September

September 1

This beautiful church is in Orange and I love the old fashioned look it has. I was walking from the Friendly Center's Street Fair booth back to my car. I had finished my shift on a very hot September day. Dennis was at the booth for the entire duration of the fair. I only had to spend one four hour shift.

September 2

There were thunderstorms in some parts of Southern California on Labor Day weekend, but we did not have any rain at home - just some pretty awesome clouds.

September 3

I have been participating in a scrapbook challenge using the Designing with 2007 calendar, so it seemed appropriate to take a photo of the calendar. So far, I have kept up by doing at least four layouts each month based on one of the calendar pages.

September 4

If Jim would put his laundry away, Lucy wouldn't be able to sleep in it and get cat hair on everything.

September 5

Dennis and I took this little plane from Las Vegas to Cliffdwellers Lodge in Marble Canyon. The flight took about an hour and the plane didn't get very high so we could see lots of the Nevada landscape. Fortunately, we were in the back row and Dennis didn't have a seat in front of him so he could stretch his legs. He was the only person on the plane who could do so.

September 6

Navajo bridges crossing the Grand Canyon. The near one is for pedestrians and the far one is for vehicles.

September 7

This trip was absolutely wonderful. Around every turn of the river there were more beautiful sights. We took so many photos that the battery in the camera died before the end of the trip.

Will I Make it?

August 25

When the kids were little, they loved Boboli pizza and I hadn't made it in ages. The kids love pepperoni and olives, Dennis and I eat pepperoni and tomatoes. I use Boboli crust and sauce and some toppings - pretty easy dinner that everyone enjoys.

August 26

Rain in August in Southern California! Granted it wasn't much, but it was enough to get the patio furniture a little bit wet.

August 27

Dennis and I were thinking that maybe Lucy thought she was hiding and thought we couldn't see her. I think she wishes she could be an outside cat.

August 28

This was an experiment. I put the camera on a box on the shelf outside the kitchen window so that it wouldn't move while the shutter was open. I think it would have been a nicer picture if I had used the big Nikon camera instead of the little Canon.

August 29

I did not use the zoom to get this photo. This flag is near the Irvine Auto Center and is huge! I loved the way it looked against the sky and clouds. It was taken at 6pm on a very pretty evening.

August 30


August 31

Another day when I didn't find anything interesting in my daily routine, so I took a photo of the top of the air conditioning unit. There was a brief time this summer when it ran day and night. Overall, though, we didn't use it that much this summer.

The 31st Week of This

August 18

Dennis and Jim relax on a Saturday afternoon. It is highly likely there was a baseball game on tv. It was very nice of them to allow me to take their photo.

August 19

I really liked the way the shopping carts looked all lined up so neatly. My habit is to do the grocery shopping on Sunday afternoons. Dennis came with me on this particular trip.

August 20

I know this collection of cardstock is really small compared to some die-hard scrappers, but I am happy with it. There are so many shades of each color, sometimes it is hard to find the perfect one. If I had more, I think it would be even harder.

August 21

Another sign that Steve is home - his guitar and amp. The amp stayed home, but the guitar went back to Tokyo with him a few days after this photo was taken.

August 22

My guys outside of Claim Jumper the night we celebrated Jim's birthday. His birthday is the 28th, but Steve was leaving to go back to school on the 24th, so we had to celebrate early.

August 23

This is the last photo we took of Goofy - it shows where his paw was shaved for the IV he had at the vet. He had lost so much weight, they were giving him fluids and appetite stimulants to try to get him to start eating again. We brought him home because he had eaten. Unfortunately, he did not eat at home and a few days after this we had to put him to sleep. His face was so sad when the doctor took him from the room. It was almost like he knew what was coming. We had him for 15 years and it was so hard to watch him waste away and also hard to tell the doctor that the time had come. We will miss him.

August 24

This is in the international terminal at LAX. I thought it made a very cool photo with the sun shining on it.

Caught Up For Now

Yeah, just for now. We'll see if I can keep it up.

August 11

Monster - a sure sign that Steve is home. He has come home from Tokyo twice and each time we met him at the airport with a Monster. He can't get them in Tokyo. I have even sent his some, but the package costs about $40 to mail.

August 12

And socks in the middle of the floor is a sure sign that Jim has been in the area. He has a tendency to leave his stuff all over. It drives me crazy! His room is worse though, so I should count my blessings. Of course, when he moves out for good, I will miss his little habits - NOT!

August 13

Again, I got to the end of the day and I hadn't taken my photo. These candles are in the bathroom near the toilet. They have been there for four years and have never been lit. Given the location, it might be a good idea not to light them. :)

August 14

I loved this sky! I had just gotten home from work, so it was a little past 5:30 in the afternoon. The clouds were amazing and the sun was shining through them. I don't think the photo does justice to the actual sight.

August 15

This is a 'little bit' of hot sauce from Del Taco. I didn't feel like cooking - Dennis was playing golf - so I bought DT for the boys and myself. When asked if I wanted hot sauce, I said a little bit. This is what I got, and I had already used two of the packets.

August 16


August 17

This sign is in a women's restroom and there are no urinals in there.

Into August I Go

Just more photos of things around the house, except on the 4th.

