You Gotta Go There to get there

Seth @ School

2012-02-17T17:43:00.000-06:00

Always
Unique
Totally
Intelligent
Sometimes
Mysterious

Mia's Christmas Recital

2011-12-17T11:59:00.000-06:00

Mia Ballerina

Mia and her girlfriend

Mia, front left corner

2011-12-17T11:46:00.000-06:00

Mia and Aiden
hmmmm
Wonder what they asked Santa for this year...

Star Light

2011-11-23T14:32:00.001-06:00

Star city of the South
Roanoke VA
Mill Mt Star

Perhaps they are not really stars in the sky but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.
~Eskimo Legend~

love my ..... nieces to pieces

2011-11-12T09:53:00.001-06:00

Nicole

Shannon

Families are tied together with heart strings

Sweet as cupcakes

They light up our lives

From my Grandmother, to my children and their children

2011-11-11T07:24:00.004-06:00

Many years ago my Grandmother Powell gave me a clipping from the newspaper. I have always carried it with me and have tried to live by her example. To me both my grandmothers were "one classy lady"...

There's no substitute for class

Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident,

and it can handle whatever comes along.

Class has a sense of humor. It knows that a good laugh is the best lubricant for oiling the machinery of human relations.

Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from past mistakes.

Class knows that good manners are nothing more than a series of small sacrifices and minor inconveniences.

Class bespeaks an aristocracy unrelated to ancestors or money. Some extremely wealthy people have no class at all, while others who are struggling to make ends meet are loaded with it.

Class is real. You can't fake it. Class is comfortable in its own skin. It never puts on airs.

Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down. Class is already up and need not attempt to look better by making others look worse.

Class can "walk with kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch." Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class because he is comfortable with himself.

If you have class, you've got it made. If you don't have class, no matter what else you have, it won't make up for it.

~Ann Landers~

You look BOOtiful tonight

2011-10-31T22:57:00.000-05:00

A spooking we will go...

ttHapp

Fall 2011

2011-10-27T13:43:00.001-05:00

Fall colors on Smith Mt Lake, VA

"Way Back When"sday

2011-10-26T00:01:00.003-05:00

Little Emil, Kenny, Jaime, Emil and our cat Bobbi

Burley Idaho, summer 1979

Babci Wisdom

2011-10-23T10:13:00.002-05:00

Head of the Class

2011-10-21T23:09:00.004-05:00

Seth, Emilia and Aiden

Their first school pictures

preschool year

"Way Back When"sday

2011-10-19T12:33:00.001-05:00

Stevie's October birthday sometimes gave us great

excuses to celebrate with a

Halloween Birthday Party, what could be more fun!

1988 and 1989

Walton, NY

btw Happy Birthday Steve!!

Pumpkin Patch Kids

2011-10-18T23:12:00.002-05:00

I'll love ya till the end of vine...

Ella

Emilia

Aiden

Nathan, Max, Isabel

"Way Back When"sday

2011-10-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

Our trip to Jackson Hole, Wy. with Grandmom and Grandpop

abt 1982

On the Road Again

Pup Cup

2011-10-07T13:51:00.002-05:00

If it isn't bad enough that I am hooked on my Pumpkin Spice Lattes,

NOW

they have hooked Jesse on their Pup Cups...

Ask @ a Starbucks near you, lol

"Way Back When"sday

2011-10-05T22:32:00.000-05:00

Emil, Jaime and "little" Emil

Idaho 1984

Lookin' for Papa Smurf

2011-09-29T20:06:00.002-05:00

“All mushrooms are edible - once”

Smurfs are little blue people that live in magic mushrooms,
think about it...

"Way Back When"sday

2011-09-28T13:17:00.001-05:00

Emil fishing Castaic Lake, CA
Nice striper!

Mia Ballerina

2011-09-27T22:44:00.000-05:00

Dancing is like dreaming with your feet!
~Constanze~

Our Jesse @ four months, 38lbs

2011-09-25T23:52:00.004-05:00

Atlanta vaca

2011-09-22T21:35:00.013-05:00

We stayed downtown at the Comfort Suites, beautifully renovated. I always love staying in older hotels (daytime and night shots)

views from our window

coffee break @ Waffle House

lunch time, world famous hotdogs at The Varsity

our second time to enjoy Wicked, would go again

"Way Back When"sday

2011-09-21T19:37:00.003-05:00

Emil, Jaime, Steve and Uncle Bob

abt 1985

Visalia Times Delta

2011-09-16T22:39:00.002-05:00

"Above" is a photograph by Stefan John Barycki / Submitted

Looking to hear some live music this upcoming week? Here are some options, including an interesting hybrid of music and art:

Art and music

Here's a unique show: On Monday at The Cellar Door, Visalia-based photographer Stefan John Barycki has organized a show featuring a combination of art and music.

