Another empty nest

When I returned from the Bay Area we had two babies whose parents fled the scene, which if you’ve been following up on my blog would know that this is normal behavior in the dove world. There they are up above nestled (hmm, I wonder where that word came from …) together in one of our hanging pots. 

Here’s another picture Bruce captured. I think they were wondering if he was their mommy. 

 
Sunday night it appeared one of them (standing on the rim) got hungry enough to contemplate jumping. 

 
After the jump, I captured the mommy and baby on the next door neighbor’s roof. The quality isn’t the greatest because the picture was taken through the screen.

The other baby stayed in the nest overnight wondering where its sibling went.

 
By Monday evening this baby was also gone. So we’re now left with another empty nest, watching for doves and wondering if those we see might have been raised in one of our hanging plants.

It’s no wonder why the doves would choose our yard, with beautiful plants blooming randomly like the ones below I photographed this morning. 

    
   
Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from the new and beautiful Carmel Valley Kaiser Medical Office with LOVE!

Beautiful miracle

This baby’s due soon, and I can’t wait to see him! 

Speaking of babies, I came home to learn our new babies had already been deserted by their parents.   


This morning, wondering if anybody’s coming back to feed them. 

 
Aren’t they cute? The parent doves have been whoo whoo-ing close by trying to get them to fly down.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

 

It’s nice to be home

It was a nice day yesterday getting unpacked and caught up on grocery shopping and laundry. It was a beautiful, crystal clear day.

Bath time, sent to me from Grandma Jo Jo. How fun! Nice shower cap… & look at those beautiful blue eyes!

I missed these little buggers.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

 

Story Time & baby shower

We started the day yesterday with story time at the library. 

  

The bear’s name is Cheerio and the pig’s name is Spam.

Here’s Alo putting on his glasses (part of the story). 

 
Pretty cool art work in the library. 

    
 
And outside the library. 

  
After story time, we went to check out the park for baby shower location availability. There’s a museum at the park where they had some birds of prey on exhibit. Here’s a turkey vulture.   

 Alo playing at the park. 

    
  

Later in the day,  Akuch and Alo arriving at the baby shower.  Btw, Alo has learned to walk like his mommy. He sticks his stomach out and and lets it lead the way.
Group photo (of course). Lots of very nice people. One of the couples has 2 sets of twins, 13 months apart! Yikes!

 

Alo & Lily sharing a cupcake. 

 
Lily & her mom, Sandra. 

 We arrived back home this morning to Comic Con frenzy at the airport, and glad to be back to San Diego weather. It was cold in San Francisco. I expected warmth in a Walnut Creek, but it was overcast and cool. We even got some light rain.

We’re looking forward to another visit after the baby’s born, and after my India trip.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone back in sunny San Diego!

Selfie stick

The selfie stick works great. I’m using it for the first time for something other than sneaking peeks at the baby birds.

Yesterday morning, Alo and I did a little Urdhva Prasarita Padasana (legs up the wall).

 
Then we all packed up and went on a field trip. 

  

We went on a train ride.   

 
We fed the animals. 

   
   
   
Then we went on the merry go round. 

    
 
We went around twice…

Then Robb, Bruce & I went to Target to get some baby shower items while Akuch & Alo took a nap. I would be amiss to not include this photo. I had to be very crafty to capture this little gem. 

      
At dinner …

  
Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from Walnut Creek with LOVE!

 

Bart before

Bart after a few stops …

  

Alo selfies – happy to see his Amma!   

 

He’s still hangin with Ernie.

Alo sleeps in the big bed now and he loves his books. I read him 5 books, all of them with a huge amount of interaction. He knows the names of all the animals, birds colors and objects. His friend, Lily, was there visiting. She was playing with all his toys around him, but all he was interested in was the books. I think for his birthday I’ll get him a pocket protector … Haha

Papa arrived later in the evening and guess what … He read Alo another book!

   
    
 
We went for a short walk this morning to get a cup of coffee and found this little beauty. 

 
The sign below is noteworthy. 

 
Evidently Bear and James are getting along just fine … 

 
Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from beautiful downtown Walnut Creek with LOVE!

Workshop over – next leg

In between classes yesterday we went for a walk around our neighborhood and came across a park. The sun was peeking through the trees so I was inspired to capture the beauty. This was one of the biggest, tallest eucalyptus trees I’ve ever seen.

Along the way I decided to take a mid-block panorama of an entire street of houses. They all look very similar but with observable differences. One could ponder on how these houses came to be attached to each other because at a close view you can see they are, indeed, separate houses. 

  
This condensed city that houses the largest number of residents in California has certainly figured out a way for everyone to fit in – a great example for the rest of humanity. There is a place for everyone.
Lynn and I have gone our separate ways, she back to North Carolina, and I will be headed to another short yoga meeting in the city before returning the rental car to SFO. After that I’ll be hopping on Bart to be reunited with Akuch, Robb & Alo, and this evening with Bruce.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from Daly City with LOVE!

People watching at the Jazz Fest

Our class yesterday ran from 8-11am (a short day) because of the holiday. We went back to our “house”, ate a small lunch, then headed to the metro station where we were fortunate to have not been charged a $125 fine for walking throuh the terminal gate and riding the first leg without paying. Not being familiar with the way this system works, it’s quite an obstacle. It’s too bad San Diego doesn’t have a good metro system. It’s so nice to be able to get just about anywhere for $2.25 within a very reasonable time.

Tap dancing …

This old man was dancing by himself, and then started dancing with strangers. And there’s no one stranger than my friend, Lynn.

   
 
We have 6 hours of class today, so off I go.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from cool & drizzly Daly City with LOVE!

Bell Tower 

Across the street from our Airbnb is St. Cecilia Catholic Church. The other day we heard the full rendition of Glory Glory Hallelujah from the bell tower.

   
 
This is what the outside of our place looks like. We’re on the bottom floor. That’s our rental car on the right.

  
And this is George. He had just come home from golfing. He and his wife Sheila own the house and are very nice.

  
This is a special picture for Bruce. When we we went to turn the tv on to watch the World Cup semi final between US and Germany, we were able to figure it out quite easily. I thought this was quite clever and was surprised you, with your handy dandy label maker, hadn’t thought of this…  

We walked into town yesterday. 

 
The metro station (above) is only about a half mile away. We’ll be taking it into downtown SF today for the Fillmore Jazz Festival. We’ve only got half day because of the holiday and the Jass Fest is free!

Below – the next block up. Typical looking SF neighborhood.

 
1959 Jaguar

 
Flowers along the way.

  
 
Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from SF with LOVE.

The best things in life begin with a smile!

Lynn (my Airbnb roomie) and I met up with Robb, Akuch and Alo for dinner last night at a cute little Greek restaurant called Orexi in West Portal, about ½ mile from the Airbnb where we’re staying. It was so good to see this family again. Alo talked the whole way to the restaurant pointing out all sorts of things of interest, and talked up a storm during dinner.

One of the highlights was during dinner when Alo raised his arms in the air and said with enthusiasm “AMMA.” Just like when they were staying with us and I’d come in the house after work and he would be sitting in his high chair eating dinner.

Akuch is looking good and the baby looks like he’s ready to pop any day now. We had a really nice time with all of them.

Last but far from least, Maya was surprised with a trip to Disneyland for her 3rd birthday. Jen sent this picture earlier in the day & texted me after 9pm that they were still there having a great time.

  
Hugs, kisses & everlasting smiles to all my grandkids!

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from SF with LOVE!