Back on the Bus

Tonight Ross left in a rush and forgot his ID badge. It's not the end of the world, but I figured it would make his life a lot easier if he had it.

So....

Back on the bus.

The bus gives you lots of good ideas for science projects. Mostly involving Petri dishes. 

Just when I thought my bus days were over for good.

But it was an easy trip and a pretty night.

On the way home I let this guy use my phone to make some calls to his wife. He had a pay as you go phone. Out of minutes and confused by how to access his voicemail, I figured it wasn't a big deal to me.

Maybe letting a stranger borrow my phone wasn't the safest move. But on the hour long ride home I thought about it. Does it really matter? IF he decided to make a break for it and steal it, I'd be out a phone.

And...

Nothing else. My photos are backed up. I don't have any sensitive information on there. And I could get my own pay as you go phone. I'm getting sick of stuff. Stuff is just stuff remember? Instead of thinking of my stuff- for some crazy reason- I decided to trust a stranger, who need the help.
Why? Maybe because I still believe in the humans in humanity, or at least want to. Maybe because I have been there before, many times. In need of a phone and also just in need of help and at the mercy of strangers.

It wasn't altruistic. I hope it was just human.

Hulda Crooks & San Jacinto Farms

Judging by how fun it was to write this title pretty sure I need to name my offspring Hulda and Jacinto.

Around these parts one fun activity is to hike the trails above Hulda Crooks park. I've had a few friends check it out so I thought it was about time I did too.

When I say "trails" remember that this is California. And not the Yosemite part. Love me some dry dusty trails! You can't quite tell in this photo but this one is really steep with soft dirt. And not in a fun angora rabbit way. It was tough! But all of a sudden we were pretty high about the city. 

Due to it's unfortunate location San Bernadino is often plagued with pretty nasty air quality.

Mmm. Looks so ... palpable. 

J/k. I'm 100% sure that is smog. After some exercise we headed back home, stopping at this fruit stand by our place, San Jacinto Farms. 

Everything looked pretty good. We got a "snow leopard melon" <- a="" also="" and="" but="" delicious.="" grapefruit.="" heard="" it="" nbsp="" never="" of="" p="" red="" ruby="">

I love living so close to all this fresh produce! 

Panorama Point

I don't own a travel guide to California. I don't have any friends that tell me cool places to go.

But I'm really creative. I have the spirit of adventure. I've recently learned to go with the flow and be okay when things fail spectacularly. Maybe because I refuse to call that defeat.

I have a big list of things to check out in this area. There is no way to know if they are actually cool or not until you give it a try. Today was a good day to check another one out.

Panorama Point is a lookout area up in the hills of south Redlands.

For being such a short drive, it has some great views. Even if it is cloudy!

King of the world!

And even if everything is shriveling up and dying. 

As we get to know the area better I like going to places like this (and Prospect Park) to see what landmarks I notice. It becomes easy to pick out places like the Redlands temple and the University of Redlands. 

Patio Project

There has been talk for quite some time now, about building a sort of patio extension with a raised planter bed and trellis. This idea came from one that we had seen at Home Depot before. I wanted to get this ball rolling, so after a trip to Home Depot, we came home and staked out the dimensions to see how it would look in the backyard.

We mistakenly thought it was a kit that you could purchase with lumber already cut. Well, it wasn't but that ain't no thang for the son of a carpenter, my dad. And it actually gave us (read: dad) more freedom to change the dimensions and play around with the idea. But first things first- breaking up the earth. AKA concrete desert adobe clay that is the backyard. That was definitely an interesting chore. Especially when the rototiller isn't cooperating. 

Ross and dad were at it early one Saturday morning- trying to beat the heat, even in April. It's a good thing too because this was a task that took several weekends and many people working together. 

See how many different types of tools you can spot in this pictures. In Palmdale we don't use snow shovels for snow. 

Progress! Looking so good. 

Another angle. 

Then before we all knew it dad took off with the project and had already started laying the pavers. That ain't no joke. Laying the tarp, dumping the sand/ base layer, then perfectly rotating and positioning the heavy stones. 

We helped where we could but we barely touched the tip of the iceberg. My dad turned into an animal to get this done!

Here he is pushing the top layer soil sand stuff into the cracks once all the pavers are in place.

Then next thing we know dad sends the family these pictures. 

My jaw dropped! Are you serious? I know it was a huge amount of work hauling the lumber and even figuring out the construction dimensions but it looks like he just whipped this together like it aint no thang. 

Dad is so amazing. He just figured it all out and thought through everything including holes in the bottom for the water to drain. He's been doing amazing projects like this for as long as I can remember. In junior high I remember writing a poem about him "Mr. Fix-It." But it needs a part two "Mr. Build It from Scratch." 

Next comes the top and side trellis, and then soil.

And before you know it plants!

