Thursday, March 23, 2017

Poppies 3/20/17

Last year President and Sister Moffat invited us to go see the poppies with them.  We were not able to but hoped for the next year.  Today we met the Moffats at their home and they drove us to see Paramount Ranch and then hike to the poppies.  Dell thought he should put sunscreen on.  The funny thing was it was zinc and he looked like a mime.  I chased him around trying to take his picture.  He got it rubbed in pretty good.

I don't know what these flowers are called but they were all over.
With the rain that we've had a couple of weeks ago everything is so green and beautiful.
John and Brenda Moffat

John's tripod came in handy so we could have a picture with all of us.

Movies have been filmed here.
 John took a picture of me taking a picture of Dell being President Felix on the phone. 

We drove to Westlake so we could hike to the poppies.



John is quite the photographer.
The pink that is seen on the stems is what is at the bottom of the poppies.  The flower has fallen off.

Daisies are behind me and the poppies in front.



Overlooking Newbury Park.
These flowers reminded me of a caterpillar.
Looking towards Camarillo.
We headed back to the car without a trail.  I think it's called bushwacking. John told us ticks were out.  We checked ourselves but didn't see any on us.
We stopped for lunch before having to be back to meet with the assistants.  
We had a wonderful time being with the Moffats and enjoying God's creations!  I felt rejuvenated.

Tuesday I was driving to Santa Barbara for interviews when I lightly scratched my neck and there was a black thing in my fingernail.  Dell got it and said it was a tick.  I'm so grateful it didn't burrow into me.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Oswalds

We have been so excited for the Oswalds to come visit.  They served here 27 - 30 years ago.  I was looking forward to have them walk through the house and let us know what is still the same.
Their bedroom was where we call the GA room.  Our master bedroom was part of an apartment with an entrance from the outside.  There wasn't an entrance to the bedroom from in the house down the hall way.  
They said the front of the house looks the same.
Their mission office was in Ventura.  They were interested in seeing the mission office and the transfer board.
The McIntoshes know the Oswalds.  Bob McIntosh was Mac's counselor in the mission.  When we arrived in the mission the McIntoshes were serving a CES mission in Santa Barbara.  At one point the men were all looking at their cell phones.
We met for lunch at Padara Grill in Carpinteria.  It was so fun to be all together before the Oswalds had to drive down to LAX to fly home.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Friends 3/2 - 3/8/17

We have been having fun with friends.  Thursday the Wilcoxes came for lunch.  They flew in Wednesday evening and stayed with the Floyds.  We would have liked to spend more time with them but needed to get ready for MLC and the Stewarts were coming Thursday night.  
Friday morning we drove to Santa Barbara to attend a district meeting.  It was fun to include the Stewarts.  We then drove to Solvang.  We have never taken the opportunity to walk around Solvang, always driving directly to the church.  

The lobster wrap was delicious.




I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the bakeries; there were so many.
Saturday we golfed at RiverRidge on the Vineyard side. Best ball is the way to play.




When we drove into the garage after golf, Rich saw a lizard go in.  Dell and Rich were able to get it out.
Dinner was pizza and a salad at Toppers.
Sunday we went to the Ventura 2nd Ward.  We were glad we did because we heard testimonies from the Floyds.  That was their last fast and testimony meeting here before leaving.
Neighbors together again.
Diane and I read the Ensign each month.  She invited Raynee to join us and we share some of our thoughts back and forth.  I thought it would be fun to take the picture of us and send it to Raynee.  I'm looking forward to meeting her.
Sunday afternoon the VanLeeuwens dropped by.  (It was planned.)  They spent a couple of days with all of their family at Disneyland.  Since they were so close, they drove up to see us.
Thanks to the Hales, we had the last of the Kneaders bread for breakfast.  This is at the Cross where we take the new missionaries after flying into California.

The VanLeeuwens left from the Cross and drove to Solvang for the day.  The Stewarts left around 11:30 to catch their flight out of LAX.  We spent the day working more on MLC.
Tuesday VanLeeuwens helped with breakfast for the leaders in our mission.  We ate at the mission home and then went to the mission office for the day.  VanLeeuwens followed us so they could see the Floyds and then they went to the Ronald Regan Library.
We enjoyed sharing mission stories.
We have been blessed with truly wonderful friends!