Family Camp!

We're all packed and ready to go to Calistoga, California for a week of family camp! Mountain Home Ranch is the name of the camp and I'm adding a few pictures so you can see where we'll be. Lake, pools, sulfur springs, fishing, no TV or media! Heaven! On to top it all off, my dear and wonderful friend Cory and her three girls are going too! Yea! Annie and I were upgraded from a rustic cabin to the lodge (pictured above) with our own bathroom, and I can't tell you how excited Annie and I are! I'm so glad I went ahead and registered for camp with this San Francisco Bay Area group since we will be moving up there in less than a month. I've brought watercolors for both of us, Annie's fishing pole, and a few good books. Oh, and my camera. Who knows what we'll get up to. Mostly I want to relax, connect with Annie, and not think about moving. Hope everyone has a great week!

Fishing For Compliments

My dear friend Sara and I set off today for Loch Lomond so the kids could do some fishing, and we could do a little knitting. It was so cold and foggy down here at the ocean in the morning, and we were fully expecting it to be sunny and warm in the mountains. Nope. Luckily, we found a nice spot protected from the cold wind, and Annie and Ezra fished and played while we chatted, picnic-ed, and enjoyed the scenery despite the temperature. I baited the hooks *ugh*, although no fish were caught, just algae and a few twigs. Annie struck a few poses (!) while sitting on the pier waiting for a fish to bite, and I took a few more pics as we explored the redwoods surrounding the loch.

One Leaf For Sunshine

What a great surprise! Annie found a four-leaf clover at the park today! We brought it home and put it right into the flower press. Annie said she made a wish, and that she couldn't tell me what it was, because it might not come true.

Alameda, Here We Come!

Wow! I'm so thrilled to show you our new house! I'm so relieved that we have found our new place and that I love it so much. Alameda is a quick ferry ride across the bay from San Francisco where Bill will be working. This old and wonderful house has three big bedrooms, two baths, a formal dining room, and huge foyer and a basement. Plus a great yard with a pear and lemon tree. I can't wait!! We get the keys on July, 1st, and we'll have all month to fine tune it, then we'll move in close to August 1st. I'm going to have so much fun decorating, and just living in the place. My nerves are a bit frazzled still, and I've got a ton to do still with packing, cleaning, and preparing for family camp in two weeks, so you probably won't hear much from me...
But isn't it great?
I'll take better pics next time. The above photo is of the just the side of the house, the front is great too. Below is the dining room, then living room into foyer, then kitchen detail. The living room is HUGE with many wonderful built-ins. Whooopeee!

Oh yea! Pat, did you know that Alameda is an island?

Thanks Nina

I've always loved taking care of children, but I have to say, I never enjoyed a baby (other than my own) more than I enjoyed little Miss Nina Rose. She radiates such trust and delight, so easy to "read" her needs and satisfy them. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every second of caring for her! I think Annie did too. Which surprises me a bit. Babies can be hard work. Not Nina though. Such a wonderful little gal. I guess it's really the first time I've taken care of a little one since Annie was born and maybe the experience of being a mom shifted how open I can be to a child. And maybe how much I surrender and really connect. I just know I loved being with her and Annie, and that we'll miss her.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Sara and I brought the kids to the park recently and there was a man and a woman there rehearsing an Asian/Martial Arts style dance number. Annie and Ezra sat there mezmerized for a while, then they both jumped up and began to copy each move. So they rehearsed twice and then put on their own performance for us folks and a few passers by. They were delightful and hysterical! Afterwards Bill and I and Sara and Rob took the kids out for a celebration dinner and we toasted them with horchata on their efforts. Basically, more of the making-it-painful-now-that-were-moving kinda stuff.

A Moment

I sat and knitted a bit today while watching over baby Nina napping in the rocking chair, and my Annie "working" with chalk on the front walk . Ahhhh. Such a peaceful feeling sitting enjoying my little cottage and these two sweet girls! Of course it was just a moment, then Annie came in with powdered chalk covering every part of her body, and Nina woke up starving! I will say though, that I'm enjoying turning my complete attention to these two since I have so much on my mind. I'm noticing my left arm is sore from holding Nina for long periods of time when she's here! What a wonderful reason to be sore! We'll have her a few times next week and then that will be it since Nina's mom is taking a job closer to her home in San Jose. We will miss her terribly.

(Photos top to Bottom)
Fireplace Tiles in our house.
Nina asleep in the rocker.
Starting my hat.
Annie busy with chalk.