Out with August

a full month it was!

Filled with Birthdays.... lot's of Leo's in our midst!  Our oldest son in Seattle along with our oldest granddaughter, the photographer had his day as did Russ and Cathy in Mariposa... Magdalena and Lotta in Sweden and Malva turning a big 11!  Wooosh.....

A year ago we had that fun Hewlett Packard reunion here.  Just a few days ago we had the pleasure of having Nancy visit for an "overnighter," she is another Hewlett Packard person, A VERY important friend from days gone by!  How does that saying about friendship go?  Something about how great it is to have fun with friends, but best of all are the friends you have that you seldom see, yet nothing changes.  With any luck at all the quote will "float to the top" before I finish this.

Garbo has been to the Dog Park in Morgan Hill a few times this very busy month.  She also goes to see Cristina at Bel Amour Pet Spa and Boutique regularly!  Cristina is the best groomer in town!  Garbo comes home sweet smelling and tired.  It is exhausting having a bath you know!

Garbo also got to go on an adventure to Lepa Dog Doggy Day Care!  We have been searching for a GOOD place to leave her, if ever we need to go someplace, "dog-less".  Sue, the owner of Lepa Dog generally only likes to have small dogs stay there, yet she likes  Garbo.... well.  Who would not?  So  Garbo may stay there, anytime!

Sue told us a little story about another new client who came to see her the day before we were there. Sue had made mention of the fact that a Great Pyr by the name of Garbo was coming to visit and the new client said: "I know Garbo".  "No," said Sue, "I don't think so, Garbo lives in Hollister"..... as it turned out, the other new client knows Garbo from the dog park!  Small world?  Yes it IS a small world!

There was also  a Ladies Night in the "hood" one fun Friday night in August!  A few neighbour ladies have had me join them before and it is such a pleasure to attend.  I am delighted to be included in these evenings full of great food, great wine, great ladies and lot's of laughter!  Thank you, Cathy and Cathy, Irene, Patty and Sandy.  (plus a few  others) This is a great place to live.  It is good to  feel like you belong!

Saga made these sculptures of us.

Yes,  August has been a FULL and LOADED month, with Grand Kids and Birthdays, visitors and  parties, plus all the normal dog (and cat) activities, though Mister Kitty truly does NOT get his fair share.  No Cat Park to go to:-(

Maria very gently  talked me into going back to Dog Class!  So, for the next several Wednesday evenings we will go together for dog training.  She to agility and I to obedience!  We need to "fine tune" this puppy!

When Nancy was here, she suggested I teach Garbo some VERBAL commands!  Like what, I asked? Such as NO, she said!  So yea, guess I better get her " whipped" into shape!:-)
...oh yes, the quote: "True friendship isn't about being inseparable, it's about being separated and nothing changes"  author unknown. I like that!

A Macaroni & Cheese kind o' Week

Last Sunday, after Garbos' long morning walk, I climbed into the car and drove half way to LA to pick up the South Cal grand kiddles.  Yesterday we made the same trip in reverse.  Meeting at Mac D's (one of my least favorite places) in Kettleman City to make the child exchange.

It was a very good morning for the Little Man E as he had a big plate of plättar = swedish mini pancakes before we left and then regular american pancakes at McDonalds!  Both versions drowned in maple syrup!  Oh YUM.  The rest of us eating eggs on a toasted english muffin.
It was a wild week!  Intense!  Pretty much Non Stop!

Garbo was in heaven.... having her OWN kids to play with, all the six days!  Talk about a happy puppy!  Even she got tired!

A week when I reflected on times long ago, with the now grown grandchildren, spending time with us.  A time when our  energy  and our  patience was at a different level.  Mariposa was a particularly special place during the grand children's young growing up years.  A place with lot's to do.  If we were not cooking, baking or making Ice Cream there was a bubble pool, there was lot's of dirt, lot's of animals, a forest to explore, and a creek to pan gold in.  There was the yearly Mariposa State Fair, where one could ride those rides until one got sick! :-)  But oh, I am looking backwards,  I am digressing.....

This last week, with the two youngest grandkids we did similar things down scaled!  Miss S who is growing tall and lanky, enjoys cooking and baking just as much as her predecessors.  We ate a lot of good food, Miss S and I sharing a Lutfisk Dinner one evening, with the traditional cream sauce, potatoes and little green peas!  Too bad The Future Chef was not here!!  Little Man,well, if it is not Macaroni and Cheese, Grilled Cheese or Hot Dogs, forget about it!.... No despair! We used to have someone who ate little but ramen noodles, for many a year:-)

There was Golf Camp.  Miss S participated in a three day event and seemed to have a great time.  Little E changed his mind, decided to not go... maybe next year,  he said.

There was dog walking with Little E inline skating on the golf cart paths, he is really good at it!
Miss S also used her roller skates a couple of times.  She is good too.

There were visits to the grocery store, visits to the dog park, shelf building lessons for Little E at Uncle R's one afternoon, and swimming at Garbo's friend Yuki's house two times.  Yuki, the worlds most adorable Aussie, lives near Auntie M's house and she took them there for some water fun.  The kids could skip their baths!  Hurrah!

Boompa showed Miss S lot's of photographs of her Dad, from his life before her time.  That was fun too! It gave her much to think about.

There were of course, the regular squabbles between siblings.  Big Sis is VERY protective and helpful (for the most part) with her little Bro, who runs on two throttles!  He is either uproariously happy or he is mad. Like the faucet.... cold or hot? But when he laughs, well,  it is one of those laughs that makes you laugh right along.

She is like all Big Siblings...a bit bossy!  Yea, you get it!  It can be a lethal combination at times.

It was fun!  But let me say that last night I soaked in the tub filled with hot water, Epsom salt and lavender essential oil!
It felt REALLY good!