We were about to begin our travels and so the bags were packed by the door and the car took us to the airport where Suzanne read Ben played with his iPod and I watched Suzanne as our flight was called and lunch was served on the plane. When we landed, Jane was waiting for us at the airport having flown from Memphis and so we gathered and waited for the courtesy van to take us to Fox Rental Car where we picked up our PT Cruiser and drove to the Enchanted Cottage where this was the family room with the healing crystals and our bed room and bath (with the minimalist shower) and the painted floor adorning the kitchen as we looked at some of the food that had been left for us. the view to the family room the various storage cupboards and the hallway clock before admiring the sunflowers and the other bed rooms. Ben settled for a moment as Suzanne posed with Luz and bade her farewell as we understood the rules of the house and began to dig into the food that had been left for us and then we opened the back gate and brought in the bags.

Having sufficiently eaten at the house, it was time to go out in search of dinner and so we passed this dog related sign at our local Independence Day related corner and went past the doggie delicatessen to meet Zel's grandson who kept the restaurant going and after getting our menus Jane Ben Suzanne Ben on the retake and I were happy to order some wine and the trio of appetizers (a veritable escabeche) which stood up to wine as Ben got his best burger in Del Mar Suzanne and Jane shared their salads and I had this pizza before the tuna based salad came and we enjoyed the warmth of the fire as we waited for Dick and Fran to join us which was an impressive feat since we were not able to provide accurate directions. Once they arrived, we took our kitchen photos -- of the 6 of us and then with the owner who was probably disappointed that we didn't come back for brunch.

Thursday morning, Suzanne and I were up early adjusting tot eh time change and we admired the daisies before going past another gourmet dog food store and finding a place for Suzanne to have her coffee while I noted the over priced fancy grocery store and the elegantly sculpted trees and the fountain with bather at the upscale mall on 15th street below which we had to push the button so that we could change places with the person on the other side of the street and make our way to yet another dog related sign before seeing these remarkable plants on our way to the train tracks where we looked both ways before crossing. The signage made clear the rules of the beach though we had more chances to see them in action as we looked out at a few early morning surfers and recorded another bit of dog paraphernalia. Walking down the beach we passed a left over sand castle a few surfers some sea gulls and the rhyming sign about caring about your environment before we got to the 29th street sign which reiterated the rules and the lifeguard camp. At the end of the beach we came to the Ferris wheel from the Del Mar fair across the highway in a rocky area where dogs were allowed to fetch unleashed and then began the walk back on the look out for sea glass as we passed Ben on a flag post and saw the sign that implemented the 29th street policy before passing a summer camp sea weed galore and surfers as Suzanne's hunt for sea glass continued. and we almost reached this life guard stand at the end of our walk before recording even more regulations at the top of the hill as we headed home.

Back at home, Dansyl came for a lunch of tomatoes tea for Jane and quite the spread at the table as people enjoyed the food and I made my sandwich as Syl showed off her new handbag and Jane did her faces thing as Syl Dan Jane Suzanne and Ben declared it a good meal. On our way to escort Dansyl to their car, we passed beautiful flowers and the dog crossing sign (many dogs in these days) and as their battery was dead, there was time for more flower photos and Suzanne and Ben not to mention Ben's sandals and further flowers before the recycling truck came by promoting its value and then showing off its attachments as I admired the purple flowers on the tree down the road as the tow truck came to give Dan a jump.

Ben and I took an afternoon walk to admire the 4th of July celebrating house and then it was time to drive through traffic for dinner with Dansyl which began with bread and butter as Jane Ben Dan Syl Suzanne and I were happy to gather together even as my crudites arrived to accompany the salads -- one involving smoked salmon and the other figs and then the main courses of a vegetable fritata for me and an assortment of fish, meat and spaghetti and meatballs for the others before these group photos were taken of the waiter who then brought cappuccino and blondies and then left us to get the hostess to take group pictures as close to the kitchen as we were allowed for this opportunity.

Friday morning, Ben recorded Suzanne and me as we thought about waking up and then the 4 of us went for a family walk down the beach with Jane and Suzanne continuing the hunt for sea glass as we watched the beach volleyball players and Suzanne walked along as Jane waited by the life guard truck as the waves from the approaching boat amused Jane as Suzanne and Ben approached and then the foot washing routine began and with a break to get guidance continued until it was time for pictures of 3 then 4 of us on a park bench by the sea in Del Mar which inspired Jane to use the camera to record a building Ben Suzanne and me on my cell phone placing our In N Out order with Larry and then after recording the path and some feet Jane decided to try the progressive zoom on my calendar in recording the sidewalk stones

and then we recorded the heavy machinery at the surf and the work it was doing to improve the environment before starting the walk home recording the time on the Rotary Club clock and as Suzanne and Jane crossed the street we placed our order for a corsage with this friendly person and then we continued the walk home where after a brief shopping spree, the Dans -- Pinkel and Feldman and Sylvia appeared for a spread of food that brought Jane her lunch and once Ben assembled the silverware he made his and this inspired me to create my lunch and take my seat with Dansyl Dan Suzanne Jane and Ben and take this self portrait before Suzanne and Jane posed for the before picture and headed off for manicures after which Larry Janet Paige and Darryn arrived bringing this burger from In N Out for Ben and Janet Larry Paige Darryn Dan and Ben discussed the merits of such a food before I took a few family photos of Darryn, Paige, Janet and Larry

