Spring Is Coming

First signs of spring - flowers begin to bloom. Traditionally the first flower of spring in our yard are the Crocus. Since I have replanted the small bed where these are found many of the Crocus have disappeared. Still they are a nice forerunner of spring. Camellias are one of my favorite types of flowers. I replaced a jungle in the back yard last year and got a deal on three camellias. This is the first bloomer - a beautiful light pink variety.

Will Barbara Make It to June (to retire?)

I saw this poem posted at her school when I went to pick her up Friday. This is dedicated to any of you who have been teachers. (She swears it just appeared on one of her cupboards one day.)

June Ahead
June ahead,
Hurry June.
For I am tired.
This one needs time
To renew and refresh,
To put back the tiny cogs
Which have slipped,
Or been jostled
Out of place.
This one
Needs freedom
From eight o'clock,
From jumping, bubbling energy
That never tires.
Freedom, June,
From bells and books,
And crowded rooms.
Just so tired,
Of the need
To be someplace next.

(Glen Keener,
North Carolina Education)

Afternoon - Pacific Grove and Cannery Row

We have awys loved the coastline between Pacific Grove and Monterey. You get to drive right along the shore, see the rocks, breaking waves and sea lions. We drove up here staked out our spot at a couple of different parking areas and kicked back and enjoyed the view and read our books for a restful afternoon.Beautiful rocks, breaking waves and a couple of whales (not pictured) who swam by.Don't know their name but these flowers were beautiful.
For dinner? Cannery Row and Bubba Gumps where else.

Carmel - A great place to visit

We didn't take any pictures but this one. I loved this little shop with the roof that was growing. This is a place to just walk and shop. The hardest thing is finding a parking place. The meter maid guards the parking like you can't believe.

Our Anniversary at Monterey - Point Lobos State Preserve

If you head south of Monterey and Carmel down Highway 1 you come to a 945 acre State Preserve at Point Lobos where the coastline is being preserved as it was before man.
Beautiful scenery and great ocean views. Trails take you right to the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
Since I love geology this place really interested me. The landscape is littered with layers of sandstone between layers of conglomerate (mixtures of pebble and sand that were formed into stone.) Very unique.Point Lobos sticks right out into the ocean and isn't protected by any coast land. In fact at this point waves come in from two directions and actually cross each other.

The sea lions on the rocks off the shore love the weather and the protection of the reserve.

Christmas Came and Christmas Went

We (a little by me and a lot by Mom) got the house ready for Christmas but then it all went bye-bye. So sad. Our tree - artificial - but beautiful. Takes forever to put up and decorate - took parts of 3 days this year. But it is so pretty.This is a good example of Santas and Snowmen everywhere. It seemed like things were everywhere yet we still had 3 or 4 boxes of things not put out.My favorite is the mantle with the stockings and the Santa fireplace screen.These blocks are a gift from our Aimee and so pretty but so heavy. I got a workout putting the box they went in up in the rafters.
All the shelves are now bare - so sad.And finally the decorations are all in their places in their 13 or so crates and boxes ready for another run at decorating next year.

Miss Maycee and the Olive Fingers

Our hilarious granddaughter Maycee just loves olives. She would eat a can of them at a time if you let her. Who needs silverware when you have fingers?
You have to love that curly hair - it is so, so cute.