog as soon as we approach the Grapevine. We then loaded the kittens in their carrier and took them for a vet appointment. Have I mentioned that Jana's 5-month old kittens are precious...adorable...too cute for words? So, here's a picture of them at the vet's office patiently waiting for their exam...
Our trip this particular weekend just happened to coincide with my sister's business trip from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Jane is participating in the Laguna Art Festival, which runs from the first of July through the end of August. Unbeknownst to us, Jane spent this past week in Laguna Beach at the Festival and was returning home yesterday, the same day we planned to leave. It was quite the surprise when Raelin informed me that my sister was in So Cal through the weekend. Raelin was "in the know" because she's storing Jane's 100+ paintings in her garage and making weekly trips to Laguna to swap or restock inventory as it sells. What an unexpected bonus...Saturday afternoon we headed for the Laguna Art Festival. It would be easy to avoid this event as it draws thousands of people every day and traffic is a nightmare. We tend to avoid all things that draw crowds. As it turned out, we survived the traffic and found that the off-site parking with shuttles running every 20 minutes was very tolerable. We're already talking about attending the event again next year and spending a full day. We had a good time visiting with Jane, walking the Art A-Fair, which is a venue for non-Laguna Beach artists, and having dinner at the small restaurant that borders one side of it. I know this sounds a bit biased, but of all the art I saw, Jane's was the most original. There were hundreds of florals, landscapes, and the like. All well-executed. But, her Celebrity Dogs are so unique and different from the run-of-the-mill art we saw...she gets my vote!
Sunday afternoon was the big event...dinner with "the Fam"! The single reason we chose this past weekend to make another trip to So Cal was because Jeff, Trish, and the boys were in town from Connecticut for a two-week vacation and it's a perfect opportunity to get together. We spent a few hours before dinner visiting and then met the rest of the family (Lara, Raelin and their families; Jana and Bashir; sister Jane, for a total of 18 family members) at the Spaghetti Factory in Fullerton. Dinner at the Spaghetti Factory has become a family tradition for birthdays, Christmas, or any other event that involves a large group. It's a family favorite...kid-friendly, affordably priced, and a familiar and unchanging menu. With one exception, that is...the only thing that has changed over the past 28 years we've been eating there is the addition of broccoli to the menu. Imagine the freshest of broccoli steamed to perfection, drizzled with browned butter, and sprinkled with a generous serving of mazithra cheese. So simple, yet impossible to make at home and get the same delicious results. Trust me, we've tried. So, we sometimes order it as an appetizer, add it as an entree, or take a bit home. It's all good and the kids love it! Our Spaghetti Factory dinner this past weekend was like so many we've enjoyed for near three decades...hugs, talk, laughter, good eats, more hugs, and our good-byes until we're together again.
Great pics. Fun Time!
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