The Stewarts are at Crow Ranch in Wyoming

The Stewarts were at the family ranch Crow Ranch in Wyoming and had lots of fun pictures.

Ryan looks right at home, he'll make a great cowboy!

 

Kristi and Mike, seven years of marriage and three children and still in love.  Can't ask for more than that!



How about that, Kate loves horses, too.  California kids are fitting right in with the Wyoming territory.

Love that smile, Brynn, she must like Wyoming, too.

Kristi had lots more fun things on her blog:  'Taking it One Day at a Time'.

The Freedom of a Bike

My neice Carole Warburton, who is an excellent writer, wrote a very insightful piece about 'The Freedom of a Bike'.  I recommend everyone to read it.

http://carolethayne.blogspot.com/

I don't have her memory of when I learned to ride a bike but I know it was an important part of my life in elementary school, high school, college not so much, and after Richard died

Bandido and I rode all over with my friend Nadine.  Marjorie and I tried it after I moved up here but my knees hurt so we didn't do it long and then Matt took it to Tahoe and there it is.

But read Carole's piece.  So excellent. 

One Down, How Many More to Go?

I finally digitalized all my Scandinavian trip from 2000 and got it in to my 2012 book.  I also hope to do the trip to New York and the trip with my sisters to the Cabin and any trip I took before I started keeping my blog in 2005.  Hmm, that means my trip to Guam, several Texas trips, Hurricane Isabel, Maryland, Delaware, W Virginia.  I think I did Katrina and Rita--oh but not the year before.  Oh my goodness, will I ever catch up.

All I can say is I love going back and reading and seeing pix of experiences in my life.  Oh, and of course. I still have San Diego to finish from the 70's to 99--it is a goal to be all caught up by my 80th birthday in January.   What my children do with all my books after I die, it doesn't matter, it is for my memory bank in my old age.  So nice living and remembering all the good times of my life.  Life is good, most of the time, anyway.

Lily, Yellow Lily

Some lilies that escaped the marauding deer who was not fooled by the ribbons.  He got more than I wanted to lose, though.  And either he or a squirrel or? pulled up and ate most of the little tiny pansy like flowers that were all around.  These escaped that are caged in with the yellow Lily and the roses.

It has been a busy week working on the house and yard but the weather is great.  I have been taking long afternoon naps and then can't go to sleep at night.  Last night I had a tummy ache (think it was too much Cool Whip the last two days--I have found out there is gluten in there) anyway, I tried Talk Radio, Listening to A Book, Listening to my Music, Reading, and I still didn't fall asleep until about 3:30 or so in the morning.

 

 

 

Maria and Johnny Were Here!

Maria and Johnny had a whirlwind visit from Saturday night to Monday morning.  My camera was lost (later found under the bed) so pictures are from Maria's phone.

We had pizza at the Buffalo Chips where Mike works and here he is taking his Mom's order.

Maria and I out in front.  What is funny is we have a picture from 2004 and I am wearing the same shirt.  It is a shirt I bought in 1997.  Talk about favorite shirts and one that never wears out.  Many others have come and gone in the meantime.  It is a Koret.

Maria, Meagan, and Me 2004

While Johnny was there he put up my new sensor, energy efficient lights around the outside of the house and he found the three garage lights were just wires through the wood so he bought plastic casings and enclosed them (fire hazard avoided).  He also fixed the garage door again which broke right before our eyes.  He is also designing a replacement for the basketball hoop which I have wanted down for years.  Yea for Johnny!

All in all it was fun having both daughters here in one week and what a lot was accomplished for me and my house.  Family is good!!

Linda Was Here!

On July 1 Linda drove me home from El Cajon to Lake Almanor.  (I did drive part of the way.)  Then she started a two day spring house cleaning spree which included windows, screens, blinds, curtains.  Wow, the house has never looked so clean.

The lillies have just started to bloom so I will see them all before the summer is over.  Yea.

Bandido has been put in his own little home by the deck, no more accidents throughout the house.  He likes it.

On the 4th of July we saw the Chester Parade, Arts and Crafts Fair, and lunched on Hot Dogs and Lemonade.  Nice day after two intense work days.

Before Linda hopped on the plane home we stopped at Home Depot in Reno and replaced my stain sponge and bought more stain.  The result was these beautiful decks.  And it went on easily, thanks to the sponge.

Thanks to Linda for spurring me on and furnishing all the help and materials.  Yea for Linda!!!

 

Jacob and Jimmy Learn to Sail

The boys wait at Mission Bay Santa Clara Point for their last sailing lesson.

Jacob had already had a busy morning working on his scuba diving certification with Dad and other scouts.

They launch the boat and the sails were flapping.

I was impressed as they tightened up the mainsail and jib and really knew what they were doing.  Although it appears Jimmy is more the passenger.  Don't know if he got to do any of the work or not.  I hope so.

Just adjacent to where these boys were sailing we used to launch Bill's Thistle and go out into the big bay for races a lot of weekends when I was a single school teacher here in the late 50's.  Good memories.  I hope the boys stick with sailing.  It is a great sport.

Yesterday--Big Day

I forgot my camera yesterday and so missed many photo ops.  It was James' birthday so I drove up to Carlsbad for lunch at the Fish House.  My appetite was small but I had the best Coconut Shrimp I have ever had.  Then I shared his free birthday Key Lime pie.

Then Meagan picked me up in Pacific Beach and she and Keira and I had luscious yogurt.   I am glad I did not know that place was so close.  Keira was so fun to watch and she let me  pick her up and do Patty Cake with her.   Glad they are coming up the end of July and I can get even better acquainted with her.  She exhibited her sign language skills.   Very impressive.

