Travel West, then Westward Some More

These have been two hectic weeks, going from Maryland to New Mexico to Arizona, then back to Maryland. Just enough I like to say to read a few newspapers and do about 3 or 4 batches of laundry. Try to connect with a bit of our regular life and then get back on an airplane.

This time to Los Angeles with a flying trip down to San Diego and back. It could have been an easier trip to San Diego but the freeways were pretty jammed and this lead to a lot of herky jerky driving. The driver got cranky and the two passengers were not so amused either. However, on this short trip our grandson saw the colleges he wanted to see, and having seen them is pretty sure he is not a SoCal man. It's good to see and feel the vibe of an area and know that while it's nice for a visit, it's not what you want for four years or a lifetime.

My one friend said that the East Coast has a lot of granite in it's makeup. In the soil, and in the makeup of people. CA's land is shifting constantly and that is reflected in the easier way of life. Sometimes you just need to know what fits you.

We two grandparents and one grandson agreed....it's a beautiful place to visit (despite the record breaking temperatures we had over the weekend) but in reality, it's not really us. East Coasters? yep that's us. But we did have some fun in the California sun!

Not the greatest of photos with my iPhone but definitely some great memories for me.

On My Desk...August 5

Well this has been my desk for part of this week, down in the kitchen using the kitchen table. Unfortunately, I realized later that I had put the setting on close up, so there is an unfortunate unusual quality to the shot. (The only reason I am able to use the kitchen table is because dh is not home to be eating his 3 square a day here.)



I made good progress on some ATCs and feel I am getting a better handle on both creating them, and actually fabricating them. I really would like to take a class/be in a group making them. Ok, so this is putting that out there, so I'll wait and see what the universe comes up with.

(Now click that On My Desk button over on the right to see more desks and works in progress.)

I also heard from the fisherboys who reached their 100lb halibut limit for the day today and again called my son out in the desert lands. My dgs is getting an eyeball workout with all the scenery and the animal life...seeing whales frolicking up close and personal. I could tell from Dick's voice how much he is loving the company of a young 'un and the opportunity to share one of his loves...Alaska and fishing.

Good thing I have one empty freezer now!

Fisherboy checks in

I had a nice call from fisherboy up in Alaska. He and dgrandson are having a great time. I'm told that dgs's mouth tends to just hang open in awe as he sees the magnificent scenery of that state. They also got to call my ds who is halfway round the world, nearly 12 hrs away from Alaska. Technology...ya gotta love it.



Today the 'boys' went up to Mendenhall glacier which dh and I explored back in 2000. DH says it is receding at the rate of 300-500ft a year, and so they had to do a lot more walking to get to it. I'm soo glad dgs was able to make this trip and I can tell dh is enjoying the company. DGS was 6 when we got married and it's been so nice to have a grandfather to add to me as a grandmother.



Tomorrow they start their fishing - halibut and salmon - and I hope to hear that this 2007 photo has been duplicated.



And what did I do today??? Went to the Farmers' Market and got some upscale food pour moi..rosemary and hazelnut bread, seafood soup. a box of mixed mushrooms, and a berry tart. Betwixt and between working on a lot of ATC cards, I watched a dvd of MI-5 (I'm in the middle of season 3) and reorganized my studio so I can get some of the a/c on the tall work table. A good day all around for our family.

Tomorrow I clean and esp deal with all the semi-hidden areas where dear Sebastian has lost his cookies dinner. Oh yeah...I have to clean defrost one of the freezers in anticipation!