More from the Homefront

Above – Robb & Kando at Tilden Park

Below – Akuch & Alo also at Tilden Park

   

Lilli with her mom, Sandra celebrating Sandra’s birthday. Very nice people.
   

Here’s Sparty. He’s saying “cheese.” After music class he runs over to and climbs onto this little green chair for me to put his shoes on. He’s loving music class these days. It took a couple months, but I think he’s finally hooked!
  

Back at home on the little rocking horse.  

This was last Wednesday – Maya  on the rings at gymnastics.
  

I think playing on the rope wall in my yoga studio helped this little monster to have no fear when it comes to hanging upside down. I think she’s fogotten about the time she let go of the ropes and landed on her head (oops) …

 

I’ve been really busy. I’ve got multiple projects going on at the house, plus independent contracting work and teaching. I’m in a 3-day workshop this weekend starting tomorrow morning, which is why I’m squeezing this post in between teaching two classes.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone & iPad. 

(You may wonder why I need two devices to do one post. Or maybe you never noticed. Since you asked (or wanted to anyways), because I take photos on my iPhone, it’s simpler to upload to WordPress (the App I use for bloggins) from the iPhone. But it’s easier to type whatever I have to say on my MacBook, iMac or iPad. WordPress has some obstacles I have to work around. So that’s just the way it is.)

Rain, Cold, Wind

Above – Alo Akuch Kando Robb at Tilden Park near Walnut Creek.

Below – Robb and Alo at the German Festival (Akuch and Kando in the background). Looks cold. Robb said it hailed that day.  

  See Lilli in pink and wings.

Alo sticks with the smaller animals. Robb said he wasn’t too sure about the llama (didn’t pet it either).

Meanwhile, back in OB, Maya and Sparty enjoy some puddle splashing.

  

This aloe vera bloom was so beautiful last week. That is until the heavy winds hit Sunday.

The following photos show the upheaval that occurred in our patio Sunday night.
   The entire block of homes to the south of us beginning with just across Narragansett were without power most of Sunday evening. While we had power, I could see candles burning in windows across town. The wind kept me up most of the night. Around 3pm I looked out the window and saw people’s trash cans rolling around the street (Monday was trash day). When I put our trash can out Sunday night I got as far as the stairs before I heard it topple over. I ended up putting it back in the garage. Considering hearing news of a woman in PB being trapped and killed in her car when a tree landed on it and other incidents, we have nothing to complain about.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone and MacBook with LOVE and gratefulness!

A Day at the Zoo – Part 2

Above – Group photo

The Sparts had fun climbing all over and riding the pretend critters. They definitely made the trip to the Zoo more fun!


  

This time of year early in the morning on a weekday is a great time to head to the Zoo. There were hardly any visitors there, and we pretty much had the run of the place. We’ll definitely be taking him again. Next time, though, we may do it on a Friday afternoon when we can pick Maya up as a surprise and take both of them.

Last, and certainly not least, this morning Robb sent me this photo of Alo with his latest “prize” for pooping in the potty. Every time he poops in the potty he gets to choose from an array of brand new Matchbox cars, trucks, tractors, etc. By the time he turns 18 he’s going to need a warehouse to store his collection! He’s such a big boy. I can’t wait to see all of them again!!

From Robb: “4 days without a diaper. A couple accidents but we’re almost there. He had earned himself like 30 cars.” 

 Have I mentioned how much I LOVE being a grandma??

Today I’m getting some paperwork done at the house and then teaching two classes – one in La Mesa at 3:30 and one at home this evening at 6:30.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone & iMac with LOVE!

A Day at the Zoo – Part 1

Above – WATCH OUT!!! Geez, we turn our backs for 1 minute and the Sparts finds himself almost squished by an elephant!!

Monday was the perfect day for the Zoo. We got there a minute before it opened and Sparty lasted an hour and a half, which is pretty good considering, according to Jen, he’d already been up for an hour before we arrived at 5:50am. An hour and a half was just enough time to walk over to see the Muircats, Elephants, Camels, Jaguars and Lions.

There’s a lot of construction going on right now because of the off season. Pappa needs to know everything that’s going on.
  

That’s a big elephant AND some curly hair!

This jaguar cub sat calmly just 5 feet from us. Beautiful!

More photos for tomorrow.

Today – Music class with Sparty this morning and gymnastics this afternoon with Maya. I’m feeling tons better today but still not 100%.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone/iMac with LOVE!

Disney Frozen on Ice

Above – Ron’s autographed BBQ book he got directly from the author, Steven Raichlen, at a job he did in Palm Desert last week.

At Disney Frozen on Ice yesterday – front row. It was a great show and the kids LOVED it!

This was my favorite character – the reindeer.

The Sparts didn’t make it past intermission.

The kids got dropped off with us last night for a few hours. After watching Curious George III, the four of us (5 if you count Bear!) fell asleep on the bed together. The two little ones (3 if you count Bear!) seemed to take up most of the bed!

I’m teaching a special Sunday Morning Restorative class this morning, then RESTING in front of football playoffs all afternoonto and maybe I can get a better handle on this cold. I think I’m feeling a little better today but still short of being well.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone / MacBook with LOVE!

