More San Francisco

San Francisco is really a gorgeous city- I love that it has a downtown but its really more neighborhoods with homes...and green...and hills-those crazy steep hills. You can see that in the parking photos, with the cars parked along the road and also the top cable car photo as it crests the hill. And green- the photo of an alley we walked past, with the trees in it. Not your usual alley. Plus, the newpaper I saw while we walked through Chinatown-I love that. This was my second trip to this city- even though it has been over 20 years sicne my last visit and did forget about the hills a bit...woe- need to stop and catch your breath a bit there. Plus, don't forget the cool bone chilling wind- even in July- dressed in layers-plural. BRRR.

So today in New Hampshire we had a gorgeous day- one of the best all summer. Warm, not humid, blue skies-oh I love it...and we've had more rain and gray than days like this. kate and I went back to the lake...spent most of our time across the lake at my husband's aunt and uncle's house visiting- which was fun. These are the kind of summer days that stick in your mind and come back when you think of the word summer.

San Francisco street signs

Some signs that you wouldn't always see elsewhere- obviously areas of the city but also cable cars (this is the only city in the world they're still in use) and parking on those hills. Woe-those steep steep hills.

Humid today-summer weather! Cleaned and sweated-did some scrapping-went to the lake for a swim- which really felt GREAT the water's still cold enough- till some afternoon storms came through- and then came home and napped. Awe- the beauty of a nap. Almost done with Club Dead too-then I'm starting the White Tiger by Aravind Adigo. And its suppose to be hot all week-but maybe not super sunny-though today- sitting on the dock in the sun...it felt like SUMMER!

Unedited Mendicino, California-last Sunday

The flowers in this town were brillant-and its was a really cute little town-with a slightly New England feel-remember Murder She Wrote, how we all here in NH and in Maine- where it was supposedly set, said it wasn't quite right. It was set in Mendicino- wish I had time to hit the shops, but hubby wasn't having that, plus we still needed to get to San Francisco that night.

Today I finished my bronzeclay clar and got to use copper clay. Can't wait to get my pieces back once Marisssa fires them in her kiln. Then went to Barbara's for dinner up on the lake- and a swim of course, its finally summer warm and the swim felt fantastic.

Wow- we're into the last week of July. I can't imagine that's really true.

A few more vacation photos and babbling...

Here's some natural shots of of the coast of Northern California.

Saturday- another day of sun with me indoors at a class. I am taking a 2 day bronzeclay class with Marissa O'Brien down in MA. Its great- today we made some tear aways and also did our intro. to bronzeclay-some instructions and lots of play. Tomorrow is an advanced class, making beads and other 3D pendants. Fun, fun, fun!

Right now I'm watching Torchwood's mini series-Children of Earth. Its good. On day 5- want to see what happens but Dave's asleep and he won't be happy when he learns I've watched it all without him. I'll tell you, it was hard to get up this morning-I'm still on CA time I guess.

Home in the rain

Today, let me show you a couple of redwood photos. These trees impressed me with their height and width. Wow, gorgeous. In Redwood National Park there's a dirt drive through this old growth forest-its called Stout Drive and I recommend it highly. Its too narrow for anyone driving a bus or pulling a trailer, but wow. These photos do not due justice at all to these giant old trees.

Below is a drive through tree. I guess there's 3 of them in the area, and they're all on private property. It cost us $5 to drive through this one- but it was one of Katie's wish list items. Funny, you wait in line, drive up so far, then the driver squishes out and takes a photo. Then drive out and the next car repeats this. Funny.

Back in Stout Grove.

So here in NH- we're back in the rain. The summer that hasn't been- so far. Guess its waiting until its time to go back to school before it arrives. Still doing laundry today, in my dirty basement (seeing Leo ripped open a bag of dog food and its everywhere), stamping a bit, going to see the new Harry Potter tonight when Dave gets out of work. Looking forward to that. This weekend I'm taking a 2 day bronze clay class, should be fun, but wish I had one more down day before it starts. Oh well, should be fun and I am exceited about it, no doubt.

We're Home from the West Coast

Home sweet home- arrived about midnight last night and got up at 11:30 this morning- wow-how long has it been since I slept so late?

So our trip was fantastic- full of adventures- I have LOTS and LOTS to tell you and share but for tonight- here's the main stops on our trip, of course there's so many trips within the trip.

But after landing in San Francisco we went to Lassen Volcano National Park, then Lava Beds National Monument, Crater Lake National Park, Redwood National Park and finally into the city of San Francisco itself. More later, when I'm not so tired...since I am ready for bed...even after sleeping so long this morning. The time changes, the busy vacation mode, the clouds today...enough for me to want to sleep. Till next visit...

An exciting week ahead

An exciting week for us-with a trip that we take off on tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. (meaning we need to get up at 3 a.m. and leave for the airport by 4 a.m.) (eeks-but the adrenoline will get us through and we can nap on the plane), and just checking out the Hero Arts Blog this morning, one I love to read, and they're getting a new website look this week. I "borrowed" their lead-in for the week- because its so appropriate! Today I need to finish up a bunch of chores, finish packing, deliver my puppy to my mother-in-laws house, contain my excitement...

Off tomorrow and the adventures that lie ahead with that- Happy Trails again.

Getting ready

Tim Holtz does this on his website, sorry for the stealing the idea, but this is where we are headed in 2 days.

Today was a starting to get ready day, a bit of packing, getting laundry ready, running to Wamart for those last minute items, finishing my book (Dead in Dallas), trying to straighten house out a bit so that when my mother-in-law stops by to feed the cats its not a total disaster, unless the cats make a mess, which is always possible.

So we're off for a bit more than 1 week- to do some National Parks in Northern California and hopefully get into Oregon, a new state for all of us, and then to wrap up our week with 2+ days in San Francisco. Its exciting. Anyhow, if I don't blog tomorrow- will have lots of photos to show you when we come home. Happy Trails...