After that Maria and Johnny took me to Su Casa for yummy guacamole and chips and I had tilapia for the main course.  This eating out is getting to be a habit.  Love it.

I have now had my favorite fish tacos over 10 times I think.  Still like El Toro's the best. And I have had Wendy's frosty  twice.  I didn't know they also have several shake varieties.  Good thing I live far away from all these temptations.

Good day!

Beaches of My Life

I am enjoying my stay at Maria's and Johnny's and walking down to the Law St Beach every day.  While I was there this morning I thought about the different beaches in my life.

When I first came to San Diego we stayed at the Ocean Beach Hotel and  spent a lot of time at Ocean Beach.   Before I was married and after I had become acquainted with a group we would spend our Saturdays and a lot of the summer on Ocean Beach and Mission Beach, the beach just north of it.  We always thought the sand was whiter.  When I was sailing it was mostly in Mission Bay.

After I was married we were in Pacific Beach about 10 years and enjoyed the beaches there.  Law Street beach is just one of them. Richard and I lived not too far from here.

 

When my children were in elementary and high school we were in La Jolla and used those beaches  which are just north of Pacific Beach.   This included the La Jolla Shores and Torrey Pines Beaches (which is where Maria and Johnny like to hike above).  It also includes the famous nude beach, Black Beach.  The boys surfed nearby.

After Richard died I was living in Pacific Beach again for awhile and my friend Nadine and I would bicycle along both the Mission Bay walks and the Pacific Beach boardwalk. 

When I was working in Guam I would walk along the beach  behind all the hotels, there was beautiful views of the sunset and lots to see on the way.  Loved it.

And then when I was in Galveston, I enjoyed walking the beaches just across from our hotel.  The water was very warm but very dirty, lots of fishing.  And since it was winter, there was often a breeze and cool.  We had to wear jackets.

Yesterday I tried to sit on the beach for a couple hours but I had forgotten a chair and it was very hard for this old body to be comfortable in any position.   I guess I will just stick to walking the beaches.  In the early morning it is mostly the surfers and a few older people, very quiet and very nice.  Everyone is friendly and says Good morning or Hi, even the young surfers.

I do love walking on the beaches, they have been a big part of my life.  I especially loved the parties and bonfires for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.  The beach life is a good life.

June Birthday Bash

We used to have a June Birthday Bash on the beach for Linda, James, Camber and my Loan Processor Connie. Yesterday we had one at James' home.

Beautiful Daughters.  Linda is a June Birthday.

Kelly and Matt brought fish tacos.  Camber had beef tacos.  Johnny made his secret recipe of salsa. 

Matt, James, Gary waiting to eat.  James is a June Birthday.

Hardy Children were entertaining the Burnett children.

 

 

 

Sarah Pulsiphr and Hardy Children, neighbors and Burnett family.

Linda and Gary

Matt and Kelly

Me with my beautiful children.

 

Camber is a June Birthday, too.

Lunch in Pacific Beach

Today Linda, Maria, Meagan and I met at an outdoor restaurant in Pacific Beach and had fish tacos again!!!   Camber couldn't make it.  It was a lovely day and very enjoyable.

I forgot my camera!!!

I finished the book  "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway and tried to find the movie on Netflix--couldn't find it.  I was curious to know if I 'got' the movie when I originally saw it in 1957.  It was Hemingway's first novel--lots of dialogue--curious story line but interesting to keep reading and he was certainly praised for it.

I also finished Nora Roberts "Witness" which was a take off from "Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" in that the protagonist was a genious with amazing computer skills.  Actually vaery intriguing book.

Now I am reading a Mary Higgins Clark mystery, she is always fun and light to read.  I learned that although my San Diego Library cards are good at both County and City libraries I should return county books to county libraries--good to know.

I stated a new series on Netflix--an English series about WWII called "Foyles War".  The first episode was very good so it will be fun to continue with.  Last night I tried to watch Netflix on my computer and couldn't keep it going, not enough bandwidth or something but Sarah showed me how to watch it on their big screen.

8th Grade Graduaate

 

Tuesday morning we went to a huge 8th Grade Graduation at Emerald Middle School.  Sarah is one of only two blondes there and they call her "Snowflake".  Sarah was given a special reward for Service and earlier in the  week was given another award for scholastic achievement!

Later Gary took us all (Sarah, Linda, Kelly, Craig and I) to lunch at California Pizza in Fashion Valley.  It was excellent.

Hardy Children 2012

Jacob

Lea

Jimmy

I told the children I wanted my picture taken with whoever was ready for church.  Jacob is 13 and in 8th grade next year.  Lea is 12 and will be in 7th grade and Jimmy is 9 and will be in 5th grade.  Kelsi didn't want her hair brushed so it is a good thing I have her pictures from yesterday.  Her mother finally put a flower in her hair and let it go at that.  She has beautiful hair.

When we came home from church Camber's parents were here with this huge dinner of salmon, salad, fruit, dips, chips, and others added chicken, scalloped potatoes and then Mary had fruit shortcake for dessert.  We were all delighted with the luscious meal.  Camber's  aunt and cousins came from Rancho Santa Fe so there was about 25 of us or so for Father's Day.   Camber had collected some of the famous cowboys rules for living and had different people read them--they were really good and lots of interesting stories were told.  Very nice Father's Day. 

I didn't write anything about my father or my husband as a father but I miss them both.  My Dad was the greatest and I think my children think their Dad was pretty super, too.  We were all very blessed to have such good men in our lives.

More of Maria's Family

Mitch

Matt

Bruce is so happy to be with all his family.

Melissa and Sean

 

Matt, Mitch, Melissa and Sean join Maria and Johnny for more of Tahoe.