In AWE at work

Monday morning I arrived at the Casa, grabbed my note pad and camera to plan out the day - just before my morning volunteers arrived.
The gardens were sooooooo beautiful! I just started taking photos.
This garden , 2 years ago, had one large green weed in it. Now it is bursting with sunflowers, salvia, basil, Lions tail, Mexican Mint Marigold...

Looking the sunflower in the face from the ocean side. It is about 10 feet tall.

The succulent garden is just dramatic. Couldn't believe the size of this Hen @ Chick! That's the big round one on the bottom. Can't see the chicks, they are developing under the hen :)

Valentine's Day-our 29th anniversary!

We decided to do something local and new for our anniversary. We did a day trip to Balboa Park in San Diego. It was less than an hour away and a beautiful day. Here is a photo of us (I set the 10 second timer :) in the palm garden.

The park opened in 1915 commemorating the opening of the Panama Canal. The stunning architecture and landscaping made for a beautiful day.

We enjoyed a wonderful concert by Carol Williams (www.melcot.com ) at the Spreckels Organ. The park features year around FREE concerts at 2pm on Sundays. The organ is the world's largest OUTDOOR pipe organ! This was a highlight of our wonderful anniversary day.

Garden Play Day

I had a day to play in the garden today. Had this cute 'bed' that has been waiting for me to plant. It is a toddler bed with a fluffy pillow, rocks and succulents. I created a base for the soil by wiring screen to the bottom. Next project will be planting the top.

Then, stumbled over these bricks my mom gave us months ago. We put them around the fern bed at the front door. Really dresses it up. They were really heavy. Hope the Mother fern, under the flag, makes it. Had to lift it and move it back a foot.

Bug Party

Siena and Tegan spent the night with us. T's first night away from Mom...she is just starting to drink from a bottle. It was so much fun to spend time with them. Tegan is 7 months and Siena's third birthday was the next day.

Aubrey and Garrett came for the party and we had another opportunity for a photo with all of our grandchildren together...memorable times :)

We had the privilege of hosting Siena's 3rd Birthday party. She wanted a 'Bug" themed party with cousins and cake. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents from both sides of the family joined in the fun. Here are some of the cousins getting ready to eat. The rain stopped for about 3 hours during the party.

I always take the grandchildren out to my compost pile. This worked out great for the 'bug' party. I scooped out compost onto a little table and the children would poke around in it with sticks and fingers (the brave ones) to collect worms and bugs for the bug box. They had so much fun and I love watching them explore nature. I am getting ready to replenish the table with fresh compost full of bugs in this photo.

Only HATS there!

OK, I worked Saturday, instead of today, because our garden club district had a quarterly meeting. The theme was Tea Party. Well, I dug out all 3 of my hats from many years ago. Don't you wear hats to a Tea Party? I brought them with me. Gave one to my friend Lisa to wear. We walked in...the only ones wearing hats! Everyone loved it tho. There were 80 people attending. Bet they know who we are now. It really was fun.

Casa in January

After the holidays it was good to get back on a regular schedule. Casa work days find interesting things blooming in January. Here are some photos I took recently.

We are planning for a World War II exhibit at the Casa and had an information gathering meeting this week for anyone in the surrounding communities who were involved or had family members with stories to tell. I invited my Mom as she was a 'Rosie the Riveter"during the war. It was a really interesting meeting to hear stories first hand. She is sitting with Bob, a faithful Casa volunteer and garden club member.

Happy New Year!!!

We spent New Years Eve in Tehachapi. Daughter Michelyn and hubby Derek live in this quaint town in the mountains about 3 hours drive from us. It was an escape to the country for us with skunks scampering across the driveway and deer staring back at you while on a walk.
But most importantly, being with Michelyn and Derek, knowing that the road does go both ways. They travel the 3 hours-one way- many times during the year to participate in family gatherings, both for Derek's family and ours. We really appreciate their dedication to keeping connected with family hugs.

I took this shot this morning. See the deer? Mother, and 2 little ones. There were 5 of them around.

Last night we celebrated dinner out then went to a good bye party at a favorite Tehachapi hang out for Hot Chocolate, Coffee and local music and readings. A special local place is closing. Sad for the locals.

Inside the favorite hang out "Mama Hill A Beans," musicians were getting ready for the next performance. I love live music too and experienced another community supporting local talent and felt the community spirit. Hope someone picks up where Hill-a-Beans was forced to leave.

Arrived back home, taking Christmas decorations down and the sunset was so beautiful!!!
Here we come...2010!!!