GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V44

 ::  GOOD  ::

Oh yeah!

five of us shared a piece of "Peanut Butter Madness"

after dinner at Bonnie Blue Bakery & Market, Winchester, VA.

this was beyond GOOD... I'm sure Steph, Mazen, JPE & Mom will salivate remembering the creamy-ness of this treat!

::  RANDOM  ::

totally RANDOM!

A bit of fluffy whiteness standing T.A.L.L. &
holding S.T.R.O.N.G. in the COLOR competition on Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

::  FUN  ::

Mazen to Steph: "Is this too big for our dining room table?"

Sebastian, "guide-dog extraordinaire" has no opinion!

The five of us took a FUN drive out to

Marker-Miller Orchards & Farm, outside Winchester, VA.

In addition to pumpkins, we purchased apples, 

jams, & apple cider donuts. 

posting with Tamar @ Random-osity

MEMORIES, DREAMS & REFLECTIONS 2013

ME... I'm MOST proud of organizing a simple, small wedding ceremony in 6 days! Stephanie & Mazen got married on Sunday, November 10th... at the Santa Monica Pier! An AMAZING fete considering she lives on the East Coast & we live on the West Coast.

Actually, Tasha took this i-Phone picture right before the wedding began. LOVE YOU, JPE for officiating the wedding.

Each winter we take an hour drive up the coast to see the elephant seals! STILL LAUGHING about their grunts, groans & barks! Hilarious!  

Driving 5 hours to the Big Bear cabin is such a treat... especially for a WINTER WONDERLAND! ACE & Lola play chase in the snow... the birds have gone for the winter... & Lydia, Tasha & JPE built this snow-bear!

Lydia turned 10 this past July... JPE made her some bear pancakes & then caught a huge fish for her birthday dinner! Another amazing BIRTHDAY celebration.

Did I mention Steph & Mazen's wedding was a small, intimate ceremony with some FAMILY & FRIENDS? The Santa Monica Pier was being renovated, hence the "industrial look" for most of the wedding photos.

I'm INSPIRED BY rain... fog... anything but warm, humid weather. Which is odd, as I was a sun-lover when I was younger. 

During our Spring Break, we traveled north to San Francisco & Nevada City... SPRING had arrived! Pictures were taken at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco.

Lydia VACATIONED with us the week before school started! We camped at Plaskett Creek (southern section of Big Sur) Campground... due to the danger of fire & the low-water table, we had to buy bottled water & ended up cooking our so'mores over the stove... no campfires allowed!

Our SUMMER included a visit to So California.  Matthew & Derek LOVE helping JPE set-off the 4th of July fireworks.

Aren't I lucky? A DAY IN MY LIFE includes driving along the ocean to & from work... When it's "high tide" the waves splash up the wooden staircase in Shell Beach. At "low tide" you can walk along the narrow strip of beach looking in the tide pools...

Loved this picture of Stephanie & Mazen - ALL SMILES! the wedding guests showered them with bubbles! Lars (the girl's dad, in the white shirt) will be able to remember their wedding date --- it's also his birthday!

Avila Barn & Ice Cream Parlor is "THE" place to enjoy the AUTUMN HARVEST. Stopping on the way home from work is a love-ly treat at the end of the day.

Instead of taking a vacation overseas, we did some HOME renovations... we had the popcorn ceilings removed, had new bamboo floors installed upstairs, had the master shower re-tiled (they found mold in the walls) and then WE painted the ENTIRE condo (yep, I spent several weekends with my paintbrushes). 

Steph & Mazen chose the Santa Monica Pier for their wedding CELEBRATION... it was the location for their first date (five years ago - Steph was attending UCLA School of Law & Mazen was an attorney in San Francisco). I made the sign for their wedding & included Sebastian (Mazen's guide-dog) as one of the "three" joined in LOVE.

Mom, Katie (9 year old grandniece) & I took a trip to Washington DC over the Memorial Day weekend. Katie got the "traveling bug" - so if I mention a trip to visit Stephanie, Mazen & Sebastian... she'll be the first to say LET'S DO IT AGAIN!

