The week in review

Lots of activity this week! One of the very exciting moments was when it started to RAIN!!! April until October is literally rain free which is great for planning outdoor activities. It also creates a very large water bill!  When it started to rain I dashed outside in my night attire. As I stood there breathing in the delicious scent of rain, I could hear all the plants rejoicing! It has been months since they received moisture from the sky- watering their roots just isn't the same.
    Monday my friend Sherry invited me to go on a cultural field trip to downtown LA. We stopped in Redondo Beach to pick up her friend Judy. We went to the fabric district. Bolts and bolts and store after store of every kind of fabric. Seemed like we were in Mexico at times, India at other times with a little China thrown in for good measure.  Sherry refused to dine at these authentic food carts….

Judy and Sherry modeling some fabric that we didn't want to buy!

Some stores were very organized and classy….

And some stores looked like this!

One store had only Hawaiian tropical fabrics

Then we strolled down other streets where all the fresh flowers were displayed. Unusual floral arrangements abounded.

Sherry

Bucket after bucket of Gerbera daisies

Final stop of the day was at the LA furniture/gift mart. Sherry got us in because she has an interior design business.  There were some very neat stores and some very tacky stores! This chair in the parking lot wasn't for sale!

My tropical flower bouquet.

Dave was gone a few days for work so these sweet girls came over for lunch and craft time. When I told them there was dessert they said, " Mom said that we could have dessert but we weren't supposed to ASK if there was dessert!" How cute is that?! I love the candor of children…. I wonder if they told their parents that I let them blow bubbles in their water glasses at the table? I think I will make an awesome grandma someday- plan to spoil them rotten!!!

So this is the solution to decorating for Christmas in a  beach climate.  Decor made out of shells and driftwood.

My newest cousin who lives close by: Dylan Roy. Brand new- only 5 days old here.  He is modeling some of my creations. He is really cute!!

Ready for Halloween.

My hibiscus really bloomed after the rain!

Dave took me on a new hike near our house…. we think we could see the ocean.  Someone was too out of shape to go all the way to the top!

Fall color on our hike

Dave's new hobby. This was his maiden flight over the ocean. His first attempt last week didn't go so well! He was flying at Dave's Beach in Carlsbad. Can you believe he already has a beach named after him? I went to Fallbrook HS football game Friday night - one of our friend's son plays. I pulled out my woolies to keep warm….it really wasn't that cold! We were included in some of our friend's special mtg company too. Well, all for now- off to have tacos with those friends whose kids really like us and who we adore! Then to the desert in the morning for another special meeting. Are your eyes glazed over yet?

Fully Fed

  Ahhhhh…… what a wonderful weekend! Our need for food (spiritual and natural), fellowship and friendship was well met this weekend. Friday night there was a potluck for the entire field and our visitors shared some experiences. We had worker company for Friday night AND Saturday night- unheard of in WI!!!

Here are our visitors. Really enjoyed their time in our home and talks around the table. Mark M. is in Nevada and Jeremy B. is in Colorado. We really enjoy speaking "Wisconsin" with Jeremy since that is his native state also! Our special meeting was less than 2 miles from our home. It was HUGE- about 650 people!!! As I was sitting there I thought, "Wow all these people and I am not related to anyone." Then I saw a young couple that looked familiar and realized that I had seen their wedding photos on FB. He is son of one of my Enge cousins, Denita! I had never met her children before. He was transplanted from Oregon. This really proves that I can find a relative almost any where I go.

My lame attempt at fall decorating. I think it looks strange….guess I shouldn't have paired a pumpkin with a palm tree.

After meeting we had 15 guests over for a Low Country Boil.  In case you haven't had that….it involved our camp stove, a big pot of water, Bay Seafood Seasoning, salt, potatoes, onions, garlic, kielbasa, sweet corn, and shrimp. Yum! We really love entertaining on our patio and look forward to having all of you blog readers over someday too. Several of our guests have Midwestern roots or connections so that was special too.

My adopted daughters. Deanna is your classic California surfer model and Jacinda is my much loved Wisconsin girl. 

Sarah and Marshall are newly transplanted Wisconsinites who are now living the good life in sunny Cali

We always love to have some nice boys around!

The chef in the background. Ryan and Jane.  Ryan's claim to fame is being the uncle to the adorable Minzie and Minah! He is also a newly wed with a wife still in Brazil! And Jane- my very special friend!

Let the feasting begin!

These two couples seem to not mind hanging out with us old folks.  Bob seems to find our accent quite amusing!

Isn't he handsome?

Ended the evening with a bonfire.

Winter is coming….

   I had to chuckle today when I was in Costco.  As I stood by tables piled with thick winter coats and boots, an employee asked if I was finding everything I need.  To clarify- I just happened to be standing by the mounds of winter gear- I was NOT shopping for those items since it was well over 80 degrees and the high 90's are approaching again soon. I asked him where the charcoal was located since the grill master in our house said we were almost out of briquets. He said, in a shocked tone, "Those are seasonal and winter is coming!" Seriously??!!  We used to grill out all winter long Wisconsin except for blizzardy days and below zero wind chills.  So now we live in the land of nearly endless summer, have a gorgeous patio, tropical plants and  grilling season is over??? Needless to say, when I found charcoal at Target I bought 4 huge bags because OUR grilling season is far from over….I suppose when the snow gets knee deep around the palm trees we will call it winter :) Or when our nose hairs freeze and frostbite sets in on our cheeks…. The days are getting shorter and the nights a little cooler but no frost in the forecast! I still slather on the sunscreen daily!
    Fall means football so we went to a college game. Complimentary seats 4 rows from the field- I of course wished I had brought my crocheting.  Football is not my thing especially when I didn't care who won! It was a beautiful day and the marching bands were entertaining anyway.

 This is what fall looks like here….

 The canna lilies are thriving and have doubled in size- I may have a forest soon!

Love these buds that will be these flowers tomorrow...

Limes are growing

Lemons are ripening

Vines are creeping

Bushes are blooming again. 

New palms are flourishing

Fountain is flowing

Skies are a brilliant blue

Dragon fruit are ripe

The flesh tastes like kiwi/pear combo

Strawberries are as yummy as ever

Dave has taken up flying- this is the practice plane- the larger one is being shipped!

Typical sight every evening- dining outside with our feet up on the fire pit.   Living the good life!!!