Lincoln, California: We arrived to Lincoln Thursday afternoon and are "camped" (meaning dry-camping) in the tour bus parking area at Thunder Valley Casino. We had dinner with our niece, Meghan, and her wife, Jamie, at a local restaurant... but the dining room was so dark, I didn't even attempt to take a photo. The young couple are doing so well and it was fabulous to be able to spend the evening with them.

We spent today with Brother Steve and Gina, exploring the area around Lincoln, California. The weather was just outstanding - 75 degrees - with clear skies. Lincoln is a super cute town. Though the downtown area is just a few blocks long, the streets are lined with beautiful old brick buildings.




And, of course, beer inside:

We made another stop to a local vineyard, Wise Villa Winery. Just a few years ago, there were no vineyards in the area around Lincoln. Now, they are everywhere. Wise Villa was more Napa-than-Lincoln. Fancy. (You will have to trust me as I forgot to take photos.)
Our last stop was to our favorite restaurant in Lincoln - Gina's Kitchen. Our sister-in-law is just an amazing cook and she grows nearly everything they eat. Gina and I joked that we are the opposite in the grocery store: I go around the outside of the aisles, buying fresh vegetables and fruits, while Gina only needs to go down the middle aisles, buying salt, rice and spices. She grows or barters produce for most other things - meat, wine, olive oil - they need. Besides the vegetable garden, they have so many fruit trees - apples, oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes, to name a few.

There are goats and turkeys living on the property behind them and the critters have learned Generous Gina will share a bit of her vegetables. When the animals see her in the garden, they rush to the fence. The turkeys puff up their feathers and gobble gobble gobble over for a hand-out.

Gina and Steve have the most beautiful piece of paradise. Ten acres of fields, pastures, ponds and produce.


Gina roasted a chicken, roasted butternut squash and made a salad with greens from her garden. Dessert was an apple cake made with her own apples.
What a great few days spent with Dave's family!
Until my next update, I remain, your well-fed correspondent.