Choices caught up with Barycki to ask him some questions about the show:

Question: How did this night of art and music come together? What motivated you to do this?

Answer: It was motivated by, as always, my family and friends. But most of all it was from my last show I did at Bravo Farms in Tulare last May. That's what really pushed to do another show. It really made me want to do something big this time. So I did the whole Sound N Vision combo.

Question: Talk about your photographs. The images are described as 40 feet by 60 feet. What inspired you to make such large prints?

Answer: The reason why I did the huge 40x60 is easy. I like things big. Go big or go home. When you see these prints in person, you will feel like you're in the photo. You will feel like you stood right next to me when I took the photo.

Question: You traveled throughout California and the Southwest taking these photos. Any surprises on the road? Did you have a favorite place you visited?

Answer: When traveling around California and the Southwest you will always run into surprises, and one of those surprises is weather. You gotta be up-to-date. Not just for the driving conditions but for getting that perfect exposure you've been waiting for the whole road trip. Plus, it's not fun driving in a high desert snow blizzard or northern California coast fog. The only way to see the road is to look at the GPS. If I would have to pick a favorite place it would have been the White House Ruins in Canyon De Chelly National Monument. It's so ancient, [it] feels like you're walking back in time.

Question: Can you give us a rundown on the three other artists whose work will be shown?

Answer: The other artists we got are:

ª Jacob Connelly from Visalia. He will be showing landscape photos as well as his street art, all on canvas.

ª Mike Stivers is a well-rounded artist from Tulare covering fine art to street art; he has been doing most of the art for and at Bravo Farms in Tulare. He will also be doing a live painting during the show

ª And from Lemoore we have Amy Poole, who will be showing her stencil work from classic horror movies to classic rock stars.

Question: How about the bands performing? What can you tell us about The Littlest Viking and Smokestack Lightning?

Answer: The Littlest Viking: Hard to say what kinda music they are, but this is what they have to say: "I don't know if that's technically a genre but if it is, we might be boldly categorized as such. Tambourines, outrageous drum fills, wicked tapping, hoarse shouting, noise freakouts, salsa beats and the occasional MJ sample are a staple of any TLV live show."

Smokestack Lightning from Visalia is a hard-hitting classic rock band with a sound right out of the 1970s. This will be their first time playing The Cellar Door.

"Quotations"

2011-09-16T20:25:00.003-05:00

Found this sign on Pinterest and pinned it to my board.

Finally I have a place to reference all the little life quotes I love using in my blog.

Not sure who's words of wisdom this quote belongs to but I am sure many a new Mother has received advice from her Mother or Mother-in-law and has shrugged it off to older generation meddling. But sometimes maybe we know what we're talking about and you might give us a little credit.

Thanks Jaime!!

"Way Back When"sday

2011-09-14T06:43:00.006-05:00

"My life is every moment of my life. It is not a culmination of the past."
~Hugh Leonard~

Me, my Mom and Dad, and my little brother

in our living room on Springfield Rd

Grandparents Day

2011-09-11T08:42:00.019-05:00

Today Mia and Aiden called to wish us a Happy Grandparents Day. And this got me to thinking how times have changed so much for the role as Grandparents.

Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like
This world's gone crazy
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn't seem so hazy

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days

Grandpa, everything is changing fast
We call it progress
But I just don't know
And Grandpa, let's wander back into the past
And paint me the picture
Of long ago

Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days

~Judds~

I always thought Grandparents Day was something Hallmark invented. But after a little research, I found out that in 1978 President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. A day set a side to honor our Grandparents.

When I was a child, we always observed our Grandparents on Mothers Day and Fathers Day along with our parents. But then our Grandparents were right there with us, helping our parents raise us, in most respects as an other set of older, wiser, parents. (with more hugs and extra spoilin' on the side)

Then when we started to raise a family of our own, our children and their Grandparents had a long distance relationship. But somehow, with annual cross country visits and very large phone bills (no cell phones and texting, back in the day), our children grew up having a very close relationship with them. But still it was very different from how we grew up. And their Grandparents were there to teach them lessons of life with large doses of love.

Now things are so very different for us as Grandparents. And so is Grandparenting. When I asked my Mother-in-law for advise, she said "you have to love them all the same". I could never understand that. How can you love everyone the same when everyone is different and has different needs. But then a lot of advice I have received from our parents didn't make sense til I got older.

