Halloween 2010

Each Halloween, Christine invites her friends over to trick-or-treat, then dump candy on the floor and trade. It started out with one friend and has grown each year. Ellis (geek), Brett (Hobo), Christine (bat girl) , Madeline (Grrr) , Charlie (Star Wars), Abby (Glenda from "Wicked") and Gabby (Dorothy).

Oreo sporting the Halloween sweater she was forced to wear for a short time.

Christine's 12th Birthday Party

What a fabulous night time glow-in-the-dark birthday pool party! Because Christine's birthday falls so close to labor day, we usually have a party for her friends the week before. The girls ate chips and drank lemonade from glow-in-the-dark mugs. It was a hit! Thanks to Aunt Karleen.

The weather turned radically cold that day, so the jacuzzi was a must.

Karleen supplied glow-in-the-dark lizards, duckies, beach balls, and all the jewelry that we hung on the bushes behind the jacuzzi. When we went in for cake and ice cream, the girls adorned themselves with the jewelry.

The water wheel is so much fun! Each year, the party is better and better. I don't know how we will ever top this!

R-Ranch in the Sequoias

Another beautiful trip to the R-Ranch! I think Christine took this photograph. It was very cloudy on the way. In fact, that night we saw and heard a real thunderstorm. The next morning we learned that it sparked a small fire on the ranch.



Another photograph taken by Christine. She walked up the side of the red rocks at Red Rock Canyon and took a picture of our car.

Looking up from the red rocks.

I rarely get a photo of myself on the blog, so here it is, in our kitchen.

One of the three trail rides. Christine, Madeline and Tom woke up at 5:30 every morning to sign up.

Christine and Madeline befriended Meghan and Taylor. The four of them went on trail rides, swimming, visited each others' cabins, went to the general store for candy and told ghost stories.

These were the rock slides just a few minutes away from the ranch. Liz Watts, a friend of mine who introduced us to the camp, and her exchange student from Austria, Florian, took us there. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of them. A fire hose is attached on the side to climb back up . Wearing water shoes also helped to keep from slipping. I didn't slide down, but I'm told that the rocks are pretty smooth - not too hard on the bum.

These were bowl shaped rocks further above the rock slide. You could slide from one bowl into the other. They were only about chest deep on the girls. The water was COLD. The adults enjoyed dipping their feet or sunning.

Seal Beach with Gwen

My older sister, Gwen, moved from Arizona to Irvine. We spent a day at the beach. that's Christine buried in the sand.

Memorial Day at the Ranch

We went tothe R-Ranch on Memorial Day weekend with Christine's friend from school, Ellis. We all had a wonderful time! The girls went out on their own around the ranch with walkie-talkies--from the horses to the lake and to the general store. Tom and I each got a nap while the girls were out. Now THATS a vacation.

Christine and Ellis went to a hoola-hoop contest and entered a paddle boat contest; they came in 3rd place. We had a picnic by the stream. The hightlight was the trail ride and arena ride, and just spending time brushing, feeding, and petting the horses down by "Old Town".

...Bring May greenbeans and cucumbers

The garden is growing! What you see (besides a poor photograph) are the beans on the far right, and cucumbers next to them. The carrots are teeny, tiny. Don't know if they will actually grow.

April Showers...2010

What a Gloriously beautiful sunny day! It's been cold and rainy for so many weeks--uncharacteristic for southern California for this time of year. The sun was welcome.

But what started as "Lets plant a vegetable garden" turned into the "Duarte rock quarry dig". This area is known for it's rock quarrys and now I REALLY understand. After planting the veggies, I thought I'd prepare the whole garden for flowers by just turning over the soil, and ended up digging for a good hour.

There is a cactus garden in the far corner. I used the aloe vera for my skin during radiation treatment.

Tom's love, roses, have been cut back, but 3 remain against the wall.

The plan is to plant wild flowers in the rest of the ground.

We are in competition for space now that Christine and I have suddenly become gardeners.

I don't really have vegetable growing skills, but it's worth a try. We dug, dropped in seeds, covered , watered and pray for a dignified crop of beans, cucumbers and carrots.

Cross your fingers for a future blog post that shows ACTUAL veggies growing out of the ground.

