Driving along the Redwood Highway, you never know which way the road will bend. First it goes to the left and then to the right. Ferns and mosses line the forest floor with dappled sunlight filtering through the trees...life is good! At a driving break in Half Moon Bay, I spotted these glass cherries, sorry Mary Lou the shop was closed so I couldn't find out how much they cost.

Travelling around you can see some amazing public art in both large and small towns.

This tree arches over the street in Pacific Grove.

This deer jumped in front of my car and disappeared in high grasses, by the time I found my camera and turned the corner, I found it munching away in the parking lot.

In Cambria we stopped again for a break and found this amazing bronze by Tim Cotterill, known as the Frogman.

This piece is almost 12 feet tall and the detail is amazing. He is found at Artifacts Gallery in Cambria.

I love it when photographing flowers if I find an insect in the shot. This bee flew in and wanted to be a part of the picture.

This dolphin fountain is in Santa Barbara at the start of the Stearns Wharf. Some birds flew in to take a drink just after I took this shot.

Here is one of the pigeons thinking of having a drink.

Now I've heard about putting your head in, but this is a bit ridiculous. He did it several times before flying way.

This is the view back towards the beach from the pier, I love the action in the sky. The Palm Trees make this picture so California.

When we got to the back of the pier we found a squadron of Pelicans hanging out. They let you get quite close to them. I love the red tip on this one's beak and how he is watching me so closely.

This one suddenly took flight and I managed to get a shot, not quite in focus, but still amazing.

In Carlsbad I noticed this tree, and found out it is called the Kapok Tree, just to the right and higher you can see one of the pods that has not yet cracked. This fiber was used to make inflatable vests. They have a beautiful pink bloom that looks like a cross between an orchid and a lily.

In Old Town we checked out some of the shops, I like the colours in this plate, makes you want to pick the fruit off and eat it.

In this shop their store window had a lot of Day of the Death displays.

The tiles on these stairs look like traditional quilt blocks and applique designs.

An outdoor cafe flew these lovely colourful cut out banners.

Once again some beautiful outdoor murals depicting a time gone by.

I have a "thing" for yellow lemons, can't pass them up. They make food so fresh and appetizing. I don't think these ones will spoil too quickly!

April 19th 2008, mom and I went traveling again, we were surprised as we went through Washington state to have it snowing. This is the Snoqualmie Pass along I-90, I like the picture mom took that caught the view in the right mirror.

We stopped in several towns along the way and checked out a number of quilt shops. In Baker City Oregon we stumbled onto a Treasure Hop and went to 8 quilt shops that day. These included La Donna's Fiber Arts and Traditions Quilt shops in Baker City. Then onto the Charm Shack Quilt Shop in Ontario, and Marilyn's Pickets and Patchwork in Nyssa. Then into Idaho and we checked out Cindy's Quilt Shop in Caldwell before bypassing two shops in Kuna and Meridian. We stopped in Boise at Quilt Crossing, Country Lady Quilt shop and Idaho Sewing and Vacuum.

We spent the night in Twin Falls before heading down to Utah.

In Brigham City we went to Village Dry Goods after having a nice tomato based Chicken Tortilla Soup at Idle Isle. Then south to Salt Lake City where in Sandy we went to Quilts Etc. and their annex shops of Quilts Etc. Etc. and the Handmaiden. We looped back up to check out Piper Quilts in SLC and having great green pea soup at the Soup Kitchen.

Our next adventure was stopping in Red Canyon on the way to Bryce Canyon. This canyon is free of charge as it is on the main highway. There is a Ranger Centre, but it was closed for the day when we went by.

The rock formations in this area are magical. There are a couple of arches you can drive through along the highway.

This is my favourite of the National Parks, Bryce Canyon, as you can see they still had a lot of snow in the park. It was very windy and chilly at times but the skies were a wonderful blue colour.

By some of the viewpoints the elevation was so high that the snow was very close by!

The vistas in this park are just so amazing, at times the elevation was over 9,000 feet! The colours in this park are so warm despite the temperature being so cold!

I used my telephoto lens for this shot, imagine how high those pinnacles are in relation to the trees.

Several times we came across some deer grazing, we also saw some wild turkeys running in the bush.

The final morning we went back to Bryce Canyon and went to the Fairyland vista for one last look. It has to last until the next time we come for a visit.

Shh! Look at the two year old coming to join mom for a snack!Here is his/her mom keeping a close eye that I don't come too closeThey kept the same distance away from me no matter how quiet and slowly I approached.

Here is a planting of my favourite forget-me-knot flowers on the grounds of Rosemary Heights where we went for a quilting retreat. A nice break is to walk around and take some pictures between sewing.

This pretty magnolia is in the turnaround of the driveway, the blooms are just starting to open up.

Back to work on Monday, the cherry blossoms are blooming, their scent is wonderful at the beginning and the end of each day. Today there were some petals falling down to the sidewalk below like a Spring snow.

All around the city the cherry blossoms are blooming, the plum trees farther along the block will be blooming soon. Then come the Dogwoods!