In our blended family, we have 10 Grandchildren, 1 Great Grandchild and 1 more on the way. All are different and all are loved.

Jaime's family is a blended assortment, Jacque, Jake and Skyler are from Anthony's first marriage and have been part of our family for 11 years. They have an over abundance of family and Grandparents from his and their Mom's family, but we still love our family time with them and sharing in their growing up. Jacque is married and has her little boy, Drew, and a baby girl on the way. Jake is a college guy and Sky is busy with High School and sports. The younger trio (turning 4) are ours to "spoil". (We also have Grandmom Lynn and Grandmom Sally helping out). Mia is our tiny dancer, always looking and observing. If you watch her eyes, you might know what her next move will be. Aiden is bubbling over with knowledge and ideas about everything on wheels and delights in sharing all that is "Thomas". Seth is our little man of few words but makes up with it in smiles and kisses. One look from him and your heart is melted. He has his challenges daily with Autism and is learning more every day

Just down the road a few miles we have Emil and Radojka's kiddles. The twins, now 3, are a double dose of energy. Isa loves her dollies and cuddling, she would be the softer side of this duo if Max would let her, but he has other ideas and is always keeping everyone on their toes. When you catch a half smile and a twinkle in his one eye, watch out, you never know what's next with him. Then there is my buddy Nathan, a very wise and knowing 11 year old. We have grown very close over the years and really enjoy our times together, whether it's exploring across country in a train, fishing or just sitting and talking, we have shared and tried to come up with solutions for many of the world's problems together.

And we have one more Grandchild (1 year old), Vicki, living across the state, that we have yet to meet. After Emil and Rado's divorce, Emil had another little girl that is living with her Mother. There are a lot of mixed feelings and we hope some day we will be able to get to know her and watch her grow with her brothers and sister.

So as they say, "these times they are a changin", and Grandparenting isn't always the same for everyone. But I know how much we love each and everyone of these guys and hope for a wonderful and happy childhood with lots of great memories of their Grandmom and Grandpop, just like we had.

And I'll always remember to love them all, just the same.

"Grandparents are "the fourth leg" of the family table - we're there to stop it from wobbling."

~Penelope Leach~

The fourth leg is not allowed to wander away from the table – because if it did, what would there be to prevent it all from crashing down?

Kiddle Update

2011-09-07T11:47:00.000-05:00

Isa and Max turn 3

Aiden (left) and Mia (right) walk to their first day of school with their neighbor Andrew

My Kids

2011-09-01T11:23:00.001-05:00

"They know me in a way no one ever has.

They open me to things I never knew existed.

They drive me to insanity and push me to my depths.

They are the beat of my heart, the pulse of my veins,

and the energy in my soul."

They are my kids...

Introducing Jesse

2011-08-30T15:07:00.003-05:00

Our new puppy is a furry ball of energy. Jesse is a Goldendoodle (more Golden than doodle). Not the pick of the litter but non the less a wonderful little puppy and our new addition to our family. His temperment is wonderful and he'll love his little "grandkiddles" when he gets to meet them.

Dedication

2011-08-28T17:25:00.005-05:00

♫ Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be gamers ♪

♪ ♪ let them be doctors and lawyers and such ♪

Cause they never leave home ♫

♪ and they're always alone

♫ Mamas don't let your babies be gamers...♪

Because your too close to level 70

to give a crap about visiting Grandma

Earthquake? Virginia?

2011-08-23T07:25:00.001-05:00

The earth moved today, felt completely different than any earthquaking I've experienced.

Seriously thought the house was going to explode but not a thing in the house, other than the floor, moved. Nothing swaying, nothing falling off shelves. I ran outside, but the ground was shaking too, instantly I knew it was an earthquake. Our visiting friends from Germany were down swimming in the lake, they felt nothing! What a pity.

West Coast Time

2011-08-16T22:59:00.007-05:00

"Happiness is a summer breeze,

sand between your toes,

and your grandchildren by your side."

Morro Rock, Morro Bay, CA

“The beach is in our blood.

Everyone in our family returns to the beach instinctively,

just like the sea turtles.”

Cambria board path along the ocean

My kiddles,

Seth, Emilia, and Aiden

Elephant seals

Our Buddy

2011-08-14T13:22:00.006-05:00

God loves all His creation

and has made plans for all His children and the lesser creatures

to enjoy His eternal Kingdom.

Psalm 145:-9-10,13,15-21

Last week my best Buddy and companion passed away and crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Buddy was an amazing and gentle, loving and funny Briard, loved by everyone that had the honor of meeting him. For 11 years he has been by my side in our moves and travels. He raised 18 of his own puppies with Rose and helped with 6 of our grandchildren.

