Lucky!

I'm the luckiest woman alive!

I've been taking some hikes the past few weeks. Here are pictures from around the area.

A wasp gall on an oak branch. This was formed when a wasp laid eggs in the bark and the tree reacted by forming this burl. The larvae formed inside and came out those little holes.

Poison Hemlock. (not native) Sorry, Socrates.

 Coast Sunflower

Maidenhair fern

I think I was trying to shoot that hawk up there (just below the lowest branch on the left). Turned out to be a cool shot.

I'm lucky!

Lucky enough to spot an American Kestrel!

Anna's Hummingbird

An acacia tree

Egret

I'm sorry I don't remember what this beach plant is.

Verbena

Brown Pelicans

Ye Olde Gopher

Swans on Lake Los Carneros

So lucky!

Lupine

Shooting Star

Hummingbird Sage

Luck-yyyy!

Toyon

Knapp's Castle

Also Knapp's Castle

Indian Paintbrush

Prickly Phlox

Woodland Star

California Peony. I was lucky on this shot. I pointed my camera from underneath without seeing what I was shooting at!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Black Magic Cake with store-bought frosting. Yum!

This is my absolute favorite cake recipe, which I first learned back in the 80s when I got my first Cuisinart (thanks, Chuckbert!). It was in a Cuisinart recipe booklet.

(No, I wasn't drunk--I just suck a wielding a can of decorating frosting!)

Go bake a cake!

Goodbye to Pau

We recently traveled up North to remember the Squid's Dad, who passed away last month. Pau's (Sonny's) brother and his wife hosted a wonderful get-together with a delicious dinner. It was really great getting to visit with extended family and old friends!  And it was neat to catch-up with my brothers- and sisters-in-law! We missed M&J, but hopefully some day we'll be able to visit with them, too.

Here are pictures.

Three Sisters-in-Law! ♥♥♥ (We missed you, J!)

The cake was beatifully decorated with a picture of the Point Bonita Lighthouse, where Pau was stationed while he was in the Coast Guard. The Lighthouse was near and dear to him. Someday his ashes will be scattered there.

Chris is sharing photos of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Pau was proud of his granddaughter who works there!

Pau's dad was a champion corn-husker in the early 1930s. He won state championships in both Missouri and Kansas! I think that is so cool!  Look at the beautiful silver cups he won!

You can see the special corm shucker glove on the side of the biggest cup.

We'll miss you, Pa♥!

"That reminds me of a story....."

Here's a video slideshow I put together.



And here are the source photos: (Click on his cute little face)

Pau's Life in Photos