Fly Fishing is Big Fun!

I married a Huntin’ and Fishin’ man when I was very young. Sadly Peter passed away of cancer over seven years ago, yet I still love to fly fish! It is a Spiritual experience for me! The bug for fly fishing all started years ago when Pete and I were at Alisal Ranch in Solvang, […]

Summer Time 2014 and Memories of Growing Up in Old Del Mar!

Now that summer has arrived I am swimming in the ocean almost every day! The water has been especially warm this season, in the 70°s F most of the time. Usually these days I go to Swami’s in Encinitas CA to swim. Two days ago, not having as much time as usual, I went over […]

Jan’s Shangri-La

Last week was the end of the year party for Olivenhain Garden Club. We were blessed to have our party in Jan Casado’s garden. Once in her garden one felt like one never wanted to leave.  A few of us ate lunch at a table under a pergola looking out at the view– it felt […]

A Visit To An Artist’s Studio

Earlier this week I got a call from a friend. Fran I’m calling to invite you over to see my artist studio. I was thrilled to receive his invitation! Here are a few excerpts from my interview with Tom— Tom:  There were two things I knew when I was growing up: one, I was going […]

Halloween Today and Revisited!

Yesterday was Halloween and I was impressed as I drove through down-town Encinitas on Highway 101 at the numbers of families, some with grandparents in tow. The young parents of the small children were all dressed up too! This is a lovely new expression for the parents of young children! I have been thinking about […]

Joys of Gardening With Grandchildren

Their oldest daughter Anushka loves to garden. She is now six years old. Every time the family comes to visit Anushka and I have fun gardening. While they were here we planted some vegetables and seeds together, picked tomatoes and strawberries, and pulled out vegetables that were spent. Anushka was able to experience the cycle […]

Growing and Maintaining a Garden Hedge

January of 2007 we had an unusually severe winter in San Diego County. Peter and I traveled to Spain for the birth of our first grandchild. When we arrived home from Spain in February several trees and shrubs had died on our property, or so we thought. Since I had been to Ireland with my […]

Summer Visitors

This evening my older daughter and her family will arrive from Spain for a visit.  I am so excited to see the whole family!  The grandchildren’s room is ready and I look forward to the patter of little feet running up to their room to see what outfits Mimi has on the wall for them. The […]

Summers Growing Up in Del Mar

Del Mar was a sleepy little beach town when I was growing up, coined Gasoline Alley by some. There were at one time thirteen gas stations in our little town when Highway 101 was the main thoroughfare to the City of San Diego. The County Fair was a big deal for folks when it came […]

Growing Sunflowers Can Be A Summer Passion!

Sunflowers are so much FUN to Grow!!! If you have a place where you can put them every year they give so much joy! I smile every time I walk out and look at the field full of these tall prehistoric plants! Maybe that is why we love them so much! They have been around […]