BMX'in with ACE

We spent a good part of the day in Bako yesterday ... enjoying a new experience- watching ACE .... (Anthony Christoher Evens) FLYING HIGH .... in the first STATE race of his BMX career. Not quite 7, he has less than a year of riding under his belt and was recently asked to join a race team. He doesn't quite have the killer instinct (perhaps that's yet to come). It's pretty clear he has the athletic talent for the sport and he's having a great time. AND working on skills & sportsmanship, & meeting lots of other kids.... is a GREAT memory for his childhood. ** AND HE LOOKS GROOVEY TOO!** Mom & sis are just a couple (more) of his fans!!

DON'T STOP monkeying around

we were fortunate this past week .... to have a week of timeshare available right here in our neck of the woods. It brought over some family we don't get to spend as much time with as we would like. Last night, we added to it with dinner at our place with Sow (my sister Lindy). Being a kid at heart herself ... it didn't take much time for her & my grandaughter to start "monkeying around". Addy was laughing from the belly , which was infectious for all. Love ya Sow, hope you had a sa-weet vaca!

let's go surfin' now ... in 4-part BBShop

every barbershop girl needs a surfboard on her main transportation if she lives at the beach....

RIGHT ? ?

evening bliss

my life has moments, that are particularly picturesque .... and with my groovey new camera- it's easier to CATCH them as they are! We had a mini vaca away from home one night this week to stay "next door" to the ocean (when the big waves were still pounding!) I LOVED IT! **and the view was amazing**

Old McDonald had a thingy (?)

I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that she is RARELY doing only one thing at a time ... but I have found (heard) that Addy's version of a few old standards is not quite the same as I remember (???)

Being a Sweet Adeline myself .... I love the fact that she hums or sings during practically every task she performs. (and as I listen to my learning tracks ... she is learning them too) ... but I'm particularly entertained when she composes on the spot. Sometimes it's a familiar tune with new lyrics, sometimes a medley of childhood faves. And all the while .... her hands (and her mind) are busy, busy, busy. While waiting for "her" Captain to return with dinner the other night (we were vacationing for the eveing at the San Luis Bay Resort) .... she was perched on a chair watching the swimmers below & singing her little heart out .... & counting people in between verses! You go girl!

tiny hands ... big ideas

her mind moves a mile a minute .... just behind her feet. (chattering away most the while)

BUT - there are those times ... when she is busy creating, humming or clicking her tongue. She has the routine figured out- pulling boxes from closets and cupboards ..... knowing they are hers to rummage through and do with as she likes. She sets up a couple of "desks" (tv trays) ... surrounds herself with the necessary tools (stickers, markers & LOTS of tape & glue) and gets down to the business of being Addy. Sometimes, she requires some back up (snacks) or takes a break to ride her bike or seek the whereabouts of the Captain or the house felines .... but before long, she is at it again. TODAY- whether it was swimming, ordering pretend pizzas on her piano phone, taking a bubble bath, or even eating ... she was 100% Addy ..... wiggling & giggling. She knows (just as I do) that as soon as she sits still for more than a moment ..... zzzzzz. And aside her now, typing upon my laptop & admiring her ..... she IS 100% sweet & precious ...... as she sleeps ! Sweet dreams little one, tomorrow awaits.

making up for lost time

there are only 2 people I am aquainted with that have changed dramatically ... for the better. Usually, when someone changes for the better- it's something they struggle with, and fall back into old habits a few times before they succeed in turning their life around. But not always (thankfully) ONE such person is my daughter, Vanessa. The changes that have taken place over the past 10 years is something she should be proud of. I know I am. She and hubby Fernando (seen here walking along here with their niece- our grandaughter, Addy) spent this weekend in our neck of the woods. When the plans were first forming, I was happy for the Captain- as I know he loves our home & knows so much about the area .... he was excited to have an opportunity to share it with her. But as the time drew nearer, I found that I too, was looking forward to sharing space with her. I texted her a few minutes ago, checking in to see that they made it home safely and telling her, again- how great it was to have them here. (& already hoping the next trip doesn't take as long to get on the calendar). Although a lot of the "plans" for the weekend didn't quite pan out .... it may have been for the better, because it was more family time without so much scheduled to do.

