October birthdays

Margaret's nephew Robb is having a birthday the first of October. Sorry you can't see what a handsome guy he really is from the picture with his wife Paula and oldest daughter, Margaret (Meg) taken in Michigan in 2004. Still, we're posting it to include Miss Meg in the birthday announcements for the month. She turns 15 on Oct. 20.

No go SLO (quite yet)...

For the past few days Margaret has been fighting an infection in her throat. Antibiotics are doing their job, and today she is feeling much better. But, not quite good enough to risk feeling any less than top-notch on our long-awaited get-away. It may be late October before we can hit the road, but that just means the days will be a little cooler and the evenings will be brisk. No downside there!

Puppy play-time

Pretty self-explanatory! We're so glad that the girls have a carpeted runway upstairs from the guestroom in the front of the unit, through Larry's landing "office", to the back master bedroom.

Countdown to SLO...

We received our Guide Book to San Luis Obispo in the mail yesterday. It certainly whetted our appetite for our upcoming vacation in Central California beginning on October 1! Four nights in SLO, plus a night in Santa Barbara on the way home. Here are some pics from a SLO County website. We'll have lots of our own to post when we get back.

Welcome Fall!

It's not always easy to distinguish between summer and early autumn in Southern California. Only the the shortening days give much clue to the change of seasons here. So, we headed to the produce stands where the fall colored gourds, corn and pumpkins announce the coming of the Autumnal Equinox.

Family photos from Ohio...

Received in yesterday's mail, photos from Margaret's Aunt Anne Steiner.
The first was taken at Anne and Byron Steiner's 50th. wedding anniversary celebration earlier this year, and includes their three kids, spouses, and grand-kids. What a beautiful family they are!

The second was taken during the family gathering in Ohio over Labor Day Weekend. Pictured are Aunt Anne and Uncle Byron, cousins Rick and Karen (Lee) Goulding, and Doug Lee, and Aunt Juanita Markus.

Beautiful "barriers"

When Margaret moved into the condo in 1993, there was nothing to shield the west (patio) side of the unit from the sun and the dirt and noise of a busy, four lane street but a short, spindly tree planted by the city. Since then the association has planted two orchid trees behind our property that have glorious canopies of heart-shaped leaves and magenta blooms much of the time. Our white hibiscus also blooms abundantly most of the year and creates much appreciated shade on the patio.

Found in an old photo folder...

In an early post, we introduced you to "Squirrel". While looking through old photos stored on the computer, we came across this picture of "Squirrel" with a friend, the two of them scavenging under the bird feeder out our kitchen window. The duck is one of a pair (sometimes a pair and a half) who take up residence in our condo community each spring. Drawn in by the swimming pool, we assume they come here to nest. Unfortunately, there are too many cats in the neighborhood for them to ever successfully procreate. Still, they are fun to watch waddle around the complex for a few weeks each year.

Belle is ready for her close-up...

We've shared a lot about the dogs, but the largest member of the family hasn't gotten much ink. Belle (Bellaney Desire) is a 13 year old Irish Sport Horse, who was imported to the US seven or eight years ago. She'd been in the stable where Margaret now works for quite some time, looking and waiting for the right person to get along with her. Margaret first rode her in November of 2004, but at that time she was being leased, with a purchase option, by someone else. Eventually that deal fell through. Though Margaret had sworn for years that she would never own another horse, in February of 2005 she had to eat her words. Belle was hers.

In well over thirty years of time spent around horses, Margaret has not ever bonded with one as she has with "Beautiful Bella", also known as "the bareback pony I never had as a child". At 16.3" hands high, and weighing in the 1300 pound range, she would seem a giant to many. But, she's more like a giant, gentle dog to be with and around. She has huge, soft, "old soul" eyes, the kind that tell you she's seen and done it all.

She's a very talented jumper, but for whatever reason has never learned to just slow down and relax at the jumps. She needed someone like Margaret to come along, someone who doesn't care about jumping more than little trot fences once in a while. A couple of years ago she was being shown a little by one of our stable's talented junior riders - that's when this picture was taken. These days another of our kids takes her over a few fences once a week or so, just for the exercise. But, Margaret likes to think that Belle's favorite days are the ones when she's on board. (And if "Mom" wants to get on her bareback, she likes that even better!)

We just have to mention that Belle gets a can of Budweiser mixed with some sweet feed every day. Why? Well, at the risk of indelicacy, Belle does suffer from some minor g.i. problems. She gets really gassy at times, and ... Let's just say she doesn't need a laxative! We tried various supplements of probiotics and fiber therapies with little success. One vet mentioned that he'd heard of good results with a can of beer a day - Bud specifically, because it has the most hops. We tried it and it has helped her more than anything else. (Margaret's just glad that the Irish lass doesn't demand something more exotic, like Guinnes!!!)

