Time to Build a Fence.......

 The hardest part about building a fence is getting good help. You need someone to work with that cares about the project as much as you do.............Problem solved!

 Grace worked so hard, I was truley Amazed! From cleaning holes to delivering the posts where they needed to go to mixing all of the concrete for the job (over 3 tons worth).

 This really is a joint effort. We are working so hard on this, we literally drag ourselves in the house at the end of the each day and treat ourselves to a "Motrin Coctail".

 The holes are 3 feet deep, the posts are treated 4"X6" and the rails are 2"X6" Douglas Fir.

 It is coming along nicely, but there is still a lot of fence to install. Not to mention 2 double gates and 2 walk gates. It is a good thing I learned so much about building fences from my Dad! (And I have the Best help I could ask for!)

N.P.H.S. Class of 1971 Reunion

 I had the opportunity to go back to the "Conejo Valley" for my 40 year reunion earlier this month. So much has changed! This is our school mascot, the Panther. Such a beautiful setting in front of the main office.

 The gym now has an awesome painting of the Panther appearing to be breaking out. Such detail, someone did a great job.

 Our reunion was held at the Stagecoach Inn. This is such a beautiful setting with a re-creation of the old Timber school building and the Inn filled with antiques from earlier times. There were over 125 people attending and a good time was had by all.

 There was a surprise visit from the current cheerleaders at Newbury Park High School. These girls did such a great job, it brought back a flood of memories of rallies and football games.

 The next day we all met at the school for a tour of the campus. There are a lot of changes but I still remember walking these halls as a young boy. All of the classes and teachers we had.........seems like yesterday.

 No visit to the "Conejo Valley" would be complete without getting together with my good buddy Vic fof a round of golf. The weather could not have been better and the course was in really good shape.

To make this an even better trip, my ex business partner Josie and her husband Ron were able to join us. Talk about a great day! I was smiling for a week.
On the last day in town, I stopped by the office (Century 21 America) and met up with some of the people that have meant so much to me over the last 17 years. I just wish I could have visited with them longer!

My new Buddy

I started using my Quail call last summer when all the quail in the surrounding fields were calling each other. I managed to call them in, one of them even landed on our deck looking for me. This year, I have not had to call them. They show up in the morning and evenings. This guy walks around on the deck and sits on the garden fence during the day. I am not sure if he is the same one that sits in the top of our pine tree every morning though. He starts calling early and leaves when it starts getting dark. The wildlife here is awesome!

A relaxing Sunday morning drive

 We have been watching this old house slowly deteriorate and return to nature for the last 4 years. It is sitting out in a field all by itself. I can only imagine the former families that have called this "Home" in the past.

 I am not sure what this and the other buildings on the property were used for. Grace thinks this might have been an old dairy or cattle property. It backs up to a lake that is frozen over this time of year. Beautiful old building.

  

                A hospital near a womans prison and youth authority facility. Beautiful old brick architecture.

                                                    An old dairy farm, still being used.

                                        This is the Grange. A meeting hall for community events.

 Some really large silos out in the country. In the summer there are miles and miles of wheat, alfalfa, hay and other types of grasses out here.

This beautiful hawk let us drive right up to him and take a couple of pictures before flying off looking for his next meal.
What a great day. We do live in a very picturesque area.

The Last Day Of 2010

 As you can see, we have a winter wonderland. The temperature here this morning was -2 degrees........

 Grace's lavender field is sleeping under all that snow. Come Spring, it will explode in beautiful shades of purple...........

 The sitting / reading / thinking bench looks very lonely.......

 Grace's garden art / lawn tractor doesn't look too inviting, the flower basket on the hood looks like a big snowball. All of the fruit and the shade trees on the property are baren and sleeping as well.........

As cold and bleak as this appears, there is a quiet beauty to everything this time of year (as long as you are not out in it shoveling snow).

This has been a Wonderful year! We officially became grandparents to a beautiful little girl and hopefully by the end of 2011 we will be grandparents to another little beauty. Our daughter and son in law are awesome! Adopting 2 sweet little girls.

God has truley blessed our family. He has provided all that we need and so much more.

We look foreward to many new adventures in 2011.......

Miss Beasley

Our little Miss Beasley has decided that she needs to be as close to us as possible. She has always been the "most sociable" of the group that allow us to care for them but during this last year with her failing health she wants to be at our sides or in our laps constantly (which by the way, is OK with us).




Miss Beasley came to us as a stray some 15 years ago. She just showed up on our doorstep one day and refused to leave. We (I) tried desperately to find her owner to no avail and since our home was on a busy street we decided to make her an indoor kitty, and that was fine with her. She befriended our other kitty, "Puddams" immediatly and they became best friends. A couple of years later we "lost" Puddams to a stroke. Miss Beasley was alone for a couple of months before we decided we needed another Himmie. As some of you may know buying that one baby Himmie (Peekie) turned into rescueing two other adult Himmies (Cissy and La La) from the same breeder. Miss Beasley decided early on she was Queen of the house and did not like the new trio especially the baby Peekie. Peekie adoided Miss Beasley as much as possible but Miss Beasley seemed to enjoy going out of her way to torment her. After a couple of years "Cissy" decided enough was enough and put Miss Beasley in her place. That ended the picking on Peekie (who was much bigger than Miss Beasley). We said Good-by to Cissy last year after a long illness and La La has really come out of her "shy" shell. Peekie, La La and Beasley are good friends.



We will continue to love our "Girls", they bring us so much joy!

"WOLFFY'S"

When we moved up here in 2007, a friend told me I had to find this place because according to him they made the best hamburgers in the world. While I do enjoy a good hamburger once in a while, I did not feel the need to go out of my way to find this place. Just by chance, while out on deliveries I drove past Wolffy's and told myself I would have to stop in someday to try a burger. After all, this place is a throw back to the diners of the 50's and Grace and I love old things. We went there for lunch yesterday and I have to admit the food was really really good and there was so much of it! Also because it is a family owned and run place the service and atmosphere was a real pleasure. We will be returning many times I am sure. Thanks for the tip Jim!