Our Lord's Candle

Michelyn attended a 2 day Gardening Study Program with me on Friday and Saturday. We squeezed some time in to tour the Casa before she headed back home on Sunday. Here we are among the California Poppies.

This is a cute photo of her with the wonderful pier and ocean as a background.

This Yucca Whipple "Our Lord's Candle" had shot up literally overnight! Quite stunning. Thought it was appropriate for it to bloom during the Easter season. Maybe that is where it got its common name.

Variety makes the week interesting

Nicole posted the cutest photos of Aubrey and her tap class. Here is a behind the scenes photo of Nicole and I while entertaining Aubrey as we waited for her photo op. We look so composed...while Aubrey had arms, legs, head, pretty curls in her hair all swinging around every which direction! Nicole was stressing, I was laughing and asked Aubrey to take our photo. We smiled for Aubrey...I like it.

Earlier that day, I took mom to a Dr. appointment then visited my brother, David and took this photo. He is recovering from major hip surgery and we shared a Diet Pepsi at the facility he is in.

Today was Rose Garden work day at City Hall. Once a month we maintain the rose garden.

While at the rose garden we saw a club member, Tom Benton. He was there with family from out of State. They were raising the flag that was on his dad's casket last summer. Our City Hall lets you fly a military loved ones flag. We spontaneously joined them and it was very touching. I happened to have my ever present camera in my pocket.

Folded hands, Concert and Wisteria

One photo left on my camera of Siena from Sunday. Sitting in the rocking chair, folded hands and blanket. The chair was Mike's Dad's chair, that means great grandpa sat it it too.

Mom Gould and cousin Sandy came for a gals time slumber party yesterday. Mike is in Atlanta. We went to the Casa today and out to lunch on the pier. Like a vacation day for me.

We attended the Casa musical program for children this morning. The same one will play for the public tonight. Larry Tuttle played the Chapman Stick. Ever heard of it? I'd love to play it. It is like a guitar you don't strum but play both hands like you would a piano. Very interesting. Check it out at stick.com

And the walk around the Casa today reveled the Wistera blooming! Guess it has been there for a long time and am told this is the first time it has bloomed...

This week

There is always so much going on at the Casa, my home away from home. I am mostly involved with the garden related activities. This week we had 120 students in 3rd grade tour the house and gardens. I was taking photos and controlling the timer-3 different tours, 25 minutes each and filling in for the docents. Quite the production but so educational and fun for the kids.

A small group checking out the Monarch caterpillars on the Milkweed.

Saturday, Randy and Staci dropped Siena off so we could entertain her while they went out to celebrate their 6th anniversary. Always looking for an opportunity to spend time with Grandchildren. We were attending an engagement party for nephew, Adam and his bride to be, Blair. Adam's mom, Pam, Mike's sister hosted it. The wedding party attended, some flew in from New York. I usually help with kitchen clean-up but was busy taking photos and keeping up with the little one. This is a quick shot taken of Randy, Siena and I just after they arrived.

weekend projects

Mike was home for the weekend. Has a long term consulting engagement in the Atlanta area and he was home after a 2 week stay. First major travels for months. Will be doing this occasional weekend home for a while. We are just thankful he is working.

We have been talking about installing a Space Saver Coffee pot and getting smaller end tables for a long time. I happened to find them all at Target...just what we wanted. (the end tables look much more red in the photo than they seem), and the extra extension cords for the coffee pot will be remedied.
We had two days this weekend and embarked on installing and assembling. We are very happy with the results, however, it took hours longer that we anticipated-don't all project seem to be this way. Extra trips to the garage and hardware store, aching backs from bending upside down under the cabinet with the totally useless templates the coffee maker people provide...

Today, Monday, my friend, Barbara Gorman surprised me with a call that she wanted to come by to see me. She moved to Texas about a year ago-just a few miles from where we use to live. Was back in town for a birthday celebration. We caught up on hugs and a quick tour of the Casa.

Activity Plus!

This has been a hugely stressful week. Won't bore you with the details. Just that every 30 minutes during the day has been over committed!
Stress also includes things you enjoy. Most of mine is trying to cram in all the things I enjoy doing along with other major commitments.
That is what I am sharing with you.

Thursday, 6 master gardeners came to the Casa to help me Id plants. We were hugely successful. This is the first step in planning which plants we want permanent tags for, gearing up for the June 20 Garden Tour.

Then, Randy, Staci, Siena, and baby GIRL due in July, (Pico too) came for a visit. Randy had a work day on Friday in San Diego and they all came down for overnighters to make his drive shorter. Staci, Siena and I hung out on Friday-a great-no pressure day. Just playing with cutie Siena. Grandchildren have a way of erasing the stresses of every day life.

Randy came home from work and shares his piano talents with Siena. I love to hear the results of several years of piano lessons used in his own way for his own enjoyment as an adult.

Siena had fun playing outside. She was very cautiously approaching the edge to overlook the canyon. She loved the big wheel, swing and especially watering my plants. Have several of the cutest photos of that!

Fun G'Parents day

Nicole brought Aubrey and Garrett over for the afternoon/evening today. It was so fun to see them two days in a row! At my Mom's birthday party yesterday, wandering through the Cherimoya orchard. Today, playing in my garden and at the beach.

We went to the closest beach, the famous T-Street in San Clemente. It was late afternoon with most beach goers gone and the surfers out. Aubrey and Garrett have learned how to play tag with the waves :)

Our fountain in the garden is always an attraction and fun for the children. Aubrey always gives "Bob" a bath with the white brush.
Bob is the affectionate name given our fountain. Aubrey's early words (she is 5 now) were BaBaBa... It stuck as 'Bob' to name the smiley Seal on the fountain.