We are setting out on vacation in the morning. We are touring the western U.S. not including the coast. So that means, we take the two hottest weeks in the summer months and go to states without a beach. Hmmmm. Something could go wrong here.
Nah. All's good. Watch for pictures.
Read More......
21 July 2006
19 July 2006
A bit of excitement
Today began with little excitement. My oldest daughter had been to the emergency room Sunday, checked out and sent home. She then went to the doctor yesterday with the same ailment and scheduled for surgery this morning. I was waiting for the call from her sister, who would be there with her, to call and report how things had gone.
Instead, an hour and a half past the time I expected to hear something, anything, the phone rang. Interestingly enough it was my eldest daughter on the other end of the line. Surprised I asked why she was calling? Did the surgery go so well that you're out of recovery and feeling wonderful? Her response: "Well, they didn't do the surgery." I was confused to say the least. I asked why? and then came the response never expected:
Mom, they didn't do the surgery for a good reason. I'm pregnant! Well, needless to say there were cheers heard round the world. This daughter, and her husband, could have been knocked over with a feather. You see, they were told last year, they would most likely never have children.
A miracle has taken place. We are all so excited. Except, of course, the soon to be parents. They are quite confused and will need a bit of time to adjust. Not that they aren't happy. Just very, very, surprised.
Looks like there will be a need of a car seat for the beetle.
16 July 2006
Your tax dollars at work. The right way.
Yesterday we went for a drive. It was going to be in the 112-115 degree level at home, so we decided to get closer to the coast. We by way of the Ortega's. Stopping at the view point above Lake Elsinore we shot a few pics and some video. As you can easily see the picture is filled with smoke. Smoke from the Yucaa Valley and Millard Canyon fires.
It was a smoke filled day, and will be for the next week most likely, in the Inland Empire. My nephew is working the fires. I live in a city that has a base for the arial bombers that work fires. It is as glamorous a job as it appears in the movie Always. It's hot, dirty work. Work that you must be trained to do. That you must be willing to be part of a team to do. There are no soloists on this team of brave people. Everyone knows that their job is as important as everyone elses. That the job you do is integral to the success of saving lives or puttin gout fires. Even if you stay on the ground and at the airport all day and never see a flame. Not one of them leaves work without knowing they made a huge contribution. What a great way to do a job.
I am posting a few of the pictures I shot at the airport last evening. There are a lot more on flickr.
This is the most famous view from the sky in our area. Hemet Ryan Air Attack has been around
forever. Our valley is well known for our fire fighting pilots and ground team.
Coming in to land. A good shot between the palms.
Turning base. When a plane comes in on appraoch they circle the valey and then turn base to land.
He's landed and taxi-ing toward the fill area. This is just one of many planes that will repeat the process throughout the day.
The plane has now manuevered himself into position to be filled with fire retardant.
The ground tech fills the plane with Phos-chek. It is a liquid protein used to retard fires.
Filled and ready to go in five minutes. That is the most incredible thing about the operation. If you go to flickr and review all the photos, you'll see #83 on approach, landing, being filled and taking off again in the span of 10 minutes. There is no wasted time in fire fighting. These guys do their jobs well and with accuracy.
On another note, the planes came in and went out in about an hour's time. Possibly shorter than that while I was there. Not one of the planes took on fuel. The hold is filled with retardant, the wings are filled with fuel. Incredible.
This is the team plan. There is a map of the fire. Where each plane will need to fly in, drop the retardant and get out, safely and as quickly as possible. There was a group of people in the observation area watching the planes land, fill and take off. It was a beautiful dance to some. These are the heros of the valley. Every one of them. Because of them, my nephew's job gets done. The firefighters on the ground work in conjunction with them to get the fire out as quickly as they possibly can.
It puts my day at the beach in stark contrast. Read More......
It was a smoke filled day, and will be for the next week most likely, in the Inland Empire. My nephew is working the fires. I live in a city that has a base for the arial bombers that work fires. It is as glamorous a job as it appears in the movie Always. It's hot, dirty work. Work that you must be trained to do. That you must be willing to be part of a team to do. There are no soloists on this team of brave people. Everyone knows that their job is as important as everyone elses. That the job you do is integral to the success of saving lives or puttin gout fires. Even if you stay on the ground and at the airport all day and never see a flame. Not one of them leaves work without knowing they made a huge contribution. What a great way to do a job.
