A FUN EXCURSION

This post is mostly for me and when I print the book at the end of the year.

I love this photo of my younger son and his daughter.

They had a chance to go whale watching along the Oregon coast, the other day.

It was a special and good memory day.

BURNED HOUSE RENOVATION

Way back in April the house behind us burned.

The house was Red Tagged so no one could live in it.

Lately there has been a lot of noise and pounding going on.

Renovation has begun.

Back in April, you really can't see the extent of the damage.

Totally gutted...I can't even tell this is the front of the house.

I'm sure the neighbors will be happy when this is all finished.

It's pretty ugly looking right now.

ICKY AIR .... STAYING INSIDE

Another day of icky smoke filled air.

That means it's a stay inside day and I am doing a Throwback Thursday.

The year is 2007.

This crazy little guy found his way into our backyard.

Very random jump back into my archives.

I told you they were random... (:0)

MONDAY MORNING THOUGHTS

Still smokey so staying inside where the air is better.

Thought for the day...

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

California is on fire again.

So much devastation  and lives lost.

My heart just aches.

The fires surround where we live.

The worst being the Carr fire in Redding, CA, which is about 100 miles from us.

A 3 hour drive to the North.

A fire 3 hour drive to the West of us isn't contained yet.

A fire 4-5 hour drive to the SouthWest of us has closed Yosemite National Park.

We are in the Central Valley and all the smoke from every fire

just sits in our valley.

It isn't as smokey today but the skies are still murky.

This photo is of our front yard yesterday morning.  (Sunday)

If you enlarge the photo you can see the geese on their way to somewhere...

Thanks for looking.

ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAINS

The temperatures have been soaring into the 100's F.

Too hot to stay in the "Flatlands"...

So it was time for a spur of the moment escape to our favorite lake.

Lake Tahoe, NV.

Our first night there a storm blew through with hail, rain,  thunder and lightening.

After that the sun came out and the weather was perfect.

Getting better at the "selfies".

There was a lot of haze and smoke in the air from the fires near Yosemite.

We could hardly see the Sierras.

2 weeks after my gall bladder surgery.

I am feeling terrific.

Down 76 pounds doesn't hurt either.

We treated ourselves to the fabulous Camp Richardson Ice Cream.

Pretty hefty servings for $3.00 each.

Yummmm....


You just have to do this every once in a while.

Now, I didn't eat them both!!!

Hubby had Cookies and Cream and Strawberry Cheesecake.

I had Mint Chip and Pralines and Cream.

Delicious...

JUST TOO HOT !!

It's just too hot to go anywhere today.

So it's back into the archives for THROWBACK THURSDAY.

Memories from 2015 and trip to Chinatown, San Francisco. CA.

The streets are so narrow and crowded.

Be sure to enlarge these.

I love the rust and peeling paint.

New along side old and the Ferry Building at the end of the street.

San Francisco, CA.

Thanks for looking.

DOING GREAT AFTER SURGERY

One week ago tomorrow I had my gall bladder out.

The recovery is going uneventfully and I am so grateful.

I received some gorgeous flowers to enjoy while recouping.

I thought I would share them with you.

Aren't they lovely?

Thank you friends.

A VERY SORRY FRUIT CROP THIS YEAR

This is not the best year for fruit in our yard.

In fact it is practically non-existent.

This is our total crop of fruit !!

There are a few bunches still on the vines.

Hopefully we will get them picked in a few days...

If the robins don't get to them first.

There are still a few green ones in the mix but we just had to try some of them out.

Several more hot days should do the trick for the remaining "crop",

IN MEMORY

Four years ago today a hero passed away.

Louie Zamperini was an amazing man that had a book entitled UNBROKEN by Laura Hildebrand,

written about his life and a movie also made of his amazing life.

Our son Steve had the honor of photographing him when he spoke at our church.

Louie passed away at the age of 97.

He was an inspirational man, a POW, a war hero, an Olympic athlete.

He was most definitely an Ambassador for God.

Photo by Steve Batz

GOOD NEWS

Got good news just after I whined about my gall bladder surgery being in September.

The surgical scheduling nurse called and said there was an opening on July 9th.

Did I want it??  Of course I jumped at the chance.

I am so glad.  the time will fly by.

My Honey and I went to the Lazy Dog Restaurant to celebrate.

Good food but slow and not very good service.

