yellow flowers in the garden

I guess I like yellow flowers the best. Earlier this summer I was able to find a garden filled with yellow flowers and it made me very happy.  I think yellow is just a very joyful color.

baby food

I am including this picture of the contents of a bowl of baby food because I think it is rather artistic.  I had the opportunity to take care of a little baby for many weeks this Spring and I was there as she transitioned from milk to solid food.  I always provided a savory and a sweet with every meal.  Sometimes the semi-liquid baby food created an interesting  color palette, such as this one.  Definitely photo worthy, don't you think?  p.s. sorta looks like poop, though.  sorry

flowers at the fair

I really like taking pictures of flowers.  I took these pictures of some gorgeous floral entries in the horticultural building at the San Diego county fair in June.  Absolutely splendid.

SD county fair

Who doesn't like a good old fashioned county fair?  No one I know.  So, in June I had the opportunity to attend the San Diego county fair which is held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.  Lots of fun.  The main reason I was there was to see my granddaughter perform with her dance school group.  She's two.  After that we walked around the midway, took in a few rides and sampled some of the fair food offerings.  It was a very hot day and I got sunburned.  Cranky time.

how to make lefse

The quickest and best way to make lefse is to let somebody else do it.  Just watch.  That's all you have to do and it comes out perfectly every time.  So, get out your turning sticks, some white towels and your measuring scoop and let's get started.

Be sure to get the correct potatoes.  These are the best.  Don't substitute.

These are what they look like whole.  Cut them up and boil them.  Then let them cool off.

When they are cooled down, put the potatoes through the ricer.  Squeeze hard.  Looks like spaghetti.

Stir everything until the potatoes are smooth and creamy.  Refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Later (or the next day) roll out the potato dough on a flour dusted cloth using a lefse rolling pin.  Cook gently (and quickly) on a dry lefse grill.  Use the turners to flip the lefse.  Layer the cooked sheets of lefse individually between the white towels to keep them from drying out.  When you are ready to eat, spread each sheet of lefse with you favorite topping, roll into log shapes and enjoy.  My topping of choice is butter and cinnamon sugar.  They taste especially good after an exhausting day of watching someone else make the delicious lefse.  Skol!

Shepherd of the Valley UMC

While I was staying in the Coachella Valley I attended yet another wonderful church.  The church building has a beautiful stain glass window in the front of the sanctuary and heavy wooden beams supporting the ceiling.  Again, the congregation was very welcoming and the service was meaningful.  This was a very nice place to worship.

Victor Valley Historical Museum

A few weeks ago I stopped by the Victor Valley Historical Museum while I was on my way south.  This is a really nice county museum located in Happy Valley, just outside of Victorville, California.  There is a section of the museum dedicated to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans who lived in this area.  Some of their western attire is on display.

There is a section of the museum dedicated to Maria Kipp.  She was a textile designer and interior designer.  She immigrated to America and worked hard to achieve success in her field.  I like this quote.  I believe it to be true.

Here is another Roy Roger shirt.  I really like the detailing of western wear (all that piping and stitchwork !!).  The museum also had many displays telling of the geological makeup of this valley.  This area is part of the Mojave Desert.The geodes on display were quite beautiful.  If you are ever in the Victorville/Happy Valley area, please stop by this museum.  I think you'll like it.

Victorville UMC

I enjoy visiting different churches as I travel.  Every church may be set up a little differently but there is one thing that is always the same.  The members of the congregation are always welcoming and very friendly.  This church was no exception.  The music was good.  The message was good.  It was all good.  It's a very lovely place to worship.

50

I'm just throwing this picture in for funsies.  I took this picture two years ago during my 50th high school reunion.  The vintage van was parked outside of the hotel where the reunion was held.  Orange and black were our school colors so the van fit right in.  Fun time.  Great memories.

wild flowers

It's funny where lovely bunches of flowers will pop up.  This bouquet was growing in a dirt patch on a messy lot in a small town in central Washington.  I almost missed it as I walked by because I was looking in the opposite direction.  The bright pink color caught my attention and I stopped to gaze at this pretty assortment of flowers.  What a nice surprise.

Roslyn

Wow, talk about a blast from the past.   This is a big one.  I was just driving around in central Washington--just east of the Cascades--and I came upon a small town called Roslyn.  I knew that this town and some of its buildings were used in the exterior shots for the television show Northern Exposure and I set out to find some of the landmark locations used in filming the show.

Here are two of the most prominent landmarks.  The exterior wall painting on the Roslyn Cafe building was prominently featured in the opening credits and in various street scenes.  The Brick Tavern was generally used as a meeting place/hang out for the fictional residents of the town.  The building dates back to the 1880's and has always been called The Brick.  It is the longest continuously operated tavern in the state of Washington.

Looks like a lot of fun going on here.  Tonight the main street of Roslyn is closed to cars because there is a street dance being held in the center of town.  All in all, it is a nice little town set in the valley near the Wenatchee National Forest.  It's a beautiful area.

route 66 sign

There are many towns in several states that were served well by Route 66.  Victorville, California just happens to be one of those towns.  The California edition of the Route 66 museum is located here.  These local museums are dedicated to "the Mother Road" and have the best displays.  I found this beautiful aqua colored table and chairs in one of the rooms.  Formica top.  Check.  Metal side strip.  Check.  Aluminum legs.  Check.  Vinyl seat coverings.  Check.  I believe we are good to go here.  Let's eat!!

a beautiful rose

I like to take pictures of pretty flowers.  I thought this rose was exceptionally beautiful.  Enjoy.

