Easter Day

Easter Day was celebrated at the Chicken Dinner House at Knott's Berry Farm.

Twenty seven people showed up for Grandma Maybelle Gould's 85 birthday.

I have many photos of the day but my favorite is this one.

My grandchildren, Maybelle's Great grandchildren.

Dressed up for Easter.

March garden

Members of the San Clemente Art Association came to my garden to paint for a floral contest they are having. It was fun to see what they chose to paint. The geese in front, the fountain, a 'butterfly garden' using the blooming peach tree as the focal point, etc.

I took photos around the garden after I spent a few hours the last couple weeks cleaning it up. The herb garden is blooming with sage, cilantro, chives, basil and lettuce. Maybe the seeds from the blooms will pop up next season. It's time to plant some summer herbs and tomatoes now.

Grandma's visiting Siena

I took my Mom to visit Randy, Staci and her Great Granddaughter, Siena. This was her first visit to their home. Siena played on the slide in the complex. Then in the sandbox on the back patio. We would hide a toy and she would 'express' with her hands "Where is it! or All Gone!" Then find the toy and hand it to you to cover up again.
Mom did not have a black eye! The lighting outside made it look like that.

Grandchildren at the beach

OK, last weekend was fun in the snow with Aubrey and Garrett. Their parents move was far from over so we offered to entertain them for another weekend. This time at home in San Clemente, at the beach. The weather was chilly but the beach was so much fun.
Inside time was precious, playing silly games, watching Sponge Bob and Thomas the Train. Then winding down in the arms of Grandma and Grandpa.

Snow time with Grandchildren

We took Aubrey, 4 yrs. and Garrett, 20 mos. to our cabin in Big Bear for the weekend. Nicole and Mark took advantage of the time preparing to move to their new home.
It was a busy weekend for Grandma and Grandpa but so much fun to spend that much time with them and watch how the have grown. Aubrey says "I can help you do that Grandma" and Garrett tried to say G..M(I know what he was saying:) We played so many games inside the cabin that their little imaginations created. The snow experience was interesting to watch. First time out Aubrey didn't like putting on the 'snow clothes'. Never a problem after that tho. She would play outside for an hour or so then come in and warm up, eat, play then ready to go back out. Garrett finally got into the snow after it warmed up enough to lighten the 'snow clothes' and he finally figured out that wearing socks on his hands didn't keep his hands as warm as the gloves that I tried to convince him to wear.



Photo 1,2. Here they are, learning to eat (clean) snow. They loved it and spent a lot of time -note the hats after it starting getting colder. We brought the beach sand wagon and they played with it the entire time. Beach/snow...can't beat that!
3. Aubrey took Garrett for a sled ride the first evening when it was snowing. Notice he is practically laying down-with all the snow clothes on he could hardly move!
4. Then we had them both sliding around. They really just preferred playing in the snow with their hands.

1. Aubrey was standing in a hole punched through the snow on the deck. She was having a blast!
2. And, here she is, pretty in PJ's in front of the roaring fire.
3. Back outside, making another snow angel.
4. Carrying a snowball she rolled for the snowman.

1. Garrett, the first evening in the snow, 'is this what you call fun!"
2. Next day, he wouldn't put gloves on so we started with socks.
3. After having so much fun playing with the snowballs Aubrey threw down to him, we managed to get gloves on.
4. What's that white stuff?

1. OK, I got my mini camera tripod out for a group photo.
2. Gathered around the fireplace stoking the wood.
3. Aubrey and Grandpa in the snow with their snowman.
4. Grandpa taking Garrett and Aubrey for a walk, making footprints in the snow.

Our 27th Anniversary

Valentines Day was our anniversary and we celebrated at Chateau Gould.

Mike created the menu and cooked the entire meal.

It was very yummy and romantic.

After dinner we looked at our wedding album and especially appreciated the year Michelyn and Nicole helped me 'scrapbook' the album. It has so much personality now. I still need to put the words to our song in there... "Could I Have This Dance" for the rest of my life...

More Casa progress

Remember this photo of the entrance sign? One of my projects was to make it 'wow'.

I bought flowers and started amending the soil a week ago then realized there were no sprinklers. They had been broken off when the brick 'ribbon' was installed along the driveway. Got the sprinkler guys out and finally yesterday I was able to finish the planting. Give it a couple weeks to look 'wow' but what a difference! I transplanted the flax, the purple strappy plants, from an overgrown pot on the back terrace. I am having soooo much fun!!!