Have a great weekend.

WAITING FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Just an update on my gall bladder situation.

The Doctor cancelled my phone consultation today, and my first available time

is next Tuesday at 5PM, and it's with a different doctor...

So disappointed..I want this thing out!!

In the meantime Hubby and I are working at our Vacation Bible School

Which we call Breakaway.  Its VBS on steroids.

Almost 4000 kids and volunteers hit our church campus between the morning and the evening sessions.

Dave works security and I help prepare the snacks for all...

Well not me alone... our kitchen team is about 20 people.

Today was Chic fil A day.  4 nuggets in a box which we had to fold and fill.

Hot stuff and a gazillion boxes...

The place smells so good and everyone loves them.

The theme is Welcome to the Jungle....

After delivering all the chicken nuggets our team took a really fun ride on a train

That cruised the entire campus.

It is a 6 car train that runs on gas with the greatest whistle and bell.

I will try to get a picture of the entire train and a better picture of the entrance too.

We really have a great team.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

I haven't done a Throwback Thursday for a while.

Back into the archives I go....

This is kind of the way I am feeling waiting for my doctor appointment tomorrow.

Photo from 2011.

I'm trusting that I will get scheduled for gall bladder surgery and that it won't be

a gloomy answer.

So I'm going to look on the bright side !


Don't forget to enlarge the photos.

PETUNIAS AND PAIN

This weekend didn't go as planned.

Petunias and Pain...


The flowers are pretty but pain is not.

Friday night after dinner I had the most excruciating pain in my gut.

I didn't think it was a heart attack but wasn't sure.

When it didn't go away and I felt pretty icky...the Hubby said we are going to ER.

The ER ran a gazillion tests on me.

The conclusion...

I had had a Gall Bladder attack and I had some hefty gall stones.

In fact the Doctor said several of them were 1 inch to an inch and a half!!

Now that's huge...

Since I am destined to have more attacks the Doctor said surgery may be in my future.

I slept well at home in my own bed last night and feel somewhat listless today.

Time will tell but I sure don't want a repeat of last night.

PAIN IS A PAIN.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

This has been a very busy weekend in our lives.

Our beautiful..both inside and out...granddaughter

graduated from high school.

I really don't know how these kids grow up so fast.

Here are a few photos from both the ceremony and our celebration afterward.

510 seniors from Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay, CA

graduated in the roasty toasty sunshine ...95F...at 10AM.

Amanda and her Mom celebrating after the ceremony.

Amanda and her "Bestie" for the past 10 years.

We call Olivia our "adopted" granddaughter.

We hosted the post grad party at our home.

Olivia's family made homemade wine cakes...so yummy.

The lunch was catered by Chevy's...

The fajita bar was perfect..It fed over 80 people.

Lots of rounds and seating scattered through out the backyard.

Amanda and Olivia's friends,

Both immediate families and family friends...

Lots of laughter, conversation, and marathon eating....

So much fun....

Not great photos but a nice record shot of family trying to hunker in the shade

as the temps rose to almost 100F.

I'm so glad our yard is large enough to give everyone a place to sit and relax.

Our two granddaughters on the right and our "adopted" granddaughter on the left.

Love them all...with all my heart.

Precious Kiddos...

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Good Morning,

Here is a great "Thought For the Day" quote.

Have a great day!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Here are several photos honoring our Veterans and those who gave their lives for us.

This beautiful statue can be found at the Presidio of San Francisco, CA.

In honor of my Hubby's Dad.

He served in the U.S. Army for 30 years.

I am grateful for each and every one of them.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Here are a few photos from my archives.

The first one is of my Granddaughter.

Tonight is her final band concert.

How did she get to be old enough to be graduating High School?

A pretty iris from 2 years ago.

My Go-To  Happy Spot

Lake Tahoe

Sometimes I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with my head chopped off....

Thanks for diving back into my archives with me.

As always

Enlarging the photos shows more detail.

MELS TO RECHARGE OUR BATTERIES

Hubby and I worked hard in our backyard yesterday.

We were attempting to cut a wayward root from a tree,

It has been pushing up the pavers on our patio.

We decided no cooking for dinner and headed to Mels Restaurant,

of American Graffiti fame.

We were pretty successful with the root removal,

But oh the aching muscles this morning.

This poster caught my eye and gave me a giggle.

Thanks for looking.