What a beautiful weekend!

If only.......my battery hadnt died on my good camera, and I didnt have to resort to my 'tourist' camera, you would see how beautiful this Perrigrine Falcon really was...

The newest member of the family, Gordy. Just couldnt resist his face so of course he had to come home with us!

I love rocks and the colors they are as much as the ocean...

The waves were unbelievable this weekend...you can see why my battery died!

All these wave photos were taken at Point Lobos State Park. The sad thing was that my battery died before I could get back to the car to get my 'tourist' camera, so no photos of the patch of wild iris, or the doe who was not intimidated or scared of us at all....

This was Carmel Beach....we played tourist and walked around Carmel for the first time in a long time.

More Carmel Beach....the colors and scene remind me of oil paintings I have seen....

Still Carmel Beach

From Carmel Beach looking at Pebble Beach

I am such a rule follower....the rules are no cameras, no cell phones, no back packs at the AT&T....so I didnt (and I was one of the few who didnt) do here are some of my photos of the AT&T Pebble Beach course taken from Carmel Beach

Am going to post some of the over 400+ photos I took...gotta love digital, you just keep clicking and then later you weed thru them! But it was a lovely weekend - the two of us away from home - the weather was fantastic - felt like I ate way way way too much but when I really thought about it, it wasnt that bad at all! (Ate at a favorite restuarant - a lousy restuarant - and an over rated restuarant)....and came home with a new friend!

What a Busy Weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy President's Day!

And Happy Chinese New Year!

We are going away for the weekend - and I dont care if we can afford it or not! I need it - he needs it - we need it! And I can't wait!

Hopefully I'll have some fun photos to share when we come back!!!!

The End of January - Already???!!!

We always taught our kids - to only leave footprints behind. What you pack in - you pack out. And it is pleasing to see this place we walk, Sycamore Grove, so clean.

My new hiking boots! And they come up above my ankles and give them GREAT support! Today we decided to break them in - just with a walk on pavement (staying out of all the mud!!). I did not take my new walking sticks tho....

This guy welcomed us to Sycamore Grove today when I started my 'training' for the Bras For The Cause Walk in May. I thought we would just go a mile in for a total of two miles. But it was a lovely day. The day started out foggy - but dry! And the fog slowly lifted. Started the day out slowly - wtaching South Pacific while I read the Sunday paper and ate the breakfast burritos that hubby made.

Kept hearing the noise - and saw all the holes in the trees - then I finally say this guy!

Hmmm, is he watching me?

You can barely see it - but that is a 2 on the pavement.....so we walked 2 miles in and 2 miles out. So much better than I planned on!

Trying to remember what kind of spider digs a hole and covers the entrance with a spider web. But it surely looked pretty with dew all over it!

I dont know - I see an alligator - what do you see?

He posed for me so I actually got quite a few shots. Guess he couldnt believe it wasnt raining either!

One of these days...

I will remember to take 'before' photos and not just 'after'. See my nice shelf unit from The Container Store there on the right - that has all my gift bags, Christmas bags, tissue paper, ribbons, bows. So nice, I am really loving it! Already stocked it with what was in 5 - 6 various bags that were in this closet previously. Oh, and see the little holder on the side to hold rolls of paper???? And I am still adding to it as I gather up collections all over the house! LOL

Above it are a couple of boxes of Tom's mom's and grandmother's linens. Believe it or not (yeah right, like anyone who knew me wouldnt believe it!) the shelves to the left are really cleaned out. Lots of yarn (some of which is on Ebay - the rest is being organized and may still end up on Ebay or somewhere) and cross stitch items (again, a lot is on Ebay and some were gifted to an EGA chapter - and that is just the start!!!). I think I will keep my baskets not currently in use in this closet - and those are old photo albums in there too.

Now the other "one of these days..." is a project that should have taken 1 - 2 days and so far has taken months. We had this really ugly built in shelfing in the ell of our dining room (don't ask, I have never liked this house) that collected junk - books, photos, dust, and plain ole junk. The portion on the bottom had a very very ugly cabinet door and this was where hubby kept all his videos - until he ran out of room (and he calls ME a pack rat!!! LOL). We have slowly been turning it into an extended pantry. Some food, mainly appliances and all - you know the mixer, etc. (Yes, it is still junky right now cause everything has been coming in and out as hubby has been working on it).

