Just a few pictures

I haven't posted pictures for a long time but thought I'd do a "here's what's been going on this winter" post in pictures.

My friend and I have spent a great deal of time in LA doing some family business and we managed to add a bit of fun into the trips. One trip we went to Wheel of Fortune taping. The 3rd of the 3 shows we saw will be on April 23. We a sitting right in front of the family of the winner if you want to see the top 3" of my head.

The view from the deck of the house I stay at has been green and beautiful all winter. A wonderful change from the grey/white of Minnesota winters.

Every flight out there gave us wonderful views of the Rockies. However, until the last couple trips we usually flew over in the dark so couldn't enjoy the view.

There has been frequent meals at the beach because, how can you be a few minutes from the ocean and not take advantage of it!

Somewhere down there is "my" LA house. Not actually my house but while I go out and do the family business it's the house I call mine because we all need to feel like we belong where we are at.

The last trip we headed to the Ahmanson theater. The Broadway production of Cinderella is playing there using the Rogers and Hammerstein music and it was wonderful! It's heading the Chicago and Minneapolis later this year and I would recommend it to everyone with kids or not. There were little girls dressed up in their princess dresses and adults who saw the musical on TV when we were kids. Everyone loved it.

There has also been a good deal of knitting in the evenings but I haven't gotten around to taking pictures of the finished items yet. I'll save that for the next post. In the meantime, I have to clean the house, do some paperwork, get ready for a party, head out to the dentist. All sorts of things to keep me busy at home.

Seven Years Ago

April 2, 2007 I wrote my first blog post. That was seven years ago. I know the last several months I've been silent but with everything going on I just haven't had the desire to write here. But, this being my blogiversary I thought I should post something even if it was just to say, I'm still here.

Seven years ago Mom and Dad were dealing with memory and aging issues. Dad had Alzheimer's and Mom was just your every day old age dementia. I was caring for them with the help of the people at their individual residents. My brother and sister-in-law were living in LA. My aunt was living in her apartment/care center. And my other aunt and uncle were living at home. None of that is the same anymore. Of all those people only my one aunt remains. She lives in a memory care home and is now dealing with Alzheimer's in her own way. You just never know what seven years will bring. Looking at this paragraph you would first think, how sad- everyone is gone. That's true but it's not the only story of the past seven years.

My cousin's children have grown up and are now incredible young adults attending college. My other cousin's daughters have had major life changes. One got married, has her own business and now has a wonderful husband, two beautiful children and a new home. Her other daughter is a manager at a retail store and moving up the ladder at her company while enjoying the company of the love of her life and they have a new home. Friends of mine have all stayed close and provide support and good times. One friend has gotten much closer through the past six months and become my travel buddy with all that is going on in LA. My knitting group meets regularly and has retreats during the year.

I've had the chance the travel to quilt shows and knitting shows. I retired this year and plan on more trips and fun times. So, while life has taken away many of my loved ones it has also given many new opportunities and I've met new wonderful friends in LA that I enjoy spending time with when I'm out there. It all depends on how you look at things.

Hopefully soon I'll be ready to start blogging again and showing off all the fun things I've been doing, things I've been knitting and quilting and exciting things I'm going to be doing. In the meantime, I'm here. Chief is here. Bert is here. And- were all good.