I am posting a few of the pictures I shot at the airport last evening. There are a lot more on flickr.
This is the most famous view from the sky in our area. Hemet Ryan Air Attack has been around
forever. Our valley is well known for our fire fighting pilots and ground team.
Coming in to land. A good shot between the palms.
Turning base. When a plane comes in on appraoch they circle the valey and then turn base to land.
He's landed and taxi-ing toward the fill area. This is just one of many planes that will repeat the process throughout the day.
The plane has now manuevered himself into position to be filled with fire retardant.
The ground tech fills the plane with Phos-chek. It is a liquid protein used to retard fires.
Filled and ready to go in five minutes. That is the most incredible thing about the operation. If you go to flickr and review all the photos, you'll see #83 on approach, landing, being filled and taking off again in the span of 10 minutes. There is no wasted time in fire fighting. These guys do their jobs well and with accuracy.
On another note, the planes came in and went out in about an hour's time. Possibly shorter than that while I was there. Not one of the planes took on fuel. The hold is filled with retardant, the wings are filled with fuel. Incredible.
This is the team plan. There is a map of the fire. Where each plane will need to fly in, drop the retardant and get out, safely and as quickly as possible. There was a group of people in the observation area watching the planes land, fill and take off. It was a beautiful dance to some. These are the heros of the valley. Every one of them. Because of them, my nephew's job gets done. The firefighters on the ground work in conjunction with them to get the fire out as quickly as they possibly can.
It puts my day at the beach in stark contrast. Read More......
10 July 2006
What a Monday can do for you
This is what I do on some Mondays. A group of us go to club sponsored events and autocross a parking lot. This one was held last Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium. It was sponsored by the BMWCCA and some of the members of North American Motoring decided to participate.
I went to one a couple of Mondays ago when my youngest and her husband were visiting. It was a lot of fun. The best part was watching a couple of the guys spin out and do a 360 or 2. I am not sure I'll drive a course ever but I think I could be talked into it. The biggest problem is the expense. $45 to participate which isn't bad, but the tires are what will eat you alive. You usually add quite a bit of wear and tear on a set and really should have a set just for auto crossing.
I'll have to take a Phil Wickes course prior to driving autocross. I definitely want to do that. More than likely I'll do that next March when we participate in the Mini Vacation in Vegas IV.
So I don't spend all my time in the kitchen or the garden. Some of it is in the sun on pavement. :-D
Ahhhhhhhh.
Okay, I don't know about the rest of you from the desert arena out here, but I am tired of being HOT! Not in the "wow she's hot" sense of the word but the "Oh my heck it's over a hundred and five again!" sense of the word.
Soooooo, as good Souther Californians do, we took a trip to the big ocean. Yes, that's the pacific in the picture. We drove down with mot of everyone else in the desert, on Saturday to commune with the lucky ones that actually get to live there. We spent the day soaking up the wonderful world of beachdom.
My favorite part of the experience is the smell. The salt air has its own unique ability to take you down a few notches in the stress department. Then there are the smells of summer. The firepit wafting it's smoky, barbeque aroma, mixed with the fragrance of heavily oiled bodies make for an all over feeling of well being. Let alone that the temperature was a wonderful 80 degrees.
This is a shot of where the golden boys and girls of summer live an average of 12 hours a day throughout the summer. Yes those wonderful tanned and well trained bodies who will save you if you get caught in a rip tide or just get tired from swimming and keeping in shape! It could be the dream job of most beach dwelling high schoolers. What could be worse?
Read More......
Soooooo, as good Souther Californians do, we took a trip to the big ocean. Yes, that's the pacific in the picture. We drove down with mot of everyone else in the desert, on Saturday to commune with the lucky ones that actually get to live there. We spent the day soaking up the wonderful world of beachdom.
