Casa plants in summer

Well, wish the Casa Romantica Gardens was my only responsibility there, but, here are recent photos of the gardens. Pretty for only a 3 year head start.

See the new rain barrel?

California Native Garden that is spectacular!

Summer fun with grandchildren

Well, this grandma thinks they are the cutest. They are so creative outdoors, love catching lizzards, searching for butterfly caterpillars, exploring the compost pile and helping me water plants...enjoy a zoomed version of these photos.

Chicken Ranch where I grew up

We took my mom to a church camp that is located on the property that my parents donated years ago. It is around the corner, on the same acreage of the chicken ranch where I grew up.

This is a view from the house looking up the butte that I remember climbing as a child. Made imaginary forts from the existing rock formations, rolled down the upper most sand dune-if my brother and I made it that far...

The house foot print has not changed but looks different as we had a fence with yard, grass, roses and lilacs. My bedroom was on the front right where the windows are.

Desert Joshua Trees

Back door is to the right of the water heater room-white door. This big room was added later and was the Service Porch. Included laundry, 23 cubic chest freezer, cabinets for canned goods and a 1/2 bath. We lived 17 miles from town and 1 mile from the closest neighbor. Food storage was important.

View of the area where the 4 chicken houses were. One remains. They were about 50 by 100 feet in size and at one point housed 12,000 laying hens. That's lots of eggs to gather every day!

This is where David (my Brother) and I made bicycle trails over the humps and around the Joshua Trees-after the daily chicken chores were done.

Joshua Trees and desert take on a different meaning as an adult.

Early summer catch up

Big Bear Cabin weekend May 7 with Granddog Riley.

We planned our Costa Rica trip with laptop computer and reading travel books over the weekend at the cabin.

May 14 an airshow at Chino Airport. This is my late friend Sheila's husbands hanger. We had a fun day with their friends and watching the planes show their stuff.

One of his planes...he built it and won awards at Osh Kosh...

Mike and Barry in the upstairs living room of the hanger where Barry is living now.

And a date with granddaugthers Siena and Tegan. We had busy day with them while installing a drip system for the plants on their patio and replacing their sand box with a child friendly compost pile. S & T love finding and counting worms and other bugs.

Happy Birthday to US

Mike and I celebrate our birthdays 2 days apart. However we are 3 years difference...do you know who is youngest?

We celebrate all week and then go out for a special dinner together...here is a self shot photo with my camera always in my hand, during dinner at Vine. A nice local restaurant.

Nicole insisted we get a photo! Well, wish I had a better shot of me :)

Maybe that is what Birthdays do to you...bring the reality of the number of years. I really do not think about my age until I have a birthday and have to recalculate! 64? Oh My!

Devine Family visit

Daughter Michelyn and family made the 3+ hour drive to spend the July 4th weekend at the beach with us. We played Legos, Twister, Marbleworks and learned some card tricks.

And the hammock under the tree is so much fun...like a giant swing.

The children playing in the garden.

Having desert in the fort they made.

Nicole and children joined us for a day of summer fun.

We packed up and spent the entire day at the beach. Went home when the ice chest was empty!

Sharing rocks