Furry pets

The husband has work commitments this weekend, so last night it was just me and the doggies hanging in the master bed. I was watching TV and they were keeping me company by being lazy little sleep machines. But don't be fooled by this display of sloth. As soon as a leaf falls from an oak tree or a squirrel farts in the yard, they're all over it with the barking and throwing themselves at the windows to get outside.

This morning after I worked out, I did my usual patio chores. I seldom wish for rain at this time of year, but a nice steady downpour would do wonders for our current pollen situation. My new roof has a decidedly yellow tint to it right now, not to mention the slate around the pool. So I'm out there with my blower every morning, trying to keep it looking presentable. This morning when I fetched the big net to collect the little floating pollen thingies off the top of the water, I looked down to see what has become our usual spring pool diver... a tarantula. They obviously live here on the property, but I've only ever seen them in the spring. And usually in the pool. I have no clue why they do this.

Cover Hogs

I was having stomach issues last week, and it seems the husband came down with a more virulent version of the same thing on Monday. He left for work and then returned home about an hour later. It's hard to get anything done when you're spending all of your time in the bathroom. So he piled up in bed and weathered the virus with the help/company of our two cairn terriers, Ollie and Pepper.

Sunshine all the time in Cali

I've got at least six hats, yet didn't make it to sunny California with even one. So I walked around all week with my hands shading my face. Despite the overdose of UV rays, we were truly blessed with some great weather for sightseeing, as evidenced by blue skies in so many of our pics.

That's my high school senior... on Rodeo Drive, baby! We took a half day tours by locals to see all of the TV/movie things. Our 18 yr old didn't catch the "Pretty Woman" references quoted by our tour guide, but I sure did.

Our Airbnb 2/2 condo with underground parking in the heart of Santa Monica was really nice. Every evening I'd open the slider onto the large balcony to enjoy the cool ocean breezes. 

The teen enjoyed all of the healthy eating places out in Cali. And they were all just too stinking cute as well as fun for people watching. I think she had an acai bowl for breakfast every morning. Her favorite place was a lovely little stroll from where we were staying. She also found this healthy food place that had dishes with *meat & cheese* in them for me. And dessert!

The day we were roaming around Venice Beach for some artsy fartsy sorta pics the teen could put on Insta, I ran across the street sign below and couldn't resist. My fellow 80s peeps will totally get it.

Senior photos, part 2

The last day of classes before the senior kicked off her final high school spring break, we had her college choice CLEMSON pennant photos taken by the same photographer who did her fall shots. While we were at her studio, we picked up some of the finished products taken back in October. Here are a few of my favorites from the many we were given on a memory stick to enjoy.

Spring breaking in Cali

The high school senior and I spent the week of spring break out in California, hanging out at an Airbnb apartment all to ourselves in the heart of Santa Monica. Checking out the beach. Eating one healthy meal after another. Gluten free, organic, free range, blah blah blah. Except for my couple lapses with the mac 'n cheese. One thing we enjoyed seeing on the west coast was all of the succulents. They were in landscaping everywhere, both commercial and residential. Even at the cemetery!

Because y'all know I didn't go all the way to LA and ignore cemeteries where many a famous Hollywood stars are spending eternity.

The diversity of monuments was interesting. We saw lots of Hebrew on Jewish markers. Plus these interesting forms from Asia, seen above, that I recalled noting on our trip to Cambodia/Vietnam several summers ago. The vintage hearse was pretty cool. I was additionally surprised to note the free roaming peacocks on the cemetery grounds.