A pond worthy of "reflection"...

Sitting on a park bench overlooking a small pond well populated with turtles and ducks was the most relaxing time either of us has spent in weeks! The tranquility, with the only sounds being our own voices, an occasional splash from the water fowl and the steady rumble of a nearby waterfall, was only enhanced by the warm sun breaking through the haze. It was heavenly - a place we'd love to go back and sit again another day. (Since rental paddleboats make their way onto this wonderful little water oasis, we suspect it's not always so tranquil - we just got there on the right day!)

How can you ignore a face like that?

The Orange County Zoo, imbedded in this vast park, is quite small, with habitats for a handful of South Western States indigenous animals. The high point of our quick walk through the facility was time spent in the petting zoo watching the antics of goats (especially one in particular) determined to get our attention and some grain pellets out of our hands!

A really big bird bath?

This cute little finch sat on the edge of our water garden for so long one morning that we just had to try and get a picture of him through the patio slider. Glad this doesn't show how much spring cleaning needs to be done in our "water feature"!!

Jonathan's "Show and Tell" on YouTube...

Happy, happy baby...

We just got this picture from Heather of our little guy, Joshua, and had to share it with you all.

A Special Valentine's Day Announcement...

On March 31, we will celebrate the tenth anniversary of our first date. On May 1, we will celebrate seven years of sharing a home and a joy filled, loving life together full time. We decided we needed just one more spring-time anniversary to celebrate...

When a dear family friend, a minister now living in Arizona, offered to preside at a wedding during his and his wife's California vacation this April it seemed that all things had come together and it was truly time for us to exchange vows. For the past three weeks we've been making plans for an intimate service surrounded by family and our closest friends, that will take place on Saturday, April 18, at Steamers Jazz Club and Cafe, the place where we first met. Our shared love of the music had so much to do with our budding relationship. We could not think of any better place to celebrate our union than at Steamers.

Rings ordered just two weeks ago unexpectedly arrived at the jewelers in time for Valentine's Day. We finally had a "photo op" of the perfect symbol of our upcoming celebration!

Between the rains...

We'd thought we'd be posting pictures from yesterday's 1st birthday Celebration in the Park for granddaughter Ava. Sorry to say that the weather didn't cooperate and a later get-together is planned. A break in the rain yesterday did give Margaret a chance to peek around our patio garden; also sorry to report that there's lots of work to do there to get it back in shape! But, the first calla lily of the season is always a welcome sight, and an unknown succulent in a large pot that crowns a mini-rock garden is blooming for the first time. The last head of bib lettuce that we've been nibbling on for the past few weeks is about ready for complete harvest, offering much greater sun exposure to the strawberry plants we hope to be snacking from in the months ahead.

Margaret is a very lucky lady...

...because Larry brings her roses for no special reason at all! Aren't they beautiful?