Week 47

"People don't take trips,
trips take people."

~ John Steinbeck

We took a road trip to Chino Valley to spend Thanksgiving with Mom. The drive down was great and took us only 10.5 hours. The last half of the drive back home was not great. 

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Good food + fun people for the win. Thank you, Pat and Jerry!

Mom is doing well, slowly getting her energy back after what she's been through the last few years. I'm so thankful she has an excellent community of friends surrounding her with love.

Watching the world wake up as we cruise down Interstate 5.

Pit stop in boring Boron.

Miss Goofy being quiet for a second.

Making homemade cranberry sauce at Mom's

Monument Valley sand painting by my Grandfather.

Sneaking a photo of my Mom.

Sunburst.

Exploring a few gift shops on Route 66

Got some decent coffee from this one.

Mojave National Preserve, waaay out there.

Stopped for breakfast here. I had French toast, of course.

Week 46

 "Absence makes the heart grow fonder,
but it sure makes the rest of you lonely,"

~ Charles M. Schulz

The Diaz Family departed at the "butt-crack" of dawn Wednesday. It's so quiet and I already miss them and all their spirit. Unfortunately, I didn't get a lot of photos this week as I was busy enjoying the moments before they had to leave.

Having a snack while waiting for bother to get out of school.

Our last meal together before they fly back home. 

These kids had so much fun together. 

Our new photographer. Yay!!

Thursday sunrise.

Feasting American Finches.

I couldn't decide which photo I liked best.

The movie quote that keeps coming to mind here is...

"Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full."

Week 45

"We need joy as we need air.

We need love as we need water.

We need each other as we need 

the earth we share."

~ Maya Angelou

Such a busy and fun week with the Diaz Family home. It's been a long four years since they were here last. The cousins had a blast together, we celebrated Melissa's birthday with dinner at El Tap + a pumpkin cheesecake, and we were invited to a 49er game where we got to watch our son-in-law parachute into the stadium with the Army Black Knights. 

Yes, I did!

All together!

Little pilots. We took a trip to the Oakland Aviation Museum. 

Mini-Air Traffic control tower.

Flight controller.

Cousin buddies.

Joy = All four of my grandchildren together. 

Oldest and youngest.

Blurry and beautiful!

Another blurry one, but so adorable.

Going for a ride on Uncle Jesse's OneWheel.

We got to go to a 49er game at Levi Stadium.

Melissa on the Jumbotron!

The "hometown hero" SSG Devin Diaz dropping into Levi Stadium.

Devin nailed it!

Perfect 50-yard line landing.

Week 44

“Always remember, it’s simply not an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.”

― Sarah Ban Breathnach

Replace dragons with dinosaurs. It is the holiday season. I'm not saying the holidays are dragons or dinosaurs, but this time of year is a lot. I hope to be caught up here before the end of the year. 

In case I forget...

Happy HallweenBirthdayThanksgivingBirthdayChristmasAnniversaryNewYear!!

And away we go!

She was done with her dinner and ready to get her costume on

and go trick-or-treating.

Must have some candy before we head out. Right?

"Clark" corralling the kiddos.

Fierce Dilophosaurus

Adorable Minnie!

We tried. They were already hoped up on candy.

Bring on the storms. Thankfully it waiting until after Halloween.

Waiting at a stop light. I love this trestle.

I could practice this all day long.

Ready to roast, then puree for Southwest Chicken Soup.

Week 43

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, 

is a way to make your soul grow. 

So do it."

~ Kurt Vonnegut

I was so surprised and giddy by all the goodies I received with the watercolor set that

I ordered from Josie Lewis Art. EVERYTHING Rainbow!!

Couldn't wait to try out these beauties.

My experiment failed, but the colors are pretty Note; kosher salt does not work for this project. 

Also, I had too much water on my brush. 

She is electrifying!

Hey there, cutie!

Purple ball-type Dahlia.

A Trader Joe's bouquet in the morning light.

First costume of the night - Sulky Spiderman. 

Second costume for the block party - Fiesty Dilophosaurus.

Mamma Snake plant and her third offspring.