Happy Valentine's to all my faithful readers!
It's been awhile since I posted...I'll be back soon.
xxoo
Wishing you a joyous 2012!
Wishing you and yours a Joyous Christmas...
remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life...John 3:16
xxoo, The Squirrel Hunter, Cheryl, Brea & Sean
While Brea & Sean were snowboarding...we snow bunnies went sightseeing. This was our first time in Mammoth so we spent the days driving around and exploring. The Squirrel Hunter really wanted to try snow shoeing but there wasn't enough snow on the ground to do so.
We found a huge frozen lake...SH was brave to walk out on the frozen ice...
I step out on the edge...it was so cool to see through the ice of this lake...
A huge Bear was walking on the ice...he's really a huge dog called "Bear" by his owner...
They were out ice skating in the middle of the lake...
I was fascinated by the frozen ice along the shore...
And this old wood cabin.
We drove out to the high desert and saw Mono Lake. The countryside here is so beautiful and desolate. I was amazed to see lava fields in California...I only think of lava being in Hawaii but there were large landscapes of ancient cinder cones with black lava surrounding them. When the day was done, we'd pick up the snowboarders for homemade meals of Hawaiian Beef stew and rice and spend the rest of the evening watching movies and playing games...I love these family times! It was a great snow vacation!
The Squirrel Hunter & I decided to take Brea & Sean up to Mammoth. There wasn't alot of snow but it was a good time for us to be together.
Mammoth is really cool...they have a gondola that everyone can ride up to the top of the mountain on...
From serious snowboarders...
To the snow bunnies...
We reached the top to have lunch but they were only serving kids meals and chili. We quickly took a picture at the top of the mountain...it was freezing cold with the wind blowing.
We watched Brea & Sean take off...
As we rode the gondola...we could watch Brea & Sean snowboard down to meet us at the McCoy Station for lunch.
We ate outside...it was a little warmer without the wind blowing...we enjoyed delicious hot waffle sandwiches...roast beef with marinated onions and cheddar cheese...turkey with chipotle mayo, roasted green chiliesand pepper jack cheese...simply divine! It was a beautiful day to be on the mountain.
Autumn...the falling of the multicolor leaves...the older I get the more I enjoy this time of year. Its when I look forward to our journey up to Pebble Beach...while the Squirrel Hunter is out working hard on the golfcourse...
I enjoy my day at the Spa...it's become an autumn ritual...my way of preparing for the holidays.
I treat myself to two spa treatments...The Palmero...the tropical pampering begins with a luscious papaya-pineapple enzyme scrub. Then, while wrapped in a hydrating propolis wrap, warm kukui coconut oil is massaged deeply into your scalp. Love the coconut oil, it smells so wonderful! I always seem to float during this massage and the time passes too quickly to come back down to earth.
It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day...I had a salad nicoise...
Out by the pool...reading while waiting for my next treatment...a Deluxe Silk Peel...its a re-texturizing treatment that's better to microdermabrasion alone. The newly exfoliated skin is infused with physician-strength solutions targeted for specific skin-care. The treatment is also applied to my hands. Everything feels so smooth...like baby skin!
Next on the spa agenda is sitting & reading in the Sanctuary...all bundle up in a comfy spa robe and blanklet with a cozy fire and spa music playing in the background ( I need a place like this at home!)...I read till dusk then back to the room for room service and watching the USC-Ducks game with the Squirrel Hunter. A perfect way to start my holiday season.
Unfortunately, the Squirrel Hunter missed the cut which meant going home a day early...not a bad deal because it's always nice to go home. It was a rainy day with rainbows...
I worked on links for my necklaces during our 7 hours road trip home.
There was a brilliant sunset with all the rain clouds...its a beautiful start to the holidays with family & friends!
Christmas time at Tancredi & Morgan is always very special...
This year was a little different...they had a "pop-up" shop right across the parking lot from their usual shop...
Everything was decorated for Christmas with Marsha's creations...
Marsha out did herself this year with gorgeous swags...
Delightful boots
and adorable Victorian Cones full of Christmas Treasures...
Silk pillows filled with aromatic potpourri..
.
Bags full of delicious ribbons
and vintage treasures to make your own holiday treats...
So much eye candy...
I had to walk around several times to make sure my eye caught everything...
In the end, I bought several of Marsha's creations...I'm always ready to start thinking about my Christmas decorations after I've been to Tancredi & Morgan's...Thanks Marsha!
It was time to visit the the Monterey's Bay Aquarium...
One of the country's best aquarium ...I love the sea kelp forest tank...
When my children were little and the Squirrel Hunter played full time on the TOUR...we would visit every aquarium, museum and zoo across this great nation of ours.
Now that my babies are grown and I have new interests...like antique shopping...
I don't visit these places very often...
I have learn the secrets of enjoying a quiet day in these special places...
Go in the late afternoon...when all the school children have gone home...
I can enjoy all of God's creations in quiet solitude...
Watching the sea anemones...
I didn't know there were so many kinds of sea horses...
The only animal in the animal kingdom where the male gives birth to its young...I find that very fascinating...
The big river trout was making me hungry...
Nobody was around the otter tank...how nice just to be able to stand and watch their behavior without having to move along for others to see.
My very favorite of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the large and I mean HUGE tank at the Open Sea Exhibit...you can sit in front of this tank. It's like having your own window into the deep blue sea...watching the sun fish, schools of blue Pacific Tuna & sardines, a sea turtle, California Barracuda go by. I can sit here for hours just watching life in the ocean. It's amazing!
I always look forward to my week at Pebble Beach in the fall. Waking up and walking out to the beach...basking in the sun and reading my book...
Listening to the surf...watching the endless waves...seeing the birds fall by...
Enjoying the flora...
and the fauna...
Walking back to the hotel along the boardwalk of the protected dunes...
For a little lunch out on the patio...yummy sushi...
Getting in the car and driving to Pacific Grove's El Carmelo Cemetery...
To see all the deer...
Who inhabit the graves...
Drive along the 17 Mile Drive in search for that elusive otter frolicking in the waves...
Returning to the hotel at the end of the day...
To enjoy the sounds of the bagpiper as the sun is setting on another gorgeous day at Pebble Beach.
