Day 26 to 31 - Family Time

Days 26 to 31 - October 14 to 19 - Visalia
This is what processing pistachios by hand looks like. The incentive is we get to take them home and eat them!

The pulpy flesh on the outside needs to be rubbed off and then separated from the nut. Then they are put on a dehydrator for a couple days. Salted ones are put in a brine prior to drying.

We played tourist in Hanford for a day. Even though it is Donna's home town things change over time. Her relatives had a hand in the construction of this civic auditorium.

No trip to Hanford is complete without a stop at Superior Dairy.

And this is why.....these are "One Sccop" bowls of their delicious ice cream. 

Clark Center for Japanese Art, an oasis of culture found in the middle farm fields and orchards just south of town.

The current exhibit is called "33 Dances" on Japanese calligraphers. This one is in Seal Script style and is from the mid 18th century. It says:
River winds seek my chanting;
The mountain moon invites me to a feast;
Heaven and earth become my quilt and pillow.

From the 17th century, drawn on hemp

There is also an extensive collection of bonsai. How could 2 foresters resist?

Megan and niece Zoe sharing a personal joke at Friday Pizza Night.

Giving downtown Visalia a little tourist treatment as well.

If you ever want to be overwhelmed by sequins, visit Claudia's Closet.

The big day has arrived and this is the venue where Donna's nephew Sean and his bride Katie will be exchanging their vows. It was formerly a race horse ranch. We parked on the race track.

There are now ponds inside the track.

The three generations.

The groom's family joyfully awaiting the start of the wedding....and waiting....and waiting. It is a lovely evening to be sitting on a bridge over the pond so we really didn't mind at all! The bride was escorted to the bridge by her father on his very shiny motorcycle. We weren't in a good spot to get a picture but it was priceless.

It was a beautiful and touching ceremony.

Their first dance as husband and wife. Pretty snazzy for a horse barn, don't you think!