Yard

Yard

Sunday, May 4, 2014

The Backyard


 
We love our backyard.  There are many aspects to our yard.  This is a view of the pool from the "Way Back", a term we've been using to separate the regular yard from the rest of the acre of property.
 
 
In the "Way Back" are many trees such as the Arizona Tree on the right with its yellow blossoms.  Through the trees you can see our garage with the apartment on top.
 
 
Here is another view of the Arizona Tree----so named by our dear friend Marian who gave us the tree and told us it came from Arizona.  The bees, especially the big black ones just love it.  In the foreground you can see our Tulip Tree with its purple blossoms.  It was what we call a "volunteer".  Many things begin growing in our yard that we didn't plant.
 
 
A volunteer from many years ago is this fig tree.  We like most of the fruit that our trees produce,  like----lemons, limes, plums and avocados, but we have just never gotten into figs.  This is just a small sampling of the hundreds of figs we get each year.
 
 
To keep everything healthy and happy needs a lot of TLC, like hand watering.  Farmer Duane is an expert at this.
 
 
In addition to fruit, we grow vegetables in the "Way Back".  Here you can see our cucumbers and zucchini doing beautifully.  Once again, Farmer Duane has been the key factor in their success.
 
 
Many pests threaten our vegetables----squirrels, rabbits, crows, so we need to get creative.  Nothing like a watch goose for this.  This bed has not yet fully sprouted.
 
 
One tree that doesn't need much help is the lemon.  It is ever bearing and we have lemons like these all year long.  What a blessing!
 
 
Not all vegetables are grown in the "Way Back".  We don't take any chances with our tomatoes and peppers, so we grow them in pots on our patio.  As you can see, the tomatoes are doing nicely.
 
 
At the end of a long day of gardening, that pool looks mighty nice!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Wine a Little, You'll Feel Better


It is no surprise to anyone who knows us, that Duane and I love wine----especially Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon by Robert Mondavi.  So, at the urging of my son Adam, and daughter-in-law, Melissa, we have been trying to "branch" out a little. 

 
After one of Adam and Melissa's trips to wine country, they gifted us with a bottle of Fess Parker, complete with Davy Crocket's coonskin cap, and etched glasses.  Yes, Fess Parker started his own winery in Santa Barbara, and played the legendary Davy Crocket for many years on TV.
 
 
Since then, Duane and I have done a little tasting on our own, and have discovered the magical and extensive variety of wines at the some of the thousands of wineries in California.
 
 
Pictured here is Leoness Cellars in Temecula, California.  It is a quaint and beautiful spot with gorgeous landscaping, a chateau setting and a fabulous restaurant.  On a whim we decided to visit this winery which is one where Adam and Melissa are members.
 
 
When we let Adam and Melissa know we were in Temecula, they couldn't wait to join us.
 
 
We met them at Callaway Winery, which was one of the first in Temecula.
 
 
There, we had our first glimpse of an automatic wine tasting machine.  You just slide your credit card, and are able to taste as many varieties as you wish.  This comes in handy when there are 3 deep at the wine tasting counters.
 
 
Adam also told us a lot about the different types of grapes, and we got to see the various vines.  Here's Duane in front of his fave----cabernet.
 
 
Although it was a cold and windy day with many clouds, the vistas were amazing, and here you see a smattering of the grape vines that populate thousands of acres in the area.
 
 
Our last stop that day, was at Europa Village, a fairly new winery where Adam and Melissa are members.  They actually participated in the harvest one night, and are shown here with their friends Gregg and Rachel.  I wonder if we will end up doing this someday too???
 
 
Now we are getting all sorts of wine gifts----this one from son Scott and family.  I'm happy to say that we have also become members of the Leoness Cellars Winery and are awaiting our next shipment soon. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Ducks Ducks Ducks


We definitely have a duck theme going on in our lives.  I've always liked them, and my favorite child's book is Make Way For Ducklings.  For Easter, when I was a child, my parents would present me with live baby ducks.  They would be cute for a while, then grow into the larger white variety.
My Uncle Leo would then come over and tell us he was taking them to a farm............hmmmmm.

 
Duane loved ducks at an early age too.  He took a different approach, however, and started hunting them when he got his first shotgun.  In Wisconsin, they were plentiful, and his mother loved making a duck dinner during hunting season.
 
 
Duck hunting requires lots of equipment, including the latest in camouflage sportswear.
 