So, on OCTOBER 28, 2009 we special ordered a door from Home Depot- light wood, not pre-hung because that wouldn't work. And the 'Chumley' look alike there promised us the door in 7 - 10 working days. Oh yeah....we also told him which side of the door we wanted the door knob (becuase he told us it HAD to have one even after we showed him the dummy latch we picked out becuase we just wanted it to shut and not latch) because we wanted to be able to just open the door from the kitchen and grab out what we needed.

So....after 2 weeks we went to Home Depot and said - where is the door??? Well, it was still on order. You see - supposedly - 'Chumley' didnt realize that within that 7 - 10 working days was a holiday and the company that makes the doors did not work on that holiday. So when it finally came in during December (how many weeks was that????) we had no time to put it up due to OUR holidays and all.....but first thing first...

When we picked it up it had no hinges. There were hinge areas cut out, but none included EVEN THOUGH the order said it should.

So we took the printed order back to the Hardware department and the employee there picked out 2 hinges to match the latch we bought.....

Last Thursday we started working on it. First of all, the hinges that so called employee ASSURED us were the right size - were not the right size. So back to Home Depot we go.....and a very nice guy by the name of Brian helped us pick out the hinges. The right sized ones....

So home we go and put the hinges on to hang the door so that it would open the way we wanted. Until I realized that the door knob was very high up on the door and I didnt think door knobs were usually that high....and we found out that not only did 'Chumley' not know how long it would take for it to come in, he apparently doesnt know his right from his left. So okay.....we switch the hinges over and get the door hung.

Which is when we discovered that we had a RIGHT hand latch and needed a LEFT hand. So back to HD we go.....to find out they no longer make the kind of dummy latch we need - which is one that has a plate on the back which covers the door knob hole and gives something to screw the latch onto....

They also didnt have the trim we needed.....so we stopped at OSH....no luck....next day, hubby went to a lumber place and got the trim and the guys told him that they no longer make dummy knobs with the plate in the back.

So we have this lovely door covering what will be a very handy closet/pantry (even though it opens the wrong way) - and it is very easy to open cause you just stick your hand in the hole and pull........

And by the way, it wasnt until Friday night that we realized that the two hinges we put on - took off - and put on again, are two different metals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Brian....we are old....you were young.....your eyes should have seen that! And guess what - we are both so disgusted with this project that THEY ARE STAYING ON ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have come up with some ideas from outside the box (like tie a piece of rope thru it - or glue a little silver plate bowl I have into the hole) but hubby isnt buying those.....it might be months more before this is completed. Anyone have any suggestions????

So, basically, a 1 - 2 day project now has lasted 3 months and is not yet done. And I dont know how many trips to Home Depot - and a letter of complaint to which the reply was basically "oh well".......

Happy New Year!!

Well, it's that time - to reflect on the old and welcome the new. And I am hoping for a quiet new year. No medical explorations at all (2008: breast biopsy; 2009: broken ankle). No major changes in family life. I would just like a copacetic year!

Time to get back to the gym, and work on healthier living. But that is not a New Year's Resolution - that is a monthly or weekly goal!

I think my main resolutions for 2010 are the same as always:

1. Enjoy my family
2. Enjoy life
and for this year:
3. Not only to be more thankful but to express my thankfulness more often.

My biggest resolution came not at New Years, but at my 50th birthday. And I occassionally have to be reminded about it. and that resolution was to not prevent myself from enjoying something just because I THINK I wouldnt like it. Have to try something before I say 'oh no, I wouldnt like that' - that is how I went on the Tower Of Terror. Once. But I did go on it!

I will be erasing the knitting counter on my blog and ready to start a new one. Altho I will not have the same amount of time to do as much in - I hope!

Middle daughter and family made it down today. They are going to some show in SF tonight and spending the night there. The kids are staying with his sister. Tomorrow they will be here and will open presents. And playing with their cousins!

Son is back East - attending his first New Year's Eve in Times Square! That is something I wish I had done when I was younger - don't think I could/would do that now becuase of the crowds!
And another reason to visit NYC is crossed off my list - the Tavern on the Green is closing today. Always wanted to see that place, oh well... He also was in Philadelphia and made us all jealous when he sent us photo of the cheesesteak he was enjoying!

I am wishing everyone who reads this - my family - my friends - heck, the whole world: health, safety, prosperity for 2010!

Happy Christmas!

Isnt this an awesome back pack? Know whats in it? My camera! Hubby was very very glacd to buy it for me this Christmas after my little episode in May!

Just read them...

