Day 7 in Buellton was spent doing a few chores like laundry and organizing.  In the afternoon, Dave went golfing at the River Course at Alisal in Solvang.  I spent the afternoon relaxing, reading, and enjoying the sun.  Thursday evening we had dinner at Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Buellton.  Pretty darn good beer!

Day 8 was spent visiting with my sister Carol and her partner Steve.  We drove through Solvang on the way to Los Olivos.  Los Olivos is a cute little town where some of the movie "Sideways" was filmed.  It's streets of old houses and storefronts are filled with wine tasting shops, galleries, restaurants and gift shops.  We had lunch on the patio at the Los Olivos Grocery where they were BBQing Tri-Tip.  We had Tri-Tip sandwiches that were so large, we could easily have split one and still had plenty.  After lunch we dashed across the street to Saarloos & Sons Wine Tasting Room where they pair their wines with miniature cupcakes that come in a flight of 6 or 12 housed in egg cartons (pretty darned cute).  The flight of mini cupcakes is specifically paired to go with the wine tastings for each day.  It's quite a novel concept and a fun experience.  We wandered some shops and then stopped at Zinke Winery.  They had an outdoor patio with live music, a few yard games like Bocce Ball and also a patio room with a large screen TV with football....now how can you go wrong with a place like that?  On our way home, we stopped at one of the many missions in California:  Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang.  Santa Ines Mission is the 19th of 21 California missions established by the Franciscan Fathers.  These missions were established to teach the native population the Spanish Culture, Christianity and a trade.  After visiting the mission, we walked into town and tried our first Solvang famous Danish Aebleskivers.  These are a cross between a pancake and a doughnut covered in raspberry sauce and powdered sugar.  That was dinner!!!

Day 9, we headed to Lompoc, near Vandenberg AFB to see the SpaceX launch a rocket out over the Pacific (us and thousands of our closest friends).  SpaceX's launch was an attempt to carry a satellite into low orbit and then land a rocket upright on a platform in the Pacific Ocean (we since learned the satellite was successfully deployed, but the rocket exploded after toppling over upon landing).  Unfortunately for us, it was too foggy to see the liftoff, but we certainly heard it and felt it.
http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BAqirNbwEc0/

Did a little sightseeing and then to Carol and Steve's for football and BBQ.  Fun day. 

Leaving tomorrow for Newport Beach area.