Nathan, Max, Isa, Aiden, Seth and Mia learned what it's like to have the love of a dog while growing up with him.

I think his favorite place to live was our past year on the beach. He loved his walks in the surf and playing with his beach friends and the grandkids in the sand. And he loved riding in the Mustang with the top down.

You and your smile will always be missed and I'll look for you at the Bridge.

Girls Nite Out

2011-08-10T11:57:00.005-05:00

A night out with my girls, Radojka, Jaime, Jen and Mia, at Olive Garden for Jaime's birthday (Isa was home with her Daddy).

Fun and food, always a good combo.
Happy Birthday Jaime

Great Day!!

2011-08-09T11:11:00.001-05:00

My son the celebrity!!

Good morning to our KMPH FOX 26 Facebook Friend of the Day...

Cat fishing

2011-08-01T17:15:00.003-05:00

Catfishing is all about memories. And if you don't have that special friend or family member to share that "fish of a lifetime," or "the one that got away," then you're missing a piece of the puzzle.

While night fishing with Grandpop, Nate caught a 16lb flathead with live blue gill bait.

Nice job Nathan!!!

Summer Safari

2011-07-30T15:16:00.008-05:00

Let's see, what shall we do?

The heat and humidity are unbearable and record breaking

but we simply must get out of the house..

A drive thru zoo,

in an air conditioned car.

The Safari Park!!

Someone told me
It's all happening at the zoo.

I do believe it,
I do believe it's true

~Simon and Garfunkel~

Family Ties

2011-07-28T23:19:00.003-05:00

"Family ties may lengthen to accommodate distance but they are never broken"

~John Boy Walton~

Uncle Kenny, Nicole, Nathan and Shannon

Welcome Baby Ella

2011-07-25T10:17:00.005-05:00

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.

~Barbara Bush~

Our newest niece, Ella Grace

Welcome to the family

Congrats Amy & Tim

Three Times The Charm

2011-07-23T04:08:00.011-05:00

Grandchildren are the dots ......

that connect the lines from generation to generation.

Sunshine Gonna Wash My Blues Away

2011-07-21T23:43:00.016-05:00

Took a week vacation in Cape May with Radojka, Max, Isabel and Babci,

we had a wonderful time.
"Knee deep in the water somewhere

got the blue sky, breeze and it don't seem fair

the only worry in the world

is the tide gonna reach my chair"

"Sunrise, there's a fire in the sky

never been so happy

never felt so high

and I think I might have found me

my own kind of paradise"

‎"Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."

~ Dory~

~Zac Brown Band~

Just Fishin'

2011-07-07T11:52:00.006-05:00

"An she thinks we're just fishing on the river side,
throwing back what we could fry,
drowning worms an killing time,
nothing too ambitious
she ain't even thinking bout what's really going on right now
but I guarantee this memories a big one
and she thinks we're just fishin' "

~Trace Adkins~

Notice Max looking at the worm...

Grandpa gave him one to touch

and he thew it right to the water...

He was just feeding the fishes...

Vacation on the Lake

2011-07-05T23:30:00.002-05:00

"The simplest toy,

one which even the youngest child can operate,

is called a grandparent"

~Sam Levenson~

Grandpa giving scooter lessons our boat ride to our neighbors island waiting for the fireworks on July 4th on Smith Mt Lake

Search and Rescue Award

2011-06-30T16:22:00.004-05:00

Men who rescued ultramarathon runner honored

June 30--Three Visalia men were honored Wednesday by the National Park Service for their rescue of a Squaw Valley woman who fell through a snow bridge earlier this month at Sequoia National Park.Park officials presented Stefan Barycki, Christopher Edwards and Michael Voyles with NPS Search and Rescue pins during a news conference in Fresno."It's citizens like this that make the world go round," said Sequoia and Kings Canyon park superintendent...

"You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes."

~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.~

icy tunnel rescue

2011-06-21T21:57:00.000-05:00

Woman describes harrowing rescue from icy tunnel

Passersby rescue hiker who plunged through snowpack into icy waters in Sequoia National Park. Recovering from frostbite, she says she feels 'very, very lucky to be alive.'

June 21, 2011

The hard-packed snow atop Franklin Creek in Sequoia National Park appeared safe, but when Marcia Rasmussen, 51, walked across, it collapsed, plunging her into an icy tunnel with frigid water. For three hours, in freezing temperatures, she clawed at the frozen ceiling, her bare hands going numb and her body giving out before passersby found her.

FOR THE RECORD An article in the June 21 LATExtra about hiker Marcia Rasmussen identified Ed Patrovsky as a longtime friend of Rasmussen. He is a longtime friend of Rasmussen's husband.