 
You also need to indoctrinate the younger generation in the fine points of shooting.
 
 
Duck hunting can be peaceful and beautiful at dawn, especially with a loyal dog at your side.
(Paul's dog Jake in lower right corner.)
 
 
Ducks are everywhere in our house, and even in our pool.
 
 
Just had to get a duck chlorinator last year.  The problem was that it attracted real ducks and they can make a real mess of your pool.
 
 
When all is said and done, it's great to have the hunter become the cook.
 
 
Then, when hunting season is over, it's back to Make Way For Ducklings!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Bear Weekend


 
Hello Big Bear!  This cabin was our home away from home for a family weekend.
 
 
Kim's friends own the cabin, and it was an ideal location, close to things like shopping in the village!
A nice passerby took this photo of us with Scott and his family.
 
 
Everyone loved the Sweet Shoppe candy store.  I wonder why?
 
 
After Adam and Melissa joined our group, we took a quick trip up to Bear Mountain where Adam, Amanda, and Valerie wanted to go snowboarding the next day.  As you can see, snow was sparse, but they make more each night.
 
 
Look who found the Sweet Shoppe the next day!  Reese and Maddie loved the hand chairs.
 
 
The kids also loved this big Teddy Bear in one shop.
 
 
Candy shops were sure popular with our group---this one had lots of fudge choices.
 
 
The village even had its own Clydesdale pulling a wagon.
 
 
In the snowboard shop I found ORANGE sunglasses----woo hoo!  After snipping off the tag, they were great for the bright Big Bear sunshine.
 
 
The girls got their snowboards.
 

 
Then we stopped at a cute little park in Fawnskin, which is right next to Big Bear.  Reese and Maddie loved all the fun things to play on or in.  Obviously the adults loved it too!
 
 
After a full day of shopping, eating and playing in the park, Reese had a great time collecting as many pinecones as he could find by the cabin.  He counted 100 of them!
 
 
The adults, however, wanted nothing better than to relax.  We got cozy and played games, watched Forest Gump on TV, had popcorn and had lots of fun.
 
 
The next day Adam, Valerie and Amanda hit the slopes.  Unfortunately, Valerie hit them a little too hard and came out with a fractured elbow------poor Baby!
 
 
It was mostly a great weekend, and Duane has this Tee Shirt as a remembrance!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, March 17, 2014

Spring Fever


Much to our dismay, Southern California has had summerlike weather in the recent weeks.  Normally, I don't like to do much planting or gardening until April, but I really don't think there will be another frost until maybe December.  So, I've started eyeing the garden to see how it can be refreshed and improved.

 
One of my favorite "go to" plants are geraniums.  They are so colorful and fresh and need a minimum of care.  I love planting them in pots, or next to other brightly colored flowers.  Today I bought a red one, a white one and a peach.
 
 
I've always been in love with Gerbera Daisies.  They come in so many spectacular colors.  I hope to get a duplicate of this potting again this year.  This one had 3 or 4 colors.
 
 
Hydrangeas are also very showy, and I like to keep them in pots for maximum color.  I'm sure many will be featured for Easter or Mother's Day.
 
 
But flowers are not the only plants I love.  Yesterday, I planted some Patio Tomatoes, Jalapeno Peppers, and Habanero Peppers.  One of each went into this planter on the porch.
 
 
Other tomatoes and peppers are in pots on the patio.  I like them close by for easy access.  In the background is one of my lavender plants.  It is always filled with bees, so I'm sure these tomatoes will have maximum pollination.
 
 
Now I'm hoping for lots of these guys to invade our yard.  The Praying Mantis is one of the best bug killers around, and they are so much fun to watch.  Happy Spring!
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Beautiful Then.......Beautiful Now


40 years ago today, my little girl was born.  And, what a wonderful 40 years it has been.  She began by showing her personality early in life with this photo taken at 3 days old.......

 
Her Dad always said that she was born on "the most commanding day of the year"---
MARCH 4th !!!
 
 
He just loved his kids.......
 
 
She never failed to entertain us.
 
 
And even played the piano and organ for a while.
 
 
When she met the Love of Her Life, we loved him too.
 
 
One of the proudest moments of my life was when she married the man of her dreams.
 
 
But what to my wondering eyes should appear?  But two grandchildren so
sweet and so dear......
                                
 
And as the family grows......
 
 
Heather, at 40, has become even more beautiful, inside and out.