Diversion

I realized the other day that I accidentally skipped March 7th.

So, this is an extra little post to make up for that day.

I love when Dignan does this.

Do you want to go for a walk?

March 30

Scenes from our Walks, Part 5

It was a little foggy this morning.

March 29

Scenes from our Walks, Part 4

I walk by this house several times a week and I always imagine a little old lady living there because she has the sweetest garden. There is a short wooden fence and well-manicured plants and even a sitting area with an umbrella shade. I can always hear the sounds of a fountain as I walk past. At Halloween and Christmas, there are cute decorations out front.

Then today, out of the blue, this hideous gargoyle is there. I have nothing against most gargoyles but this one looks like it's going to poop in her yard. Sure, they have a place on, say, Notre Dame. But here? No.

March 28

This photo is from Saturday but I had to share it. It was so easy for Eli to swing across and I remember doing that all the time when I was young. Not anymore! I could barely just hang there...and, afterwards, I felt like my arms were 2 inches longer.

March 27

Blake, Janet, Eli and Lucas

(our weekend guests)

March 26

Matt's brother and his family came to visit us this weekend. It was last minute but we hadn't seen them since Christmas so it great to hang out with them.

We all walked over to the Westwood Club and played some miniature golf. Then the kids played for a while at the playground. Lucas decided that he would go down the curly slide with Matt, only it was a little tight for Matt. Plus, his feet were halfway down the slide before he even let go of the top!

March 25

I haven't featured any decaf or herbal teas yet. I normally have a cup of tea every morning and another one every night. This is probably my favorite tea for nighttime....Christmas Eve. Featuring spearmint, orange peel, cinnamon with a little vanilla and clove, it is a very comforting and festive tea. I enjoy it year-round. Luckily, it is so popular that it's available any time of year from the Stash website.

March 24

I've had this birdhouse for many years but nowhere to hang it. Finally, last fall, we finished the patio cover and hung it up. This week, we've been seeing this bird carry little sticks into it. You may have to click on the photo to enlarge it for a better view but it's totally cute. I have a Cheshire Cat birdhouse too but they don't use that one. Maybe it's because they'd have to fly into the cat's mouth. But I'm dying to get a picture of that one day.

March 23

I was looking at some old pictures and I came across this one from a trip to New York. This was our view while at the Soho Grand. It was taken on July 31, 2001.

Someone was probably in that room on September 11th. I can't imagine the horror of watching everything unfold before my eyes. It was hard enough on TV.

March 22

Heat Miser and Snow Miser - another favorite collectible

March 21

I want to be back in Palm Springs. Work sucks.

This is from Saturday. It isn't a great picture of me but I think Matt is so cute in this photo. He was so happy at the top of the mountain in the snow. He loves it and he loves hiking so he was in heaven on Saturday.

March 20

One last breakfast overlooking the pool today. We got to spend a few hours here yesterday and it was very relaxing. I could do without the loud reggae-lite music but, otherwise, it was very nice.

March 19

Matt dragged me up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway today. I hate it, hate it, hate it. But, it was very pretty at the top, especially since there is snow. We hiked around and Gee made snowballs. It was FREEZING...literally.

March 18

Tennis overdose! We were invited to the BNP Paribas Open by Emirates Airlines. They gave us tickets in their private box, a free hotel night and a couple of shirts. Hence, the matching outfits. It was so much fun to watch Djokovic (the eventual men's champion), Federer and a doubles match that pitted Federer against Nadal. We also saw a couple of women's matches which turned out to be a little lopsided. A very fun day with beautiful weather...and thank you to Emirates for such wonderful hospitality and much-needed shade on this warm, sunny day.

March 17

We drove to Indian Wells this evening for a weekend at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort. It's a pretty hotel. Obviously, I took this picture in the daytime but, at night, there are a bunch of firepits lit, including the one in the center of this water feature. There is a bar right behind the glass window and that is where we had a drink upon our arrival. It was packed with tennis players and fans.

March 16

Scenes from our walks, part 3.