An experienced hiker, marathon runner and skier, Rasmussen, of Squaw Valley, described last week's ordeal Monday. She said she is still recovering from minor frostbite that has blackened and blistered her hands and left knee, preventing her from training on the park's high-elevation trails. She said she "feels very, very lucky to be alive."

Temperatures were rising toward 80 degrees when Rasmussen left the Farewell Gap trailhead on Wednesday for a day hike to train for an ultra-marathon. She assessed the snowpack and crossed the bridge without incident, but by the time she came back, the 4-foot-thick foundation had weakened. It cracked open, dropping her the into fast flowing, freezing currents below.

"There was no warning," she said. "One second I'm walking on top of snow, then I'm in the water. There was no warning."

Rasmussen trained wilderness search-and-rescue teams in Virginia for 30 years. So she didn't panic as she fell through the 4-foot-thick snow bridge. "It was like being flushed down a toilet," Rasmussen said.

Dragged by the current along the narrow, icy tunnel, she tumbled down a waterfall before finding branches to stop herself. She told herself not to panic. "You don't have time to think," she said. "My only thought was: get out of the water. It's a very fast way to die. There is no swimming in water that cold."

She pulled herself out of the water into a small alcove. But she was still stuck beneath several feet of hardened snowpack, wearing only nylon jogging clothes.

Rasmussen looked for telltale light blue patches in the snow, a sign that it was thin enough to let light through, and began clawing at what turned out to be 2 feet of frozen snow.

"I used to do search and rescue, so the whole time I'm digging, I know what I'm up against," Rasmussen said. "I know how people die in the snow, but there wasn't much I could do."

Spiritual but not religious, Rasmussen said she prayed and "talked to myself a lot, telling myself I had to be smart and think through my options, telling myself to keep digging."

About the time her freezing arms were beginning to give out, she threw her hydration pack out of the hole, which was about 6 inches in diameter. "I hadn't seen anybody on this trail all day, but there's always hope," she said. "And that's exactly what happened."

Stefan Barycki, 26, a photographer from Visalia, noticed the backpack. Barycki said he wasn't alarmed when he examined the pack, thinking that someone had left it behind. When he saw the hole and peered down, he spotted Rasmussen looking back at him.

"It freaked me out someone was down there," Barycki said. "I could see her mouth saying 'Help,' but she couldn't speak and was shaking like crazy."

Barycki screamed for his friend to come over and they enlarged the hole. They hoisted her out, took off their shirts, and wrapped them around her. Rasmussen was incoherent and suffering fromhypothermia. She said she remembers very little of the rescue.

After feeding her PowerBars, Barycki left to get water out of his pack on the other side of the snow bridge, when it collapsed under him. He scrambled out, but was shaken and cautious, and remained on the other side, monitoring Rasmussen from a short distance.

By chance, Ed Patrovsky, a retired park ranger and longtime friend of Rasmussen, walked by on her side of the creek, and gave her his sleeping bag and more clothing. The men waited for about two hours until the park's helicopter arrived, as well as a medic and ranger on foot.

Rasmussen says she was able to walk away and didn't need the park's medical assistance or evacuation. She left the park around nightfall, went to pick up her husband from work, which is a 2 1/2-hour drive, came home and slept.

"I am strong and determined," Rasmussen said. "I do well in the outdoors and in extreme situations. I didn't know till the last second if I was going to make it, but I didn't let myself dwell on those thoughts.

"I will be back up there as soon as I can run again," she said.

Mineral King Rescue

2011-06-15T17:13:00.003-05:00

“I am always doing things I can’t do. That is how I get to do them.”

~ Pablo Picasso ~

Steve and his friends frequently go hiking in the Mineral King area of the Sequoia National Park, not far from our home in Visalia, cameras and backpacks in hand. This area has just recently opened because of snow. Only Wednesdays trip turned into more than they had expected. While headed back to the car for supplies, Steve noticed a backpack on a mound of snow. After investigating area he finds a a lady had fallen 5 feet through a snow bridge over one of the creeks and into the water. She was trying to dig her way out and had been there for 3 hours. Hypothermia set in causing her to be incoherent. Steve started digging down to her, falling in himself. He and one of his friends were able to get her out while the other headed out on foot to find the rangers. They bundled her up in their clothes and another hiker came by and had a sleeping bag for her. They waited several hours before rescue arrived, only to have her decline any help.

I just can't express how proud I am of my son and his friends, Chris and Mike...

