Work like a dog!

Summer family visits

Duane's brother came for a visit this weekend. A stop over on their way to a week at the coast. They are from Missouri and though his brother grew up here in town, his wife and kids haven't been to California. Bakersfield welcomed them with a nice hot day, for them to live in the pool. They played cards in the pool, read their books, dove for quarters and even managed to drop a cell phone in the pool!! And of course you can't play in the pool without a cookout (do they say that in this part of the country...I might bring it back!~) Uncle/cousin Dave fired up the bar-bie and caused the neighbors in the hood to drool...
as David usually says "Bring it"

Paso Robles and Carpenteria

when it is hot here, the temptation of cool coastal weather beckons often.

Last weekend, while trying to catch up on clearing out the dust and cobwebs of our yard, repairing sprinklers and just trying to maintain in hot town usa, the phone call came...'would you like to meet us for dinner in Paso Robles?' As we looked at each other, sweating and sweating some more, it didn't take long to say yes...'where and when?' was our reply. Now, when Duane's folks call about dinner, they don't just think of a burger somewhere (though firestone doesn't count), they prefer finer food...yum...things bako just hasn't figured out. we like our fried mozarella sticks and deeper fried fish, cuz we are eating healthy that way. No, the folks like 'pinky up' food! Names you can't pronounce and the caution of you really aren't sure what you are eating! We decided to try the appetizers all around and not order entrees for a change, except Margaret!
Things like cheese and salami dish and a sardine and anchovy...okay, somethings I still don't like! But, I have grown to love pinky up food! Well, some of it! And after spending a weekend at the new chef Michael's, I appreciate it even more! So, this is for you chef to be Michael, and our fond memory of pinky up food!
Some beets and grapefruit (who would imagine) and avacado...it was rather tasty!! But I must say Margaret had the most interesting...Butternut squash enchiladas! They were delicious! Corn tortillas wrapped around squash with cheese and enchilada sauce! Yeah...pretty good!
And did I say cool coastal weather...it was a brisk 70 degrees and the wind blowing, which is actually perfect weather, when you dress appropriately! When it's 100 and hell where you left, it's rather difficult to think of taking a sweater! Heaters on the patio and away from the wind, and oh, maybe a glass of wine help!!
After dinner we drove south to San Luis Obispo and stayed the nite! David was in Carpenteria to shoot a wedding on Saturday nite and we decided to meet up with him and attend church with him. This is the church, Reality Carpenteria, where he was baptized! The drive from SLO to Santa Barbara area is so pretty...I was driving so don't have pics...but I forget how gorgeous it is through the Santa Ynez area! Church was awesome!!! Worship music really good, but the message!! Wow! I haven't heard such passion in a really long time...If you're interested you can listen to his messages! But where the climate is cool people choose different modes of transportation, especially when parking is limited...kinda like LBC parking! Where do you put a carseat or two!

MESS for LESS!!!

For real! Did Paulette forget to mention the meticulous care with which the store customers shop!!!

blog drought

yes, we have all been on blog drought. From not having a computer, to having one again, just not been able to get everything done as of late...
And since others have posted their lackness of blogging, so too I will be back soon...