The Good Life in SoCal!

Jim and I are spending several weeks in Southern CA visiting daughter Melinda.  One evening son Mike joined us for dinner (he was here on business) and just had to try out her Porsche...can't blame him, it's a sweet ride!

 

We are having the best time.  She treated me to a hair makeover and I am now (again) blonde.

We spend our days gardening, eating and hot tubing.

And then....and then...

we went...

 

 

 Look what you can do with empty wine bottles...wind chimes, lanterns....cute!

 

 

 Olive oil tasting...yum!

 

 

 

I perform after a bit too much vino... 

 Quail egg atop beef tartar with fried capers...extraordinary!

This is Presqu'ile, the most gorgeous property I have ever, ever seen. And outstanding wines, too. 

 

  Melinda is a member of their wine club. 

We not only enjoyed the building, which was breathtaking, but the grounds as well. 

Melinda selfie... 

 The flowers everywhere were blooming in mad colors and abundance.  Butterflies and hummingbirds all over.

Each property cuter than the last...

 

 

 Even her back yard is a delight!

We had planned to head to Colorado to visit Mike & Angie tomorrow but will instead stay here another week and a half to cat & plant sit while Melinda goes solo to Scotland for a mini vacation.  Will return to Sandpipers mid July, if we tear ourselves away.

Barb's Water Aerobics

The water aerobics schedule

 for the month of July is:

 

Sundays-8 A.M.

Tuesday and Thursday - 10:15 A. M.

 

Thanks for helping me get the word out....

Barb

Note from Judy T.

Chicky's grooming is now offering a mobile grooming service.  They will be coming to the park to groom Annie and Henry and anyone else who would like to do it.  It's a self-contained van, so Karen will let me know where to have them park.  Not sure yet, it may even be in my driveway.

 If anyone is interested, they can email me, so I can let Chicky's know.   

Thanks,

Judy

 judy@taylorroth..com

(Hint...delete that second "dot" to make it .com)

A Final Farewell to Fiji

Dear Sue, Tom and I both got into uniform

 for the final day of the cruise.

  He is wearing the typical Fijian outfit for men

 (yes, they wear these skirts daily).

  While Tom wore his with the same attitude the Scots have toward kilts, I don't know what the Fijian style is. 

 

 I found this sari at an Indian shop in the capital of Fiji.  The entire shop catered to the indigenous Indian population with the tourist trade only on the side. 

 A sari is about 20 feet of three feet wide cloth. 

The woman showed me how to tie and fasten it. 

There is one (just one!!!) knot. 

You then wind, pleat and tuck.

 

  Tom and I had to take a couple of tries to get me into this, back on the ship. 

 It worked, but I was sure that one good sneeze and I would end up with a pool of fabric at my feet.  

Thank goodness, with this crowd it would make no difference. 

 

Tom will take his last, "official" photograph for the contest at the Fiji airport. But, people can continue to send in guesses as to how many photos he took in the last 4 1/2 months right up to when we have our party at Sandpipers.

 [A hint: he actually ran out of card memory on one trip--yes, he travels with extras.]

 

We get back to McAllen at 8:40 a.m. on the 16th. 

Can't wait to see all of you.  

Love and hugs, L

A Fishy Day



Had a great girl's day out with Melinda yesterday. 

 Got my hair done...I'm blonde again with a great cut.

 

Ate REAL sushi.

I've always wanted to try Sea Urchin (Uni for those in the know).  Melinda suggested I just suck on her kitchen sponge...but I insisted on the real thing.  It was mildly briny, kinda custardy...crossed it off my food bucket list.

 

Uni

 Now these pictures are giving me fits.  They won't stay upright...I have given up.  Just turn your head.

 

Yellowtail topped with Albacore, and mango tomato relish...yum.

Also had handrolls of eel and spicy yellowtail.  They disappeared too fast to take pictures.

 

Then we drove around in her Porsche convertible looking all gorgeous.  Went shopping for shoes and clothes and cat food. See...the real world reared it's head.  Got home in time for wine on the patio with hummingbirds.

Patsy's Book Club Report

A group of us met Thursday night in Flip Flopz and had very interesting discussions about books and other things.  If you're a reader, I thought you might be interested in the books that were discussed.

 

     Pam suggested a series of mysteries by Gillian Roberts.  There are 14 books in the series, and Pam has them all and has read all but the last one.  She has put them all in our library.  They are numbered on the front of the book, but you don't have to read them in order.

 

    Pam also suggested "How I Live Now" by Meg Rosoff. Pam began reading the book at 3:00 a.m. and continued until finishing the book at 7:30 a.m.  "Couldn't put it down!"

 

    Mary suggested "China Dolls" by Lisa See.  It is set in 1938 in San Francisco and is about three girls who become dancers to survive.

 

    Patsy suggested "Checked" by Jennifer Jamelli.  It is about a girl with OCD and her relationship with her doctor.  "Couldn't put it down!"

 

    Patsy also suggested "The Illegal Gardener" by Sara Alexi.  It is a warm story of an American woman living alone in a small village in Italy (France?) who ends up hiring an illegal Pakistani to help her in her garden.  They develop a platonic relationship in which she tries to help him to get back to Pakistan to his family.

 

 Joanie didn't talk about any books, but she brought  the WINE, a most delicious pink rose.  Couldn't forget that!

 

Our next Summer Book Club will be July 10 at 7:00 in Flip Flopz.  Come and share your great reads.

 

Patsy #108

SummerBook Club

The Sandpiper Summer Book Club will meet Thurs., June 12, at 7:00 p.m. in Flip Flopz. 

 

 We discuss books we are reading

 or have read recently. 

 

You might also bring books to share.

 

Bring your drink and a snack, if desired.

 

Patsy #108

Water Aerobic Times

Water aerobics will be held on Sundays at 8A.M. ,

 and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:45A.M.

over the summer.

Bring a noodle or small ball.

Hope to see you there!!

 

The food pantry, sponsored by the First Lutheran Church of Edinburg, continues to need your support.

  Contributions of plastic grocery bags, canned goods, rice, beans and clothing are greatly appreciated.

These items can be left at Lot 10.

Thanks for your generous support.

Hazlett's...On our way home

Dear family and friends

It has been a wonderful trip but we can't wait to get home. 

 

 We have experienced  great works of art some made by God and some made by man.

 

We will be home by the 11th of June.

  Keep us in your prayers as we keep you in ours.

 
We traveled from TC to SD.  Here are a few highlights first the prairies, Badlands, Blackhills, buffalos, Custer state park tunnels and so much more!

 

 

 

We climbed in the crater of Capulin Volcano.   You drive up and around to the rim it's more than 7300 feet. Than you take a circular walk to the bottom.  All around the volcano are other volcanoes.  The Capulin has the only crater that's intact.   The view was spectacular

 

 

Water Aerobics

Barb will be offering a water aerobics class on Sunday mornings beginning June 8th at 8 A.M.

 

If you are interested in a class on another day or time see Barb at Lot 10 and perhaps another class during the week can be offered....

Thanks,

Barb