Visalia Times-Delta

Squaw Valley woman escapes entrapment under snow in creek in Sequoia

written by staff report

A Squaw Valley woman escaped serious injury Tuesday after she fell into a high sierra creek and was trapped for more than three hours under snow in the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park, according to Dana Dierkes, spokesperson for Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.

The 52-year-old woman told authorities she had been training for an ultra marathon. At 5:15 p.m. Tuesday the park service initiated a search and rescue for her.

She chose the Farewell Gap trail head for a solo hike Tuesday. She hiked up Farewell Canyon and crossed Franklin Creek on a snow bridge. On her return, the snow bridge collapsed under her.

She fell into Franklin Creek and traveled downstream about 30-40 feet underneath the snow, Dierkes said.

Although she could stand in the creek, she could not reach the surface of the snow. The woman dug a hole in the five feet of snow over her head using her hands.

She threw her backpack out of the hole. Luckily, other hikers spotted the pack and came closer to investigate it. By this time, the woman was incoherent, Dierkes said. She suffered from hypothermia.

One of the hikers went back to the trail head for help. Other hikers remained with her and helped her warm up.

When rangers arrived on the scene, the woman declined evacuation by helicopter and medical treatment. A ranger assisted her to the trail head.

(pictures by Steve and Chris)

Virginia Visitors

2011-06-15T06:51:00.007-05:00

Hiding in plain sight.

Do raccoons sleepwalk during the day when they're hungry?

Always take time to stop along the road and help a turtle to the other side.

Smith Mt Lake & Railroad Thunder

2011-06-08T08:28:00.010-05:00

Fishing and trolling on Smith Mt. Lake on a warm and beautiful summer night.

Railroad iron is a magician’s rod, in its power to evoke the sleeping energies of land and water. -~ Ralph Waldo Emerson~(1803–1882)

My Life

2011-05-19T16:58:00.004-05:00

You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpop took me on a roller coaster.
Up, down, up, down.

Oh, what a ride!
I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together!

Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing.

I like the roller coaster.

You get more out of it.

~Parenthood~

Bridge Crossing

2011-05-19T11:06:00.006-05:00

Jaime and her Dad were crossing a bridge.

Emil was kind of scared for her so he asked his little Jaime:

"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."
Jaime said...

"No, Dad. You hold my hand."

"What's the difference?" He asked puzzled

"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.
"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours...

School Daze

2011-05-06T21:25:00.003-05:00

light saber ✓

goggles ✓

ready to go to school✓

Isa and Max

Creating Vintage

2011-04-26T21:08:00.004-05:00

Before and after

Been having fun taking new pictures and making them old.

This was an old gas pump in front of the post office in Paint Bank, VA

One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.
~William Feather ~

Study Time for Joe

2011-04-26T21:03:00.001-05:00

Living in the mountains has been an adjustment for all of us, even Joe.

Brave Girls Club

2011-01-30T11:10:00.008-06:00

Dear Traveling Girl,

Life is a trip with a perfect itinerary that we cannot see.

Imagine it this way -- that there really IS an itinerary, but you just can't see it. There is an amazing destination, but you just don't know where the stops along the way will happen where you will have to refuel, where your best memories and your greatest lessons will happen.

We don't know that what may seem like useless detours are where we might meet the most amazing people of our lives, or enjoy the best scenery, or learn the most important things.

Sometimes we fail to enjoy the trip because we are so hung up on wanting to see the itinerary. You will have the best times of your life when you just TRUST that you are exactly where you are supposed to be, doing exactly what you are meant to be doing, and that tomorrow you will be lead to the next destination.

You always have been, you always will be.

Remember to travel light, only take what you need with you. It will make things so much easier.

ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT,

little birdie!

xoxo

Our Next Chapter

2011-01-30T00:47:00.003-06:00

On our way to our next stop on our road to retirement. This time we will be in the mountains of Roanoke Virginia on Smith Mountain Lake

Santa Barbara N Mission

2011-01-30T00:30:00.004-06:00

Not just another sunset

2011-01-24T11:21:00.002-06:00

" The rich fire of the orange sunset

gloriously announces the coming of the night."
~Susan S Florence~

Holiday Beach Bums

2011-01-04T00:23:00.008-06:00

Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children.

~Ruth Goode~

Harbor Lights

2010-12-27T11:16:00.009-06:00

Christmas is the one time of year when you can count on smiling faces and bright lights and awesome gifts and giant twinkling trees and family reunions and childish games and believing in that old man that you know doesn't exist. Christmas is the time when dreams come true.

