’13 May

Wow, Havana.

May 31

I went to walk with Liz in Long Beach today. The weather was glorious.

Moon rise over the Queen Mary.

Cheryl was in town so oh goodie we all got together for dinner at The Sherman Room.

This picture looks just like The Sherman Room, from the ’60s, folks drinking Manhattans in the red leatherette banquettes before they order their steak and baked potato. They have a small bowl of iceberg lettuce for a salad, and except for the mushrooms in butter for your steak don’t ask for vegetables. They don’t have any.

May 29

From another day, this group of adorableness, we all walking home together. It’s so cool that we can walk home from school and that the neighborhood is full of sweet girls.

Rome, Jessie, Finley, Lilly, Sophia, Avery

I had lunch with Charlene and Burt and Burt took this picture with my camera. My teeth are Weird.

Recently I had lunch with Hilda and Merlyn, and I had lunch with Windy. Joining friends for lunch, so civilized.

May 28

Liberty Town U.S.A., Rome’s classroom getting ready for Open House. It’s not quite done yet in this picture – the road signs aren’t up and the people aren’t spread around…

…but it’s already a wonderful project.

Each student made one of the buildings. Rome’s is Mia’s Art Studio modeled after the art studio where she takes classes.

A story: Monday morning Lynn and I did a big ‘mountain’ climb at the ranch. We went at a slow and steady pace on a steep up-up-up for 45 minutes and then a short flat stroll and then a steep down-down-down. Here it is Wednesday night and my calves are still so sore I can hardly stand up from a sitting position. Ouch.

May 24-27

Click here for the cumulative story of The Ranch.

May 24

From Paso Robles where I slept last night I drove to San Francisco to have a quick visit with our newly engaged couple(!) Roger and Sandy, wedding in the spring, honeymoon in the fall. Mazel Tov!

Sandy’s new branch sculpture and the new art piece she bought in a vintage store and had custom framed.

May 23

Driving north for this year’s visit to The Ranch I stopped off in Santa Barbara for a few hours with Nancy and Michi and then continued on to Paso Robles.

I had never spent any time in Paso so I thought it give it a stroll. The wineries here are building their reputations and as you’d expect restaurants and tourists follow. This is the town square/park. I liked this tree but that was about it for the park.

I was hoping the train station would be a nice California classic but it wasn’t so charming…

…and there were some nice buildings but you couldn’t enjoy them entirely because of all the cars.

There were plenty of shops, galleries, and restaurants though.

Despite the specialty around town of farm-to-table menus and flights of wine pairings, I was having a desire for Thai food and a beer. It was delicious!

I’d stay in Paso Robles again, to break the journey up or back from Northern Cal – it offers everything you need and some good food too.

May 22

Look what I forgot from Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day Liz. I’m one lucky mother-in-law!

May 21

Lilly and I made candied kumquat rinds from the kumquats from Sharon’s tree. Yum!

Rome has been running an Art Club on Tuesday nights and sometimes on other nights too. She’s done it twice when I’ve been there and it is So Much Fun!

Both times she has designed a project for us to do. Tonight we made self-portraits and displayed them as you see here. It’s so delightful I’m just grinning the whole time. Rome made the plan, she passed out the materials, she encouraged and praised all efforts. I am already looking forward to my next chance to attend Art Club!

May 20

A few days ago I got my hair cut and took this picture in the bathroom mirror. Not too bad .. fingers crossed for the upcoming two months. If it stays good I can get the same person to do it again and that would be magic.

May 19

Nancy and I are enjoying the afternoon on Sharon’s handsome back patio…

…admiring the entertaining shadows cast by the new trellis.

May 18

At Bergamot Station with Muriel. It’s art man.

May 17

I’ve been home for more than a week now, yikes. I’ll be visiting up north for the long holiday weekend and then shortly after that it’s Aloha for a month. I need to clean my house!

What I’ve been doing:

I spent a few days in the Dominican Republic.

Five nights in The Cuban Countryside including Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Playa de Guanabo, and Viñales.

A collection of not particularly good pictures of Big Old American Cars. The pictures aren’t so great but there are a lot of them and even more to come.