I gave them wings and when they left for college, I never dreamed the girls would settle in other cities. Allison lives & works in Sunnyvale (south of San Francisco, CA) and Stephanie lives in Arlington, VA (& works in Washington DC). Needless to say, I MISS THEM (thank goodness for FaceTime)! It's not often that we are ALL together in person... Steph & Mazen had flown out for Andrew & Talia's wedding (Saturday November 9th).

Following a snowstorm (at the Big Bear cabin in February), JPE & I noticed a BEAUTIFUL rainbow of ice particles in the sky. It looked like glitter floating through the sky.

Allison, Lola & Brian DRESSED for the snow. Check out Allie's owl hat & Lola's red parka! Lola even had red boots, which can be seen HERE!

A stem of dried flowers peeking out of the snow. MACRO shot taken with my Canon Rebel.

Mom & Katie came for a visit in December... to attend the Nutcracker Ballet, see a performance of Mary Poppins & celebrate my birthday. It was fun to share my HOLIDAY decorations & SANTA ornaments... a treasured collection.

Some of our favorite pictures have been taken during our visits to the Big Bear cabin. We appreciate being able to make MEMORIES with Tasha, Jack, Lydia, Taylor & Morgan. The "something beautiful" picture was taken the same morning as this photo.

For Christmas, we gave Lydia a set of bongos! She's taken flute & guitar lessons... JPE has played string instruments in bands, getting his start (at the age of 10) in a band with his dad (a drummer) & uncles. Lydia... we're hoping you DON'T EVER CHANGE & continue your interest in music.

JUST BECAUSE... I loved this picture of Matthew swinging on the rope... he looks like his mom, doesn't he? Don't know if Jodi will appreciate having this picture posted, but, I loved her expression!! (& her pups, Archie & Felix).

Well... my HOPES & DREAMS are to continue to travel. We're thinking of visiting Turkey, Morocco or Russia in the fall of 2014. And, of course, I hope for "great health" to allow this to happen.

Wishing all my visitors happiness, health and memory-making opportunities in 2014!

this post has been linked to

Ashley's Rambling & Photos.
Memories, Dreams & Reflections

A FUTURE --- SEA-BASS!

Sebastian --- yes, he's as sweet as he looks! In fact, he's a total lover-boy! He's been featured on my blog numerous times --- HERE, ALSO HERE and MY FAVORITE, HERE!

Mazen, Sebastian & JPE at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

If he were smaller, he'd love being a lap-dog --- but, he's a working dog --- leading Mazen through the maze of people riding the Metro in Washington DC, attending concerts, plays, parades and the last two presidential inaugural festivities, sitting through court proceedings, and even visiting the White House (where he slurped a bowl of water, creating a bit of a mess on the floor).

Sebastian "loving" ALL the attention --- from Ada & Katie

If I remember the story correctly, Mazen & Sebastian met at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, CA. Mazen also received his first guide-dog, Ragan, from the same facility.

which brings me to today's post...

Today, a light rain (enough to ruin to totally create havoc with your hair) fell as JPE & I walked across the  Cal-Poly campus (California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, CA) this afternoon. 

We trailed behind a group of trainers working with their "guide-dogs" --- the puppies were practicing walking in the rain, maneuvering among the college students and learning to pay attention to the "ebb & flow" of the moving bodies.

As JPE & I were getting ready to walk into a meeting, we saw the dogs once again. In the middle of the UU (University Union) --- the puppies were calm, listening and were demonstrating the expected behavior of a guide-dog.

Having been around Sebastian for the last 5 years, I understand the working relationship between a guide-dog and their mobility partner...

Mazen & Sebastian in Georgetown, Washington DC

... it's a "priceless" partnership of love --- trust ---  work --- fun!

You can learn a lot about guide-dogs for visually impaired or blind persons at this WEBSITE. 

Most importantly --- when a guide-dog is wearing a harness, they are not to be interrupted from their work. Ask the owner for permission to pet or speak to the dog.

P52 {WEEK 46}

the tree outside our front door is shedding its COLORFUL leaves.

Checking in with Tamar @ Random-osity for Project 52 {Week 48},
as we spin toward the end of 2013!

First Congregational Church - Long Beach, CA
site for Andrew & Talia wedding!!
stunning stained-glass windows!

Sebastian, "guide-dog extraordinaire" wore a lavender bow-tie
to Andrew & Talia's wedding!

