Sunday, 23 August 2015

August


The Trip to Tahoe
with Kerry, Owen and Ellery
and Kristen


We spent a few days in the Tahoe area.  No smoke there.  The weather was beautiful, and we were reluctant to leave.




In Truckee looking for the bead shop.




The kids enjoyed this Mexican restaurant.


Sweet Ellery and the Truckee River.




At Carnelian Bay on Lake Tahoe.

Hard on the feet!



Kerry and Kristen at Donner Lake.


Owen, Master of Monopoly!


Donner Lake, crystal clear!

Canada Geese, enjoying the peace and quiet with me!


Back home on August 15, to learn that Ann Greaves is back in hospital.  Much debate over what to do since we were planning on a two-week stay in Brittany with Norman and Ann early September. Decided to shorten our trip and leave for England on September 13 for two weeks - a week with Ann and Norman in Devon and a week in Bristol to see Mike's family.

Wedndesday, August 19, 2015

First day of school for Ellery and Owen, now in third grade.  They look happy about it!!!


Wednesday, 19 August 2015

July



This was our last outdoor event.  Smoke hangs over the Rogue Valley with no end in sight.



Barbecue in the courtyard with Mavis, Cindy and Alan

Alan giving Mike a lesson in barbecue!

July


The start of all our smoke troubles this summer..... the thunderstorm, which brought dry lightening to the mountains and fire!  Very strange and eerie light in the garden, a prophesy!





The wine group at Troon Winery for lunch in very gloomy and cool weather.






A little advance wine tasting.

Les girls!  Mollie, Alison, Mavis and Cindy






June

Kim and Gene visited from Rio Vista, California, and we had a great time together with Aurelie and Ron.  We also celebrated Ron's 80th birthday!



Lunch in the courtyard with Aurélie, Ron, Kim and Gene

Aurelie's dessert tart




I guess the cards tickled his funny bone!

At the Dankos' new house.








CLAG dinner in the courtyard with the CLAGGERS!
Missing Holly.  Hope she's well soon.


At it again!

















May


In Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Roy and Kristen could not join us, so we spent a couple of days seeing parts of Santa Fe we had not seen before.  Weather very cold.


Fort Marcy where we stayed in Santa Fe.








The Plaza
An art show at the capitol building














On to Colorado Springs......






A walk around Quail Lake.










The Golden Bee Restaurant at the Broadmoor Hotel,
Colorado Springs




Extremely Victorian!



College Graduation Night celebration in full swing.





An Old Graduate!



Bar was imported from England.



Miramont Castle, not very castle-like!
Built by a French priest, who lived there with his mother.





Monsieur's bedroom

La chambre de la madame
































At the zoo.

More giraffes in one place than you will ever see!















So cold, the animals who were outside, had their own heat lamps.













The snake exhibit was amazing.  These are just a few.
























This bird had a lot to say!



Royal Gorge and the Bridge to Nowhere!
















In the gondola crossing the gorge.










At the Tamayo Hilton Resort for lunch and a Margarita (the best, ever!), near Albuquerque, NM










Old Town, Albuquerque










Absolutely the best place to eat breakfast or bakery items in Albuquerque!