Happy Pink Birthday...a present for YOU!

Guess who's having a Birthday?????

Pink Saturday...that's who!! Woo Hoo! Pink Saturday is hosted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. If you love PINK, take a look at all the wonderful pink posts.

And, of course, Birthdays mean PRESENTS! Here is my present to YOU.




This necklace and earring set will go with all your lovely Pink fashions! To enter, please leave comment with your email address and you will be entered to win. I will draw a name on Wednesday morning. Good Luck!!

Incredible Jeans!!

Oh my gosh!! I was walking out of a store last week and these jeans TOTALLY caught my eye. I just had to stop the lady and compliment them. I asked her if she did it herself and YEP she did. Her name is Jeannette and she did all of this embroidery by hand. I am so impressed. It's definitely on my list of things I would like to do. Aren't they pretty?



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Pink Memories

Welcome to Pink Saturday! This is a celebration of all things pink!! Our Host is Beverly of How Sweet the Sound. You can find oodles of pink on her blog, check it out!



Way back in 1994, I earned a trip to Hong Kong for myself and my husband with my company. And, what a trip it was! The very first thing waiting for us in our hotel room was this basket:

And, next to it was a plate of cookies. We had been on a very long flight and this was a welcome sight for us.


When we opened the basket it had a steaming hot pot of tea and little teacups. Mmmm.


I was so in love with this pretty little teapot and teacups.


Imagine my delight when they gave the set to us as a gift to take home!


I even bought some matching bowls and spoons.


Every time I look at it, I am reminded of a wonderful trip of a lifetime. Isn't it special how a keepsake can take you back in time?

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday!



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Pickle Patch

It's raining, raining, raining today. Even some freezing rain and sleet. Snow just last week. I'm so ready for spring. In the spirit of warm weather, I am going to share with you a trip to one of my all time favorite places to eat, the Pickle Patch. These pics are from a few weeks ago when we had one of the first warm days of the season.


The Pickle Patch is inside of an old home and all the decor matches that time period. Consider this little tour just a "tease", when warm weather and blooming flowers arrive, I will take you on a proper tour.


There are 2 decks a lots of patios. It's outside dining at it's very best!


Dear Daughter and me enjoying the day.


This is my favorite. I have never ordered anything else. Why mess with perfection!! They have the best BLT in the county. This has been proven by popular vote and published in the local paper.

Behind this lovely fountain is the deck where we had our lunch.


This is the big patio that is full most days in the summer.


And this....is my progress on my afghan. Will these motifs ever become the afghan that I'm hoping for? It's taking a long time, but it does give me an excuse to watch tv (as if I need one).


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Come Fly with me (to get a pedi)

I'm always telling people that I think we should celebrate our birthdays the WHOLE month. I am following my own advice. While my birthday isn't for a couple more weeks, I am already celebrating!! I haven't been to Connie's since my last BD. So, it WAS time! She took me out for a pedicure at her favorite place. They do actual ART on toes and fingers. It's amazing. Connie is looking at all the designs for St. Patrick's Day.


And this is just a small fraction of the choices! There are boxes and boxes to choose from!



Picking a design is the hard part. Staying awake is also difficult....this is so relaxing!!


Connie has four leaf clovers.


I have the ocean, complete with seaweed, bubbles and kissing fishies!


Can you see this? They use toothpicks to paint with. It's amazing to watch.


St. Paddy fingers on Connie.


And it's off to lunch right after.

We did lots of other fun things and darn it....no pics! We went shopping and then we met her daughter and husband for dinner at the beach. I LOVE the beach! We walk out to the end of the pier and eat at Ruby's, a 50's style diner. It was chilly and it started raining AFTER we got in the car to leave. Perfect!


I fly standby. That means I get the last seat on the plane. But, hey, it's free! That is thanks to my Flight Attendant daughter...woo hoo! This time the plane was hardly full and I got to sit by the window. I always get a middle seat. But, not this time. By the way, I think the middle seat person should get both armrests. It's only fair. After all they are stuck in the middle. Just sayin. This picture is right after take off. The planes in Orange County take off STRAIGHT UP, it's like being on a carnival ride. That's for "noise abatement". ugh. Then we vear out over the ocean. I could see an Island. Can you see it? I thought it might be Catalina, but I didn't see any buildings. So, probably not.