Sycamore Mineral Springs, Avila Beach
{click on link - it's amazing place}
JPE & I celebrated our 9th anniversary!
with a morning hot-tub, massages &
breakfast at Fat Cat's Cafe (on the pier in Avila Beach).
Sat on the patio enjoying the beautiful weather!

we want to book another massage soon!

a touch of FALL inside...

A busy few weeks! 
B.U.T.
Thanksgiving Break
is coming soon!
{looking forward to some time off}

WORKING...

Mount Vernon, Virginia ~ May 27, 2013

I'M WORKING...

on a several SPECIAL PROJECTS...

so I skipped

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY (6.9.13)

& P52 {WEEK 23}

Didn't want another day to pass without posting!

Gosh... this quote is so appropriate!

It's the end of the school year - my mind is certainly CHALLENGED - trying to wrap-up end of the year details (& YEP! hard to believe - BUT also get ready for the beginning of the school year in August). 

oh... my SPIRIT is already thinking of what I want to do over my summer break. In fact, I'm thinking my SPIRIT IS ON summer break - making my year-end wrap-up CHALLENGING!

I was looking for a picture & quote this morning & knew this fit the bill. I LOVE traveling (it satisfies my SPIRIT & CHALLENGES my thinking, learning and ordinary routine)... 

But, the real reason I was drawn to this photo?? I LOVED my trip to Washington DC with Katie & my mom. We spent Memorial Day with Steph, Mazen, & Sea-Bass at Mount Vernon... 

ummm. photos have a lot to do with one of the special projects I mentioned... more later!

P52 {WEEK 22}

Today's post is part of P52 {WEEK 22} of 2013. The other bloggers participating can be found at RANDOM-OSITY - TAMAR's blog.

I'm in the process of editing photos from our trip to Washington DC. There's NOTHING quite like "seeing & experiencing the world through the eyes of a nine-year old."

Here's a PEEK from Katie's week...

"KATIE & LOVER-BOY, SEBASTIAN"
on the floor at Steph & Mazen's

Sebastian (Sea-Bass) is Mazen's guide-dog. When Sebastian was working (wearing his harness), Katie had to avoid touching or hugging Sea-Bass! She told me, she had a hard time avoiding his eyes. It seems, LOVER-BOY, had some sort of power over Katie. I love her expression in this photo. They're lost in the experience of enjoying each other's company. 

"ROCK HOPPING"
outside the American Indian Museum, Smithsonian Mall

Kids are FUN! I get a thrill from their "energy" --- our feet were sore from all the walking! but, we still fell asleep each night, with a smile on our faces!

"FACETIME WITH MOM"
near the Capitol & Botanical Garden, Washington DC

What would we do without FACETIME? Katie was so excited about seeing the Capitol --- she called her mom to show her the "sights." The ducks decided they wanted to get in on the action!!

"USING THE METRO"

Using public transportation was the highlight of our trip! Stephanie & Mazen live near the Ballston Metro stop (Arlington, VA) & travel into the city (Washington DC) for work each day. Katie's greatest accomplishment was --- learning to go "DOWN the escalator" --- she had no problem going UP, but stepping onto the DOWN escalator was  difficult for the first couple of days! 

"CHECKING THE GARDEN"
Mount Vernon, Virginia

Katie discovered that some of the flowers in George Washington's Mount Vernon Gardens are different than flowers grown in California. My french-braiding skills came in handy! humidity = wispy hair (reminded me of Allie & Steph's hair, at the same age). Thank you Katie for allowing me to braid your hair each morning!

"THEY'RE SO CUTE"
Mount Vernon, Virginia

Katie loves --- LOVES animals! Her family will be getting two puppies in a couple of weeks! I have no doubt they'll be loved! She's decided to have a "Dog-Walking" business when she gets a bit older! Having watched her walk Sea-Bass, I have no doubt she'll be able to save plenty of money for her "dream trip to Paris."

"CHECKING OUR FLIGHT STATUS"
Washington Dulles Airport

It was such a "treat" to be able to introduce Katie to the world of TRAVEL! 

Thank you David & Jodi for allowing me (& GiGi) take Katie on this trip! It was exciting for me "to see the world through the eyes of your nine-year old!"