il cortile

Be prepared--I went camera happy last night. Here we are-perusing the menus while waiting for our table. Kyra scouted out this new restaurant for our dinner celebrating Kevin's birthday yesterday.

This is a cheese appetizer we ordered. The cheese is supposed to be spread on bread but by the time I took the picture, the bread was gone! The drizzle was a balsamic viniagrette.

Kevin's stash of gifts

Here we are with our dinners. Kevin Goodwin (he drove up from Buellton just to celebrate with us!) ordered spaghetti with meat sauce, Kyra ordered ravioli asparagus, Brad ordered Shrimp pasta (that looked really good), Kevin ordered wild boar with pasta and I ordered mushrooms wrapped in veal with roasted potatoes. Very good!

Our cleaned up plates. We had to restrain Kyra from licking her plate. She really liked her ravioli!

Kyra and Brad

Kevin is still eating his spaghetti.

I tried to surreptitiously scoot the camera to Brad to take a picture of Kevin and I and he just took this picture of his tie!

This is Kevin and I reacting to Brad taking a picture of his tie. Look, he's actually smiling!

Here's our desserts--the waitress, oops, water girl, got her arm in the picture.

Kevin and Brad ordered the Hot Lava Chocolate Cake. Kyra ordered canneloni and I ordered pannecetta or something like that. Delicious!!!!

Kevin didn't know he was getting his picture taken. Even though it didn't turn out good, I decided to post it because of the look on his face.

My darling daughter.

Here's one of Brad. I'll have to make sure the setting is correct the next time. As we were walking out to the truck, Kevin mentioned that he didn't know Kevin Goodwin was going to be there. It was a very nice surprise. The company was fun, the food was delicious. I give it 5 stars!*****

Happy Birthday to Kevin!

Saturday

A few weeks ago (I know, I'm really deliquent about my posts), I had Saturday off and we planned some activities. One of the most important was going to the Farmer's Market. First, we headed to Templeton and wandered around there looking at all the lovely food. Here, Kyra and Brad are loading our purchases in the trunk of their car. We also went to the one in Paso Robles.

Then, that night we went to the Pioneer Player's production of "Oliver!". My friend, Saundra and her daughter, Jenny, were both in the play and it was wonderful. If you're wondering what that thing is on Saundra's forehead, its her mike. Her voice still didn't come through. I think something was wrong with it (the mike). We had a fun day anyway!

:(

Kevin informed us last week that he found a place to stay in Buellton so he wouldn't be staying here anymore. I will miss him :(

Newcomers

when I got out of my car last night, Brad came in the garage with a cat carrier saying, "something really bad happened to Pipi today". I get all concerned and ask "what?" Brad replies, "she turned into.....a chicken!"

Sorry this picture is blurry--I was holding my camera with one hand. The latest residents at our property.

another month

Time to check in with you---I can't believe its been another month! I was gone all day yesterday (temple bus to LA temple) so that's why I'm a couple days late.

Dec 15--147
Feb 17--139
down 8 pounds!!!

Jan 15: ribcage-33"
Feb 17: ribcage-32 3/4"
down 1/4 inch

Jan 15: waist-34"
Feb 17: waist-33 1/2"
down 1/2 inch

Jan 15: hips-39 3/4"
Feb 17: hips 39 1/2"
down 1/4 inch

Jan 15: thigh-21 1/4"
Feb 17: thigh-21"
down 1/4 inch

Jan 15: calf-14"
Feb 17: calf 13 7/8"
down 1/8 inch

Jan 15: bicep-12"
Feb 17: bicep-12"
no change

That makes 1 3/8 inches and 8 pounds!! I'm so excited and can feel the difference in my clothing.

new floor

I came home from work one day to this--no more green shag carpet!! I'm so happy to have the last of it gone.

Then, as I was leaving for work last Saturday, Kevin was pulling out part of the railing! I'm kind of sad to see it go. My dad made it.

When I got home that night, the floor was all done! Rug added on Monday. Baseboard would put just the finishing touch needed.

Phone Messages

I came home from work the other day to this message on my answering machine--"Hey, Grandpa." (voice in the background) "This is Austin. Just so you know, you can, you're doing the baptism. Will you please be bap...Crap. I have..." end of message.


Next message--"Grandpa, can you please do a talk on the Holy Ghost? Can you please tell Grandma that if she wants to, she can do a prayer. My baptism is on March 6, Saturday, Twenty-ten. This is Austin. Bye"

I love it!

New and Improved!

I had to repost this picture so you could see the difference. This was taken about 3 weeks ago.

Here's the coop after Brad and Kyra worked on it Saturday. Brad derided me yesterday after I said "We worked on the coop". After all, I didn't do anything but take pictures. Look carefully and you can see the nesting box they bought. They are really serious about raising chickens!

thermometer

It doesn't matter if its right-side up or upside down--it still registers the temperature!

Chicken coop

Kyra is busy cleaning the chicken coop. They want to have chickens so we can gather fresh eggs.

Eucalyptus tree

Two weeks ago, I went out to the "lower forty" because Kyra and Brad were working on the chicken coop and found a huge limb down from one of our trees. This is the tree it broke off of.

Here is the downed limb. Kevin will clean it up--just has to find the time!

family dinner...again!

Last Monday, as I'm driving into our driveway, I get a text message from my nephew, Kevin, saying "don't eat. I'm making dinner". This is Kevin, cooking away!

I had to get pictures but Kyra wasn't very into it. She said " don't take my picture. i didn't shower today and my hair is greasy". So what did I say? "your hair doesn't look greasy". oops. what I meant was "your hair looks fine. you can't tell you didn't wash it."

I asked her to smile for this one---i get no respect.

Kevin fixed sausage in red sauce over tortellini and spinach with mushrooms. it was so yummy.

As usual, my Kevin said "You don't need a picture of me". Then Kyra wanted to take a picture of the two of us so I gave her the camera.

Just us two. After dinner we had to make brownies because kyra didn't like the batch the day before with walnuts. they were so yummy!

Thank you, Kevin Goodwin, for fixing dinner!