Tag Archives: vacation

Nov1

Vacationing in Lake Tahoe

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Our car covered in snow

Our car covered in snow

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place to visit, and it’s been many years since I’ve been here. That being said, there isn’t enough snow to ski, and it’s much too cold to spend very much time outside.   Now the thought probably crossed your mind that either one of us would break our necks playing on the water or on the slopes!  You’d be right!

Chili & guacamole with chips

Chili & guacamole with chips

Saturday we were caught in a downpour while out walking.  As it turned out, there was a very inviting sports bar named Azul that called to us, and we ended up having lunch there. A bowl of chili, a burrito , some chips, and guacamole put us in the right mood to take a beautiful drive back to our resort. As we headed to our car after lunch, it started to snow…  the pics of our car was taken after we arrived back at our room, and had changed into dry clothes.  I took several pictures of not much of anything just to document snow!  We don’t see snow in Southern California let alone rain, and my first thought was to get  rain barrels and save the water.

Today, Monday just to keep busy we found a TJMaxx to look through, then decided to drive to Carson City, Nevada. As you might imagine, there wasn’t much there….except a CostCo.  There isn’t much here either, wait this trip is for relaxation and creative energy!  Like most people would do, we were looking for a CostCo just to get gas!  Sounds crazy doesn’t it?  Well, it really is except gas was $2.25 there, and that was exciting in itself.   Let’s see, we drove an extra 25 miles over the pass from Tahoe to Carson City to save maybe $5.00. Yep, that’s sounds about right.

Interestingly each time we travel, I notice the need to check out all the stores we have at home. Why do you think that is? My husband thinks it’s to make ourselves feel more comfortable, and more at home. I think it’s to see if they have the same thing or something different..to purchase.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I do know it will involve driving, hopefully walking, and probably eating. Maybe we’ll discover a familiar store to nose through in hopes of finding something different.

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween as we slide into the eleventh month, with celebration of Thanks Giving and Gratitude for those in our lives.

Apr10

The Week After The Week After…

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I’m not going to lie, I’m just now getting back on my feet after having my granddaughter, Sage stay with my for a few days the week after Easter!  Now I really know why we have kids when we are young, stupid, and full of energy!  I’m sure if we weren’t young, and stupid we’d never have them!

I always thought life should be in reverse.  You know, presently we are born helpless, and we have to grow up and learn to take care of ourselves, and get an education.  By the time we are educated and have experienced enough life to have real knowledge, we are too tired, and old to do anything about it!   If only we were born with that knowledge, and energy so we could really raise our children with patience, understanding, and energy.

Sage came with her dad on Wednesday of last week, and spent two nights with me.  Since Papa was out-of-town on a band trip, it was perfect timing!  We had three days of girl fun to share, and it was fun.  But somewhere around Friday, I started hitting the proverbial wall, and by Friday night after Sage was picked up, I was burnt toast!

Don’t get me wrong, I loved it!  Do any of you know or remember what it’s like to have a seven-year old girl to entertain, and occupy for three days?  How did I raise three kids, work a full-time job, run a trucking business, schlep the kids back and forth to school, activities, shop, and clean house?  Oh yeah, I had a housekeeper every other week!  and,…..

I was younger then!

Sage and I managed to go into the spa every evening to relax, and have quiet time.  We did have a relaxing time in the spa, all the while listening to her chatter about her important ideas, her friends, and showing me her swim moves.  We played school, she gave me swim lessons, and pretended she was a physical therapist  giving me aqua therapy!  She rode her scooter off, and on during those days, painted a little painting, and looked for lizards.

We celebrated her seventh birthday by going to Target and picking out a favorite doll, and going for sushi at the Terri Cafe Thursday night.  After dinner we came home, and watched animated movies all evening.  It was fun, and I’d do it again, but it’s also exhausting.

On Friday before Sage left, she told me she wanted to go back to Target to see if she could get a Tea Set too!   Of course, I told her we couldn’t go back!

What I had a difficult time not telling her was this…….

For weeks now I have been searching all over the place for a real china tea set for her, and I have found, ordered and received it.  We are celebrating her seventh birthday next Saturday, because her real birthday fell in the middle of spring vacation.  I have taken much time finding just the right china demitasse cups, and saucers with matching dessert plates.  I even found gold-plated spoons with a heart-shaped at the top of the handle.  I’m still looking for  placemats, and napkins.  Don’t you think she’ll be surprised?  I do!

All I need to do now is wrap everything and put big bows on the presents, let the fun begin! Read the rest of this entry →

Sep17

We Are Now Simply, Daisy’s Mom & Dad!

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We Are Now Simply, Daisy’s Mom & Dad!

Previously, I blogged about the beautiful Dichondra lawn we had years ago living in our first home. My husband spent hours trimming, fertilizing, planting, pruning and, anything else the yard required. People would stop me in the grocery store and ask if I was the lady that lived in the “Yellow house on the corner with the beautiful lawn?” I was known some fifty years ago as the “Lady with the fabulous lawn!” Oh goodie, at a time when I’m looking for my own identity, I’m the lady with the lawn!

The other day my husband Les, and I were shopping in Trader Joe’s when a familiar looking lady stopped to ask us, “Aren’t you the parents of Daisy?” “Why yes,” we replied with curious expressions on our faces. “Sheryl” introduced herself as Charlie’s Mom! Charlie is a large Airedale Terrier we often see on our morning walks. Our dogs always greet each other, and act like they would love to just this once, romp and play together.

We rescued Daisy about four months ago from The Barking Lot Rescue in El Cajon. Our list of must haves were lengthy, and they were very patient with us. We had seen a picture of her online, and had previously looked at many other dogs that were either too big, not gentle enough, or didn’t like kids or cats, so we decided to check out just one more dog. Our list included being dog friendly, kid friendly, crate friendly, people friendly, cat friendly, not aggressive, and our list continued. They had many dogs up for adoption, but none were able to check all the boxes, and I was determined not to settle on this!

As we were introduced to our soon to be dog, she was a little ambivalent about us, and we realized how she had not only been abused, but shifted from a shelter to foster home just to get to this point in her life

“Daisy’s friend Charlie”

. We took her on a walk, and she walked perfectly next to my side – good sign! We double checked to make sure she had all the attributes we insisted on, and the girls assured us she was “NOT AGGRESSIVE!” Since she was a Staffordshire Terrier/Pit mix, it was really important she be a good role model, and easy for me to work with! It turns out she is gentile, smart, fun, has a cute personality, and a loving companion. We go to obedience classes every Tuesday, and we have had her camping with us over this summer. Daisy camped like a pro, and I’m pleased to tell you she continues to learn her commands!
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So here we are in Trader Joe’s being asked if we were the parents of Daisy. We have officially lost our own identity! Les no longer is known for being PaPa to our Grandchildren, or his Fabulous Trumpet playing, and I’m no longer known as Karen the artist, or Grandma, Peek-A-Boo, or Nama! We are now simply Daisy’s Mom, and Dad!