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Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

Half a Century Flew By

Friday, September 5th, 2014

50cake

We arrived home Tuesday from our 50th anniversary sojourn to California and back. I took many photos in the car and at the beach house and still, I missed some important people. I have tons of our vivacious Paige and none of her beautiful mother. I will share what I have. I was hoping for the professional photos taken on Saturday morning, but I do not have those, yet.

We hit the road, with Scooter, on Wednesday and drove along the beautiful Umpqua River Valley to the Oregon Coast where we stayed in a less than stellar motel. Brookings seems to be a long series of strip malls along Hwy. 101. We picked up takeout at the grocery and ate dinner in the motel with Scooter.

The next day, we headed south on 101 to California. We stopped at an Elk viewing area. We could see them far away, but not close enough for photos. It was a pretty area with a creek and beautiful grasses and cat tails.

50elklookout

We stopped for lunch in the Victorian village of Ferndale. I found a vegetarian restaurant with lots of gluten free options and an outdoor seating are. Mario, the owner was a delight to talk to, and he brought Scooter water and a plate of food.

50ferndale

Ferndalelunchspot

At some point, we left Hwy. 101 and took the winding, hairpin turns of Rte. 1 on our way to Mendocino. We had to stop soon after so that I could drive. I get car sick easily and if I drive, I do better. We drove through beautiful redwood forests for much or our drive in CA. I love the smell of these old forests.

50majesticredwoods

We love Mendocino and have spent many fun times there over our the time we lived in CA. We stayed in the little yellow cottage in this photo.

mendocinocottage

The cottage was a special one for guests with dogs. Scooter enjoyed it.

50scootermendocino

We walked around Mendocino and picked up some breakfast food. I loved this yarn bombed tree.

yarnbombedtree

For dinner, we got room service from the Inn at Little River. It was delicious.

On Friday, we found our way back to Hwy 101 and drove to our old home town, Santa Rosa, to pick up some needed supplies for the beach house. We arrives in Bodega Bay at our big house on the golf course in time for a quick lunch before the family started arriving. The weather was fantastic all week-end. We had blue skies and warm sunshine the whole time we were there, a rarity on the coast of N. California.

50blueskies

The view of the bay from our patio.

50bodegaview

We had egrets and herons making regular visits to our backyard.

50heron

Jayme and Mark did not arrive until late on Friday night after she finished her stint at SF General in the NIC ward. She had a grueling month doing a practice residency in pediatrics so she was really ready for some R & R. The rest of us went out to dinner at Rocky Oysterfellas in Valley Ford.

On Saturday, our children prepared a beautiful feast for Saturday evening. There was much coming and going, looking for all the ingredients. In the meantime, my puzzle helpers and I worked on this.

bodegapuzzle

50puzzlers

Here is the food they prepared.

50artichokes

50salads

50caprese

50salmon

That last dish is salmon. Mark bought a whole salmon and had it fileted. He saved the head and trimmings which were used to make chowder the next day.

Lisa and Clay brought gluten free and delicious cake and cupcakes for the kids.

50cupcakes

The cake was very tempting for little miss Paige.

50paigecake

Steve’s brother, Mike, and wife, Ann, came up from Southern California. So good to see them.

50bros

Here is Ann with her daughter, Jessica, who lives in the area.

50annjessica

All the cousins were having a great time in the garage/game room.

Miles and Jess’s daughter, Viola.

50milesviloaPaige and Jess’s daughter Celeste.

50paigeceleste

They look a little somber, but they were really having a fun time.

Here is Mia, taking a break from the pandemonium.

50mia

Mark – my handsome son and super dad.

50mark

Lisa, relaxing in the sun.

50lisa

Clay and Wilfredo.

50claywilfredo

So, I didn’t get photos of the elusive Jack, Stephanie and Jayme. I got lots of photos of Paige!! Here she is in the fort that Clay made out of pillows.

paigefort

It was a fun day and we greatly appreciate all the work that went into this by our children and their partners.It was what I most wanted – a relaxing time with the family. Mr C and I are so proud of the accomplishments of all of them. We are truly blessed.

On Sunday, the Barnes family left to get back to Portland for the start of school for M & M. Lisa and Clay went home so that Lisa could get back to work on her latest book which had a deadline of this week.

We enjoyed time with Mark and Jayme and Paige. Mark made this incredible chowder for us.

salmonchowder

We went to the beach. paigebodegabeach

Paige sat still long enough for some time with Poppop.

poppoppaigebodegaAfter breakfast with Mark and Jayme, we packed up headed out for our two day drive home. We drove through our old neighborhood of Sonoma vineyards.

sonomavineyard

Today us our actual anniversary. We are going out to dinner and will have a quiet day.

A Peek at Our New Home

Sunday, May 11th, 2014

fireplaceview

We had our first guests today. Stephanie, Jack and M & M came over a Mom’s day meal prepared by Mr C. He grilled skewers of marinated meat and purchased salads and appetizers. I was not allowed to participate and he got mad when I changed the napkins on the table – couldn’t help myself!! Stephanie made strawberry shortcake and made special gluten free biscuits for me. It was delish.

