Highlights From Catalina

Saturday, April 11th, we took the Catalina Express Ferry over to Santa Catalina Island.  It was a rough ride and four out of the eight of us lost our breakfast along the way.  Poor David even asked if he was going to die.  It left me wondering what would have happened to me if I had been born in the last century in Europe and had tried to take a boat to the new world, if I can't even handle a 1 hour ferry ride!    We rented a unique little rustic cabin only a block from the beach.  I loved it because it was already so old and quirky there wasn't much my kids could do to damage it.  The whole house was so crooked none of the doors would stay open without the use of a rock. 
We did some hiking and some shopping.

 We made homemade easter baskets out of paper and the kids all got Catalina souveiners from the Easter Bunny! We rode the Catalina trolley up to  the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden.  

We did some snorkeling.
We took a glass-bottom boat tour.

     We even attended church on the top floor of a local bank.  We were the only attendees, aside from the missionaries.  The Ferry ride back on Monday was much smoother - fun was had by all!

The Plastic Egg

When I was young.........That is how this type of a commentary on the passage of time should begin.  But I never even participated in an Easter Egg hunt when I was young!  We hunted for our Easter Baskets.  I guess my parents figured that was hunt enough.  I never even saw a plastic egg until I went to college.  Did I live a sheltered life?  Or is that an East Coast - West Coast thing?  Anyway, my biggest problem with plastic eggs is not that they are plastic.  It is that they won't stay shut!

Kearney Mansion

Did you know that Kearney Park was designed by the same man that designed Central Park in New York City?  Neither did I, but I know now.  Did you know that a four year old is a dangerous thing during a 45 minute long historical house tour?  I did too, but I was still dumb enough to take him!

It's Not Over

Just a reminder to everyone to stay informed on Proposition 8.  It is not over by any means.  I believe that the people of California have an inalienable right to control their constitution.  Check out protectmarriage.com for updates.

California High School Tennis Tournament Champions

The Buchanan Boys Varsity Tennis team has been battling it out this weekend.  They played three matches on Friday and three matches on Saturday.  In the end, they were champions!  Seth did great!  In one of the matches, Seth won it for his team in a set tiebreaker.  (Mom was knitting and trying not to look).  I took this picture during warm-ups because I didn't want to disturb him during his match play, but he still looks pretty intense!

Pedro's Pack

One step farther along the trail!

Today was a big day, both for Pedro and I.  Rudy Stauffer came down from Placerville to help me learn the basics of llama packing.  I'm a little overwhelmed, but very excited.  I have been wanting to do this for over a decade.  Pedro was a little nervous at first, (so was I).  But he responded well to the pack when he was tied.  When I tried to lead him for the first time he freaked out and went running all over my back orchard.  He only stopped when he tried to run between two fences and got stuck.  He tried spitting at the packs to see if they would go away.  When he realized they weren't going anywhere he finally calmed down.  I led him around and then we took the pack off.  It remains to be seen what he does the next time I take it out of the barn (probably he will freak out on sight).

Dinner Party

Happy Valentine's Day!

I set my table like this once a year.  You got it, on Valentine's day!