A Winter Blog Update

It has been a little while since I have posted anything. But I have some good excuses, really I do. First off we have been down in California visiting my family and we were having way too much fun to post anything! Secondly I am not sure what I am going to do with this blog and have been avoiding posting until I get it figured out. You see I have two blogs. One for the farm and one more personal. Well I have been happily going along posting to both of them and often double posting to both of them. Uh-oh, little did I know that was a big mistake. Apparently duplicate content can negatively affect how your sites show up in search engines. Thanks to my friend Gretchen I am now aware of the error of my ways, but I am still not sure what to do about it. I might keep both blogs separate, but delete the duplicate posts or I might try to merge the two together and only have one blog. Oh the agony of deciding! I am still undecided, but decided to go ahead and post for now.
So as I was saying we went down to California for a visit with my family. It was such a relaxing and refreshing time for us after our crazy, busy year of farming. The sunshine and sea breezes were just what we needed. While down there we relaxed, visited family and friends, played games, went to the beach several times, went window shopping in a couple of cute villages, went out for coffee, stayed up late watching movies, took the boys to the zoo, sat on the back porch, visited farmer's markets, and just relaxed.
I also turned 30 years old while down there. It is hard to believe that I am that old already. I had a very nice birthday. Andrew took me out for breakfast and I got crepes, my favorite! After that we went shopping in San Luis Obispo. We didn't buy anything but had lots of fun looking in all the shops downtown and going to the mall.
Now that we are home I am feeling motivated to get back on schedule and get organized. Spring will be here again before we know it, I'd better get ready for it!

My amazing sister playing two games at once. Hand and foot
with us and Uno with David

The boys had a horse ride on Misty, my old pony.

Blood Oranges are so beautiful

Drinking Tea with Aunt Melissa

The table on the back porch set for a tea party.

Two Cute Boys!

Looking at the parrots at the zoo.

Watching little animals at the zoo.

Looking at the Sea Elephants

Watching the Sea Elephants

Sea Elephants laying on the beach

At Morro Bay

Playing in the sand

Digging in the sand

Toes in the sand

Running in the waves

Beach Fun

We always make sure to spend some time at the beach while in California. This time we took a drive to the coast and stopped at one beach and stayed awhile. David chased the seagulls and the waves chased him. He laughed and squealed in delight. As soon as we left he started talking about going to " 'nother beach" So after some other stops we wet up to a beach farther up the coast. We stayed there and watched the sunset. It was a beautiful day on the coast.

Box House

I remember making houses out of cardboard boxes when I was a little girl and having so much fun playing in them. On day my Dad brought an appliance box back from work for David. We cut windows and a door into it. He loved playing in there and making Aunt Missa's dog Tizzy play in it with him.

San Luis Obispo Farmers Market

We always enjoy visiting other Farmers Markets while traveling. It is especially fun to go to the winter markets in California. This time of year there are some amazing and exotic fruits available. There is an abundance of citrus, and avocados. Some of my favorite unique fruits are tropical flavored pineapple guavas and tangy deep red blood oranges.

The Farmers Market on Thursday evenings in San Luis Obispo is quite an event. The street is closed off for several blocks. There are lots of food stands and lots of produce. On the street corners there is music and juggling. And the street is packed with people. It is always great fun to go visit it.

With a Goat

One of Melissa's goats had a kid while we were visiting. So of course David enjoyed petting her and helping to bottle feed her!

Baking Cookies

David loved making cookies with Grandma. It was so fun to see him rolling out the dough and cutting out cookies.

Family Picture

Uncle Jonathan

Playing blocks with Uncle Jonathan.

Great Grandpa

It was special to get to go out to lunch on day with my Grandpa Nick. We all enjoyed that very much. I am so glad that David has a chance to know him at least a little bit. It makes me sad to be so far away from him not knowing how much longer he will be here.

Cousins

While in California David also had the opportunity to play with his cousins and his cousins, cousins several times. He had such a great time with all of them. These pictures were taken one Sunday after church.

Cousins- David, Justus, and Katie

Justus W. pushing David, Ben, and Katie in the wagon.

David, Ben, and Katie

Justus K. Pulling the wagon

Justus K. and Justus W. pulling and pushing the wagon

Monarch Butterflies

We took a drive down to Pismo Beach while in California. There is a grove of eucalyptus trees where thousands of Monarch butterflies overwinter. It was a little chilly the day we went so the butterflies weren't flying around much, but after we were there for awhile the sun came out and a few began fluttering around. It was very interesting. The guide explained how they fly down from the northern United States and Canada in one generation, but it takes four generations to make it back up north. All the Monarchs west of the Rockies migrate to Southern California and the ones east of the Rockies go to Mexico. It was amazing to see the large clusters of them up in the trees. David was even able to see them and enjoy them as well.

David has Fun

A few pictures of David enjoying his stay with my family.


Riding the pony

David likes Tizzy the dog.

With Grandpa

Warming up by the fire

Helping Grandma make breakfast

Wearing Aunt Melissa's boots

Playing the piano

Chocolate pudding