![\"CA](\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/CA-electricity.jpg\" "\\"CA")
<\/a><\/p>\nHappy are the lungs that breathe in briny breezes. Not much of a beach person as are John and KatieBug but Oceano Elks Lodge is just what the doctor ordered. One block from the beach, sites are not much to look at but quiet, level, with minimal hook-ups and oh so reasonable.<\/p>\n
The coast has been pounded with much needed rain for the last week leaving the air renewed and pollution free. A good recuperation landing for the next few days. We have a nice group of neighbors giving us a sense of safety. I\u2019m sure John is getting tired of driving full time but asthma meds and driving do not equal safety behind the wheel so if I am to drive, wellness must arrive.<\/p>\n A quick stop at the wharf for a few minutes to take in the salty sea air and watch some sunset surfers before turning in for the night.<\/p>\n I am beginning to feel more comfortable living on 30 amps which is necessary when staying at Elks Lodges throughout California. It takes thought, something you don\u2019t have to do when living in sticks and bricks, to remember to turn off the a\/c when using the microwave or turn the TV off when it is warm outside so it does not set off the center a\/c unnecessarily and blow the fuses. It\u2019s the myriad of inconsiderable changes in living habits that drive you slightly batty when full timing.<\/p>\n Beach, boardwalk, butterflies and a few new bottles of wine. First day in weeks that my lungs have taken in air without stress. A few hours outside our box on wheels was spent at a local winery tasting wine<\/p>\n breathing in the medicinal benefits of giant wild Eucalyptus trees that thrive along the coast while viewing migrating butterflies munching on their leaves<\/p>\n and a slow walk along the boardwalk to enjoy a fresh clam chowder filled sour dough bowl at Splash Caf\u00e9 for lunch.<\/p>\n All packed away and ready to roll on to Santa Clara, my childhood stomping grounds, first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n With one exception, a short walk in the Winchester Mystery House gardens, I stayed indoors for this multi-day pause near my home town. One quick visit to my aunts for lunch and back to LilyPad to rest for the night, then a quiet stroll through the gardens I loved as a child. I thought it odd that John had never been to the House or gardens so I was eager to share the experience with my traveling-through-life partner.<\/p>\n The Winchester Mystery House was a few blocks from the home where I grew up. My uncle and several family friends knew Mrs. Winchesters niece, to whom everything was left. For the younger me, the gardens were a much anticipated visit and when our children visited their grandmother, they too walked through the gardens.<\/p>\n We all had seen the sprawling ostentatious mansion of 6 kitchens, 13 bathrooms, 47 fireplaces, 47 stairways, 10,000 windows (many being Tiffany stained glass) and 2,000 doors at least once and that was sufficient as eerie tags along behind you throughout the tour. Beginning as an eight room farm house when purchased in 1884, it grew to seven stories and 160 rooms at the time of Mrs. Winchesters death in September of 1922.<\/p>\n The haunting tale of the House began with the personal tragedies borne by Mrs. Winchester after the deaths of her baby daughter, and years later, her husband. It also houses the story of the legendary Winchester rifle, \u201cThe Gun That Won The West\u201d. If you saw Stephen King\u2019s 2002 thriller, \u201cRose Red\u201d, it was based on Mrs. Winchester and her haunted San Jose house. Ghost sightings are eagerly sought after and sometimes rewarded during the Houses night touring and Basement Tours.<\/p>\n Amazing, but in no way mysterious, was the sustainability of the mansion at that time in history.\u00a0 A read through the web site information provides an informative stride through the house that spirits built.<\/p>\n For an excellent account of the mysterious yet generous millionaire that was Mrs. Sarah Winchester, visit their website and watch the video narrated by Miss Lillian Gish, it\u2019s my favorite. http:\/\/winchestermysteryhouse.com\/videogallery.cfm<\/a><\/p>\n Just before bed I noticed LilyPad was shaking and so was my computer screen.\u00a0 I asked John if we were parked next to the train tracks again and he said it was probably an earthquake.\u00a0 I laughed, having been in many as a youngster and not believing we would ever experience one while traveling through California.\u00a0 Tonight on the news it was reported that our area had been shaken by a 6.9 earthquake.\u00a0 John took it like a pro, this being his first.\u00a0 I found it to be a strange sensation and not as exciting in my 60\u2019s as it was in my tweens and teens.\u00a0 We\u2019ll pass on any others, thank you very much.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hubby and I dined with my aunt for one last lunch at Brent\u2019s, the amazing Jewish deli in Northridge, before leaving town. I\u2019m a fan of pea soup and Brent\u2019s makes a phenomenal bowl, full of perfect chunks of carrots, … Continue reading <\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n