Oreo and Dalilah

Our kittens, Oreo and Dalilah

DALILAH: the party animal...


crazy in every way...

and entertaining

OREO: spiritual...

and fastidious

Gilbert and Tombstone, Arizona, April 2010

Dick and Elthea Leuch

This was the best trip to Arizona! I appreciate my family more than ever. On the way home, I remarked to Christine and Tom how hard Papa works--making 3 meals a day, keeping the house and cars running and taking Oma to doctor appointments. Christine said, "Thats what you do when you love someone". She then informed us of her future plans. She is going to get a house near the beach, build an extra room, and let us live there. She will take care of us so that we don't have to go to a nursing home. Who could ask for anything more from a daughter?!I was able to spend time with my little sister Ellen on our trip to Tombstone. What an upbeat attitude she has. Not much gets her down. Her interior decoration abilities are impressive.Gwen, my older sister was an absolute doll, not to mention gorgeous! I need to take fashion tips from her. (She wore the CUTEST gold sandels that day). She took Christine out to the movies with her cousin Steven at the last minute on Saturday night. I can always count on Gwen to find something fun to do. Hey! She should be a recreation director!


This trip was mostly for Oma because she hasn't seen her granddaughter in about 2 years since her hip problems keep her from traveling. We were able to spend a full day with her. As usual, I "putzed" around in her art studio. She told us stories of her time in Germany and England. I get my sense of humor from my mother, who always has a good joke to tell.

On the way to Tombstone we stopped in Tuscon to meet the Leuch's for the first time. Richard (Dick) Leuch is Tom's "first cousin once removed". They welcomed us so warmly and made us feel like family almost immediately. Dick told us some VERY interesting stories about Nana (Tom's grandmother, Dick's aunt) and her family. As soon as I can get a photo of them from Tom's camera, I'll post it. They live in a lovely mobile home community and travel extensively in their motor home.

Cousins Steven and Kevin (Aunt Gwen's sons).

The front yard of Oma and Papa's house. Beautiful cactus.





Tombstone, Arizona city hall





One of the main streets in Tombstone

In Tombstone. Aunt Ellen is in the middle.

Silver mine tour that Christine and Daddy enjoyed.

The Frau Howell Streusel Kuchen baking lesson. Christine and Mom had attempted baking it but it didn't turn out like Oma's. So Oma took them through, step by step, captured on DVD for Christine and her children, and their children...

Papa whipped up a spaghetti dinner for us Saturday night. Aunt Gwen lives nearby and joined us.

We usually stop at Cabazon along the 10 freeway to see the giant dinosaurs each time we visit Arizona. It is unbelievable how windy it is there.

Gilbert and Tombstone, Arizona, April 2010

This was the best trip to Arizona! I appreciate my family more than ever. On the way home, I remarked to Christine and Tom how hard Papa works--making 3 meals a day, keeping the house and cars running and taking Oma to doctor appointments. Christine said, "Thats what you do when you love someone". She then informed us of her future plans. She is going to get a house near the beach, build an extra room, and let us live there. She will take care of us so that we don't have to go to a nursing home. Who could ask for anything more from a daughter?!

I was able to spend time with my little sister Ellen on our trip to Tombstone. What an upbeat attitude she has. Not much gets her down. Her interior decoration abilities are impressive.

Gwen, my older sister was an absolute doll, not to mention gorgeous! I need to take fashion tips from her. (She wore the CUTEST gold sandels that day). She took Christine out to the movies with her cousin Steven at the last minute on Saturday night. I can always count on Gwen to find something fun to do. Hey! She should be a recreation director!

This trip was mostly for Oma because she hasn't seen her granddaughter in about 2 years since her hip problems keep her from traveling. We were able to spend a full day with her. As usual, I "putzed" around in her art studio. She told us stories of her time in Germany and England. I get my sense of humor from my mother, who always has a good joke to tell.
The Frau Howell Streusel Kuchen baking lesson. Christine and Kathleen had attempted baking it on their own, but it didn't turn out like Oma's. So Oma took them through, step by step, captured on video for Christine and her children, and their children...


My dad whipped up a spaghetti dinner for us Saturday night. Aunt Gwen lives nearby and joined us.

We usually stop at Cabazon along the 10 freeway to see the giant dinosaurs every time we go to Arizona. It is unbelievable how windy it is each year we stop there.

MORE PHOTOS TO COME...

Easter socks...

...from Uncle Michael. Aunt Karleen gave her Mary Englebright socks (I think I'll borrow them).

Easter 2010

Our Easter day began with church at Christian Assembly in Eagle Rock. We returned to prepare for the arrival of Josephine and Michael for dinner. Here is the happy crew!

Today was also Dalilah's 3rd birthday. She attentively watches Christine open her gift, a catnip ball.

The Easter bunny still visits our house.

A close-up of the beautiful German Easter eggs that Oma sent us last year...

....and we used Oma's gorgeous blue onion plates.

R-Ranch

In February we went to the R-Ranch in the Sequoias with the Dunbars. We had not yet been there when snow was on the ground. The kids went sledding every moment they could, and each adult took at least one trip down the hill. Amazing how a seemingly sedentary sport can result in bruises and sore muscles.