2 hikes in 3 days

   Before I tell you about the hikes I have to share a few photos of these adorable children. The kids are cute but they aren't the best photos because they were moving targets! They make my hats look really cute. We enjoyed having them over Sat evening along with their parents and 1 set of grandparents.  We have known their grandparents for many years and were at their wedding.  I am sounding kind of old…. Their Grandpa Dave was a room mate of my Dave, Their Grandma Lynae is from the great state of Wisconsin :) We enjoy their long visits out here to see their kids and grandbabies.

Our very own tangerines! The thrill of picking citrus fruit in our own yard is amazing!

After a delicious meal at some friends we took a hike before gospel meeting…. This is first hike I took after moving here. It is very steep and begins with "Heart attack hill".  I have to say I have avoided it- there is a more gradual hike up the other side which I prefer. But I made it with a little help from Dave.  Tristan would remember the stick that his Dad would use to help power him along on his bike? Well 2 hands in the back work too! That little strip of blue in the far distance is the ocean.

The 2 Dave's at the summit

After the hike on Sunday I decided I needed to train a little more on steep slopes.  Dave is off traveling for work so after making out my last will and testament, today I headed to Monserate Mountain. I have hiked this before with Dave so I knew where I was going.  It was a beautiful sunny day- about 60 degrees at the base of the hike.  I am proud to say I did it all by myself! The view at the top is stunning. The ocean is one direction and snow capped mountains the other direction.

This is a rock pile with a guest book and various snacks in a box at the base.  I guess if you get stranded you  will have something to eat and something to read.

It is hard to see the ocean in this photo but it is there.  

Snow capped peaks in the far distance.

I have been whining about the multiple nights of frost ( tonight should be the last for now).   I have been faithfully covering all of our new plants and they are doing okay.  FYI- I wondered why the fountain wasn't flowing very evenly… well there was a full layer of ice on every level! I stopped at a local nursery to buy a few new plants for one of my pots. How awesome is it to buy plants in January!

Anenomes with yellow violas will be planted AFTER tonight!

For someone like me who loves flower gardening this sure is a fabulous place to live! I will leave the vegetable gardening to others- the produce is so reasonable at the farm stands it hardly pays to plant. Besides, there would be less room for my flowers!

Produce stand

    Nothing too earth shattering tonight…. I was out and about today gathering groceries, yarn, frost blankets, etc. I stopped at my usual produce stand and was inspired to take photos of my favorite "store".  I love having a farm stand that is open year round. It is not a fancy place- set in a little gully on a dirt floor with a tarp roof. But oh my the goodness that can be purchased here!

Mangoes, pomegranates, guava, cherimoya….

Luscious local strawberries

An entire table loaded down with avocados.

Locally produced jams, jellies, honey. Mounds of limes, lemons, tangerines,  oranges.

The sweet lady who answers all my questions regarding what things are , when they are ripe and how to eat them!

 

The 12 Days of Christmas Company Part 2

I know you have been waiting anxiously for Part 2 of the ongoing Christmas Company saga…. Tristan arrived late Saturday night and the poor guy got the floor bed because the bedrooms were full. Cammy was already on the floor also. It was very fun to have a house filled with relatives since we live so far from all our family. Let me explain the connections for those who are our newer friends…. Marilyn is my double first cousin- our mothers were sisters and our dads were brothers and we grew up 4 miles apart. Of course, I actually grew up with Marilyn's younger sisters who were MUCH closer in age to me. Marilyn truly did change my diapers! Marilyn and Wayne got married in their 30's so their children and our children ended up close in age. We spent many vacations together- mostly camping and since we shared all the same relatives (except for those in laws) we were quite bonded! Now time and life has scattered us all over the USA. 2 of their children are in SC and 2 in WA. We have 1 in WI and 1 in KS and we are in CA. We love airplanes! So we had 5 states represented in our home that weekend.

Sunday lunch on the patio

The 12 Days of Christmas Company- Part 1

   On the first day of Christmas an airplane brought to us…. Wayne and Marilyn Lepak from the cold land of Wisconsin….. On the second day of Christmas an automobile brought to us…. Jason and Sarah (Lepak) Sanderson through rain and snow with three adorable boys in tow from Chelan,Washington. And an airplane brought to us Cammy Lepak from the far eastern coastal state of South Carolina. On the third day of Christmas an airplane brought to us our younger son Tristan from the prairies of Kansas. And finally on Christmas an airplane brought to us Brooke Satterfield (special friend of Tristan) from that oddly named city of Oconomowoc in Wisconsin. So the days of fun, feasting, exploring, games and just wonderful conversations began! So much catching up to do and so much to show them about our new state and our life here.

