Looking Around

I was out enjoying my surroundings today. I remembered that visiting the Madonna Inn at this time of the year is always so pretty. This place has a very interesting story. A husband and wife were very successful in business and they needed a tax right off. So the wife decided to create this hotel and decorate it with unusual colors and decor. Hopefully it would not be successful. But it was and is.

 A beautiful wishing well.

 Unusal chimmey. Beautiful fountains.

 Decorated with flowers.

 Impressive doors.

 So many lights and decorations for Christmas. Their main color is pink.

 A pink seated bar and roses in the carpet.

 Then I was off to San Luis Obispo which is about 45 minutes up the coast of California from where I live. This is a college town and the students have created their own gum alley. I am sure it is one of a kind.

If you want to get rid of your gum, you just put it on the brick wall of the alley. It is something to see.

Red Hats

Today our red hat group got together to celebrate Christmas. We had lunch together and enjoyed talking to one another.

 This is our Queen. Someone sent her a blue wig for Christmas and she thought we would enjoy seeing her in it. It fits her personality. She loves to dress up.

 Here is Linda.

You are suppose to wear a purple hat when your birthday is in that month.

Celebrating 12-12-12-12

A couple of my very best friends Claudia and Marlene and I got together today for lunch at noon. We hadn't seen each other for awhile and it was time to enjoy each others company.

 My friend Claudia was nice enough to have us to her house. This was the shrimp and ahi tuna she got from the Chop Street in Pismo Beach.

 Then we placed it on top of this salad and with a choice of dressing.

For dessert she had pumpkin pie with whipped cream. It made for a very special time together.

Big Day

It was a big day for our family yesterday. My son Steve completed his masters degree with honors from Cal Poly. Our family was so proud. He is the first one to get a masters degree in our family.

Here are my two granddaughters Catherine and Emily, then Steve and myself.

Back to Sewing

It was my Granddaughters 11th birthday yesterday. Luckily I had bought the fabric before I left. Even though I couldn't get it done on time at least it is done. These are pajama bottoms out of soft cotton knit. I think she will be quiet happy.

Walking

I have begun walking and swimming trying to get back into my exercise program. I am realizing being gone almost three months you see many changes as you walk. Some businesses have gone out of business and some new ones. Some people have changed their landscaping and gardens.

 I had to go and check on the neighbor that has such a creative garden. I have never seen this done. She has used her old pumpkins to put plants in. This wouldn't work in Minnesota with freezing, but here it will act as a compose for the plants. I think it looks attractive too.

I took a picture of this tree to show that California has a few trees that change colors. Of course, not anything like the beautiful fall in the midwest and east coast. So I am enjoying taking in my new surroundings.

Little More on the House

My sister Mary and her husband Todd continued working after I left this week.

 There was a lot of mold in the house and it all had to be removed before we could sell. This is what the basement looked like after all of the cabinets and tiles on the floor were removed. The mold was removed.

 It looked wonderful with the mold removed and painted white.

 This is the other side of the basement with the newly painted walls. Mom and Dad had a old stove hooked up in the basement and it still works.

This is the laundry room with the washer and sink removed and all the plaster board had to be taken out to get the mold out

 Then my sister oiled down all of the cabinets and it looked really nice in the kitchen.

 Then there was a hole in the plaster in the den. Now it is plastered.

And painted.

We are selling it as is and there is a lot of work still to be done. We have accepted a offer from my sister Roxanne's son who is 28 years old. My sisters whole family have a lot of knowledge in fixing houses up, so they will do a nice job of bringing this house back to life. Once it has a new life there will be people invited over for dinner just as my parents did. We are praying that all goes well with the hoops that the house has to jump through until the papers can be signed and have its new owner.