and sent hem on their way so that we could all have a brief rest before the evening's festivities which began earlier than expected when this immigrant from Hunterdon County NJ appeared at our door on behalf of CALPIRG. After our private dinner of the sons with Dansyl we went to the house where Dick's family (multiple generations) were staying and watched those gathered around the table as they finished their meals and then saw Matt and Dick, Jane and Ben chatted while Jack Mackenzie and Emma Emma and Mackenzie together Michelle and Betsy and Fran posed before these T shirts were presented to Dick and me on behalf of Paige. After recording plates on the wall, one of which was like our cereal bowls, we went home to wait for Sarah and Ed to arrive, which they did.

Saturday was the big day. Sarah, Jane and Ed lounged and Jane as a prelude to dressing so that Sarah and Ed, Ben and our 3 children were ready to get into the new rental car (an elegant yellow) and head to the photo shoot before the party where we were greeted by Greg and Connor Janet and Darryn Erin Dan Syl greeting Paige and Darryn as Janet watched and members of our group joined Dan as Ed greeted Paige and the corsage was placed on Sylvia while Jane greeted Janet and Connor while Sarah, Ed, Larry and Greg stood listening to Janet and then there were the random photos of Larry, Darryn and Paige Darryn and Paige 3 generations of men starting with Larry the men joined by Darryn and Paige as we waited for groups to gather for family photos starting with Erin, Connor and Greg

with the occasional elevation of Connor including some above the camera angle and after another picture Larry demonstrated his Connor flying technique before returning Connor for a few more photos with the photographer who assumed many names during the shoot capturing pictures like this with a lot of audience participation which seemed to settle Erin, Connor and Greg before I went inside to warm up a bit and got these photos of Syl, the birthday girl. as she spoke with Paige and Darryn and Suzanne and Jane and Sarah, Ed and Ben. Next it was time for pictures of Janet, Greg, Connor, Erin and Larry which Paige joined

with a Suzanne break before I returned to the group photos

which lasted until Connor gave way and Mackenzie arrived and posed with her parents before Jason, Michelle and Mackenzie headed off to greet Dansyl and join them for some group photos after which Greg and the photographer and Mackenzie and friends decided that the photographer should take photos of our six

and Suzanne and I followed by Jane, Ben and Sarah and some random shots before Sarah and Ed posed as did Dansyl and then we assembled the group to take a few pictures of the 8 of us

and then of Dansyl together

Mackenzie, Michelle and Jason when worked their way into a number of photos

many of which were captured by Eric but after one final shot they made their way to other venues

ending at the fountains as Dick and Fran arrived and were greeted by Larry and then Dick and Larry worked on the agenda of who should be next and Connor having had a chance to run around, the camera focused on Larry's group joined by Dansyl

where they also served who stood and amused as a few final photos were shot

before Dick and Fran posed with Dansyl as did Larry and Janet

and after a solitary Dansyl photo Suzanne and I joined them

and then Dansyl posed again before Kate and Tess arrived

accompanied by their parents and many heads were lowered to be able to see them as Larry and Janet arranged for the photographer to record Dick and Fran before Suzanne and I posed

before the group began to assemble for the Megary family photos

supported by massive audience participation which made the photos that much better.

Dick and Fran joined

and again the audience helped make these photos better and then Jason, Michelle and Mackenzie joined

and as the group dissembled Dick and Fran posed with Michelle, Mackenzie and Jason even as Tess claimed her territory as Kate wondered what Connor was doing with her stroller while the older children and Kate and Tess enjoyed a small respite before the effort resumed to get photos of Dick and Fran with their grandchildren

again with audience participation and after a few more shots as Erin and Connor watched Dick's whole family assembled with Dansyl for these photos

and then a chair was brought out for Sylvia and as the grandchildren and great grandchildren assembled

under the watchful eyes of Suzanne and Ed photos of the entire group were taken

with an incredible amount of audience participation for the photographer before the final assembly began

for the whole family photo with only Darryn to do audience participation as Ed recorded this group of photos

before Paige and Greg posed

and then the 3 sons posed and we adjourned inside where Mackenzie, Emma, Matt and Jason played as Ed watched Jack and Dan spoke with Jason as Erin and Connor sat briefly before Tess and Connor greeted one another as their parents spoke and then we were ready for lunch as the group assembled at their tables

and Emma posed as did her table and then Emma and Mackenzie showed their joy at having the macaroni and cheese and not the filet as food was taken and Connor posed for numerous pictures amusing Paige and then after a last picture of Connor I shot the table with the old folks and a younger table where Kate and Tess played with their food as the head table watched. Connor was excited when the birthday cake came and Suzanne later held Tess as Dick held Kate and the older children set up and performed their play which much amused Ed and Ben.

After a short break at home, we headed to the beach where the surf was going and a kite was flying even as we were unable to get a photo of the airplane overhead but the kite and the children on the playground kept us amused until we returned home and noted the arrival of Janet and Connor

Syl and Larry (and many others who were not photographed) as Syl showed off the back of her new coat.