We took Wayne and Marilyn over the foothills via the Ortega Highway to Laguna beach. Snow capped mountains in the distance.

Lake Elsinore look out

Lunch on the ocean in Laguna Beach at The Beach House. Wayne and Marilyn

The view from our table.

Of course we ate supper on our patio. That is what patio heaters are for! Jason and Owen

Tristan and Wade with Grandma Marilyn.

Sarah and Jason

Grandpa Wayne taking on all 3 boys.

Of course we took them to La Jolla.

Then to Torrey Pines to picnic on the beach.

The adults lounged while the crazy kids chased seagulls and played in the waves.

Sweet owen

Doing the hokey pokey with Grandma. Please note the difference in attire… Marilyn had 2 coats on. It was 60 degrees!

Jason, Tristan and Wade

Cammy and Tristan's "octopus"

Hiking after lunch- little Owen did great even though the steps were almost taller than him!

The Lepak/Sanderson clan

The tour guides

Serious Wade

A family that reads together stays together!

This my dear is why we own so many sheets….

     Dave often wonders why we have so many linens. I did sort through them and get rid of some really old sheets before the move. Now I know why I kept so many- and these are the ones that aren't already on the beds awaiting our soon to arrive guests. In addition to the sheets I had to purchase some "frost blankets" at the local garden center. The citrus look quite cozy all wrapped in their blankets.
   Yes, my cold weather friends in other locales, this is Southern California in the winter! It may be sunny most days and you are picturing me frolicking on the beach and admiring the surfers….. Well let me tell you when that sun goes down the temperature plummets rapidly and we had a significant frost last night and one predicted tonight with a low of 29. I learn so much from goggle- because of the low humidity here the air cools and warms more rapidly which explains the huge temperature variation between day and night. Well, I have done my best with the materials I had on hand and the rest of the plants will just have to take their chances!

5 "ghost" citrus all in a row

New look for our patio plantings

The perfected sock monkey latte cozy.

Surely you expect a sunset picture by now in nearly every post?

Bought these for Dave because he thinks "sea" salt is ridiculous. He says salt is salt! But these caramels do sound classy…. and they are very tasty. I feel so sophisticated eating them!

    The "monkey factory"- sock monkeys in all stages of development. Please note the middle monkey is a MUG cozy. Oh yes, I am getting quite creative! But monkey production will be slowing down since we have many exciting guests coming. They arrive on Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Tuesday form all corners of the USA: Wisconsin, Washington, Kansas, and S. Carolina. Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the special people in your life :)

Rainy Day

       It is a rainy day which is really great for a few reasons…. I am getting some indoor projects done and also it is free water! The downside of living in this climate is that indoor projects don't appeal when you can be outside. Dave is back from his work travels and is on overwhelm. So we played a few games of "Word on the Street" while we both procrastinated. I am preparing for the home invasion of lots of very welcome guests starting next week :) Yesterday I measured, mixed, rolled, cut, baked and frosted 5 different kinds of cookies. Now the crockpot is smelling mighty good with some meat for the freezer- carnitas yum! It is also smelling like a brewery- maybe I shouldn't have dumped the whole bottle of beer in? Should be good- if not Dave and I will eat it and I will start over!
     Last week our friends Keith and Jane shared their special guest with us. We had supper and a great visit with Alan A. who has been preaching the gospel in Mexico for 30 years or so. He was in Illinois when Dave was a youngster.

Alan and Dave

Our hosts

Happy Dave at Dave's Beach in Carlsbad flying his plane.

It was his first solo flight off the ocean cliffs. He did awesome.  Landed it smoothly 3 times out of 4…. we won't discuss that landing. No damage to the plane only to Dave…. (minor damage)

Winter houses to get in the winter mood.

All you can eat pomegranates compliments of our Fallbrook friends with the 4 adorable blonde children.

Sock Monkey coffee cozies. Seems to be a "hot" item so I am selling a few after some persistent inquires!  At least I have a good reason to sit and crochet all evening. All for now- the cupboards are calling to be organized, the garage is also whimpering… I sure hope Dave is done with that call for work so we can procrastinate together!

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