Mar 26, 2012

Palmdale Visit

I started my California trip (3/8) in Palmdale and the first stop was go to Spencer's house! Deb and Riley were at the gym so Deb told Riley there was a surprise for him at home. I met him at the door and he wanted to know what I brought him! Not exactly the reaction Deb was looking for! bwahahaha... but that's ok... I love my little guy!



The next day we NEEDED a beach day! This time we decided we'd try the Santa Monica Pier. I haven't been there for ages, not since... well, I don't remember when! Spencer chauffeured us in their minivan. And you know what? He drives like a dad... all mature and everything. I was relieved to have him drive. I know I can still drive in LA traffic, but after driving for 9 hours the day before, I was a little road weary.


SPENCER, DEBORAH AND RILEY (WITH SEE'S SUCKERS IN THEIR MOUTHS)

We parked at the Santa Monica Mall (I'm sure there is a better name than that but I don't know what it is... maybe Auntie P knows! Jump in here on the comments and tell us P.) After using the facilities we took a walk down to the pier. I saw a darling *Angry Birds* stocking cap that I would have gotten for Riley (remember- what did I bring him?) but he took one look and gave it the thumbs-down.

We wandered to the end of the pier where we were accosted by Snake-Man! ICK! saw some fishermen and the Amusement Park. They've done a good job of providing fun rides for the littles! I love this shot of Riley looking so pleased with Deb and Spencer in the background.



Next up was the mini *Mali-boomer* (I stole that name from CA Adventure).



Put up your hands, Riley!



And, since we were in the neighborhood (took us 2 hours to travel 13 miles! I'm not joking!) We HAD to stop at Cielito Lindo.



OhMyStinkin'Heck! Do I ever love this place! I told the guys I'd come all the way from Springville, Utah just to eat their taquitos and tomatillo sauce and he gave me extra! YUM! (It makes my mouth water just looking at this lovely mess of greeness!)  But Auntie P scored the biggest deal getting taquitos for Steve AND a pint of sauce for $10!



There are always interesting-sorts down at the beach... it makes me so grateful for my home!



We arrived back in P-dale at dark-thirty so Spencer dropped us off and took his tired-self and tired little family home.

Next day, after some retail therapy with Auntie P, they came back for dinner at P's house. And look what Auntie P had for Riley!! Now we see who the best Grammie is!



My stay in Palmdale was too short this time around... I will have to plan better on my next trip. I'm so grateful for my sister-by-choice and Spencer, Deborah and Riley. It was wonderful to see them all again.

Mar 24, 2012

My Darling Boys

One of the greatest pleasures of a Grammie's life is... well, being a Grammie! I got to see the Flynn Boys while I was in California. And you would think with handsome grandsons like this I would have gotten more photos, or photos of Grammie and boys to show how they've grown or JUST ABOUT ANYTHING! I guess I just have to be satisfied that I remembered to get out my camera the morning I was leaving (and I'm not in the photos because I'm rockin' my Minnie Mouse pj's and have Super-Hero-Villian-Hair... that's what Brock tells me!)

Here's Tadhg... aka King Ginger! He breaks hearts were ever he goes! Tadhg's as tall as his mom.



Caden, still just a sweet and sensitive as ever.



Yeah... but as tall as me now!



And what's up with this? How did baby-Brock get to be 10 1/2? He is such a precious boy. He looks like he belongs on the front of that cereal box!



We gave the boys haircuts the night before I left; I did Tadhg and Caden and Mama did Brock's. This is Brock-Fauxhawk! Sans the fauxhawk he is up to my nose.



We had such a lovely visit... but I miss them already.

Mar 22, 2012

Going Home

I've heard it said, "You can never go home again!" But this time that statement isn't accurate. Yes, things have changed... but I can still feel the love that always existed in my little childhood home.

My folks moved to Greenville, CA on June 19, 1946. This is what their new little home looked like. The front of the house was moved from Engle Mine and a fellow named Pat Becker added on the back section (not easily seen in this photo) which included a small kitchen, laundry room and back porch. All told it was 800 square feet.



In 1970 Mom fixed up the house and it looked so neat and tidy. Mom loved her gardens, they were always beautiful.



After Mom's death in 1977 we sold the home to a childhood friend and he subsequently sold it to the present owners- Bill and Judi. This is how our little home looked on Monday afternoon.



