We drove down Malibu Canyon and then followed Route 1 along the ocean to Santa Monica.
We drove down Malibu Canyon and then followed Route 1 along the ocean to Santa Monica.
Marilyn hosted dinner, abetted by the other ladies.
Marie, Phyllis, Michael, Betty, Andrew, Bill, Marilyn
Phyllis is Marie's daughter, married to Bill Kelleghan. The boys are 2 of their 4 children.
Marie gave us each a hand-made ornament from her recent trip.
She's taken her whole family to cruise through the Panama Canal and
see something of the country, too.
Marilyn was excited to find a blossom on her night-blooming epiphyllum. They only open for
one night.
She brought it in and hung it in the living room so we could watch it open while we chatted
that evening.
It's a beautiful bloom, and you can smell its scent all the way across the room.
We took lots of pictures.
By morning, it was done.
Marilyn keeps orchids in a corner of her kitchen.
Breakfast with Marilyn.
Marilyn took the wheel for our driving tour on Tuesday. We picked up Betty at her home.
And then Marie at hers. They all live within hiking distance of each other.
This neighborhood has been here a long time. I loved the mature trees lining the streets.
We drove past the Museum of Flying near the Santa Monica Airport.
Pacific Ocean in the distance.
This building is painted with redwoods.
Marilyn took us south to Venice.
This orange bougainvilla caught my eye.
Emulating the Italian Venice, this city has
a network of lagoons and canals and a marina.
Looking down the length of Ballona Lagoon.
Residential canal district. Venice has been revitalized and made much more upscale in recent years.
We parked and strolled along the canal.
A snowy egret fishes the canal.
Morning glories made a splash of color.
Marilyn accidentally locked her car keys in the trunk, so we called AAA for help.
Mentioning 'elderly ladies' got us quicker service, but as it turned out, this
driver was on a different call. Marilyn and I saw him approaching and hailed him.
After he pulled over, and checked name and license plate, he realized we weren't the
people he was supposed to be attending. But he was kind enough to do the job
anyway and I cancelled the actual call.
Do they train real Star Fighters in this studio? The
name just caught my eye as we drove by.
I'd expressed a desire for enchiladas, so Betty remembered this El Torito
by the marina as a likely lunch destination.
We watched the birds follow the fishing boat in.
Small boats enjoy the marina, too.
There's even a beach. Marilyn remembers coming here with her kids when they were a lot younger.
Then back to Santa Monica. This street is being touted as the Rodeo Drive of Santa Monica,
with upscale shops and coffee spots.
More beautiful mature trees line this street.
Mother particularly requested a tour of Marilyn and Marie's church.
They built a labyrinth into the tile floor.
Marilyn spent many hours working in this kitchen. She drafted Ralph to help.
The sanctuary.
Ralph was instrumental in getting these stained glass windows over the entry doors,
plus quite a few others.
We wrapped up the day back at Marilyn's house, eating snacks for dinner since lunch had been
so substantial, and watching Jeopardy together.
A second epiphyllum bloom!
Marilyn led us on a tour of her yard Wednesday morning before we left.
The next epiphyllum.
A bunch we missed.
Marilyn and Anne, in front of Marilyn's house.
Heading back through Malibu Canyon on our way to Simi Valley.
