Category Archives: California

June Gloom

On Friday morning my sister and I drove to her son’s home to feed the cats and have a walk along the coast. The photo above is from the patio of our nephew’s home. Not too shabby.

This was a typical June gloom morning with the sun hiding but it was still warm. They live by ‘The Wedge’.

We ended up at over 7,000 steps and lots of nice views. The houses along our walk were beautifully landscaped with great windows positioned to get all the views. When our walk was over we did some shopping and had lunch out. Later in the day the sun broke through and we could see blue skies. Maybe by the time I fly home we’ll get a blue sky day at the beach.

Tonight (Friday night) we pick up our youngest brother when he flies in from a long day of flying.

Cali Day One

On Thursday we got up at O’dark’thirty and drove south to the Spokane airport for my trip to Southern California. It was a two leg journey for me. First leg from Spokane to Seattle which is a quick hour up and down trip with not much in the world of perks. The second leg was from Seattle to Orange County (John Wayne Airport also known as Santa Ana Airport). The airport is in the city of Santa Ana which is in the county of Orange.

I’m now in the land of Palm Trees but the sun and blue skies are not breaking through the June Gloom here.

My youngest sister works in a high rise that’s close enough to the airport to see the planes landing and she captured my plane as it came in for a landing. She was looking out for it since she would be picking me up from the airport.

Thankful for another safe landing.

Three of us ‘sisters’ enjoyed dinner out at the Black Trumpet in Huntington Beach before retiring for the evening.

The French Onion Soup was delicious and I’m sorry I didn’t take a photo before I destroyed the top of it!

Today (Friday) my sister Vera and I will have a walk along the Pacific Ocean. June Gloom is still happening here so I’m not sure what photos I’ll be snapping.

Our brother from Texas arrives tonight.

Saturday will be a day filled with many reunions with friends and family as we celebrate the life of our friend Alice.

Our daughter Katie with Alice at Katie’s bridal shower.

Our mom and our life long friend Alice. They are both in heaven now.

Ever Lovin Saturday…

Looking back to some photos dating back to 2009. Our daughter at Forest Lawn in Glendale. Hoping we all can travel to the end of the maze we are on and come out better than we were before. If you find yourself in Southern California sometime in the future a trip to Glendale Forest Lawn will afford you lots of great art.

The statue of David with a little perspective on just how huge it is.

Indeed!

These 5 photos are just a taste of what you can see.

Hope you all have a great Saturday.

9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial is dedicated to the first responders and victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania that killed 2,996 and brought down the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

The HB 9/11 Memorial has a pentagon shaped base with two slabs of black granite representing the twin towers set in a cement wall. The words “We Will Never Forget” are set in brass letters contained on the cement wall between the two towers. The monument includes a plate and a section of steel beam from the World Trade Center. The base of the memorial has the names of the four airline flights lost in the attacks engraved on its sides.

I took these photos at the Huntington Beach Civic Center back in March while visiting family in Southern California. Vera and I stopped at the center so she could purchase her annual beach parking pass. While she was busy in the building I walked around and took photos.

Sharing this early on 9/8/2020. We stopped at another memorial on our way back from the Coast in June and I’ll share those photos on Friday.

Garlic Anyone?

Can you see the stalks in amongst the weeds?

Freshly pulled . I’ll probably pull the rest later this week.

The head of garlic on the left has been sitting for a couple of weeks. The one on the right was just pulled. Not sure if it will change color once it dries.

On our honeymoon in 1974 we drove through Gilroy, the garlic capital of the World (California) and then in 2010 we drove through again our our move back to Washington from California. We enjoyed some very garlicky dishes in one of the Gilroy restaurants.

There is an annual 3 day Garlic Festival in Gilroy each year. Not this year because of COVID but they are planning on the Festival in 2021. It usually begins on the last Friday of July.

Cream of Garlic Soup at the Garlic City Cafe and…

we split the garlic chicken sandwich which was the special of the day. Both items were delicious.

If you have any suggestions for our many bulbs of garlic I’d be interested.

Huntington Beach Civic Center

I’m glad I had my camera with me while I waited for my sister to get her one year beach parking pass at the Huntington Beach Civic Center. As a senior who lives in Huntington Beach she can purchase a year long parking pass for $75.00. What a bargain and a good way to benefit city residents who have to put up with all the incoming traffic that tourists and day trippers pose. This pass is good at the City Beach not the State Beach.

 

Tuesday was a good day at Bible Study Fellowship and then I had a few hours of baby sitting my dear grands. We are getting ready for some birthday celebrations here in Colville. Addy is nearing her 3rd birthday and I’m nearing my 69th birthday. One more year in my 60’s! Now we need to watch a couple episodes of Daniel the Tiger since that is the theme this year for Addy’s 3rd birthday party.

We are heading to Spokane on Thursday for a few days in the Spokane Valley. We are now getting news of a forecast of up to 3 inches of snow so we’ll be walking less outdoors and shopping more indoors. Hope to have some adventures to share.

The Pier at Huntington Beach

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, All Other Ground is Sinking Sand…

I missed the bigger waves crashing on the pylons under the pier.

We are having a snowfall event as I create this post. Quite a contrast to these beach shots. Soft puffy flakes that are melting as they hit the ground.

Have a great new week. We have a little travel planned for the end of the week.

Huntington Beach

Walking on the pier and looking South.

Looking North on the pier to Long Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes and beyond.

Another great view of Catalina Island to the West.

The last couple of days have been clean up days outside here at our country bungalow. I’ll share some photos of the work we’ve accomplished once I upload the photos. I went to Wal-Mart today and happened down the toilet paper aisle and saw that the TP buying frenzy is alive and well here in Colville. Empty shelves everywhere. Seems there was a run on dried beans, too. I got the last bag of pinto beans for the crock pot recipe I’m making tomorrow.

Hope you didn’t let your TP totally run out before this mass hysteria set in.

Be Anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7

Surfing

A beautiful day for a walk at the Beach…

On Monday March 2nd my sister Vera and I were able to enjoy a walk to the end of the pier in Huntington Beach. It was a decent day for surfing and several surfers were taking advantage. Winter days at the beach are my favorite and this winter day afforded us great views of Catalina Island, too.

 

I’ve never tried to surf. Have you ever tried? When our son was at Westmont College in Santa Barbara he enjoyed some surfing. He also enjoyed some surfing in Hawaii on a vacation there. Body surfing was something both sons have enjoyed. Water skiing was the closest I ever came to surfing and that was years ago before I had children. A little snow skiing is also in my past and it will remain there.

I’ll be sharing more from Huntington Beach soon.