This is not the first time I've knocked on the door and asked if I could take photos (of course, always with lots of tears! What a cry-baby!) Bill and Judi are so kind and accommodating! They give me the grand tour- I'm always careful because I don't want to invade their home and privacy, so I didn't take photos inside the house (and now I wish I had). The blue rose-patterned wall paper is still on the walls in Mom's bedroom (makes me cry), they have fun antiques all over that bring out the character of our little home. They removed some cabinets and counter in the kitchen and found the old exterior wall from the Engle Mine house! Judi has decorated with lots of old cast iron implements... it just makes me happy. They moved the hot water heater out to the back porch when it had to be replaced and reclaimed almost 2 feet of precious floor space in the kitchen. It's amazing how much bigger the kitchen feels. They've replaced the old trash-burner with a cute little pot-bellied stove that lives right next to the range. Then over by the windows is another antique cook stove. I could feel the love and happiness in our little house.

But this, THIS is what sent me over the top! I stepped onto the back porch and saw the reclaimed chicken house!

As stated this little building started life as the chicken house. (Photo below taken March 1963)




But, by the time I can remember anything, the chickens were gone and it was used as a dog house, then when I got Blue it became the *barn* where we stored Blue's feed. (Cindy commented that whenever people talk about chickens she smells hay and Omolene... definitely NOT a chicken smell.)

I can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me. Bill added on two wings to the old building (always having to replace old sinking foundations!) The west side has windows to let in the warm spring sun and can be used for a potting shed. But Judi's added a tiny pot-bellied stove and couch. She said they love to sit in there with a hot-toddy and watch it snow. Bill has a fun work area in the old part of the building. A serendipitous shortage of roofing (because they enlarged it) meant he added some clear corrugated roofing that doubles as a sky light!  (Can I just say I'd love to have a sweet little building like this!)



Behind this happy little building is a grassy area and some pavers where they have their bar-b-que and this great old machine!  Rust in Peace!



Along the east property line dozens of volunteer locust trees have sprouted up creating a little grove.



When you buy old buildings you always have lots of work to do. Bill has replaced the foundation under all of the buildings, including the house. The area under the back porch used to be enclosed.  I love how they've added lattice and climbing vines.  I'll bet it is heaven on the porch come a summer evening!



I realized I didn't get any photos of the outside of the shop except for this one...



Bill found this and says that it was made for Daddy in 1958 when he was recuperating from hernia surgery. He unscrewed it and sent it home with me. He had also found Daddy's old business license and unemployment insurance papers from 1946 and 1947. He sent those home with me as well.



These are such precious pieces of memorabilia.


After a quick tour of the shop, we went upstairs to *the apartment* (that's how we referred to the area above the shop) Mom did some remodeling up there in the early 1960s and put in two bedrooms. Judi and Bill now use them as their space. I loved Judi's room with book cases, sewing machine, little couch and some of Bill's original blown-glass art. Judi is also working on a faux-finish on the floor in the unfinished area. It looks great!



It is amazing to see the trees that Mom planted in the late 1960s- mature and stately! I can see the love that has gone into her apple tree.  Thank you Bill and Judi.



And this spruce... well, what can I say? It's ginormous.  You can see that the locusts have also volunteered on this side of the driveway.  What you can't see is a sweet little grove of quakies that grow along the fence behind the spruce.



Going home was such a treat... yes, some things are different but the constant is the loving presence of this little piece of property with it's odd assortment of building.  I know Elsie and Jake are pleased to see what's happening to the *old place*!

Mar 19, 2012

The Dream Trees

Back in 2009, when I'd first started my photo of the day blogging, I had a very vivid dream. I was in Greenville and I was taking this photo...



When I woke up I was quite distressed because I knew I didn't have that photo. I even asked my niece, Cindy, if she had it, but she didn't either. I yearned to be there in my little hometown.

That yearning hasn't subsided over the last 3+ years so I decided to finally do something about it! Since I am on my *Grand Tour* road-trip (where I go to all of my family-places in California) I knew that I needed to go through Greenville and get some of the photos I've been yearning for.

But for tonight, as I'm tiredly writing this from my room on the 24th floor of the Nugget in Reno, NV (The Biggest-Little-City in the World) I give you my dream trees... I'm so grateful to finally have this photo.

