Saturday's Post: All Things Boardwalk

Wooden and Metal Curves

Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

At the Entrance

Board Wok
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

Shark Girls
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

Polka Dot Boy
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

And A Chicken in Every Pot
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

Idling Cars
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

Before

Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

After
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

Portraiture
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

Empty Seats
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

Although it was a rainy day, it just seemed as if all the rides and attractions were pumped up in color, form, line, like the old Boardwalk on speed.

My children used to play a miniature version of this fishing game.

My Aunt Jean came and got me when we lived in Portola Valley because she wanted to go to the Boardwalk, and it was thought I was good with directions. That's my first memory.

The second was the day friends and I were down at the beach, and watching with interest an amorous young couple. Our interest heightened the more passionate they became. The day was hot, summer was long, and he clicked off her bra top. Our jaws dropped and we wondered if we should do something to remind them that they were in a public place. As we talked, his hands wandered to her bikini bottom. Things were getting quickly out of hand, but giggling was more the option than action. To our left, a portly young girl, whose flesh moved in time with her steps, ran down and threw a beach towel over the young lovers. All went still. A few moments later, we figured out that she was putting her top back on. Then his head poked out and looked around at all of us looking at him. She never did emerge, and finally we left and walked down the Boardwalk.

Movie House
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

Shopper's Corner
Santa Cruz, California
April 2007

What do We Do With Our Child?

Dave and I have been working on our travel plans for this summer, frequenting Fodor's and Frommor's message boards about various destinations. This exchange, repeated verbatim below (but with names changed) was posted on the Tuscany message board. The title is: "What do we do with our child?"
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what do we do with our child?

sam&tom - 03:45pm May 10, 2007 EST

I have a question that noone else seems to have discussed. What if my partner and I want to get intimate and we are on vacation with my 11 year old daughter. What do other people do? We usually keep 2 adjoining rooms in the states but that doesn't seem to be an option in many places. We will be in Pisa, Venice and Paris. Does anyone know any intimate friendly rooms in any of the above locations. I would hate to be in the most romantic places in the world and not be even the most basically intimate.

Write a Message
jim (# 1 of 7)
03:58pm May 10, 2007 EST

oh, for goodness sakes.

John Winkler (# 2 of 7)
08:08pm May 10, 2007 EST

Two words: Summer camp.

I have a question that noone else seems to have discussed.

There may be a reason, called Beyond The Pale , but since you have to ask, you wouldn't understand.

Does anyone know any intimate friendly rooms in any of the above locations.

May I stop laughing now? It's beginning to hurt.

JW

sondrajesper (# 3 of 7)
09:59pm May 10, 2007 EST

Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.

sct2283 (# 4 of 7)
10:02pm May 10, 2007 EST

I'm assuming your serious asking this question, but it does seem pretty silly. Why not just the two of you go if you want a romantic vacation???

rjekre (# 5 of 7)
10:57am May 11, 2007 EST

Sell her to the gypsys...just kidding!

YRkar (# 6 of 7)
03:03pm May 11, 2007 EST

Oh the sacrifices we must make for our children, eh?

If its really a problem - why not just get her a separate room, does it REALLY need to be adjoining?

maurie_j (# 7 of 7)
11:06pm May 11, 2007 EST

Yeah, I think your intimate feelings will be limited to hand holding and the quick kiss. Sorry, that's why the dog gets left at home when my BF and I wanna get our groove back. ;)

Chaminade Sights.
In order to get a recipe from their chefs, I was asked to post to TripAdvisor, an online travel site which we use frequently. I don't really know if there was a connection, but I posted under "delightful weekend" and the next day the chef wrote to ask me which recipe I wanted.


Even though the desert area I live has its own charms, I loved the smell of the eucalyptus forest, the stunning pink blossoms against the lush greens and a walk in the forest one morning.

This tree reminded me of those Russian afghan hounds--this pine a drippy sage green wolfhound among crisp pine branches.

The rest of these scenes are from our walk in the forest, ending back up at Chaminade.

Saturday's Post: All Things Pink

This flower was at the resort that Dave and I went to two weekends ago in Santa Cruz, California. The blossoms are not waxy, but soft. I assume it's some sort of fuschia, with a triangular unfolding into little cups with long stamens.
A bold stroke of pink in a very green landscape.

Before

After

Still to come, when that ship comes in: window treatments, art, whatevers.

Been a long time since I've posted, so here's a quick recap of the last two weeks.

First up, a visit to the Bishop's Storehouse with the stake youth, where as a final cap to the four hours of service, we have a barbeque, complete with a Danger, No Open Flame sign just behind the open flames.

These grain silos are on the property, although I doubt they are used anymore.

On Easter, Chad and Kristen and family came over and we dyed eggs out on the patio.

Alex should audition for the Blue Man Troop in Las Vegas, given he's got a head start on the hand.

Alex really got into the swing of this thing, grabbing all the white eggs one right after another to dye colors. He really got a reaction from the grown-ups when he grabbed one from the last row in the carton--they weren't hard-boiled. We let him dye one of them, which could make for an exciting bag lunch moment for someone.

Here I am, some fifty years earlier, dressed up in my Easter finery. (I'm the toddler at the far left.) Apparently my sister (just to my side) still has that Easter basket. I never had a basket like that however, I do still have that Easter bonnet.

Then, on Tuesday, we had Young Women (a church group) and taught them how to make a pillow--first you sew the four squares together (we recruited members of my quilting group to bring their machines), then bond the heart on with an iron, then sew around it. Add backing, stuffing, then sew closed. A few finished. It was a nice evening--good feelings were plentiful as they chatted and worked.


Brittney's proud of hers.

A quick trip the next weekend to see my parents. We grew up with this chair--a momento of my father's time at Harvard.

A visit to my sister, who has a fabulous older home with stained glass.

Spring flowers were everywhere. I couldn't resist.

A beautiful flower in a pink shirt up on the balcony--my mother.

Saturday's Post: All Things Redland Temple

Saturday's Post: All Things Redland Temple

Had to do a little housework this week, so thought I'd post a picture of me, working around the house.

Although it is a little hard to vacuum the stairs while holding the shield, there's nothing I wouldn't do for the family, in the struggle to right the wrong.

On another note, here's some shots of the garden in bloom: fat and fragrant wisteria, and a lovely blossom that we refer to as "the orange flowered plant."