Big Bear Cabin

We spent Thanksgiving night at Nicole's then headed up to the cabin in Big Bear.
This photo was taken from the road on the way to the tree lighting in the Village.

There is a cute pair of Christmas gloves at the cabin.
Perfect time to wear them. At the annual tree lighting.

We spent some much needed down time relaxing in front of a roaring fire

Feeding the squirrils is a favorite thing to do. This is looking out the front window of the cabin.

Thanksgiving Day

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Nicole and Marks new home. There were 18 of us. Mike and I arrived the day before to help with the preparations. It was fun to all work in the kitchen together and the dinner turned out yummy!
Of course, my favorite time is with the grandchildren. Here I am with Garrett and Aubrey, we are waiting for the guests to arrive.

Siena, enjoyed playing with her cousins... and...

Daddy, Randy, read a poem at the Thanksgiving table announcing a July birth date for their new baby!

What a week!

My week started out with Monday, work day at the Casa. I had to remove all of these beautiful succulents from these planters! Thankfully 3 volunteers showed up and we really worked hard. The planters drain system evidently leaks into the workshop below. That was not a good day for me. I hated removing the plants I have nurtured and didn't believe the planter was causing the leak, as I just sprinkle them, not soak with water. Turns out when the rains come that is when the water problem happens.

On Tuesday, the planters were supposed to be empty of soil, rock, etc. I was hauling wheelbarrows full of soil out of there while the City guys stood and watched!!! Then the City hired 7 workers to finish the project...(The city owns the property and the Casa foundation pays for everything except major structural/electrical tasks)

Wednesday was a tremendously fun garden work day. Garden Club has happened on to a new Jr. Gardener program. Adopting a garden at a local elementary school. Club member Kris, standing to my right, is a 'butterfly lady' and both of her children have attended the school. She wanted to give back to the school for the 10 years her children have been there. Kris and I met with the PTA who gave us $500 and teachers who planned a parent work day. The energy was high! Parents, children, teachers and garden club members, posing in the photo, turned out to help. We will plant a butterfly garden and Kris will chair the program. Garden club will contribute $200 to the program. Very exciting!
Mike keeps the SanClementeGardenClub.com website updated. There are tons of photos there under Jr. Gardeners.

Thursday, my work day at the Casa, I find out the City is going to add a 3 foot handicap sidewalk alongside the driveway entrance to the Casa. My job is to REMOVE all the plants I want to keep and place them elsewhere. I don't have a problem doing that, they are mostly succulents and easy to move. Just had enough of the City coming in as an afterthought with all these requirements! Quite different gardening than last week at Casa planting day. I like planting and maintaining gardens. Not ripping a perfectly good garden apart! OK, I have vented to you :)

Casa planting day

In anticipation of the San Clemente Garden Tour stop at the Casa on June 20, 2009, I was given the challenge to bring the Casa gardens up to the next level and present the Gardens of the Casa. Well, that is a big responsibility! I insisted that fall is the best time to plant and was given a budget for October and November.

Fall is the best time to plant structure/perennial plants so that their roots can establish over the winter. I planned what to plant, shopped, hauled my truck loaded many times with plants and hope all will be welcomed by the Board/Contributors...Staff, etc.

I organized a planting day for Thursday, Nov. 13. Faithful garden club members showed up along with Casa volunteers and Staff members, 17 plus. It was hugely successful! People started arriving at 8:30 am with their gloves and tools. By noon all was planted and I was cleaning up. I did not physically plant anything! Just ran around answering questions and directing. Wow! Mission accomplished!

People want to contribute to community but just need direction. I love to dig in the garden but realize that chairmanship and direction is what most volunteers need. I do both, love diging in the dirt, but sharing how and what to do is very rewarding.

Sheila

My friend, Sheila was diagnosed with 4th stage non-smoker lung cancer a month ago. She had no symptoms. Went to the Dr. because of a severe tooth/sinus infection. When they took a chest x-ray her lungs looked like they were whited out. After much research, medical tests etc. she started taking Tarceva on Thursday. Basically there is no treatment for her cancer. Tarceva has the potential of extending her life, maybe to a year with the least amount of side effects. Her goal is quality of life.

We call ourselves walkie talkie pals because we walk at least once a week and never run out of something to talk and laugh about. Still talking after we stop walking. We love to walk along the beach, out to the end of the pier and back. We walked 2 miles four days before she was diagnosed.

This photo was taken Tuesday on our walk at sunset at the pier. Sheila was due to go the next day for her 'oil change', that's what she calls draining the lungs. She could not make it to the end of the pier without resting to catch her breath. After the oil change she is good to go and feels great. That is the only symptom she has.

Sheila has hooked up with the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Their manifesto is a perfect match for her. You can read it on the link. She is also raising funds for cancer research. If you donate to cancer research you can do so in honor of my friend, Sheila Kessler. You can learn more about Sheila and the business side of her on her website at www.CompetitiveEdge.com.

Succulent wreath workshop

Friday I held a workshop on the deck for garden club. Everyone brought succulents and we made beautiful succulent wreaths. It's a lot of work! So if someone gives you one, it either cost a bunch or was a very time consuming project!

I added to the wreath I have. Did this after everyone left. Now with regular water it should do fine.

Finished the day off with a beautiful sunset.

Trick or Treat

Halloween is a fun time for us. We remember many extensive preparations for Trick or Treators at our homes over the years.

In San Clemente, our street is not conducive to children knocking on doors...houses too far apart and homes only on one side of the street, and steep hills...

But, we buy candy and put it in a bowl, just in case...

As the Trick or Treat evening went on, we enjoyed a BBQ dinner, Mike was in the kitchen, TV on etc. --- I slipped out a door, around the back of the house, came to the front and rang the doorbell :)

I heard him yelling "honey! the door! Someone is at the door! (I rang the door bell again :) LAUNA there is a Trick or Treator - as he grabs the candy bowl and dives for the door.

He opens the door and I am standing there laughing so hard I couldn't even say Trick or Treat!

We are still laughing about that impromptu Trick :)

We have been here 5+ years and now have had 1 Trick or Treator :)