Field Tripping with Grandma: The Mission at San Juan Capistrano

"When the swallows come back to Capistrano," Grandma began singing when I told her we'd be heading to San Juan Capistrano to field trip at the mission. Interestingly enough, this song was written and released in 1939 when my Grandma was 13 years old.  This is the same age as our oldest son.  It's fun to think of my little grandma as a 13 year old girl singing this song.

Here's the piano Leon Rene wrote and played the song on.  The piano is on display at the Mission.

Upon arrival we picked up our handsets to capture the audio tour.  What a great tour.  The mission was filled with young students also on field trips.  We dodged the groups, but were glad it had such great traffic.  Learning and experiencing this hands on history in invaluable.

For those who love history... today in history in 1775 was the shot heard round the world, and the start of the Revolution.  While the brave colonists were fighting for freedom from Britain, across the continent in California, Father Serra was establishing the Mission at San Juan Capistrano.  We're making history connections!

Greeting us at the mission were multiple beds of amazing flowers!  I was so taken by them.  They made me miss my gardening days.

The lizards were all over

This wheel was used to crush olives to make olive oil.

Love the hollyhocks!

Gorgeous

Grandma and her Great-Grandchildren

Can you see the swallows nests?

Exterior Wine Trough

The Vegetable Gardens

Not quite sure what this was

Another amazing Hollyhock

The Cross

Artichokes

Tallow Trough

Pots where they rendered the tallow

See the circular shape at the bottom of the stairs?
Cow hides were stretched, dried and tanned here.

The flowers were amazing

Check out this Hen and her Chicks!!

My grandma couldn't believe it's size.

He's towering over Grandma now.

He's flattening out her fluffy hair.

St Peregrine- The patron saint for cancer patients

Grandma signing the book in Father Serra's original chapel.
It's the OLDEST church in California.

St. Peregrine had cancer of the leg and the night before he was to have his leg amputated he prayed all night long and when he awoke...he was healed.

Grandma and Ari signed

After the mission we headed for Starbuck's...Grandma's treat!

Fighting over the chair

Such beautiful color on Los Rios Street to end a beautiful day!