San Clemente

Jan. 3-10

Remember Nixon's "Western White House"? Well, we were right down the beach, camping at San Clemente State Beach/ Park with Gary and Mel.

Though we caught some rain this time, it was a great stay and we travel so well with Gary and Mel (mucho pinochle, but it was too wet for golf or fishing).
The storms really gave us a show at sunset.........
that's Santa Catalina Island out there.......


And we ate at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Dana Point- Olamendis.
Truly a feast for the eyes as well as the appetite.
But, Otos got cold (poor "O")...............

Spanish Village, Balboa Park- San Diego

December I've been doing quite a bit of wood lathe work lately. Here are the wooden wares I'm displaying/ selling at Gallery 21 in Spanish Village at Balboa Park- San Diego. It's an annual event by the San Diego Woodturners- of which I belong.

I did OK!

I also have pieces at Temecula Olive Oil Company here in Temecula and at Still Waters Winery and Olive Oil Company in Paso Robles. Some of my pieces can be seen at- http://temeculaturnings.blogspot.com/

(I better update that site next!!)

Christmas adobo and flan!!

Dec. 25

Ami and Art were our chefs for the Christmas adobo turkey and famous Neill flan. Unbelieveable!! (That's pressure cooker flan in the cookie tin)

Quite the team........

More Sister City stuff??!!!

Nov. 28- Dec. 3

The Nakayama/ Daisen exchange was a wild and wacky time. And a great time as usual........

We hosted our "other " daughter Akiko again. Ah, youth!!

Traveling Companions

Nov. 6-16

Judy and Paul stopped out for some sunshine in Palm Desert and Temecula. It was the first time we actually used our timeshare in PD, usually we trade it. We'll be staying there again........

They really wanted to visit Joshua Tree NP after hearing about Megan's visit there. It was a beautiful day.......

And we relaxed........
Besides the Aerial Tram, we visited the Living Desert. Low bridge!! Now that was one hungry guy(?).....

More Dutch

Nov. 4- Dutch American Heritage Day

The student exchange just missed it, but next was our DAHD- another success. Check out the Dutch babes (Grand-mother and Grand-daughter)!!

Dutch Treats

Oct. 13-25

We had our Temecula Sister City student exchange with Voorburg and Carol and I were in charge of their visit/ itinerary again. They were 24 strong plus chaperone's Vivienne and Perka. Here the group is at Sam Hicks Park when we toured historic downtown Temecula.

It was a full schedule, and we again included a So Cal beach day....

Here we are at the Duck Pond looking at Voorburg's "Singing In the Rain"- a tribute to our country's resolve from 9-11.

It was another successful exchange, what they didn't know is that they experienced the worse fire season in reported history!!