G Club

It had been a long time (18 mos?) since G Club had reconvened! G Club consists of co-workers of Mike a few years back and our last names all start with G. We party and have fun catching up. We met at our home this time. Everyone lives an hour or 2 away and calendars keep us from gathering on a regular basis.

I must show you my Citrus/Cilantro themed table with food!

Us Gals, Me, Vicki and Sandy

The Guys, Jim, Mike and Jeff

Mike and I, late in the evening outside with the group. Note the citrus themed balloons...use your imagination for the conversations!

Putting Sheila to 'bed'

My friend and 'walkie talkie' buddie Sheila, passed away last November. Her hubby, Barry, wanted a few local close friends to help put her ashes to 'bed'. We did that yesterday. Barry also wanted us to take any clothes, hats, business bags, etc. as he will be donating it all soon.

So, we doned hats for a photo---we all had fun picking the hat that looked best on us-by our collective opinions :) I wore the SPF 50 hat she wore on our walks. I will definitely wear it while working outside.

We had a lot of laughs and they convinced me that the RED silk jacket was so ME!

Then we went to the local church where her ashes were placed.

Barry placing them in her spot. It has a beautiful ocean view. That's where I want to be, too!

It was a wonderful uplifting gathering of her closest friends, sharing memories, laughs and we all want to get together again.

Kids, Table and Astronaut

We had an opportunity to watch the grandchildren while Mark and Nicole took a little B'day trip. Mike and I took turns spending the night (only 3) and scheduled our days around our work schedules. All went off as planned and fun times playing with Garrett and Aubrey were like a vacation for me too! It was so cute to pick them up at school and be in their invironment.

Now, after seeing Chichi's Table Talk, I was inspired for our upcoming G Club party to decorate and theme the party. A Pier 1 ad came out with the Citrus/Cilantro theme. Went to Big Lots and 99cents store and stocked up on lime green and set the table. It will be a tapas party with the citrus/cilantro flavor for shrimp/chicken dips, chips etc., not sit down dinner.

Astronaut, Jose Hernandez, visited the Casa! He is in the front right of the photo. He was certainly inspiring. Mike is in the red shirt running the computer. Jose wanted to speak to lower income children as he is from a family of migrant farm workers. Someone saw his potential and convinced his parents to stay in one place (not travel from field to field-school to school), so that Jose could get a good education. He applied 11 times for a space trip and was accepted on the 12 time! He showed video of his space trip and mostly wanted to inspire children to get an education.

Devine's moving day

Our Daughter Michelyn, Derek and their family which includes 3 really cool foster boys, moved to a newer, bigger home. We were there with our truck, muscles and ready to work.

There new home is in Stallion Springs, a beautiful country setting about 15 minutes from downtown Tehachapi. There is lots of room for their dogs and boys to explore.

Oops, something fill off the ramp and Nicole and Mike are trying to rescue it. That's what happens with volunteer help...no damage done...

Nicole brought Aubrey and Garrett out for the weekend and the children loved climbing on the rocks and playing outside.

This is a glimps of the neighborhood. It snowed the next day with a light white blanket covering everything.

Little Ones visit Siena turns 4

Siena, Tegan and their parents came for overnight while Randy worked in San Deigo. It is so much fun to see the the little ones play in our home.

Tegan exploring the garden.

Siena helping in the kitchen.

She is celebrating her 4th birthday with a cousin sleep over this weekend.

Cousins Aubrey and Garrett met here and then Randy and Staci took them to their home in Culver City to celebrate a Cousin sleep over. They were so excited!

I corralled them all in my hammock for a photo op.

Mushrooms

These mushrooms popped up in the Courtyard lawn at Casa. Wish I was an artist, I would paint this!

Casa Garden January 6, 2011

Here is an update on my third anniversary of Head Gardener of the Casa Romantica Gardens.

The butterfly garden

View from the Octagonal room of blooming Aloe and Native Island Bush Poppy.

From the ocean side looking up at the Casa with blooming Aloe.

The beautiful Native Garden has matured.