I will be back in the next few days with all sorts of posts about my travels and finds when I'm not so tired (You know, I'm not 30 anymore!)

Mar 15, 2012

Leonardo...

When I was planning my trip to California I wanted to make sure that I was here for the Wax Museum Night at Rivergold School. I've been here two other years: first for Sir Isaac [Fig] Newton, then for Alexander the Great Grape! But, great sadness, who is it this year? Just boring old Leonardo DiVinci! What fun can I have with that name? I thought maybe Ninja turtle... definitely not going for DiCaprio.



Here is a little know fact that I learned last night... Leo was in the percussion section in the band. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE HAD A BAND! Wow!



But- seriously! Have you ever seen a cuter Leo? My Leo is cuter than your Leo!



We ran across several characters that we met in years past... there was Demeter- her daughter got mixed up with Hades and had to live for 6 months every year in the underworld. Sad, sad, sad... (but look at her darling freckles!)



Not too far away was Cerberus, Hades' watchdog! Woof! This was not a nice character... he was a bit grumpy... I guess being the baddest dude's dog will do that to you! (He didn't like our question about whether he was Hagrid's 3-headed dog, Fluffy!)


Galileo definitely rocked the best beard...




And, DUDE! Did ya' not think about how cold it would be on March 14th when you picked your character? Adam needed a fur coat!



But this, hands-down is the cutest mad French chefie girl I know!



Mar 14, 2012

DIY-Kind-of-Girl

I've always been a DIY kind-of girl. If it involves some sort of craft I'm willing to attempt it...

Sports? Nope... not so much.

As a teenager this DIY talent quickly encompassed hair cutting. I lived in such a small town that there was one beauty shop and one barber. Pal gave great men's haircuts but the beauty shop... again with the not so much. So after several painful experiences I said, "I can do at least as well as that!" and started cutting my own hair, then my Mom's hair, then I married and started cutting my husband's hair, kid's hair... etc! It fell into the category of "I'm a pretty good copy artist". I watch how something is done, in this case, cutting hair and I can copy it.

All of that is background story for what happened in the last 24 hours.

SO... Rebekah's hair has grown exceedingly long, to her waist (but did we get a before photo? NO! not us!) and she was ready for something new. She wanted the wedged-backed-A-line-cut (a very professional name I'm sure). I got as far as the *cut off the 12+ inches of ponytail for Locks of Love* part and needed some input from a trained professional since I've never watched a wedge cut. So I called Desi and sent her a photo of where I was and she gave me some input!

After several cuttings (you can always take off more!) this is where we ended! Yay for Desi... Yay for little Joanie! Yay for Cute-Girl-Rebekah!



It's amazing what a little bit of info will do!



And look what a cute girlie I have!

Mar 3, 2012

Finding a Memory

About 2 weeks ago I wrote about a photo of my Mom taken in 1961. I was reminiscing about her, how she loved to read AND read to me. I mentioned one of my favorite stories, about a boy who turned into a cat, that I only heard once since we'd borrowed the book. Over the years I've looked for that book, but never with any success. My brother-in-law, Wayne, did a quick Google search *boy who turned into a cat* and came up with some information that others remembered this book and were also looking for it. He emailed me and suggested that I do the same.

SO I DID! (Thank you Wayne) I anxiously scanned what others had to say about this book... hoping beyond hope that this might finally be that elusive book I remembered from so long ago. I ordered the book which arrived this week.

AND guess what! Yes!

THE BOOK!



I wanted to read far enough into the book to be sure this was THE ONE! My most distinct memory of Peter, a boy who turns into a cat, was of his killing a rat (dreaded-poisoned-fanged-creatures!). As a totally-cat-crazy little girl this book really caught my imagination... it is so nice to find this old *memory* again.

It was originally published as Abandoned but later published as Jenny (it is written by Paul Gallico, author of Thomasina)

Mar 1, 2012

Lion Sort of Day

For some [OCD] reason I've always liked to keep track of March's lamb and lion days. I remember doing this as a child... but usually couldn't remember 31 days later what the weather was like on the 1st!

BUT... since I've kept my photo blog I do lots better!

I judge that today is definitely a LION SORT OF DAY!



So what of previous years?

2009- Lamb all the way; 62 degrees!
2010- Lamb day as well; high in the 50s!
2011- Lamb day again! Sunny and warm.

Hmmmm... so what's up with this year?