August 4

Jeremy and Jon were here for their summer visit to their dad so he had a party at Pam's so they could see everyone. It was a beautiful day in Upland, but it looked like there might be some thunderstorms brewing in the distance. Of course, everyone had a great time and the boys were thrilled to see so many of the California relatives.

August 5

Lucy was freaked out by the mop. I spent a lot of Sunday washing the floors downstairs and she followed me around a lot, but then hid when the mop got too close.

August 6

One of my big three wick candles was in a large holder sitting on some rocks. The melted wax spilled over the side of the candle and pooled around the rocks. They are kind of eerie, but cool, too.

August 7

One of these days I will plant flowers in the backyard planter again. The gardeners seem to keep the weeds away, but the dirt is very lonely looking. I really want to redo the entire back yard, but it will have to wait until we get the house projects done.

August 8

Right after Steve got home from Tokyo, Joel gave him a mullet. He wore it for a few days and then buzzed it off. Here he is rinsing the cut hair off of himself. The water was very cold and jumped around and squealed a lot while he was doing this. I must admit, I like the buzz so much better than the mullet.

August 9

I had just gotten my car washed and the wheels really looked good. One of the perks at work is two different mobile car wash companies come to our parking lot. I prefer Jose on Thursday over Scott on Monday and Friday. The only interaction I had with Scott left me very cold. He described another woman who had left her car with them as the 'redhead with big boobs' - how rude when talking to another woman.

August 10

This in one of the books referred to most in our house, I believe.

Week 28 Beginning on July 28, coincidence?

Nah, I planned this back in January when I started. Not really, total coincidence.

July 28

The District is a new shopping area in Tustin and this is the fountain near the AMC movie theatre. I had take Erin and Mary to see Hairspray on Mary's birthday. After the movie, we went to Panera for lunch. It is one of the girls' favorites.

July 29

Then, the next day I went to Grand Opening of the new Michaels and bought a few supplies for my hobby. The store was mobbed and the aisles are too narrow. Since Tall Mouse closed, I have to decide what I like better - Michaels or Joann's

July 30

It was getting late and I hadn't taken my photo of the day. I had finished hitting golf balls and was waiting for Dennis to finish. He takes his time and is very deliberate with all of his shots. On the other hand, I just hit the dang thing. I couldn't resist taking the photo of him bending over to tee up a golf ball. He wasn't thrilled.

July 31

Our summer had been very mild in July and I like the clear blue sky. Normally, July is well into the 90s with some days over 100.

August 1

Doesn't she look like she owns the place? Cats are so regal. It almost looks like she is asking when I will draw her bath. She is so cute!

August 2

Goofy is getting so old. He is 15 and slowing down quite a bit. He is losing weight and spends most of his time resting in Erin's closet. I worry about him so much and finally have an appointment for him at the vet for Monday afternoon (today is 8/18). I am scared and I think that is why I have dawdled so much making the appointment.

August 3

Steve came home from Tokyo and his parents were waiting for him at the wrong terminal. International flight, so I assumed the international terminal. I was wrong, he landed at the American Airlines terminal. Apparently, there is a Customs in terminal 4, too. He had to call our cell phones to find out where we were and if we remembered to come to the airport to get him. Poor baby. It looks like he got over his worry that he was forgotten. Gotta love the long hair, too.

Into the Second Half We Go!

I have made it this far and it is getting harder and harder to find new and different subjects for my photos. My life consists of working 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday and home. I don't get out much. I guess that is my fault, I am a homebody.

July 21

One of the three bookcases in our computer room. There is no rhyme nor reason to how it is organized. We just keep shoving things in there - teddy bear, smoke alarm (not doing much good with no battery), set of small drawers, maps and of course books.

July 22

The Great Park is the huge project in the city of Irvine. The big orange balloon is supposed to be the landmark for now. It is tethered so it can only go up 500 feet. Riders get to see where the park will be. I have not been up in it, but I assume there is a narrated story to go along with the ride. The Great Park will be on the former El Toro Marine base. It was so sad when the base was closed. It was even sadder that they let the housing get so run down that it was not usable. Part of the land now belongs to the city and part belongs to a developer.

July 23

This was taken while I was stuck in traffic on my way home from work. Of course, I had the top down to enjoy the very mild July weather. My ride from work is just about 7 miles and usually takes at least 20 minutes. There are 17 traffic lights in that 7 miles. An 18th has been installed but is not active yet. Oh, the joys of living in Orange County.

July 24

Dennis loves bougenvilla so we had one planted in our front yard many years ago. Last year, he pruned it way back and we haven't gotten a lot of purple lately. Hopefully, the color will come back soon.

July 25

There are a couple of things I like about this - the shadow of chair on the wall and the three different height candle holders. I am not too crazy about the white brink on the fireplace. The white is better than what it used to be, however.

July 26

Lucy climbs on everything. Here she is on the window sill above the kitchen sink. I have no idea what was holding her interest, but the look on her face is very contemplative. That is the flash of the camera on the right.

July 27

Lucy loves to dig in the trash can in the computer room. It has all the trash from my scrapbooking and bill paying. Is she looking for something else to trash?