Fun photo

Saturday and Sunday were horse show days for Margaret. One of her "pony kids", showing over jumps for the very first time, received a third and then a first place in her jumping classes. She and the pony, GingerSnaps were Champion Cross Rail Hunters!
Margaret also loved the gift she received from one of our adult amateur students - an 8" x 10" photo taken by the rider's husband. The picture is so much fun that we had to share it with you all...

Family time...

Now that Larry's replacement computer is nearly fully functional we can post photos and video from out visit last Saturday with Robin, Andrick, Brandon and Ava. Everyone had a great time, and none any more than baby Ava and Nica. Our two little curly-haired girls were enchanted with each other. Nica licked Ava endlessly and got non-stop giggles in return. The weather was perfect for grilling (not too hot!) and the hot dogs and corn on the cob tasted terrific. Ice cream sandwiches for dessert tasted pretty darn good, too! It was especially nice spending time with our busy, high school sophomore, Brandon. He's the photo shy-guy, who had to be convinced a little to sit for a picture with Grandpa. Unlike her big brother, Ava lights up when you aim a camera in her direction.

Here come the video clips!

Ava and her daddy sure seem to be having a great time! Sassy was interested in the baby, but as you can see, she's the more reserved of our "four-legged kids".

In our thoughts today...

Our prayers go out to those persons sitting in Ike's path. Have heard that Margaret's cousins in Texas are not among those being evacuated prior to the storm. They are hunkering in at home with provisions and their back-up generator. Our thoughts will be with them in the days ahead.

Computer interruptus...

After two weeks of struggle, Larry's computer still barely stays connected to the internet. It's been deemed "defective" and we await the arrival of a replacement . On Saturday night, Margaret went to her desk to download some pictures, only to find her computer had died during the day!

This is an attempt at a post from Larry's computer as it limps along. It's painfully slow so we're suspending anymore submissions until we have at least one fully functional computer. (Margaret is without her email address book for now, too.) Stayed tuned for email, as well as photos and videos snips from our weekend get-together with Robin, Andrick and their family as soon as possible!!!

Breaking news...

Just found out that Carol is a "new mom", too. She's adopted two 9 week old female Cairn terriers. One's named "Gracie". She's trying to convince her 5 year old grandson that "Rascal Boy" (her sometimes name for him) is not the right handle for the other female pup! She reports that they already sleep through the night in their crate and are terrific company. (We doubt they are quite so blue in real life.) Just look at those faces!!!! Congratulation to Carol and her new additions!

September birthdays

Our still tired "new mom", Heather, celebrates a birthday on Tuesday, the 2nd. It's big sister Carol's turn to party on Wednesday, the 3rd. Happy, happy birthdays, dear ones!

Labor Day musings...

September 1 dawned cloudy, reminiscent of our more common Southern California "May-Gray" days. Woke early and was drawn into the on-going news of Gustav. It's a relief to hear that so many have evacuated. But you can't help but wonder about those who remained, to worry for them, and for the animals that weren't or couldn't be moved to safety. It's way too soon to know the extent of damage, injury, and lost lives this storm will leave in its wake. You also wonder if the areas hardest hit by Katrina can withstand another blow so soon.

With many Lee family members still to return to Texas from Ohio following Uncle Dick's funeral, we are praying that weather related travel delays are few and that all is well when they reach their homes. Emails from cousin Karen and Aunt Anne have described the funeral as a fitting tribute to his life, the family reunion gatherings as bittersweet, but also as joyous celebrations of family members being brought together, some for the first time.

Sunday's end-of-summer play-day at the stable where Margaret works was great fun. The highlight of the events involved mounting thirteen parents on their kid's horses, the majority of whom had never ridden before! The kids were having a ball, many of them attaching lead-lines to the horses' bridles for safety sake, walking with their moms and dads, giggling words of encouragement. Some of our new "riders-in-waiting" looked like they were having the times of the lives, as well. Cameras were everywhere - lots of digital documentation!

We've been invited for a quiet Labor Day barbeque at the home of our great friends and neighbors, Chuck and Christine, later today. All Christine asked that we bring was dill dip. But, when Larry asked if she'd like some pickled beets, too, her eyes lit up. "Pickled" (marinated) beets are quite new to our food repertoire; this recipe, found on a cooking website earlier this year, guarantees they'll become a constant.

1 bunch (4 or 5) beets
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Whisk the vinaigrette together and combine with the cooled and sliced beets, letting stand at room temperature for one half hour. (Note: we've marinated them in a zip-loc bag, in the fridge, a day or more in advance and they were amazing!)

We send out our wishes to all for a safe, healthy, happy, peaceful Labor Day!