Mt. Rainier National Park

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to take a drive up into Mt. Rainier National Park. It was a beautiful sunny day and the weather was just right for walking around.  We chose the route up the mountain that led to the Paradise Lodge.  The view of Mt. Rainier from this vantage point was spectacular.

The Paradise Lodge is very old and very rustic.  The lobby has a very high ceiling with timber beams and large hanging lamps.  There are large stone fireplaces at each end of the lobby and in spite of its immense size, it feels very cozy.  It would be a great place to relax.  The Paradise Lodge is privately operated and lies within the national park.  Nice day for a visit.

Idaho potatoes

Have you ever been to a museum devoted entirely to the potato?  I have.  Several months ago I was driving through eastern Idaho when I noticed a billboard along the side of the road that was advertising the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, ID.  It is located in a former Union Pacific Railway depot.  Everything you want to know about the potato is answered here by reading the display boards.  There is even a child's hands-on science and experiment center.

The craziest presentation was provided by the talking potato family.  This took me by surprise.  I was walking through this short hallway from one display area to the next (the hall was sort of dark) when all of a sudden I heard someone talking to me.  I turned around to see who it was and as I did so I happened to look down through this glass wall to a room in the basement.  The room was pitch black except for the potato sacks with faces on them that were looking right at me and talking to me, too.  Talking potatoes!!  The potato family talked about all things potato and cracked a bunch of jokes along the way.  It was hilarious.  I must have activated the projection system and awakened the potatoes when I passed through the short dark hallway.  I was completely surprised by this.  What a great surprise for everyone that visits the museum.  I had a lot of fun there.   It pays to read those billboards along the roadside and when you see something special--just stop and enjoy.

Ellensburg sunrise

This picture was actually taken during the early winter months of this year but for some reason I never posted it.  Sunsets are beautiful.  The satisfying comfort of the approaching nighttime offers peaceful rest for the weary.  But, there is something quite exhilarating about a sunrise.  Perhaps it's the new hope that accompanies the approaching day or maybe it is the colors of the sky mixed with the refreshing air that makes it so special.  The early morning hour is my favorite.  That hour deserves a beautiful sunrise.

Mrs. Nixon's gowns

On display at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum were several gowns worn by the First Lady for various formal occasions.  All of the gowns were very beautiful.  The blue gown was among her favorites and she had her official portrait painted while wearing this dress.

the gardens at the library

The gardens and landscaping at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum are quite beautiful.  Mrs. Nixon loved roses and there is a lovely rose garden near where she and her husband are buried.  The white gazebo was used during the wedding of their oldest daughter when she was married at the white house.  It was later placed here on the grounds of the library.

This boot print in cement is located in the Buzz Aldrin Moonwalk Plaza in the courtyard area of the gardens.  Buzz Aldrin made this imprint while wearing a copy of the actual boot made from the original mold on the thirtieth anniversary (1999) of the first NASA moonwalk.  All six moonwalks were done during the Nixon presidency.

This fountain and these flags welcome visitors to the grounds of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

R N Presidential Library and Museum

I read that there were going to be a bunch of fun things to do on the Fourth of July at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California.   I decided to go and have some patriotic fun on our nation's birthday celebration so...I did.

The original house, built by Richard Nixon's father, was still located on the property.  The land was farmed by the Nixon family and this is the house where Richard Nixon was born.

The interior of the cottage style house was simple but very cozy.  The original furnishings are still found in the house.  It served the family well.

The presidential helicopter is parked on the property and is open for tours.  Interesting.

The President and First Lady are buried next to the rose garden near the courtyard.

During the day of the Fourth of July festivities I was able to see and hear costumed characters such as Ben Franklin and George Washington talk about declaring our country's independence and what went on to bring us to this decision.  There was a band concert comprised of patriotic music given in the onsite replica of the East Room of the White House.  And, of course, there was a very stirring reading of the Declaration of Independence.  The museum is filled with informative displays and took me quite a while to observe it all.  I thought it was a great day to be at the museum and a fun way to spend the Fourth of July.

Coachella Valley Historical Museum

I really like visiting county museums because I get a better picture of what the history and local life of an area was like.  I recently visited the Coachella Valley Historical Museum in Indio, California.  The museum was headquartered in the former home of an early practicing doctor who settled in this area.  The original kitchen serves as one of the display rooms.

Anything to do with clothing and apparel intrigues me.  The current display features garments worn by pioneering women in various fields from medicine to aviation.  The woman who came up with the idea of painting a center stripe in the middle of the road was a doctor here.  She was tired of getting run off the road on her way to visit patients by people who drove all over the road.

No county museum would be complete without old farm machinery on display.  Nice tractors!!

This is the woodshed in back of the doctor's home.  In addition to practicing medicine, he also built furniture and cabinets for the house.

Located on the property was the original two room schoolhouse for the area..The main entrance opened into a small foyer with two interior doors.  One side housed the lower school and, of course, the other door led to the classroom for the upper grades.

In the center of the museum property stands the old water tower like a guardian protecting the site.  I had a nice visit here and would recommend this museum to anyone interested in local history.