Looking back at So Cal. Bye Bye!


Oh. This is why nobody picked this seat. Oh well. The chairs don't really recline much anyway. Am I right?


No we are heading up the state and it's the beginning of the Sierra mountain range.


Underneath all these clouds are mountains. I usually look for Yosemite. I imagine my son (who lives there) is under all these clouds somewhere.


Must have just snowed on these high mountains. So pretty.


We are starting to get close to our destination. This is probably around Modesto somewhere.


I always look for Lake Tahoe. Not sure. Is that it off in the distance? I need some binoculars!

This looks like where we live or close to it.

Look in the middle of this photo. Do you see the 2 cooling towers? That is on my drive to the airport. They are HUGE when you are up close.

This is the beginning of the Sacramento area. What a pretty day.


There it is! Sacramento. Looks different from the air.


We are coming down. I love the farms that surround the airport.


Here is the 5 freeway that is on my way home.


It was good to be home. Missed my bed. And my hubby. And my doggie(s), and my kitty. Woke up to this white stuff. Just told hubby this morning that I was really looking forward to summer. I can imagine being really hot and wishing for winter.


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Cross this off my "Bucket List"

I have always wanted to stay t the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. It's been a dream. It's so expensive....I wondered if I would ever do it. Well, I did! My son works at that Awahnee and has been there for more than a year. I've been bugging him to get me in and he did!!

There was snow on the ground on the way in.


This the view from inside the car.

This is the lookout point. If you look in the background....way back there...you can see El Capitan and Half Dome.


This is a quick pic of Bridalveil Falls from inside the car.


One of my favorites, El Capitan. Pictures never show you how big this really is. You can be right in front of it and it would hurt your neck to look up to the top. And, if there are climbers on it, you would need binoculars to see them. It's amazing!


This is Yosemite Falls. There are better views from the other side of the valley.


We're here!! I have been to the Ahwahnee many times. I've just never stayed in a room there. When we are on our family vacation, hubby and I love to go to the Ahwahnee for breakfast. We also go sit in the Great Room to use the internet. So, we are very familiar with the place. Now, we are going to be actual "guests". Woo Hoo!


This is the Great Room. So much history! Presidents, movie stars and even the Queen have stayed here. Wow. This room is so cool to just sit in. You will see lots of people on thier laptops.


My sweet son. He had this treat made special for us! Isn't that terrific?


Pretty AND yummy. This deserves a closer look.


Here I am next to a warm fire. (a real one) Keeping this fire going is just one of my
son's duties as Lobby Porter at the Ahwahnee.


Here we are at breakfast in the dining room. This room is spectacular! And, the food is top notch!


Here is a bigger view of the dining room. Isn't it cool?


Are you sitting down? This is the room that we stayed in. While this was a 'dream come true', I have to tell you, I was expecting something else. This room is $450 a night, after taxes it will go over $500. I guess I was expecting more luxury. If I had paid the actual amount for this room....I would have been pretty bummed.




More of the room.


The bathroom is cute....but is it $500 cute?


Before we go, I want to send postcards to our granddaughters.


This is the tent cabin we stayed in last summer on vacation. I'm really starting to look forward to this year.


A really pretty view on our way out.


I think this may be one of the most photographed places on the planet. It's so pretty. This is Yosemite Falls. You can the the "Upper" and the "Lower" falls from here. There are always photographers at this spot.


Brrr. It's chilly up here. It feels like it's raining a little, but that is really the mist from the falls.


Turns out that all my favorite parts of the Ahwahnee Hotel are free. I love eating in the dining room and you don't have to be a guest to do that. I love sitting in the Great Room. I love just walking around the place. And now, I won't be wondering what it's like to stay there anymore.

Thank you son, for making one of my dreams come true!! You rock!!!


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