Mother's Day 2011

Sunday, Mother's Day was started with finishing the second primer coating of the house. Left for Stockton a little after 15:00. Once again we took the scenic route from Apple Hill to Stockton. Always enjoy the beauty offered by nature.  Started at Pleasant Valley Road where we passed a meadow with a bed of yellow wild flowers. Oh, so beautiful.

Made a right turn on County Road E16, Highway 49 to Highway 124 Plymouth Highway. Along the highway was fabulous hills lined with grapevines and series of wineries. There are wine tasting cellars but, we do not drink. Wine anyone?

Aside from the wineries are green meadows with horses, sheep, lamas, and cattle grazing. Passed through Ione with the top view of a landmark: Preston Castle. Hubby said it is a prison. which I Googled and it was a bbuilt to accommodate the Preston School of Industry in 1894, this building is the most significant example of Romanesque Revival architecture in the gold country. The School of Industry was an attempt to rehabilitate juvenile offenders. It closed in 1960 when the school built a new building. The castle appears to be too grandeur in a little foothill town.

As we descend to Central Valley the sun was peeking through the white Cumulus clouds. Beautiful and dramatic.

Stockton finally. My nephew's white Chevy Denali was in front of my parent's house which means my twin grandnieces are here. I finally can see them again - been missing them. I saw them last in October. They are now 10 moths old. They are so cute!. Visited with them for a while. My Mom and sister are still cooking so I geared up - apron and helped. Cooked three of the main entries. My other sister brought seafood and sister-in-law pasta. Dinner is ready!

Rae, my 11 year old niece baked the cake. It is a pineapple upside down cake. I am really impressed. She is eleven. My sister-in-law is raising her well.

One of the thing I love on Filipino Parties are rice delicacies. It is the "Suman" and "tupig" - just cannot get enough of them. I overate again - Gluttony. Please do not tell my husband for I know I will have tummy ache later.  Happy Mother's Day!