Christmas California Style 2010

2010-12-25T15:56:00.014-06:00

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. ~ Augusta E. Rundel~

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:

the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

~ Burton Hillis ~

Portal to the Past

2010-08-30T21:00:00.002-05:00

Nothing is better than a trip back to the 50's,

even if it's just for a malt and some rock and roll

This week's challenge,

Photojournalism:

Using an image (or images) to tell a story.
Make sure to check out

some of the other great photo entries

I ♥ Faces Beach Fun

2010-08-24T14:20:00.009-05:00

A sunny day on a Malibu beach
Girls just wanna have fun!

Click on their logo

to see the many Beach Fun photo challenge entries

and join in the fun.

Six Words!

2010-08-13T17:34:00.004-05:00

Jaime has turned 33 this week

and I asked her in a text message today,

"to use a six word sentence to describe your life"...

her 42 word reply was...

"Wants to be in time out"

"Ran out of energy last year"

"Prays for patience more than anything"

"Will take food over sex anyday"

"Be careful what you wish for"

"Athlete trapped in a fat body"

"Mother to Aiden, Mia and Seth"

What would your answer be,

leave a comment...

"Way Back When"sday

2010-08-11T13:09:00.000-05:00

Our Burley, Idaho family

Ralph and Gaye helped raise these little guys for over 10 years

Cindy with Christine and Curtis were our bestest friends

abt 1985

Santa Monica Pier

2010-08-10T11:19:00.001-05:00

An evening at the Pier for Jaime's birthday, it was an action packed event!!

Longwood Gardens

2010-08-04T16:10:00.011-05:00

My son Steve and I really enjoy our "photo shoot" road trips.

These pictures were taken at Longwood Gardens

in Kennett Square, PA, in the Spring of this year

The weather was perfect inside and out!

Here a link to Stefan John Photography

Don't forget to link up with "The Long Road to China"

and add your Black and White photos.

And don't forget to leave comments

letting everyone know you stopped by to say hi.

"Way Back When"sday

2010-08-04T15:22:00.004-05:00

My little princess, Jaime, when she was 3 in Pocatello,

sitting at her vanity, a Christmas gift

from her Uncle Mike and Aunt Nell

12/1980

A Kiss Stolen

2010-08-04T00:07:00.006-05:00

Happiness is like a kiss

it feels best when you give it to someone else

~unknown~

This week In a Yellow House, the photo challenge is "The Animal Kingdom". This is one of my favorite shots taken at one of my most favorite places, the Philadelphia Zoo. Click your way on over to "Ramblings and Photos" and check out all the amazing pictures being shared.

Only the Toes Knows

2010-08-03T22:33:00.007-05:00

Sandles and painted toes, two "must haves" for California living
A 3 generation pic. Can you pik out the granny toes??
Taking my class in Photoshop has prompted my blogging again and visiting other bloggers who love taking pictures and sharing them. Not looking to go pro but definitely will be working towards amatuer, instead of the beginner that I am now. Baby steps for a baby boomer!
Along my links from blog to blog I came to "Mama and the Dudes", this is her first blog challenge and it looks like fun. Being a Grandmom to twins and triplets and the fact that her "dudes" are so dang cute and twins, may have caught my attention. So click your way on over to

"Mama Hearts Photo Challenge #1

Sitting on a street corner

2010-07-30T10:55:00.001-05:00

in Ventura California
California and Main

Dinner at Cafe Barilocne, serving temtatious South American cuisine and then sitting outside waiting while my husband handles business on his cell phone. But not to worry, I have my trusty G11 with me and I can entertain myself taking pictures. lol

street flower vendor

beautiful California buildings

a chair at a Thai restaurant

sunset and street lights are on

Black & White Wednesday

2010-07-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

If walls could talk.

The Eastern State Peniteniary of Philadelphia, PA was abandoned in 1971 after it's first prisoner entered 1829. Long abandoned it is now a thriving historic site and a national historic landmark. cell 352

1 0f 7 cell blocks

second floor

mirror observation for guards

tools of the trade

If you enjoy Black and White photography, head on over to "The Long Road to China" and check out more of this weeks entrys

"Way Back When"sday

2010-07-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

Steve and his Grandmom at her house on Berkley Ave.

aprox 1987

I'm back and I'm gonna be better than ever, I have found a new challenge and thanks to the help, motivation and inspiration from family and friends (new and old), by goodness, I think I can do it. I have always liked taking pictures and have boxes upon boxes to prove it, but they need to be shared. Plus with all these Grandkiddles (last count 11), someone has to be a historian. lol

So moving forward there will be more pictures, some old, some new, some black & white and some colorful.

