Finally a New Post! { Let's catch up }

It's been awhile since I last posted. I've been, well, lazy. ;) So, let's catch up with a few snaps.

Brian's 55th birthday! Whoot! I'm married to a senior citizen!! ;)

I snapped this a.w.e.s.o.m.e shot of Katelynn Balders on April 9th.

Palm trees in Long Beach on April 2nd.

A January sunset in Victorville.


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Joshua Tree NP { Spring Break Camping }

Over my spring break, Brian and I went camping at Joshua Tree. (A couple of weeks before, we went to check out some campsites and picked a real nice one in Black Rock.) We knew the weather was going to be a bit cold but we didn't expect to set up camp while it was snowing! Our first night, we froze. I have never been so cold! I think the wind chill brought the temperature to 20 degrees! Well, it felt like it! The next day was warm and beautiful. We road along the Geology Tour Road, Desert Queen Mine and Queen Valley Roads. We also hiked to Barker Dam. We had a great time! Here are a few snaps.

above: Brian setting up camp while it snows.

below: Our campsite. The view was nice.

above: Headed back on Geology Tour Road.

below: Views along the road.

above: Along the hike to Barker Dam.

below: Barker Dam pond(?).

below: View along the hiking trail.

above and below: a couple of snaps with a 60's feel.

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Anna Sanchez { Mom-to-Be }

My friend, Cynthia, invited me to be her god-daughter's 'shower photographer' - well that is what it said on my name tag ;) Anna's shower was lovely! Lots of family and friends and let's not forget, lots of gifts! Here are a few snaps.

Cynthia made delicious cupcakes. She also came up with a few

CUTE ideas using baby food jars. Above: jars filled with treats

Below: jars made into vases.

above: Here's Anna.

below: Anna with her mom, Maria. Here's Anna with her god-mother, Cynthia.

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Old Town Pasadena { Melting Pot Tour }

On the 19th, Brian and I met up with our friends Joanna and Tony in Pasadena. We had a fabulous time taking the Melting Pot Tour in Old Town. Following our guide, Kendall, we walked around for 3.5 hours stopping at various places tasting yummy food. Here are some snaps.

First stop: Tortas Mexico to sample ... well, a torta.

above: Stop 2- Father Nature to sample falafel. Here's Tony and Joanna.

below: Stop 3- Equator to sample 3 different entrees. Here's one... above: here's two of three. Tony, Brian and Joanna at the table.

below: Stop 4- Aux Delices Bakery & Cafe to taste Opera cake. YUM!

above: Stop 5- Beyond the Olive. We sampled 2 different extra virgin olive oils and

2 balsomic vinegars. Every oil in the store is California made.

below: Stop 6- Choza Mama. We sampled three different entrees. Here's one.

above: As we walked around, Kendall gave us some interesting Pasadena history.

below: Stop 7 - Bird Pick Tea & Herb sampling 3 different teas.

above: Here's tea brewing. Love the tea pots in the window.

below: There were 10 of us following Kendell.

above: Stop 8- Tutti Gelati. Tony and Joanna sampling a YUMMY gelato-sorbet

below: Stop 9- The Soap Kitchen. This was a 'sensory tasting'.

In the kitchen with Kendall telling us how soap is made.

above: Last stop- Mignon Chocolate Boutique. Another yummy sample!

Tour info can be found here: http://www.meltingpottours.com/

After the tour, we walked around and did some shopping.

I took the snap above in a cute card place - Lula Mae.

below: a snap from the Apple store.

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Joshua Tree { Day Trip }

On Sunday the 13th, Brian and I took a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park. We went to check out their campgrounds. We were thinking of camping over my spring break and thought that this would be a great place. Here are a few snaps from that day.

above: Driving through the park was nice. Here's a snap with a '60ish feel.

below: a snap taken in Indian Cove campground.

below: taken in Hidden Valley campground. Don't you think the face
in this rock formation looks like Gru in Despicable Me?


Ya know, I should get a field-note book. My memory is slipping.

All the campgrounds are around rocks except for one: Black Rock Canyon. That is where we will camp.

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Get-Away Weekend { Phoenix area }

Earlier this month, Brian and I had a wonderful get-away weekend. Brian did all the planning. All I had to do was pack our bags and get in the Jeep. On Friday the 4th, we drove to the Phoenix area and stayed two nights at the very nice Talking Stick Hotel and Casino in Scottsdale. That night, we went to see the Dodgers lose against the Giants in a spring training game in Glendale. On Saturday, we headed out to the Apache Trail but first, we stopped in Goldfield- an old mining town. Then off we go to drive along the beautiful Apache Trail. Here are several snaps taken that weekend.

Camelback Stadium was nice and the Dodger dogs were good.

We sat at the end of the left field seating area. Look closely, you can

see Brian in the bottom photo.

A few Goldfield snaps.

I think Brian broke the scale.

The Apache Trial is a National Forest Scenic Byway.

A road view of Canyon Lake above and Apache Lake below.

Above and below: views from a camp ground across from Tortilla Flat.

above: End of trail-Roosevelt Lake. We make a right.

below: Roosevelt Bridge from the back window.

Along highway 88 heading toward Superior for dinner.

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