Motorhome Vacation

We rented a long (31 foot) motorhome and headed out with the family on vacation. Randy, Staci and 5 month old Siena were our camping roomates and Siena was an angel baby at night in the confines of a motorhome.

Nicole and Mark borrowed Mark's parents motorhome and they picked up Michelyn in Tehachapi on the way. Michelyn bunked with their family (we were all sad that Derek had to work) .

We all met at Hume Lake, near the Giant Sequoias, north east of Fresno. The campground was beautiful with tall pine trees and my favorite shrub-Manzanitas.

We all played games by lantern at night and had a ton of laughs.

We had a great time with the grandchildren.

Aubrey, 3 1/2 years old, spent hours of her quiet time playing with the 2 little horses we brought. She found Grandma's lap many times. Much to my pleasure.

Garrett, 1 year old, I nick named him Topple. He would walk/ run/ play and topple over many times with his year old toddler walk on the uneven dirt, beaches and swaying pontoon boat. We had fun watching him cover himself and the chairs with the dusty dirt of the campground. Then sent him home to Mom (Nicole) to clean him up. I enjoyed watching him fall asleep in my arms.


Siena, 5 months, experienced food for the first time and we all watched and photographed her first bites. She just chowed it down. She was to young to know she was camping but we all loved her recognizing us with a smile and we pass her around to share the love.


We moved on to Bass Lake. Picked camp spots next to each other and set up the cook stoves and chairs again. Mark and Nicole rented a pontoon boat with a BBQ and pulling a 'biscut'. We all had fun riding that thing, hanging on for dear life and laughing all the way! Spent all day, including dinner on the boat.

This is Nicole and me heading out for a wild ride.

Awesome memories were made with time spent with our wonderful family!!!

Texas trip with Mom

Went to Scroggins, TX (2 hrs. East of Dallas) to visit Aunt Claire and cousin Joyce. We celebrated Aunt Claire's 89th birthday with the local band playing on their carport. 35 neighbors attended. This was truly 'country'!

I met another cousin, John, for the first time. He is the son of Mom and Claire's brother, John. They lived in Montana. John and Caroline are retired in Mt. Pleasant, TX. John is a big help to Joyce and Claire.

Mom enjoyed visiting with her sister Claire and I had fun catching up with Joyce, enjoying the wildlife and birds. Front: Mom (Ellanor), Aunt Claire. Back: Launa and Joyce

The electricity was out so we ate lunch meat by candlelight for dinner!

I am hiking the wooded area around the house. Lots of beautiful cardinals. Look at the unusual wavy branch/root hanging from the tree.

Cousins getting reacquainted! Joyce, John and Launa.

Look at all that Norwegian energy!

Joyce and Claire's home on several acres of forest, rivers and a lake.

Married a year!

Michelyn and Derek make the trip from Tehachapi to Jenna's party
Michelyn (Auntie M) sharing a hug with 3 month old Siena

A week in May

Aubrey enjoying Grandma's garden.

I took Aubrey to the beach (Califia) and all she wanted to do was climb the rocks!

11 month old Garrett waiting to go outside at Grandma & Grandpa's.

Randy, Grandma Gould and his daughter Siena at Jenna's graduation celebration May 19.

Nicole with Siena

Mother's Day roses from Nicole & Mark

As president of the San Clemente Garden Club, I presented $4500 in scholarships to students with horticulture and landscape design majors.

My garden is beautiful!

The gardens are looking beautiful. Getting ready for a garden tour on June 9.

Hope it stays this way! The Pink ivy geraniums greet you at the driveway. Then the Iceberg rose. See the new rambling petunias on the top of the arbor? And the beautiful yellow Texas Gold Columbine! I brought the seeds from TX.

See the ivy geranium in the pot on the right.

Neighbors walking by think it is a rose.

My view from the kitchen. WOW

Can you believe these two beautiful balls of geraniums!

My favorite spot to rest and enjoy the ocean view.

My goal is to have this tree 'dripping' with fuchsias!

Pot with lettuce gone wild!

All my friends that stop by love this really cool looking pot. They wonder what it is. Last fall I planted daffodil bulbs in the center of the pot. Filled it half full of potting soil, plunked the bulbs in then added more soil to almost reach the top of the pot. Then put a Penstemin, white impatient and two red leaf lettuce to give color and salads. The pot has bean really nice but now the lettuce is bolting (finished and bitter) and has attracted the most attention! Can you see the seeds forming-with an ocean view!

Casa Pacifica

I visited the Western White House in San Clemente in April 2007. It was an honor because there are very view visits allowed per year to the home and gardens. The San Clemente Garden Club was awarded a field trip after 2 years of asking. We were limited to the number of people that could tour the gardens because of parking restrictions etc. and since I am president of the club I was guaranteed a spot. Here are just a couple of the hundred photos taken.

I impulsively plunked myself into this swing hanging from a huge tree!