A Whale Watching Adventure...

We spent a wonderful couple of hours on the water yesterday on a Whale Watching boat out of Newport Beach. While we saw no whales, we did see a huge and very playful pod of dolphins that raced along side our boat.

The kind folks from the tour company did apologize for the lack of whale sightings and gave all the passengers a half price coupon to be used for a future trip. We might just have to take them up on that!

As seen from the tour boat...

The sights of the harbor at Newport are many - the ferris wheel in the Fun Zone, lots of beautiful boats, both power and sail, kayaks and fishing spots, "a boy and his dog" out for a ride on the water, and the marvelous old Balboa Pavilion. In between, there are some pictures of sea lions resting on a buoy and a para-sailor. It was a beautiful day to be on the water!

A very short ferry ride...

While sitting on our tour boat at the dock yesterday, we had a great view of the ferry that runs between Balboa Island and Balboa Peninsula. It's a fun way to get back and forth by car, bike or on foot.

An impromptu pizza party...

We called Heather late this morning and asked if they would like some company and some pizza for lunch. We had a great visit with everyone except David, who works nights and was sleeping when we arrived. Jonathan was happy to show off his spelling skills and his lost tooth, and Sophia speaks at length about many things! Joshua had been napping and took a few moments to warm up to the festivities, then he and "Grandma M" had a rousing game of "catch". And, baby Isaac took it all in stride. What a great way to spend an afternoon!

Spring cuttings...

Freesia,
hydrangea,
and a petite narcissus -
all homegrown!
Spring really is here!

A "Picture Window"...

Imagine sitting on your living room couch and seeing these amazing calla blossoms for weeks! The first bloom appeared during the heavy rains in mid-January, and here, two months later, it is still glorious. We love our little kitchen/dinette window and its view into the side yard and our "Serenity Garden". And, we are thrilled to see the clivia blooming this spring after being divided last year. It's all picture perfect!

Look at all that hair...

According to Heather, this photo of Isaac is about a month old. But, it still shows how much he's growing up. And by the way, look at all that hair!

A Sure Sign of Spring...

For as long as Margaret has lived in this condo community, spring has brought ducks to the property; sometimes a pair, sometimes three birds or more. That is until last year. They obviously got the memo about the resurfacing of the pool! Those of us who don't mind a little duck poop in the pool feared they wouldn't return, but Larry saw them taking a swim earlier this week. We're glad to see them back.

As seen from our balcony...

The rain has brought so many of our flowering plants into bloom. And, a sunny day is the perfect time to inspect the bounty, this time on and from our bedroom balcony. The first fresia and tiny daffodil blossoms are a sure sign of a new season arriving. A opportunistic geranium has grown huge in another plant's pot on the deck - perhaps brought there by high winds weeks or months ago. These calla blooms are visible through our kitchen window below, and the blossoms on the Hong Kong Orchid tree never fail to cheer us.

A chance to clear our heads...

When worrisome things are going on around you over which you have no control, sometimes a change of scenery is the best prescription for mental health. On Sunday we drove to Newport Peninsula for a brunch of "Possibly the World's Greatest Chili Cheese Omelettes" and to drink in some fresh air on the pier.

While the California coast was spared any major damage from Saturday's tsunami, we could still see the affects in the brown color of the surf. The ocean floor had obviously been churned.

The pelicans were sitting on the roof of the historic Dory Boat shed. Why should they fend for themselves, when they know the fishermens' scraps are so near?