This is the nurse I always wanted to be! I have not been a nurse long enough to actually have one of those awesome capes - if anyone ever finds one, let me know! Apparently my mom had one but it was stolen along with her nursing school pin and cap....anyway, I have always wanted to be this gorgeous nurse - but with the job at General Hospital! You know, where you stand at the nurses station (which does not have one lick of work on it!) and all you do is smile pretty and hand out mail to the docs.....still havent found that job...

The next generation learning how to make cioppino. Guess hubby's dad learned from his father in law - now hubby does it - no way son will ever do it - so it will just skip to grandson!

Fruits of summer time labor.....caps for Christmas! (Yes, we did have to buy them kazoo's....am sure daughter has already hid them!)

I knew he would wear the crazy hat.....he is a hat boy...the crazier the better....and it reminded me of one his mother made him wear as a baby!

Last but not least, our little elf in his cap...

Son gave me this beautiful antique ivory pin and earring set....Japanese....need to do some research on them - but they are beautiful!

Yes we have to give joke gifts. Saw the pet snuggli and got it for granddog - he is always cold. So then of course we had to get his 'dad' a matching snuggli!!!!

December 2009

Must be some way to rotate this - but I cant figure it out. Doesnt really matter cause it is blurry anyway.

The Santa on the very left - and the one in the middle on the right side of the clock - were made (she was big into ceremics) by my mom. The card on top of the clock was made by my son - he was shocked when he saw it tonight - probably done when he was in about 2d grade.

My hubby's "Kingdom". He plays with the setting every year. This is the latest. This is Dept 56 North Pole collection....saw lots of new ones today but he says he doesnt have room for them...

Lost hubby's great-aunt's Italian - whoops, Sicilian - cookie recipe. So looked and looked on line. Found a recipe that sounded similar so tried it. They are almost, not quite, the same. These are the sesame seed ones.

In the front are the very good tasting, but funny looking, Triple Ginger Cookies. Got the recipe from a book I read, I think it was called The Christmas Cookie Exchange Club. Anyway, very easy recipe, very tasty, but I am not very good at making perfect rolls.....The ones in the back are the chocolate form of the Italian cookies. Hubby made those. They are huge! Should be about 1/2 the size they are - right now they look like something I dont want to post here - but the word he used started with a 't' and ended with a 'd'.

Here are a bunch of them frosted and sprinkled. I like the middle ones. They are filled with candied fruit - heavy on the cherries because that is what I like and I was the one who made them! At the end are the fig cookies - called cuccidati (I know I didnt spell that right) that I adore! Our friend Marilyn makes the best ever ones, but I am learning. At least this year, I got the dough part thinner!

Came home from a few errands - had left the dog inside because of the weather - and guess we forgot to put this away. This was the traditional stocking stuffer for son.....what we didnt know at this time, was either before (as appetizer) or after (as dessert) dog also ate traditional stocking stuffer for daughter - a package of 4 or 5 mini-boxes of chocolate covered cherries. So far, all our dogs have eaten chocolate and have never gotten sick....This happened yesterday and he still knows he is in trouble (maybe cause I wouldnt let him on the bed last night??) cause he didnt even beg to lick the leftover ice cream from our dessert tonight....

Ok, so you arent supposed to take any photos INSIDE the Walt Disney Family Museum. I bent the rules. I was inside, but taking photos of the GG Bridge outside! Awesome view! If only those light posts, and cars, werent in the way! Definitely have to go back to the Presidio on a nicer day for some more photo ops!!!!!!

Two doofuses after stuffing themselves at dinner at The Carnelian Room. No drool this time - but what is up with these wacko looks he gives the camera! And boy, sure wish I could figure out how to take our photo without my double/triple chins showing up!

Pretty tree at the Carnelian Room!

These were in an (empty) private dining room at TCR. Dont know if they were getting ready for a party, or they had the party, but these were very pretty.

Almost ready for Christmas. Some last minute shopping for hubby (very hard to get away from a retired man!!!) and some wrapping for him. Have to wrap the stocking stuffers for daughter & family, but they wont be here until New Years Day so there is no rush there. Waiting for son's present to come (supposed to come on the 23rd!!) and then that will be the last wrapping for him - other daughter and her family, the wrapping is all done. Just have to get things under the tree so that we can clean off the dining room table! I think it is still there under all the wrapping paper, tape, pens, etc!

I never did get any photos of the snow all around us - mainly cause I worked those days.