My favorite part of the experience is the smell. The salt air has its own unique ability to take you down a few notches in the stress department. Then there are the smells of summer. The firepit wafting it's smoky, barbeque aroma, mixed with the fragrance of heavily oiled bodies make for an all over feeling of well being. Let alone that the temperature was a wonderful 80 degrees.
This is a shot of where the golden boys and girls of summer live an average of 12 hours a day throughout the summer. Yes those wonderful tanned and well trained bodies who will save you if you get caught in a rip tide or just get tired from swimming and keeping in shape! It could be the dream job of most beach dwelling high schoolers. What could be worse?
Read More......
08 July 2006
One word - yeah right!
Anyone who knows me, knows I talk a lot once I get warmed up. I can speak to a crowd of four hundred, but not to someone I don't know one on one. To say my dating years were excrutiating would be an understatement. Of course after reading Kim's post, on a one word meme, I was intrigued. I can do one word answers very easily in hopes of continuing a conversation. So imagine me, if you will, in our first conversation getting to know one another in person.
1. Yourself: weird
2. Your partner: thoughtful
3. Your hair: coarse
4. Your mother: crafty
5. Your father: sad
6. Your favorite item: cooper
7. Your dream last night: fun
8. Your favorite drink: cocoa
9. Your dream home: glide
10. The room you are in: living
11. Your pleasure: ocean
12. Your fear: success
13. Where you want to be in 10 years: farm
14. Who you hung out with last night: husband
15. What you're not: extrovert
16. Your best friend: daughters
17. One of your wish list items: books
18. Your gender: female
19. The last thing you did: deliver
20. What you are wearing: smile
21. Your favorite weather: 78
22. Your favorite book: cook
23. Last thing you ate: Italian
24. Your life: unabrigded
25. Your mood: happy
26. The last person you talked to on the phone: daughter
27. Who/what are you thinking about right now: future
There you have it. A bunch of one word answers to ponder. What would my next explanation to each statement would be. Try this one yourself. I am sure there are better adjectives that could be filled in by others. Maybe that could be the twist to this meme. Identify yourself and then let others do it too.
07 July 2006
Monday Meme
Lisa has gone and tagged me for a Monday Meme. Funny, it's Friday. But hey it's Lisa! I'm going to have some fun aswering her questions.
1. Do you think that anyone with a desire to create is an artist of sorts?
As much as I'd like to believe the statement, I have to say I am a bit skeptical. Pretty much everyone has a desire to create. However, not everyone who creates does it well. And, not everything that is created can be classified as art. Art can be very subjective, and it is not appreciated by everyone. So I guess the "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" cliche is really true.
2. What frightens you most about getting older?
Hmmmm. I haven't really thought about it all that much. You see, I am a minimalist when it comes to the future. People I love won't get sick, get feeble, move away, all those things that can make me sad. Getting old has it's scary parts, I am choosing not to think about them.
I love the city. When I drive through a large city I notice the older citizens. I imagine what life must have been for them years and years ago. You see, when you're young you own the city. It's your place, you know the nieghborhoods, the best places to eat and the best place to find a bargain. Suddenly though, it got faster paced. Some of your favorite places closed up shop and the new ones aren't nearly as friendly as the old ones. The faces are becoming less familiar and the neighbors have moved away. You find yourself a stranger in your own hometown, eventually.
I see them every time I go. Still holding onto their memories of life the way it was a few years back. Still pulling that cart behind them filled with laundry or groceries. Hobbling slowly down the sidewalks, as youngsters on skates or boards fly passed in a wink. No one stops to visit or chat. They'll stop and buy a newspaper, more out of habit than need, truly afraid of the newest headlines. Simple reminders of a life gone by. Too quickly.
3. When was the first time you traveled by air? Where did you go?
I don't remember. I do know it was after I had been married a long time. I think it must have been to San Francisco for work out of Salt Lake. I was working for American Stores at the time and we were moving a portion of the buying company from San Mateo to Salt Lake City. I remember sittin gon the plane in Salt Lake watching the wings ice up waiting for departure clearance. I kept thinking it was not good for this to happen and we needed to get off the ground soon. Finally after a longer wait than one would expect we took off and landed safely in SF. Then we drove to the hotel, that trip seemed to take almost as long as the entire flight!
