Oceanside was the destination of our Thursday morning walk. 
When we got to the parking lot, we saw a row of trailers and motor homes parked there and almost felt like we were back at the Carlsbad Beach Campground instead of in Oceanside. We have never seen that in all the times we have parked there.
Walking around Oceanside Harbor was always one of my favorite walks.
We took a closer look at this new beach art. The circle around the heart is filled with locks.
This was another new art installation since our last visit.
I always love the lighthouse reflected in the water.
The seals (I think they are actually sea lions, but we call them seals) were lounging on the platform and being lazy by the time we walked around the harbor to where they are always located.
We really enjoy when they are noisily barking at each other, pushing others off the platform into the water, and climbing all over each other. They weren't the best performers for us this particular day.
We just love sitting on one of the many benches lining the sidewalk and looking out at the view. So relaxing!
We picked Broken Yolk Cafe in Oceanside for our breakfast that day. I really enjoyed looking at the egg artwork hanging on the wall.
These wall decorations also caught my eye. This was never our policy when we were living there for three years on our mission, so we try to make this our policy whenever we are there on vacation.
Speaking of the mission...we just had to make a drive by the mission home which was sold after we left, breaking our hearts because it was such a wonderful home, yard, and location.
Looks like the owners have put solar panels on the roof. Don't like the fence they put up blocking the view of the front yard and walkway leading to the front door.
The big magnolia tree by the front door is gone. They probably cut it down so it wouldn't block the sun on their solar panels.
The beautiful small palm tree in a raised brick planter is gone. The beautiful green grass and raised brick flower planters are gone. The bird of paradise plant is gone.
Gravel is now the front yard. SAD!! Makes me wonder if they replaced all the grass in the backyard with gravel as well.
I understand the desire to have a low-maintenance/water efficient yard, but still, I miss seeing all the things we enjoyed so much which are now gone.
We had to go buy some Cheese Balls (and other treats) to drown our sorrows over what we had just seen--even though we had seen a lot of these changes in past visits to the area. It still always makes me sad!!!!
We had a later dinner that day when we met up with Drew and Linda Page at The Fish Market for good food and great conversation.
Drew was in the Del Mar stake presidency when we were there and then they got called to be mission leaders in Indiana right as we were leaving our mission. They came to some of our meetings with the missionaries to see how we did things to get ideas of what they would do when they got to their mission.
It was fun to hear some of their mission experiences and, of course, we shared some of our mission experiences as well. We also got caught up on what we all have been doing since our missions.
The Pages had just been called to head up the San Diego Temple open house committee for whenever the renovations are completed. They were not given dates for when all this would happen, but I am sure hoping it will be within the coming year so the temple will be open when we go back for our next visit.
Our Friday morning walk was along Carlsbad Beach. I took some photos of some of the flowers I enjoyed seeing while living in California.
The first is a bird of paradise plant similar to the one that was growing in the front yard of the mission home and which can be seen all throughout the area.
Bougainvillea is a very common flower seen all throughout the area in big, beautiful sprays of color.
The plumeria is a very beautiful, distinctive white flower that I always love seeing.
Probably no surprise to learn we ate breakfast once again at the Daily News Cafe. Can't get enough of the delicious toasts and homemade jam!!
Our activity that day was going to Oceanside. Seeing the palm tree-lined streets never gets old.
We walked around the town and stopped for an ice cream snack at Handel's.
We had tickets that afternoon to see the movie The Senior. It was a very good movie. We are supporters of Angel Studios and the hopes of being able to see more clean and uplifting movies.
It was a sad sight to see the Oceanside Pier this time. There used to be a Ruby's Diner restaurant at the end of the pier. It caught on fire and had to be demolished, so there is nothing at the end of the pier now. So sad!!!
This happened April 25, 2024, just two weeks after our last California vacation. It was fun to walk out to the restaurant and walk around it or even go inside to eat a meal. Now it's all just a memory. The scene does not look the same without that iconic landmark at the end of the pier.
We wanted to go to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen as that was a place we used to enjoy going to, but alas, it is no longer in business! UGH!! We were not having great luck in being able to eat our favorite foods this trip!!
Instead, we went to Firenze Trattoria, an Italian restaurant in Encinitas. We only ate there a couple of times, but I remembered having a delicious butternut ravioli meal.
I was glad to see it on the menu, but instead of the butternut squash mixture inside the ravioli, there was a thin sauce over the top, and it was not nearly as delicious as what I had before. Oh well!!
At least it was a beautiful dining experience.
Our last morning walk in California, on Saturday, was walking around Carlsbad Village. These trees are always fascinating to see the large trunks and huge roots.
We ate a late lunch at Panera and then Glen got all settled watching the BYU/East Carolina football game on TV.
While he was enthralled in the game, I decided to have my own viewing pleasure by going to see the movie Downton Abbey, the Grand Finale.
Abe's family was attending the game in person at East Carolina.
Looks like Magnus and Monty didn't catch the end of their favorite team winning the game.
Sunday morning we drove for an hour where we stopped to attend the Cal Oaks Ward in Murrieta.
Glen was hoping we would be able to stop and eat at a nice buffet in Las Vegas, but I was too hungry and suggested (strongly) that we stop before then and felt Arby's would be the perfect spot. I wanted to get to St. George as soon as possible to get settled before dark and be able to relax.
We reached our destination and were a little disappointed that our accommodations were not nearly as nice as where we stayed in California. But, for a few days it was our "home sweet home."
We got cleaned up and went to get our favorite Yogurtland treat.
The St. George Temple was our next stop. We were able to go inside and participate in an endowment session.
We got there plenty early, so we went to the visitors' center and watched a video about the building of the St. George Temple.
After our session, we went to dinner at Morty's Cafe.
I loved the play. Glen says it was his #2 choice with Little Mermaid being his favorite. 
Wednesday morning we walked some trails originating from the Bloomington Hills North Park.
That day we went back to the St. George Temple where we participated in a sealing session on the fifth floor of the temple. While there, we were told we could wander wherever we wanted throughout the temple--just don't open a closed door. 
