Let the Christmas decorating begin...

Everybody knows our house has "gone to the dogs". So, of course we couldn't resist bringing home this holiday pooch to welcome our guests over the weeks ahead!

Thanksgiving memories...

Thanksgiving 2010 was quiet and joyful. Our dear friends, the Sweeneys, joined used for dinner, as well as our new friend, Kari, a newcomer to the neighborhood. We loved the combination of old and new decorations on the holiday table as well - Margaret's old hunt china mixed with new pumpkin pieces, fitting the season. The vase filled with Pom mums is still glorious days later, though the "Pumpkin Trees" and ornamental peppers which had adorned the house for weeks were retired over the weekend. Chuck and Christine's ShihTzu, Adorable" knows exactly who to go to for a treat (Uncle Larry!) and lines up with Sassy and Nica for hand-outs! And, once again, Larry cooked a simply beautiful and oh-so-moist and tasty turkey breast to bring to the feast. It was a beautiful holiday!

Jonathan is seven now...

Celebrate, Celebrate...

Family and a few close friends joined Jonathan and his family to celebrate his seventh birthday. While most of the kids enjoyed their cake and ice cream in the back yard with the adults, Joshua decided that he preferred eating at the kitchen table. We think more ice cream went on his shirt than in his mouth! And, Grandma Jenny and David spent much of their time holding and rocking little Isaac who is teething and wasn't feeling well at all. Still, the rest of the kids seemed to be having a ball, while the adults had a great chance for a visit.

Playing to the little ones...

Yesterday was a beautiful Southern California day, sunny and warm - the perfect day for brunch at one of our favorite little restaurants near Newport Pier. Once we were finished eating, we took a walk out on the pier, enjoying the sights of the surfers and many others enjoying the beach. Walking back we saw that this pair of street musicians was really prepared to involve any small kids who came along in the music. They had a toy xylophone and toy accordion, plus lots of rhythm toys and a box of kazoos the kids could take away with them. This family of kids and their musician hosts treated us to a fun, noisy, energetic concert!

The Shipley Nature Center

Surfing the net is a great way to find things to see and do in your immediate area that you might never otherwise hear about. That's how we learned about the Shipley Nature Center, an 18 acre native plant and wildlife preserve in Huntington Beach, just minutes from us. We spent about an hour wandering the trails, admiring the work of hundreds of volunteers who have replanted this area in native plants, who maintain the trails, man the information booth and gift shop, and ensure that this little gem of nature in the middle of a heavily populated urban area thrives. It was a perfect day to be outdoors - sunny and pleasantly warm. We loved this place and will go back during other seasons to see how it changes and what different birds and waterfowl will be passing through.

Our first fall sunset pictures...

Our good friend, Mary, just sent out her first fall sunset picture.
What autumn takes away in hours of light, it certainly returns in amazingly beautiful sunsets!

The heat is STILL on...

We're now into day three of temps in the high eighties and nineties, even right on the coast! We stopped at the barn to give Belle a few minutes "be a horse" time in the turn-out (where she played hard, despite the heat!) and then cooled her down with a good head to toe soaking from the hose. When she was dry enough to go back to her stall, we hopped into our hot, hot car and headed to Dana Point in search of cooler, ocean air.

After lunch at a cafe overlooking the marina, we decided to explore areas of the Dana Point Wharf/Marina that we'd never seen before. When we crossed the bridge to "Dana Island" we saw that the views of the break-water were spectacular.

Then, at the end of the road, we found a lovely white sand public beach with water equipment, including paddle boards, available for rent. (The little white dog riding the front of one board looked like he was enjoying the ride!) And, we found the Ocean Institute, an educational facility only open to the public on weekends. While we couldn't get inside, we were able to see two of the ships that are part of the Institute's programs, the Pilgrim and the Spirit of Dana Point.

Another day-trip in our future...

The Ocean Institute looks like a fascinating place to visit. And, as soon as we saw the Spirit of Dana Point coming up to the dock we knew that an afternoon cruise on this beautiful tall ship is something we will be doing very soon!

Summer, 2010 - Round two...

Temperatures climbed back into the eighties and nineties yesterday morning. (Will again today!) Seemed like a good reason to get near the water. Lunched on the patio of one of the many, many restaurants on Newport Harbor, where we could enjoy the cooler, ocean air, and the sights and sounds of the marina. A noisy gull had us laughing as he "talked" at us from just a few feet away. (We're sure he was saying "Throw me some food!") Paddle boarders made their way through the harbor, dodging the boats of all sizes heading in and out of the docks. A jelly fish made an appearance , sadly swimming a bit too deep to get a decent photo. Just another beautiful afternoon in Southern California!

That's one heck of a "dinghy"...

Check out the helicopter on this yacht! (You may have to click on the picture and enlarge it to see the helicopter on the upper aft deck.)

More our speed...

This sweet little wooden vessel brought out the "boat lust" in both of us!

A poor imitation of a maple tree...

Pity us poor Southern Californians our limited autumnal tree color!

It's the Great Halloween Cactus, Charlie Brown...

Love how the Christmas cacti stretch out their season!