Quick Easter Recap

Having a blast here in California - as usual, Barbara and I hit the ground running and have been busy!  We slowed down a bit yesterday...relaxed at home during the morning (ok, one of us got up and went to Zumba - here's a hint: it wasn't me), then Barbara's husband Dave started to teach me how to play the piano, and her daughter Theresa took over.  We played Ode To Joy - even did a duet with that one, and also played a little something else that I can't remember.  Fun, but at the same time quite challenging for me.  After a while we all got dressed and drove over the hill to Santa Clara, where we had our Easter meal at Barbara's sister's house (hi Sandi!).  I did fine with my eating on the meal but the desserts were quite tempting and I enjoyed everything I ate - no regrets!

And now for some pictures:

 Barbara's mom Norma, sister Sandi, Barbara and Theresa - my other family. :)

 Hello my lovelies!  Dessert table - Portuguese sweet bread was in the basket, apricot pie (leftover from Barbara's birthday party), fruit tart, cupcakes - all homemade by Barbara's mother, plus a strawberry cake was in the fridge.

 My precious!  See's Candies!!!  Janell, I thought of you when I ate some. :)

 

 Barbara slicing the apricot pie - her family has apricot trees, so there is always yummy 'cot items around - along with the pie, there was homemade apricot jam for the sweet bread.

After we ate, Sandi had an egg hunt for Theresa, where she had clues to find each egg.  She did great and ended up with some fun items in her basket.  Then Barbara and I took a walk - let's be real here...we weren't going to burn off the calories from our meal, but at least we moved a little.  Plus it was reminiscent of all the walking around town we did as teenagers, although this time we didn't walk by the fire station to look at the cute firemen.

So glad I got to spend a beautiful spring day with my friend! 

One thing that I always appreciate and love about northern California is the beautiful landscaping - the weather is so conducive for growing plants - it's a noticeable change from Texas.

 

These pink flowers were growing on a tree - don't know what they are, but boy were they pretty!

We walked through Sandi's neighborhood and ended up on the outskirts of the Carmelite Monastery - this has been in Santa Clara for nearly 100 years - it's a huge compound surrounded by pink walls, and cloistered nuns live there.  I'd never been on the grounds, but they are open to the public, so we went in.

The grounds are quiet and peaceful...

 

 Barbara walking ahead on a path that ran alongside the chapel.

 Chapel - note the bell tower behind it.  Sandi can hear the bell ringing at her house, and we heard it later that afternoon!

 Neat old gate that was at the entrance to a covered arbor.

 This little shadowbox held religious items that people left behind.

 Barbara walking in the covered arbor...

 Another shadowbox at the other end of the arbor.  I find the mementos left behind fascinating.

 Sign at the end of our walk.  I'm grateful that they do allow the public to walk around - it's a peaceful oasis right in the middle of town!

After our walk, we went back to Sandi's house, where the Easter bunny had an unfortunate accident:

"What??"