Flying is one of my very favorite things to do. I like big airplanes and small. I even like helicopters. In fact, I've flown a helicopter. An R22. It was a blast. I spent an hour flying and wish, oh wish, I could go back and become a pilot. I think it would be great to have a license and be able to fly medi-vac in the north of Arizona. The only problem with the equation is that an R22 costs about $200,000. I would love to be a helicopter pilot. Maybe I just need to sell a few more Sunspots!
We owned a plane in the 80s and 90s. It was a six seater Cherokee Six. A flying bus. We flew everywhere. San Francisco, Newport Beach, Mexico, Arizona. All kinds of different places. It was a blast and we learned quickly how fragile mortality can be at times. Once we even killed the engine just before landing by mistake. Aaaaack! It made for good memories.
Okay Lisa, this one was pretty easy. Tagging, hmmm. Anyone who wants to participate!
03 July 2006
Interesting
| You Are Fall! |
 Expressive Creative Poetic Smart |
I always thought of myself as a summer gal. Hmmm. These quizzes are fun, but I am not sure I am a fall girl. Summers at the beach are my childhood definition. I probably have ingested more salt from the ocean than from Morton's. I still can't spend anytime sunning now days because of the terrible burns I inflicted upon myself as a teenager.
Yet, I do love the fall in a state where you can tell it's fall. Like Utah. When my husband was in school, we would drive out to Spanish Fork Canyon in the fall just to see the leaves, it was breathtaking. Those were the lean years and we didn't own a camera. I still say that some fall in the future I will have to go back and see if I can shoot a few pics of the beautiful fall leaves. Read More......
01 July 2006
Periodic table of dessert
My west wall has been absolutely blanks for a year except for my hippies sign. Finally I ordered the Periodic table of desserts from cafe press. I saw it about two years ago and thought I'd eventually own it without really ordering it. A few weeks ago I came across it again and decided this time to just order it. And when it came, I flattened it out and now today I put it in a frame and put it on the wall. All in a weeks time! That's a record.
It's cute and fits in well with my life, currently. Eventually it will go up in another room in Arizona where my life will be even more consumed with dessert. Dessert and lavender that is. Read More......
It's cute and fits in well with my life, currently. Eventually it will go up in another room in Arizona where my life will be even more consumed with dessert. Dessert and lavender that is. Read More......
29 June 2006
messy messy messy
Kim has inspired me to get a shot of my terribly unproductive crafting space. It also serves as our computer production room as you can tell.
Well, we have just purchased an podcasting system that we need to get moving with and until I clean up some of this mess there is no productivity going on here.
I need to do some scanning to files, I definitely have run out of bookshelves, so I need another! and my picture needs to be framed. I'll post a picture once it is.
So here you are Kim, mine's worse than yours! Read More......
Well, we have just purchased an podcasting system that we need to get moving with and until I clean up some of this mess there is no productivity going on here.
I need to do some scanning to files, I definitely have run out of bookshelves, so I need another! and my picture needs to be framed. I'll post a picture once it is.
So here you are Kim, mine's worse than yours! Read More......
27 June 2006
I've harvested some lavender
So the bushes are thick and full of blooms! So I went out and sat in the setting sun the other evening and snipped until I had a basketful of lavender. As I sat and snipped away a feeling came over me, "I was born to do this".
I love the quiet times that take me to a new place. Quiet enough to lose myself in thought and to allow possibilities to be explored. As I snipped, snipped , snipped I thought about how wonderful it was that only a short while ago I had put these plants in the ground and then dutifully ignored them. They did thier job and now I was reaping the benefit of their labor. I again thought, this is something I could do. Not because it was so easy, but that it was something I have wanted to do for so very long. Have someplace to call my own and make it beautiful.
So it is onward and upward. The Lavender farm is beginning to take shape. So much so that I have selected four different plans for homes. I need to let them sit for a couple of weeks and then go back to them to decide if my feelings about each of them are sufficient. Or if I need to continue my search. It will be a long process, but it shouldn't take forever.
