Monthly Archives: March 2009

Trip to Cali PART 6:

March 17-19
Our last few days:

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Exploring the golf course some more…

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Eating lunch at The Willows country club.  What a menu!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Fresh lemonade.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

It’s nice to be outdoors!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Lemonade.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

My hubby’s salad came with a pretty orchid.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Such a gorgeous view!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

I put the orchid in my hair.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Back home, out on the patio.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

The view out towards the golf course.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Paul found the fruit picker could also be a vicious weapon.  :]

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

We spent quite a few afternoons soaking up the sun by the pool.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Another flower!  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Another sunset!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Another trip around the golf course!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

The door to grandma’s.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Another outdoor shopping center, where we ate lunch before we headed back to the airport.  They have OUTDOOR escalators!!  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Palm trees and mountains.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Inside the airport.  It’s refreshing to be indoors yet outdoors at the same time, especially in a busy place like an airport!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Looking up at the airport…cool!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

What a trip!!!!  We hope to come back soon!  :]  

Trip to Cali PART 5: The Aerial Tram

On 3/15, we drove to the Palm Springs Aerial Tram.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

It was a little bit of a drive…

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

I didn’t get very many good pictures on the way up the mountain….too crowded.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Here we are at the top!  What a view of the valley!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

My hubby admires the view.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

There were trails to explore too.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

I found a great big pinecone!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

And a big tree.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

My hubby is so strong, he was able to push that big tree….just a little!  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

It was a little chilly up there on the mountain, but the sun helped keep us warm!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

There was snow up there too……ahhhhhh!  Reminders of winter back home!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

I walked between this giant log.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Awwww, my happy hubby.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

He’s showing off more of his strength.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Mountain flowers.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Rocky. 

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Back towards the building/tram.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Now we’re on our way back down the mountain on the tram!  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

I was able to get much better pictures this time.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Pictures just don’t do it justice. 

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

You can see the entire valley from up here.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Wind farms.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

The tram has a floor that slowly moves, allowing everyone to get a 350-degree view of the scene!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

We’re almost back to the bottom!  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

This is the tram.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Safely at the bottom once more, we got a picture together using the camera’s timer.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

See the little salamander??

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Driving back down the mountain.  

Trip to Cali PART 4: Squeezing Oranges

A STORY:  Squeezing Oranges

One day, my hubby decided to make freshly squeezed orange juice.  I decided to help — mostly by taking pictures.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

We picked lots of oranges and tangerines.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

We brought them inside.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Mmmmm!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

We did it the old-fashioned way — by hand. 

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

After lots of hard work….look how much we made!   

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

And look how much of a mess we made!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

It was lots of hard work, but let me tell you, it was sooooooo delicious.  :]

Trip to Cali PART 3: the great outdoors

At grandma’s country club:
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

This is “The Wash” – where all the rain water drains from the mountains after a heavy rain (which only happens about 4 or 5 days out of the year).  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Palm trees!  What a wonderful sight.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

More oranges…..this time, using the fruit picker.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Sunset!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Country club building. 

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Pool of water on the golf course.  Do you see the crane?

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

You have to watch out for those sprinklers when you’re walking around the golf course.  It’s hazardous out there!  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Flowers were blooming everywhere.  I love pansies!  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

I don’t know what this is called.  Yellow flower, I guess.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Snapping dragons are so fun.  

Trip to Cali PART 2: Airport, picking oranges, and shopping

Here’s our first view of sunny California, outside the airport:

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Let me tell ya, it’s love at first sight!!!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

My hobby is reaching to pick an orange.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

And there it is!  He’s so proud.  

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Palm trees!!!!  :]

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

This is an outdoor shopping mall.  I wish all malls could be like this!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Just beautiful.  (p.s. – not a real crane)

Trip to Cali PART 1: On the Plane

My hubby and I are off on a trip to California!  I managed to get some shots from the plane rides:
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

What a sunrise!!!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Such gorgeous colors…

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

There’s Lake Michigan.

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

These are from Plane #2….

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Oooo, now we’re over the mountains!

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Snow.  🙁

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali
From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

We sat right next to the plane’s engines….it was a little loud.  :S

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

Now it’s more desert-like….

From 2008 03/14-19 Trip to Cali

We’re almost there!  :]

More updates to come.  

Our Indoor Flower Garden

Springtime brings the arrival of new blooms.  Here’s what’s blooming in our neck of the woods:

From Random Pics 2009

Orchid.  This year’s Valentine’s Day gift.  

From Random Pics 2009

My new Hyacinth starting blooming yesterday.  I had no idea what color it would be.  And SURPRISE!  It’s pink!  :]

From Random Pics 2009
From Random Pics 2009
From Random Pics 2009

This is a new bulb we planted just a few weeks ago.  It’s called a Narcissis (?)  — if I’m remembering correctly.  

From Random Pics 2009

This is a little maple tree that is waking up from a long, winter doze.  My hubby plans to grow it into a Bonsai tree.  

From Random Pics 2009
From Random Pics 2009
From Random Pics 2009
From Random Pics 2009

Young seedlings…..signs of Spring!  

From Random Pics 2009