The reason we went to Mendocino was because my mom wanted to visit an old college friend of hers.  It’s a beautiful town with clapboard and Victorian houses, situated along the coastal cliffs of Northern California.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I noticed that a lot of the old buildings around town still kept their water towers.  I was mesmerized by these towers and the dutch tower structures….

Streets of Mendocino

The shop in this building is for sale.

Some dutch architecture….

Old water towers of Mendocino.

There are water towers all over town.

Looking up into an old water tower…4X6

My mother’s college friend owns a little kaleidoscope shop….I even met one of the Captains of the fleet of vessels featured in Whale Wars, Chuck Swift.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Walking around town, I stumble upon a group of guys working in a foundry…Working in this shop was a boy named Miles, who was learning the ropes.

Metal Smith’s shop: Lyon & Cook Foundry.

Hot!!!

This old metal is used to create beautiful pieces of art and functional items.

Let the sparks fly!

This is what those anvils are for!

Blacksmith’s anvils

Miles is the kid in the hoodie to the left.

Miles’ first metal sculpture of a scorpion.

Some of Miles’ work!

The foundry sits just behind the Mendocino Art Center and is a part of the Center….

Out in front of the Mendocino Art Center

Lush!

The most memorable meal my mother and I had together was at the Albion River Inn. We were treated like royalty! The dishes they prepared were absolutely delicious and elegantly plated!  The herbs and vegetables they used in their recipes were actually grown in their garden! We had a table with a view of the coast and their garden!

Dinner at the Albion River Inn. MOST EXCELLENT!

The garden where the chef’s grow and use herbs and vegetables in their dishes.

What I saw outside the window at the Albion River Inn.

Beautiful coastal views, even when it is cloudy!~