While we had the house looking spiffy, I took some photos. Above is the view towards the fireplace from the dining area. Below is the view in the other direction. I love all the windows in the dining area – this is where we get the view of Mt. St. Helens. (Click on photos to see them larger.)

baywindowview

 

Here is the table set for dinner.

tableset

 

And Mr C, slaving in the kitchen. You can see that we live in a very compact area, but it works.

MrCinkitchen

This is the room that I call the multi-purpose room.

comboroom

I have my Janome set up here, the sofa pulls out to a queen size bed. The TV is onthe left and on the right is a credenza with my printer, thermofax and old carbon based copier that I used to make the screens. There is a big closet to the left of the Janome that is holding a lot of my sewing stuff and current quilts. I have not hung any art in here. That is next on my to do list.

Here are two views of our deck.

deckview1

The door at the end of the deck is our bedroom.

 

deckview2

This is looking up our hallway towards the kitchen and living area with Lisa’s painting of birches. We still have lots of room in the hallway, bedroom and entryway to hang more art – going to hang some quilts.

lisabirches

This little plaque is in the entry way. It has graced the entrance to every house we have ever lived in.

peacetoall

I made some progress on my studio. Mr C is going to hang some simple shelves on brackets for me. I need to make more floor room. I am anxious to get to work.

Happy New Year!!

Tuesday, December 31st, 2013

 

happy_new_year_2_1920

Where in the world have I been? Working, purging, sorting – will it ever end? Soon! We met with a cleaning service to make everything shine. We are meeting with the realtor on Friday to schedule the listing.

I thought I would share the really thoughtful gifts that I received for Christmas.

grannycart

I mentioned to Stephanie that I would need a granny shopping cart so that I can walk to the store. She gifted me with this weather proof and very stylish cart. Suits me, don’t you think? She also gave me this too beautiful to use screenprinted linen apron. I think I will just hang it as art.

screenprintedapron

Lisa and Clay gave us a gorgeous photo book of their wedding. It brings back so many happy memories.

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Jayme, Mark and Paige gave us these beautiful Heath pottery candlesticks.

heathcandlesticks

Among other goodies, Mr C gave me these luxury socks – silk and cashmere:

Processed with VSCOcam

I gave myself a Fitbit which tracks my steps and monitors how restless I am when sleeping! I have been racking up the steps with all of the house work I have been doing.

Tonight, Mr C and I are going out to dinner and then off to the Ode to Joy concert with the Oregon Symphony and other local artists. I am looking forward to some time away from the drudgery!!

Wishing you all a lovely and happy new year. I will be back tomorrow with a chance to win something really nice. So check back.

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, December 25th, 2013

Christmas2013

Sunny Fun Times with the Bay Area Peeps

Friday, November 29th, 2013

TheReason

This little cutie is the reason we are having our Thanksgiving in the Bay Area. We had an uneventful drive, with a stayover in Yreka on Tuesday night. Mark called to say he had just realized that Paige’s daycare was closed on Wednesday and he wondered if we could come there in the afternoon to help out. Yippee!!

So instead of going to Lisa’s for the afternoon and evening, we went directly to SF and spent some great time with our little granddaughter. We went to a couple of shops to pick up some stuff for dinner that night and the next day and then took her to the park while the cleaning people were at the house.

precitaparkpaige

We had lots of fun. Mark picked up fresh crabs from the Chinese seafood market and prepared them for us for dinner. Jayme arrived just in time, having finished her day in her surgery rotation.

Yesterday, Lisa, Clay and the two of us did some food prep here and then headed back to Mark’s for our Thanksgiving Day meal. Mark did the turkey on the grill and the rest of us took turns in the kitchen preparing different parts of the meal. It was all delicious and it was special to have the time with them and Paige in the middle of it all, hamming it up for our entertainment. Here she is with Poppop, playing her little red piano..

popoppaigepiano

lisaclayselfie

I love this photo of Lisa and Clay taking a selfie.

Today, we went back for leftovers, after a nice walk with the girls and Wilfredo. Then we went to Lands End for a hike.

weatheredsentinels

 

I always love seeing these weathered Cypress trees acting as sentinels at the edge of the bay.

foggylandsendlookout

A foggy view of the bay.

paigenewsunhat

Paige in her new sunhat.

paigehikelandsend

Ready for the hike.

 

goldengatebridgelandens

The Golden Gate Bridge.

ittakesavillage

Time to restrain the child in a backpack. It takes a village to get her settled in!

markjaaymelandsend

Back on the trail with Mom and Dad.

Here are the hikers at the end of our walk.

landsendhikers

Tonight, the girls took us to the movies to see Philomena. Excellent film. I highly recommend it. Judy Dench is terrific, as usual. It is a very compelling story.

Off to bed. In the morning, Mr C and I are going to the DeYoung to see the David Hockney exhibit. By the way, the weather is beautiful here in the Bay Area.