This photograph compels me also. I love the artists' work of the three girls. It is my life in retrospect. Three sisters. I am one of three sisters. I have three daughters, one of my sisters has three daughters, and my other sister has two. It is a picture that reminds me of those generations of women, toiling to make their houses, homes. It's us and them together woven through time.
I wish you could smell the wonderful fragrance this bunch offers.
Click on it to see it lifesize!
Read More......
I love the quiet times that take me to a new place. Quiet enough to lose myself in thought and to allow possibilities to be explored. As I snipped, snipped , snipped I thought about how wonderful it was that only a short while ago I had put these plants in the ground and then dutifully ignored them. They did thier job and now I was reaping the benefit of their labor. I again thought, this is something I could do. Not because it was so easy, but that it was something I have wanted to do for so very long. Have someplace to call my own and make it beautiful.
So it is onward and upward. The Lavender farm is beginning to take shape. So much so that I have selected four different plans for homes. I need to let them sit for a couple of weeks and then go back to them to decide if my feelings about each of them are sufficient. Or if I need to continue my search. It will be a long process, but it shouldn't take forever.
This photograph compels me also. I love the artists' work of the three girls. It is my life in retrospect. Three sisters. I am one of three sisters. I have three daughters, one of my sisters has three daughters, and my other sister has two. It is a picture that reminds me of those generations of women, toiling to make their houses, homes. It's us and them together woven through time.
I wish you could smell the wonderful fragrance this bunch offers.
Click on it to see it lifesize!
Read More......
26 June 2006
Home grown lavender
We recently took out a bunch of wild looking plants along the side yard. Then we put in some lavender. I have completely ignored it. No fertilizer, no garden talk, just here's the dirt guys, do your stuff kind of an attitude for getting these going.
They started out a 4 inch plants and over the course of a few months they've grown nice and large and are producing some really nice buds.
Their fragrance is wonderful. Even prior to blooming they gave off a wonderful aroma.
Here's an upclose pic of a few blooms:
Read More......
They started out a 4 inch plants and over the course of a few months they've grown nice and large and are producing some really nice buds.
Their fragrance is wonderful. Even prior to blooming they gave off a wonderful aroma.
Here's an upclose pic of a few blooms:
Read More......
11 June 2006
Newsflash!
This very clever, very talented, cute, and funny guy is going to be at our local Ensign Books on Friday June 16th. Heh, looks like I have a date! I will make my way through the throngs of teeny bopper girls to let him know I think he's great. Every single film I have seen him in I have enjoyed. So if you don't have anything to do check out Kirby Heyborne's website and check his calendar, maybe he'll be close to you sometime this summer!
I am not a writer
You all pretty much recognise that fact about me. However, I recognise a good writer when I read them. And one of the best writers on the internet is back!
He has moved his home and begun a new job sortof, and has written intermittently for months. Then he stopped and we have waited. Waited for a line, a scribble of a post, any words at all. Our wait has been worth every second. Each time I read his words, words of family and love, I think to myself how wonderful his words are. I could re-read them everyday, and in fact I have on occasion.
If you are not familiar with Tony Woodlief go over and get acquainted. Read his archives and be filled with the words of childhood, of family love, and of loss and gratitude. Life is too short to not be grateful and Tony expresses it so well.
For those of you who are familiar with Sand in the Gears, go back! He's back!
05 June 2006
AmishRobot
Josh Penrod is my kindof guy. He writes stuff I love to read and has my sense of humor. What's that? Who's Josh Penrod? Well, obviously you are not in the "know". Josh just happens to be the author of the infamous "Angst In My Pants" and the owner of the blog AmishRobot. If you haven't read Angst In My Pants, do yourself a favor and wait until you are down, when you need a good laugh, or are on the way to the movies. You will thank me. Everyone does.
His most recent post has blessed us with the best young adult activity idea ever. I am definitely taking this to the next FHE we attend and it will go over so well. We'll increase sales of Mentos in the area so much people won't be able to find them in the store!
So thank you, Mr. Penrod! I have to smile when I hear your name. Oh, and give my regards to Matt.
03 June 2006
Balloons!