A couple of beautiful days

Friday night concert at Great Waters in Wolfeboro. Although only 3 entertained us, the band was the Four Bitchin Babes. A++++++

Yesterday was an absolutely GORGEOUS day. Harley got groomed (he is such a handsome doggieman now), so after Katie and I dropped him off early we went to breakfast at IHOP and then down to Wallis Sands State Beach. It was crowded-as you can see in my random shot above, and it was beautiful-about 75degrees and not humid. Below this is my Katers sunbathing photo. Love her bathingsuit. Got to see a former co-worker who retired and now runs the beach in the summer, and got to see a few kids from school too.

Last night I went with my friend Vicky and 6 other very nice ladies (none of whom I knew before last night) to see the 4 Bitchin Babes at the Great Waters Music festival up in Wolfeboro. Had never been to one of their concerts-either the 4 Babes or a Great Waters concert ( called that because its right on the shore of the big lake), and all the ladies were fantastic and funny and it was a great night- a bit chilly, but I love outdoor concerts in the summer.
Today I was tired- it started out sunny (very important after all that rain)- but clouded in later in the day. We went up to my mother-in-laws place in Wolfeboro-didn't swim but enjoyed reading by the water- a favorite thing to do! Below here is some fun photos of my honeys-including my very handsome newly groomed doggie-man Harley and my boat loving husband and Katie.

Look at this!

Yes, we had blue sky and sunshine this morning! Wow!


Some cool photos of my garden flowers with the moisture from last night still beaded on them.

So other than running out for my haircut, I hung home. Started getting my travel journal ready and also worked on my sewing book-which was meant to be my submission to Sew Somerset, but after working quite a bit today I came to the conclusion its not going to be ready to mail by tomorrow and its not worth the stress trying to finish it. Its too good of a book to rush. I'm ok with that too, after wondering with a bit of stressful thoughts how I was going to finish it without staying up all night. No, not worth the lack of sleep.

A little of this and a little of that

Some of my mosaic art!

Watching the Pink Panther 2-with Steve Martin, and I am really enjoying this DVD. Not award winning- but fun- especailly after spending another morning to curriculum work at school (but now we're done till just about school time and I do get some extra cash for this). Then went to lunch with a co-worker at this Irish restaurant downtown Portsmouth called Ri Ra-cool place-in an old bank. Had a nice turkey sandwhich and a Boddington's beer-yum. I've tried several new eateries this summer which is summer so far-fun! Of course it wasn't a bad day to work since yes, once again, its raining. And I have 20 pages left in Dead Until Dark-which I must finish, once the movie is done most likely. I was hoping to finish before I left for school this morning since I didn't need to be in till 9, but couldn't quite do it. Don't you hate when that happens?

Something new

Hey-it's raining-what's new and different about that? 2 days of sun-at least 2 days of this WET weather-I'm rottening on the vine! Of course, it wasn't the worse day since I went in to do curriculum work at school and Katie had to go to the dentist for 2 fillings. Plus we fixed her car (eeks-$438 later-talk about feeling broke ) and a quick trip toTarget where I picked up the 3 books above-almost finished with Dead after Dark and then I'm going to read Julia and Julia- before I see the movie. Plus, yummy- we went to the Rusty Hammer in Portsmouth for lunch- the locals restaurant- and they have the BEST BURGERS ever-they call them whimpies-with spicy waffle fries-YUMMY!
So tomorrow I work on currriculum again in the morning- but I don't want to go in Thursday- and it is optional- but I have art to do-my Sew Somerset submission due July 15th- next week- plus we're off on Tuesday a.m. for our vacation, but I will feel guilty about not going into work- I must be STRONG! Just that I can use the cash- hopefully the ladies I work with will work on another day-some other time-some other place...be STRONG!

Gorgeous sun!!!

OK, so right now all of us here in New England have a bit of sun worship going on- after getting so little of it for so many days. Me included. Lounged out in the screen porch this morning and on the dock of my mother-in-laws this afternoon. Walked this morning too, started my submission to Sew Somerset that needs to get completed and sent out ASAP!!! I may end up sending out something else, lets see about time this week. I also started a great fun read today- hope to finish it tonight or tomorrow morning-Dead Until Dark- a murder mystery with vampires and people who read minds...am loving it. Thanks to my friend Melinda for recommending it to me.

Sunshine is a Great Thing

Wow, July 4th weekend is winding up. It sure did fly by. Friday after Ina left I slept and then we went to see the new movie Public Enemies with Johnny Depp. Good film-but they maybe made Dillenger a bit of a hero_ I don't know much about the man and the bank robber and how to fact the flick was.

Yesterday after a guilt ridden and fighting myself kind of morning- Dave convinced me to drive with him to Massachusetts to go to a cook out my Dad's family was having. I'm very glad I went because it was great to see everyone and one of my uncles is really ill and it was good to see him while we still can. I also got to see another uncle who had recently been treated for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and is doing well- didn't expect I would ever get to give him a big hug again and it was great to be able to do that. Plus, mom was there and my cousins and aunts, so it was a good day. Lastly, the weather was better as you went south so it was nice to not have any rain for a day-as they did get some here.Today was also sunny, but cool and breezy, so we went to the lake-after lunch at Pop's (our local fried clam place in Alton Bay)-of course now Dave and Katie (who spent yesterday at the lake and not at the family party with us and spent today at some friends on Merrymeeting) are both cranky about that because of someone there who drives them nuts and is my new "best friend", anyhow- that's a long and different story.

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And next week- we go to California-next week! Wow.

happy Independence Day

Celebrate!

Have Fun!

Happy July 4th Holiday to you all!