Sunday, February 20, 2011

Weekend Fun






This was such a beautiful weekend! The weather was so nice. I was able to do a little weeding in my flower beds. We decided to cook burgers and hot dogs for lunch Sunday. Everyone brought over the riding toys for the kids. Jackson and Tucker have a Rip Riper and EZ Rider, those things look fun. Violet and Phoenix brought their riding toys, the Radio Flyer and a 4 wheeler. Steve took the kids riding on the 4 wheeler.
Poppa restored the John Deer tractor that we bought for Jackson when he was two. They have loved riding the tractor again. The girls are trying to learn to drive it without running into the cars, trees, people...
Poppa cooked, then actually played with the kids. He often justs sits on the couch while they play around us.
Poppa pushed Phoenix in his little Radio Flyer, then helped Violet and Evie with their bubbles.
He is also working on his table for the train sets. He has been working every free minute.
Thank you Poppa!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

California Dreaming 2011




Ron and I went on a business trip to California. I had a room booked at a perfectly nice hotel, very rustic and old. Ron saw it, and just as I thought, he was not happy. So we went to The Post Ranch. This place is the nicest place we have ever stayed. The place looks over the Pacific Ocean, from every room, the living room, the bedroom and the bathroom. There is a soaking tub on the patio, and two infinity pools and another pool. There are hiking trails, we saw turkey, deer, hawks. The most exciting was seeing the water spray from the gray whales. We were pretty high on  the mountain, so we couldn't see the whales and I could not get a picture! That was so frustrating! Ron and I both saw several spouts sprays. The gray whales migrate in January and February, south to Mexico all the way from Alaska! There migrate farther than any other mammal. In April or so, they migrate back to Alaska, with their babies. 
We hiked the trails around the hotel, and saw huge redwood trees. Flowers were blooming early, we saw Monarch butterflies, which also winter at Big Sur!
We drove through Pebble Beach, which actually has several golf courses and a "17 mile drive", we saw all kinds of shorebirds and sea lions.
Clint Eastwood restored a sheep farm, Mission Ranch, we had dinner at the Ranch. They say Clint is often seen dining there, but we did not see him! It was some delicious food though. I think we had fish for every dinner, and artichokes. California has some great food, and some great scenery!