Blake Gets a Second Chance

Above – Blake about a year ago.

After about six weeks and unable to find someone to take little Blake into their “forever home” we made a deal (which consisted of a hefty donation) with our friend, Stacey, who operates The Barking Lot in San Diego. We got both Annie and Bear at The Barking Lot and know of their reputation for rescuing and finding homes for dogs of all breeds and ages. When we brought Blake in, Stacey said she was planning on putting her in a foster home, a temporary home until they find a forever home for her. That was Friday. Sunday morning I got an email from Stacey telling me that Blake is in a foster home. Tuesday I got another email from Stacey forwarding me an email from Blake’s foster mom telling her this:

“She is adorable! I thought she was a little spunky for a senior! She can run FAST – and loves running through the yard. She really wants to play with Motts; she runs around him and tries to egg him on but he is having none of it. HE taught her how to use the Doggy Door (took 2 days).  He kept going in and out and would wait for her. She is very polite and well mannered. She loves treats. She wants to sit ON us on the couch but is fine being moved to the cushion next to us. At dinner time she gets so excited that she will dance around on her hind legs. She often turns and nuzzles her back legs so I’m wondering if she has some hip dysplasia or arthritis. Sometimes has a little trouble jumping onto the couch. She prefers to sleep on the couch at night but during the day sleeps in the beds that are in each room – usually depending on where I am. It is amazing how quickly they acclimate. We’re having fun!”

This is great news. Every time we visited Bill in the hospital he asked how Blake was and I assured him she was doing fine and that she would be fine. I feel great knowing she is in good hands and in a loving home with a dog friend.

We had four different people/families come and look at her but for one reason or another she wasn’t right for them. I was feeling very bad for her because she’s a sweet girl with a great personality that just wants to belong and be loved. We know she will have that opportunity with The Barking Lot!

I will keep you posted as I get updates.

If you’re interested in seeing what The Barking Lot is all about, check out the website: http://www.thebarkinglot.net

Here’s our “TBL” forever dog (a photo I may have already posted)… 

 

Blogged on Amma’s iMac and iPhone with LOVE!

Little Mister Poopy Pants

Above – The blimp flew along the coast over the weekend while watching football. I think there was a golf tournament.

Below – Jen sent me this photo of Sparty telling her “one more minute” when she told him he needs to have his poopy diaper changed. Evidently that wasn’t important to him. 

I made chili yesterday and Ron brought the kids over for dinner. Here I was trying to get a photo of both of them giving him a kiss at the same time.
  

Robb and Akuch got their ethnicity estimates back from Ancestry.com. Surprisingly Robb’s got 35% Irish and only 3% Italian. It’ll be interesting to see what mine says because I always thought I was 25% Irish and 25% Italian with a mix of other Europe regions making up the other 50%.

 

This shouldn’t be too surprising. Akuch is 100% African! 

I’m still struggling with head and chest congestion. I went to the doctor yesterday and he claims its a sinus infection. I’m on antibiotics again which I’m not too happy about but this has been lingering for over a month now. The pressure in my head has been intense at times and morning coughing fits aren’t helping that out any. I’m so done with this!

Note to Mom (who’s on a cruise ship down the eastern South American coast) – Did you know you called me twice yesterday? I could hear you (& Maeann in the background), but evidently you couldn’t hear me. If you want to communicate with me, you can have someone on the ship help you get wifi on your phone and send me an email (that little white envelope icon …). However, if you’re reading this blog post, you no doubt are already on wifi. I hope you’re having a great time!

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone/MacBook with LOVE!

Learn Something New

Above – Dinner consisting of a tuna melt using cinnamon raisin bread freshly baked by one of my students and friend, Sarah. Yummy.

Did you know that during the construction of Petco Park, the Padres offered fans the chance to purchase bricks outside the concourse and to dedicate them?

Soon after this, PETA attempted to purchase a brick to protest Petco’s treatment of animals (PETA and Petco have a long-standing dispute over this matter), but the first two attempts were denied. Undeterred, PETA succeeded on its third attempt by purchasing a brick which read “Break Open Your Cold Ones Toast The Padres Enjoy This Champion Organization.” When one reads the first letter of each word, it forms an acrostic which reads “BOYCOTT PETCO.” The Padres decided to leave the brick there, saying not enough people walking by would notice the secret meaning.

Above fact courtesy of Wikipedia (because I have an inquiring mind)..

But wait, that’s not all. There’s still some learning to do. I had never heard the word “acrostic” before so now I share that pronunciation and meaning with you (although I’m sure all my readers probably already know this):

Acrostic – a·cros·tic (əˈkrôstik,əˈkräs-) noun – a poem, word puzzle, or other composition in which certain letters in each line form a word or words.

This makes sense because the prefix is the same as that of “acronym,” which led me to research the difference between the two and I found that what PITA wrote wasn’t really an acrostic, but rather an acronym!

I hope I didn’t lose you to boredom. I know it’s a lot more fun and brainless to look at photos of grandkids, sunsets, lifeguards, orchids, floods, doves, steep hills covered with snow waiting for an avalanche, and squirrels. But don’t complain, I did give you a photo of food today.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone/MacBook with LOVE!