I spent my birthday with John Steinbeck

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

My husband and I celebrated my birthday, walking in author John Steinbeck's footsteps. 

I love Steinbeck and had reread Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) right before our visit to Monterey and Salinas, California.  

The stories, setting and characters were fresh in my mind. We walked Cannery Row, and saw Doc's and the Chinese grocery store, still in tact. Visited the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas.

Yoga Poses in Public Places at Doc's in Cannery Row, Monterey

And we also made a pilgrimage to Steinbeck's childhood home. It's restored and makes its income with a charming restaurant right inside the house. Of course, we had lunch there, but first I had to sketch and paint the house.

drawing Steinbeck's home

drawing Steinbeck's home

sketchbook page in progress

Birthday selfie in John Steinbeck's home

I didn't take any photos of lunch or the furnishings because I was too enamored with the reproduction wall paper throughout the house.

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

wallpaper in the Steinbeck home

I completed my birthday with John Steinbeck with a Yoga Pose!

Yoga Poses in Public Places on my birthday ~ John Steinbeck's home, Salinas CA

my birthday dinner