All Aboard

2010-07-26T22:11:00.014-05:00

Fillmore Train Station

Home to the "Hollywood Movie Trains"

Over 400 films, tv shows and commercials produced here

Most recently

"Water for Elephants"

I Heart Faces - Weekly Photo Challenge

2010-07-26T00:41:00.004-05:00

This weeks challenge, PURPLE

One of Max and Isa's favorite places to go for dinner

is Tokyo Gardens, where they can talk to the fishies.

What a coincidence that Isa would where her purple shirt for Grandmom.

Click on their logo to see the many entries and join in the fun.

Trip on Rt 126

2010-07-22T16:36:00.005-05:00

Please go over to Lisa's Blog

to see many more original black & whites
by clicking on her logo

Our day in the Park

2010-07-15T22:42:00.002-05:00

click on link below....
Our day in the Park

Dunes are Down

2010-07-01T13:09:00.005-05:00

If it isn't snow, it's sand, June Gloom has lifted, the wind has stopped, the sun is shining and the sand dunes are being moved. Finally I can see the ocean from my window again!!

Beach Bums

2010-06-27T00:59:00.003-05:00

A day on the beach with Peepaw

Car Show & Dad's Day

2010-06-20T01:11:00.003-05:00

Car Show by the Harbor

Breakfast with Dad

Gossip Girls

2010-06-15T20:00:00.002-05:00

"No baby can be that long, and what's up with another boy!!"
Welcome to little Drew

another new beginning

2010-06-14T14:36:00.001-05:00

Jaime with her new Grandbaby, Drew

Jacque and baby are doing great!

9 lbs 21 3/4 in

Steve in Yosemite

2010-06-12T15:22:00.002-05:00

video by Steve's good buddy, Jake

Movin' on Up

2010-06-11T13:47:00.001-05:00

Skyler's 8th grade graduation.

Look out high school!!!

Graduate 2010

2010-06-08T01:09:00.004-05:00

Jake with his Grandfather and Dad on Graduation night.

Congratuation!!!

Next stop College of the Sequoia...

Benzini Brothers Circus Train

2010-06-06T23:16:00.012-05:00

Emil and I were out for our Sunday ride with the cameras and were delighted to find an old circus train going through the town of Fillmore.

Only to find out after googling the "Benzini" name on the ipad that this train is part of a movie set filming locally in Fillmore and Santa Paula. "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruin is a novel about a depression era traveling circus.

The funny thing is I just purchased the book to read a week ago. Better get started, looks like it will be a great ride...

If you enjoy Circus trains, check out my other blog for some very old Ringling Bros, Barnum and Baily pics

Harbor Life

2010-06-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

"Fall seven times, get up eight"

Side Note...

2010-06-02T18:36:00.003-05:00

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words,

watch your words, for they will become actions,

watch your actions, for they become habits,

watch your habits, for they become character,

watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

~unknown~

The Beach is open!

2010-06-02T17:13:00.003-05:00

Babci's Visit to Cali

2010-05-28T15:58:00.009-05:00

Happy Easter

2010-05-13T18:06:00.005-05:00

Easter weekend on Hollywood Beach with Emil, Radojka, Nate, Isa and Max

@ beach grandmom's

2010-02-27T16:41:00.002-06:00

Building Sand Castles

2010-02-27T16:04:00.000-06:00

Aiden and Mia build sand castles with their Dad while Grandpop watches

A New Chapter, A New Address, A New Year

2010-01-06T23:46:00.012-06:00

Emil and I will be moving to The Channel Islands Harbor area in Oxnard, CA. It's the downstairs apartment of a home on Hollywood Beach. A dream of mine for as long as I can remember has been to live by the beach. Thanks Emil!!
I love you!

Christmas Eve with Family 2009

2009-12-25T20:56:00.003-06:00

Em @ Work

2009-12-10T11:59:00.003-06:00

Just another day @ work.

Replacing old silos.

Emil on top of building

Out with the old, in with the new...

Who's driving?

2009-12-02T11:30:00.009-06:00

MY turn !
move over... BUT I was driving! I drive better...

door closed and on the road...

Thanksgiving Modesto

2009-12-02T11:04:00.005-06:00

Great time had by all,

family, friends and food

Seth

Mia and Aiden
Uncle Tiger and Nate

Mom and Nate

Mom and Mia and Uncle Emil

Tom Turkey

Amanda and Steve

Emil's famous pumpkin cheesecake

Grandpop and Isa

Emil's sausage stuffin'

Disney Christmas

2009-11-20T18:51:00.000-06:00

Fall Finally Arrives

2009-11-20T13:21:00.000-06:00

a little bit of Cali color

Football 2009

2009-11-12T15:09:00.002-06:00

Nathan

The Bears