On a recent visit with my Mother she showed me this photograph.
When my Mother was young, her family moved from Sherman, Texas to Hilt, California. (If you've heard of Hilt, it would be a surprise. It was one mile south of the Oregon border on I-5. Hilt disappeared, and now it has somewhat come back. It would also be a surprise if you've heard of Sherman, Texas.) There were other family members that moved to the Hilt area, but most of my grandparent's family stayed in Texas and Oklahoma. So in this picture above my grandparents and their three children aged 10 - 14 and my great aunt Mary and uncle Raymond and their daughter, Linda who was about 4, are driving from northern California to north central Texas for the Blankenship family reunion in 1950. So there were eight people in the car! I love the pile in the rack on the top of the car. Cars were so big then, and Mom says Linda slept in the back window during the drive. Long road trips have been genetically inherited from both sides of my family. And Bill seems to have the bug, too. His mother, Alma, has driven out to visit us from Illinois every year!
My own road trips have largely been up and down I-5. For a long while there were regularly irregular trips to San Francisco for the Book Arts Fair at Fort Mason. A few of these I took with inspiring book artist, Mare Blocker. Our first trip down together we went to the Sanrio store, where Mare had told me you could always get your picture taken with Hello Kitty. Several purchases were also made.
Going to San Francisco and getting silly pictures taken seems to run in the family. This was taken at Playland on the Beach, a large 10 acre amusement park. These are my Grandparents about 1955.
This is my Mother on the right and her Aunt Mary (rumored to have married five times, and unfortunately widowed every time) on the left.
Taking road trips and finding great food is the best. I would love to have everyone write back and tell me where and what to eat when I am on the road. ANYWHERE! But I want it to be REALLY REALLY good food.
My recommendations:
Seattle -- Paseo in Fremont. The pulled pork plate with rice and beans and salad. La Spiga on Capitol Hill. Get the lasagna or the minestrone soup. Sunlight Cafe in Roosevelt. I love the nutburger with cheese and a side salad with tahini dressing.
Olympia -- Trinacria, a Sicilian restaurant. The lasagna and the pizza and the salad dressing. Divine. Old School Pizza, the olive and mushroom is my favorite. The Bread Peddler has great sandwiches and soups and of course, treats.
Portland -- Pearl Bakery. I love just about everything here, but always have to get the chocolate panini.
Near Cashmere, Washington -- D'Anjou (a bakery). Buy anything and everything and eat it all yourself.
San Francisco -- Three Seasons, a Vietnamese restaurant in the Marina District. Try anything for the main course, but then the fried bananas and coconut ice cream for dessert. This is a must eat place.
Sanibel Island, Florida -- Trader's has the best crab cakes on the island, I know, I tried them everywhere (that's where the driving comes in). For a very nice dinner out go to Thistle Lodge. I had the best snapper. Thanks Annie and Bill!
Somehere in New Mexico, Kathy Kuehn drove us for 3 hours to have the best burritos or tacos with Hatch green chilis. I don't remember where it was, but it was on the way to visit Clifford Burke. Kathy always knows where to eat and where the best pie is.
This is why eating at people's houses is not always the best idea.
In January and February I will have many trips to Portland and in February another trip to the Medford, Oregon area. I think late spring or early summer we will take a trip to Montana and Colorado. And any place north of Seattle between there and the border? Please, please, please, tell us where and what to eat or where to have a silly picture taken!
It's been a rainy, rainy time. I have been trying to get pictures of the hazel tree in it's blooming stages, but it has been a challenge in this weather. Bill got this shot. Hazels are one of my favorite winter bloomers. And one of my favorites overall. 
Six years ago this month I was on Sanibel Island in Florida. I don't wish I was there now necessarily, just appreciating the opportunity to step into a different place when I really needed it. I had a book project in mind that justified me needing to be there to collect shells. I also have great friends who made it possible. 
We'll see if I ever put them into a binding! 
My favorite are the little coquina sunrise rainbows.
Three years ago this month I was back, with Billy. You can take in so much more of a place the second time around. And of course, it can take in so much more of you!
I think of Florida a lot this time of year, not just because I was there in January, but because the year is new. I start out with lots of enthusiasm and energy for all I think I can accomplish in the studio in a year. I had such great plans for these seashells. And so I re-visit this idea as sort of a new year's overview of my goals. It is really an ambitious book idea. I am working to become the person who can create it.