Every year they hold the Temecula Valley Wine and Balloon Festival. We always say we'll go and then something comes up and we don't. This year we took a drive out to the area just to shoot some of the balloons.
We aren't into wine at all so the festival part was not in our equation. So, early this morning we set out to find balloons. And we did just that. Here are some of the pictures I took:
Close enough to really get some good shots.
This photo shows some as they were getting closer to the road we were all on. As you see in the next shot, the one in the forground actually did land right in the middle of the road.
I shot a ton of pics and others are on flickr. Not all though. It takes a while to get them downloaded!
Read More......
We aren't into wine at all so the festival part was not in our equation. So, early this morning we set out to find balloons. And we did just that. Here are some of the pictures I took:
Close enough to really get some good shots.
This photo shows some as they were getting closer to the road we were all on. As you see in the next shot, the one in the forground actually did land right in the middle of the road.
I shot a ton of pics and others are on flickr. Not all though. It takes a while to get them downloaded!
Read More......
01 June 2006
I have a farm in Arizona
Years ago I saw the movie Out of Africa. It only served to fuel my desire to have a plot of ground I could call my own. That day has come (well it did three years ago) and we have been on a five year plan to develop a working farm for our retirement. You see, my husband is a social worker, no retirement in that game. So we have to be creative and do those things that can provide a living and still be an enjoyment in our later years.
This past weekend we ran over to the property to give my sis and her hubby a chance to check it out. We had a great time and even saw some wildlife.
These are the antelope at play spoken of in the song Home on the Range. Sis saw them and was so excited as she never sees wildlife unless she goes to the pacific ocean to watch the elephant seals. So seeing the antelope in their natural habitat was a thrill. If you click on the picture and take a look at the large or original size photo you can see the antelope better.
We walked all of the land and set out a few plans as where everything would go. Ten acres of lavender will go in first, then some heirloom tomatoes and a few fruit trees. We will also most likely have a retreat where families can come for a respite, which could also be used for CEU conferences.
Big hopes start with small things, and out of small things come great things. Hopefully this will turn out to be a great thing.
Read More......
This past weekend we ran over to the property to give my sis and her hubby a chance to check it out. We had a great time and even saw some wildlife.
These are the antelope at play spoken of in the song Home on the Range. Sis saw them and was so excited as she never sees wildlife unless she goes to the pacific ocean to watch the elephant seals. So seeing the antelope in their natural habitat was a thrill. If you click on the picture and take a look at the large or original size photo you can see the antelope better.
We walked all of the land and set out a few plans as where everything would go. Ten acres of lavender will go in first, then some heirloom tomatoes and a few fruit trees. We will also most likely have a retreat where families can come for a respite, which could also be used for CEU conferences.
Big hopes start with small things, and out of small things come great things. Hopefully this will turn out to be a great thing.
Read More......
25 May 2006
A view from the top
Every year in June we make a pilgrimage. It is to The Lavender Farm in Valley Center. They have an annual Lavender fair each year.
This is a view from the top of their property. They have 9 acres planted and allow you to wander through all 9 acres, smelling and enjoying the beautiful flowers. They have other artisans come and show you neat things like harp music, beekeeping, a cooking with lavender demo and best of all - how they distill the lavender oil.
Someday, hopefully sooner than later, we will have our own lavender farm in Arizona. And then we'll have our annual festival and you'll all be invited!
New rows
Old rows
Lavender cart
Read More......
This is a view from the top of their property. They have 9 acres planted and allow you to wander through all 9 acres, smelling and enjoying the beautiful flowers. They have other artisans come and show you neat things like harp music, beekeeping, a cooking with lavender demo and best of all - how they distill the lavender oil.
Someday, hopefully sooner than later, we will have our own lavender farm in Arizona. And then we'll have our annual festival and you'll all be invited!
New rows
Old rows
Lavender cart
Read More......
23 May 2006
Time for Haloscan
I have been using blogger comments for a time now. I can't take the word verification thingie any longer. So I am adding haloscan comments to the site. I will unfortunately lose all the comments I have in blogger. So if you have a comment here know I have read them and appreciate all of them. Keep them coming! You just won't have to do a word scramble any longer! ;-)
Read More......
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