So, I pulled this "postcard" view from todays camera shots .... because I think the weekend with her & Fernando waspretty perfect as well!! Thanks kids XO

a large crowd of (mostly) fools ....

yesterday was warm & sunny here in our little corner of paradise.

It was also a Cal Poly holiday and, the second annual gathering of (mostly) immature, inconsiderate, & foolish young people at our local beach. Now- I'm all for enjoying a warm day by the ocean and I certainly don't mind sharing our sand, BUT .... I don't appreciate the majority of our law enforcement services being tied up as a result. (because) There was a lot of drinking, a lot of illegal (and unsafe) parking, & a lot of litter left over upon departure. Emergency services were called out more than once to save someone from his own careless choices. I gotta wonder ... if there is a better way to handle situations like these. Are the parents of under age drinkers being billed for the services required as a result of their drinking? (would they care?) Can we stand at the handful of entrances to the beach ... and send the last few stragglers back down with trash bags to clean up? It would seem we should be teaching our future generation to be more responsible, rather than cleaning up after them (in more ways than one).

I shall now return my soapbox to the closet.

spring (and friendships) continue to blossom

as the dede-lightful weather continues to romance us with it's daily caresses of sunshine, I am also warming up in my heart with the (now) softer relationships with my sisters and the strengthening of friendships that were but glimmers a few weeks ago.
I sit now, perched at my lanai table with a BEAU-tiful breakfast created by my hubby, and I would be foolish not to appreciate all that I take in visually from this spot. ahead in my yard below is 60 feet (+/-) of blooming orchids marching left to right. Some of the stalks reaching up for the warmth of the sun, others leaning over, perhaps, to sniff the fresh cut grass. I'm in no hurry to release nature's portrait ... as I have an emotional connection with these flowers that intensifies when they look so happy, BUT ... in doing so, I am no less pleased looking outward further to the azure blanket of ocean that stretches as far as the eye can see. To my left, is my 2nd backyard- that is, the backyard that I am in 2nd most often. Sometimes I tiptoe down to take pictures of the O'Brien's bloomers, or to sit at their firepit to share conversation & toasted marshmellows ... just yesterday I was there to "borrow" a couple of lemons. I love the pops of blue pottery & yard jewelry that catch the light (and my interest) .... it makes me want to go a- knockin' & have an overdue chat with my soulfriend Julie, who I totally adore ... but my senses are still enamored here for now. My fountain gurgles & giggles and glancing in it's direction on my starboard side, I admire the R,W& B of Pa's flag against the cyan sky. Joggers, cyclists, dog walkers are out & about in celebration of another day to appreciate. another gift of time. And AS IF all of this was not enough to be thankful for ... my thoughts turn to our evening of last, with Chris & Ken .... time shared still in it's early stages, but proving to be something we know will be happening again & again. People who can laugh out loud. People who appreciate life's ups & downs for the experience & humor it brings each day. We hosted a simple supper & I made triple fudge cupcakes with merangue toppings. (almost to the recipe) The Captain fired up his 25 yr old blow torch for the final touches! SO- YES, life has something good to offer EVERY day if we let it ... and boy do I try to let it every chance I get! I think I might linger here just a little while longer .... even though I have finished off the last morsel from the pretty yellow hand-me-down plate I brought home from one sister .... even though I have only a few sips left of my coffee ... in the Starbucks cup I received from another. My heart is full of joy at this moment from all the sensory triggers I'm experiencing and I want it to flourish & multiply. ahhhh .... it's good to be me. (fluff & all)

a birthday antonym (for 3/22)

come visit me, please......

the birthday bunny told me ....

some people handle the celebration of their birth better than others. there are those who bury their heads in the sand, and others who whoop & hollar to the sky. THIS "young lady" falls somewhere in between.

AND BECAUSE she is so smart, & funny, & beautiful, & thoughtful and best of all- my friend .... I can't let the day go by without a little cheering from me- for the day she was born!!

SPRING dun sprunged here

here-bouts in paradise .... our trees & bushes and flowering plants don't pay any attention to the calendar. They be a-bloomin' whenever they darn well please. I admit that they are a bit more festive this time of year ... but only because they seem to like natures watering over mine!! Mom Betty would be so proud of her little "babies" ... they have almost tripled since they moved here!