Phallic symbol...although it probably should be upside down. Hee hee.

March 15

Scenes from our walks, part 2.

Someone likes quilting.

March 14

Possibly peaches?!? We've had this tree for 3 years and haven't gotten any fruit yet. Will this be the year? I hope so. I've never seen so many flowers on it. Notice that they look like apricot flowers but are slightly pinker.

March 13

You'll probably have to click on the photo to enlarge it in order to really see this.

Matt planted a Sugar Snap Pea plant and, within a week, it was already grabbing onto the little wire fence behind it. It's the cutest thing. This is my new favorite plant in the yard.

March 12

Apricots, Stage 2

(baby apricots have arrived)

March 11

Gee on the move

March 10

Tahiti - where I'd rather be today

March 9

I don't know this family but I'm happy to see that Marc returned home safely. This is the 2nd time that he has come home from deployment. The other was at least a year ago.

I can't even imagine the constant worry that must sit in the back of your mind while your family member is away.

March 8

One of my favorite collectibles...Alice at the Tea Party

March 6

If Paul and Neva are visiting, it means Wii time! This was during bowling but then we got out the instruments and played Beatles Rock Band. I love it! Paul always sings and Matt and I switch between guitar and drums. I have yet to convince Neva to try it. I think she just likes watching us makes fools of ourselves.

:-)

March 5

In honor of Paul and Neva's visit this weekend, I thought I'd travel down memory lane to a trip we took to Lake Tahoe in 2006. This was the first time I really saw it snow and it was also the coldest I've ever been. Trying to learn to ski during a snowstorm probably isn't the best time for it. But, we had a great time and really enjoyed the Hyatt hotel, especially the bar down by the lake. Gorgeous view and the only time I've ever seen snow on a beach.

March 4

I'm so mad! Everyone in the neighborhood has had trees full of ripe oranges for months...and mine still look like this.

March 3

Today, I highlight another one of my favorite teas by Harney & Sons. This one is Paris and, just as with Florence, it fully embodies the city for which it is named. A black tea with hints of vanilla, caramel and Bergamot, it's delicious flavor brings to mind a refreshing stroll through Parisian gardens on a brisk Spring day. I love it!

I'm also showcasing one of my favorite mugs. The illusion is lost in the photo but, when there is hot liquid in the mug, everything "disappears" but the Cheshire Cat's smile.

March 2

This could only mean one thing...

asparagus pee.

March 1

Another trip in the Wayback Machine

February 28

Sarah and Galina, my co-workers during the last day of our hellish office move. I'm hoping to get a better picture of us but this will have to do until then.

February 27

Big storm in Southern California yesterday. I didn't have any rain in Beverly Hills but Don and Catherine said they had hail in the Valley. It was COLD though which meant snow in the mountains. So pretty. Here is the view from my room Sunday morning (Oscar Sunday). If you have a magnifying glass, you can see the Hollywood Sign (left) and the Griffith Park Observatory (right) on the nearby mountains.

February 26

I can't believe I met my friends, Don and Catherine, for dinner tonight and forgot to take a photo! I took my camera and we even talked about my blog briefly. I'm so mad! They're just so fun to hang out with that I didn't even think about the photograph.

Well, anyway, here is a picture of them with Matt and I during a bike race down in Escondido. At least, I can include them in the blog even if it isn't a recent photo.

It was great to see you guys!

February 25

Stormy day in L.A. and, once again, I have a view of downtown. I'm up in L.A. for work because my office is moving this weekend and all of the employees get to work for free because my boss is currently possessed by the devil.

February 24

This is a book loaned to me by my co-worker, Joanne. She and I like a lot of the same books so I was excited to read this story which was written by a man who normally writes thrillers but this was a "childrens" book written for older teens and adults. It was the story of a boy that escapes into a land of his imagination that was manufactured from the stories he has read. So, there were a lot of allusions to Grimm's fairy tales and other stories. I liked it but I didn't love it. It was kind of cool that they printed a bunch of the original fairy tales at the end of of the book for comparison.

February 23

Bath day