SLO

Stands for San Luis Obispo, which is where we were this past weekend. Taking a very well guided tour of the college there. It is the 2nd biggest campus (acres) in California...Berkeley being the 1st.
One of the top 10 ag schools in the country and the 2nd college we have toured to date...we have 2 more to go. The difference between southern cali from the middle of cali as far as looks go...is astounding. Coming over the LA valley into Camarillo is an eye opener...look at all the agriculture.
We spotted and smelled strawberries, onions, olive trees, almond trees, corn and tons and tons of grape vines...

Next thing we know...we're driving, with the coast on one side

and acres and acres of fields on the other

We stayed in Pismo beach were it was very cold and overcast. Last time Eric and I stayed there it was so windy we were practically etched by all the blowing sand

Raquel was excited to finally check out the school

they offer everything she's interested in...you know....large animals, baby animals, plants,manure, dirt...ect

We visited downtown SLO and took in some of the ambiance, but keeping in mind...it is a college town and everything it seemed, was run by students. We had a very good Italian dinner and walked around a bit. This bridge and walkway was next to our Restaurant...along with a creek...you don't find that in LA...unless Stephen Spielberg put it there...lol

Needless to say, we were all impressed, the guide was very informative and entertaining and answered all our questions and now...it's all up to Raquel...but I still don't wanna talk about it
I'm just sayin'!

some of this and more of that

Been pretty busy the last couple of weeks. Schools out forever...well, for me, but not for Raquel. One more year and it's on to a nervous break down...but let's not talk about that....

The corn is as high as an elephant's eye...whatever that means...

Went to a car show and this 1955 Victoria stood by a 1955 Victoria...both in good condition!

Yard sale goodie for 1 dollar. A silver plated ice bucket. Nice and tarnished...just how I like it.

Went to a bridal shower for my good friends daughter who is marrying a Scottish lassie,
C`est La Vie

and watched as Raquel showed her Hefer and Lamb at at livestock show..This girl is way to focused. Check out that stance!

...and I will be outta town for a couple of days...This is where I'll be...relaxing and taking a tour of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus. I shall return

My Meredith

From the beginning

till forever and ever

you are my heart. Happy Birthday to my 1st baby girl.

I'm back...

Yes...I'm back and I've missed you all. What have I learned from this experiences?.....
BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER....I'M JUST SAYIN

What the *@#&

Frustrated is not the word I want to use to explain all the crap that's been happening regarding our computer. The hard drive crashed again...yes, our brand new computer died and burned for the second time. And when we FINALLY got it back...they replaced a 64 gigabyte with a 32 one.....UGGHHH...

sneaky little bastards!!

Anyways, I'm hurriedly writing this entry before Eric comes home and has to take it back and rock and roll with the computer people. I'm still around, everything's fine except I miss you all and you can believe...when this is all done and said, I will totally blog about it, cuz that's how I rock and roll.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO EVERYONE AND HUGS AND SMOOCHES TOO!

What's goin' on

I've been busy these last few couple of weeks with various tasks ....

Bought this hanging frame with crystal door nobs at a yard sale for $2. It was black and would have gone perfectly in my kitchen but I didn't have the wall space...hmmm, what to do

I left the back of it black because I didn't have enough paint for the whole thing and then I took out the thick vintage postal stamps pics.....and then painted it mellow yellow

Inserted some pretty green and yellow stock card of different designs and hung it in my patio and as long as Eric doesn't see all the holes I made trying to hang this...I'll be OK.

I had this gold resin shelf in my master bath for a while and been meaning to do something with it. I forgot to take a picture of it but anyways, I painted it white and connected it to my white wrought iron trellis in my dinning room. I used wire to keep it steady and only put someone light items on it. I can take it down whenever I want..

My daughter Meredith's birthday is coming up and so I kidnapped some squirrels for the day and had a secret photo shoot. I am making a photo collage for her and let me tell ya...It's hard herding squirrels and having them pose, keep all eyes open and stop talking all at the same time..

brotherly love

The infamous corn is now 3 feet tall.

and I broke down and planted tomatoes...just one plant...in a pot. We're gonna have a busy summer this year so I didn't want too much maintenance.

I've made arraignments to go outta town to visit some colleges...Yeah...I'm still in denial

here on the central California Coast

and here farther away and here even further....YIKES!!

And the most important news in our household...yep! Raquel has her license

I want my life back, I want my little girl back, I want my car back

OH YEAH!...I got my summer reading assignment...I am to read Pride and Prejudice and Antigone...but I think I'll sit this one out...and read something that doesn't require a lot of brain cells...I'm on reserve at this point...I'm just sayin'

Geography 101

Diva Mom over at Act II had this on her blog the other day and I thought it was the funniest thing. Which one are you?

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa .
Half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally beautiful!

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe .
Well-developed and open to trade, especially for someone of real value.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain .
Very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece .
Gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain .
With a glorious and all conquering past.

Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel .
Has been through war, doesn't make the same mistakes twice, takes care of business.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada .
Self-preserving, but open to meeting new people.

After 70, she becomes Tibet .
Wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge.

THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN

Between 1 and 80, a man is like Iran .
Ruled by nuts.

The New V.P

Most of you know that my daughter Raquel is in the FFA. For those of you who don't know what that is, it means Future Farmers of America. Now, back in the day and when I say the day, I mean waaay back, this group was actually for farmers across America. It helped them to network and learn more about farming along with the latest techniques in growing food and raising market animals.

Now, it's much more involved and evolved. They still network and learn the lasted technical advances in raising crops and market animal but the FFA now has ventured into environmental sciences, vet sciences, Ag. bio, research, and the latest issues of our world like global warming and yes, cloning. They give out badges and pins and college scholarships. There are meetings and conventions very local and very far away in other states that include the best of the best. All this while learning and raising either an animal to show at auction at State Fair or a full out garden. But most importantly, it helps kids to work together as a team and to eventually become a leader in whatever they choose in life. Think of this group like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts...same intentions.

This is my daughters 3rd year and each year she gets more and more involved. Seems like she spends more time down at the farm than she does at home..which is OK because she has come out of her shell. Raquel used to be very passive (not from me) and introverted and little by little with the love of horses and her riding and the FFA she has blossomed into a very confident and assertive young lady...so much so that...


She is now the Vice President of our Chapter of the FFA




Snazzy uniform huh? Yeah, I know she looks twelve, but she's almost seventeen. We're so proud of her and all her accomplishments. All this with a GPA of 4.1 (not from me either) and the judgment of an adult. Congrats to my baby...the VP.