Christmas with Melissa

Haley was thrilled to have her sister home come for a few days. She knows she will be spoiled and get to sleep with Melissa! Here they are next to our Christmas tree and next to the fireplace. So cozy for a cold winter night!

Melissa came home on Saturday to spend a few days and celebrate Christmas. She brought her boyfriend Dana with her. She was busy trying to show him Calaveras County. They spent lots of time on the ranch. We drove up to Lake Alpine and Bear Valley. Amazingly, Ebbett's Pass in open this late in the season. We celebrated Christmas on Monday evening. I hate to see them leave in the morning, but they both have to return to Cayucos to work. Boo!!!

The Babes Celebrate Christmas!

The Babes celebrated Mary's birthday and the holidays at the National Hotel with friendship, laughter, and good cheer! We are so lucky to have such a close-knit group of friends! Merry Christmas!!

A Quick Trip Over the Sierras!

I have been trying to capture the beauty of the Sierra vistas. Distance shots are so difficult because the depth just doesn't show. The above pictures were taken as I drove over Monitor Pass, the only pass still open in early December.

This is the view of June Lake as I approached Trevor's new home above the lake.

I had to brace myself for the cold wind to try to get this shot of the Walker River as it flows with ice around the edges. Isn't it beautiful?

Devun at Two Months!

Sometimes boys just need a little nap! Devun and Trevor are catching their z's after playtime.

Sleep well my boys!

Devun is two months old now, and he no longer needs oxygen! Isn't he cute!!! Yesterday, November 29th, he rolled over for the first time. Even though he has had many medical problems and was born four weeks early, he rolled over right on time! What a boy!

Trevor and Devun

Trevor and Devun are taking a little break after the Thanksgiving Day festivities! They say Devun iis simling more without the oxygen tube!!! Yay!

Collin's new look!

Aunt Melissa went to Alaska during the summer and brought back a special Daniel Boone cap for Collin.  He looks happy, but he told his aunt that it was too big!

Not Just Another Birthday!

  Last weekend my family and friends joined me at Sycamore Springs Spa Resort in Avila Beach.  We had a wonderful time.  Thank you all for celebrating with me!!!

     My weekend began on Thursday at Melissa's in Cayucos.  I drove to her house just in time to join her and Dana, her boyfriend for dinner at Duckies, the cute restaurant at the pier in Cayucos.  I had delicious fish tacos!  We returned to Melissa's to watch a TV show and go to sleep.  The next morning, we picked Dana up and had breakfast at a cute cafe in Morro Bay.  The waves were too strong to kayak, which was the original plan.  However, Dana took us out on the harbor boat; he works for the Morro Bay City Harbor Patrol.  We saw seals and otters in addition to the pelicans,  but the pictures didn't turn out.  We had a lovely cruise.  Next trip, Melissa and I will kayak!

      Later in the afternoon, we met our friends and family at Avila.  The Sycamore Resort has hot tubs for all rooms which guest fill with water from the hot springs.  As long as you do not object to the sulfur smell, the hot tubs work well.   We met the first night at the Brabant's suite.  They spontaneously hosted all of us for a glass of wine before the majority of us headed to Pismo Beach for an Italian dinner.

    The next morning we decided to meet at Avila Beach to have breakfast at the Custom House.  Avila is such a cute, little beach town since it was rebuilt.  We had a wonderful breakfast and then walked on the beach and took Collin to the little park.  Melissa, Heather, Josh, Collin and I walked the two miles to the beach.  Making the walk along the Bob Jones trail was one of my objectives for the weekend!



     We enjoyed the beach.  Collin loved the park, however.



   Collin was still energetic as we began the walk back to the hotel.  Together, we jogged about 7/10th of a mile.  He was going to take a nap eventually, but I would not get that opportunity!

      We headed back to Pismo Beach to see the butterflies.  They were massed on the upper branches of the eucalyptus trees.  You can see them mixed with the few that have their wings opened in the following pictures.



     Diane, Steve, and I left together to go wine tasting.  The winery we went to was lovely.  Steve was hoping to arrange for his wine group to visit in February.  I made it back to the hotel in time to swim with Joan before dinner.  The pool was large and empy, except for us.  We were delighted!!  Afterward, we quickly warmed up in the hot tubs and dressed for dinner.  Heather had arranged for our dinner at Novo's in San Luis Obispo.  It was a lovely spot.  We were able to eat on the patio with the brook flowing nearby. The dinner was delicious.  Elsa and Miguel joined us from Ventura.  They had had another birthday party to attend on Friday night.  I appreciate their willingness to join us when they leave for San Francisco this coming weekend for Miguel's daughter's wedding.

     The next morning, Elsa, Miguel, and I went for a walk along the Bob Jones' Trail, headed toward the freeway.  We were trying to get to the labyrinth, but we didn't get there until it was too late for me.  I needed to join Joan, Melissa, and Dana for another swim.  We swan until we had to get out so we could check out. 

     After we checked out, we went to the Avila Barn, where there are animals for Collin and lots of goodies for the rest of us.  We had a good time and left with many goodies, especially the fresh raspberries, cherry tomatoes, turnovers, pumpkins, and soup mixes.  Hmmmmm!!!!

    We left the barn and headed back to Avila for a last breakfast together.  We had a great breakfast at Fat Cat's by the harbor.  Paul was gracious and allowed Joan to travel home with me.  What a perfect way to start a new decade!  Thank you all!!!

Devun's One Month Old

  I was lucky to be invited to go see Devun after he got home to Mammoth.  He and Katie were so comfy in their little upstairs nest at Katie's mom's condo.  Devun was exactly one month old and had gained two pounds.  He was still on a small amount to oxygen, but he is doing well.  Katie was very generous and allowed me to sit and rock him for three hours.  It was worth the three and a half hour drive to get there!!

   As you can see, I was perfectly comfy, snuggling with Devun!!!  Thank you, Katie!!!!

   Katie is a great mother.  Doesn't she look great for having a one-month-old baby who has been so ill.

    Above is Devun wearing the onesy his Aunt Heather made for him.  Obviously,  Devun is destined to be a snowboarder with both his parents loving the sport.  As a matter of fact, Devun is named for Trevor's favorite snowboarder, Devun Walsh.

   On my way home, yes, I drove home the same day so I could grade papers and do lesson plans, I had to stop as I passed Mono Lake.  The sun was setting, and the blues and pinks were gorgeous!

Ebbett's Pass Fall Trip 2011

   Joan, Paul, and I made our yearly fall trip over our beloved Ebbett's Pass toward the end of October.  We were afraid we were too late to see really good colors, but we were rewarded with some beautiful sights.  Here we are on the pass.  We spotted some orange and had to investigate.  As you can see, much of the pass is filled with rock.

    We followed our usual itinerary.  We arrived at the hot springs in Markleeville right after it opened.  The pool is fed constantly with a steady temperature of about 104 degrees.  A fresh water pool is maintained as well, so Joan and I moved back and forth between the two.  After being fully relaxed by the water and surrounding mountains, we had lunch in Markleeville.  I had a delicious patty melt, a decadent treat I rarely allow myself.   As a matter of fact, I hadn't had one since I had one there three years ago.  Delicious!!!
   Then, we added an additional couple of spots.  We drove through Hope Valley, where we found the best colors along the river.

    Here is an extra picture without the color.  This is what the area looks like most of the year - lots on pines and many outcroppings of rock.  I love Ebbett's Pass!!!