It is a truly amazing piece of art! With the California drought I think it's smart too, because it reduces the lawn and need for so much water. It really beautifies the backyard and helps block out the houses behind. Hopefully even more so when the climbing plants grow a little. I know it was a huge project for my dad to take on- essentially all by himself with minimal help. I really admire his determination and diligence. The goal and extremely short timeline was to get it finished by Cassie's bridal shower. All decorated for the party! It made a fantastic focal point for the get-together.

All the guests couldn't stop oo-ing and ahh-ing. But my dad may be in trouble because I saw several ladies taking pictures and commenting that their husbands have a new project now. Haha. 

As a family we spend a fair amount of time outside, and we have already enjoyed the new patio so much. Find some more blog posts featuring this beaut

Here 

also Here 

and Here. 

Mom in Redlands

Cassie's wedding, and hanging out with the family afterwards was so much fun.

Just want to clear up a common misconception. Ross is rarely around. He is currently in his surgery rotation, which means this is even more true. So as I blog about all these fun things I do, please acknowledge the absence of Ross and have pity on me.

Since Ross had to head back home right after the wedding, I needed a ride back. I'm a professional ride moocher so this wasn't a problem for me and luckily my mom was happy to help me out. She is also off for the summer, so we made a day of it.

We picked up Ross to get some lunch. Back to our Greek  place!



I tried to be sneaky and pay for the meal, but my mom nicely booty bumped me out of the way and paid. She is so sneaky, thanks mom! This time we tried an authentic Greek soda with our meal. I wasn't a fan. But hey it was fun to try.

At the thrift shop we found a cage full of books. And consequently wondered how much dad would kill us if mom brought the whole flat home.

What's the percentage of good viable books in this cage? 

We made a stop at Kmart to find some killer deals on clothing that we would never wear nor fit. 

LBD. Large black dress. Would that be flattering on anyone over 100 pounds? 

From one air conditioned building to another, we hopped over to the library in hopes of finding something amazing at the silent book auction or friends of the library store.

How about this thousand year old bible. I like how it's just chillin. Shouldn't this be in a museum somewhere?! 

It's been insanely hot here. Even my watered rosebush is curling up and giving up.

We tried to spend as much time as possible in cool air conditioned buildings. But since my mom was finally here on a Thursday, I really wanted to take her to our Farmer's Market. 

First to the kitties. I NEED them all. This little orange cat was loving Ross. 

The kitties on the bottom right look like a cage full of little tigers. NEED.

We walked around for a bit. Trying some pizza and the only place that offers smoothies. I hope they make a million dollars because that is just smart. We didn't quite make it to the car though. We needed to stop in another air conditioned building. Luckily it was a bakery. 

Mmm. We slowly made it home, trying to stay cool. Eventually mom had to get going. And I just wanted to cry, but I clung to all the good memories we had made earlier in the day. 

*sniff* *sniff* 

Family Fun

After a full, busy, and fantastic week of wedding prep and celebrations it was fun to relax while everyone was still around!

One day, crepes for breakfast.



And watching the movie Inside Out, and chowing down on In-n-Out.



We ended the day with a fire and s'mores. We have been very much enjoying the recent backyard transformation.





Kyle helping string up the ball of fire, I mean, lights.

Another day we went to The Valley. Kyle has somehow never been to a Lego store. So we fixed that. We all had fun building our own minifigures. 

As you might surmise, the top right are mom and dad. The bottom right are Kyle and Ali. So clever. And since we were in the area, we had to stop at Cupid's for hot dogs, of course.

I love my mom's goofy face. Are you finally starting to see I get it from her and dad? 

Ali was being so dumb with Snapchat stickers. 

And if you don't get this one, that is okay. You just must hate Justin Timberlake and not have grown up in the AV. 

That evening we killed some time at the Promenade and for the first time wandered around this cool little park. I had recently seen it on a LA Instagram account I follow so it was fun to go.

It was a chill spot.

While we were all together we played this fun game Ali and I got for Dad for Father's Day. It's called Telestrations. It's a kind of mashup of Telephone and Pictionary. It was pretty hilarious.

Unfortunately all too soon everyone had to leave and return to normal life. But it's always fun to be together, no matter for how long.

The Cass & Cal Wedding

My sister is getting married! All week long I have blogged about wedding preparations.

And now the day is here. As you might expect, we got started early. I volunteered for bouquet duty. Lorna made the bouquet and we afraid it was too delicate but we blasted the AC and kept ice packs around it and it was great!



The perk of bouquet duty is getting to smell and stare at this breathtaking bouquet! Absolutely stunning.

Cassie wanted bowties for the guys and regular ties for the dads and grandpas.

 Mom made the boutonnieres and corsages. They look so nice.

Trying to figure out bowties and pocket squares. 

Waiting for the new wife and husband to come out.

There they are! What a special moment. <3 p="">

 Of course, pictures, pictures, pictures! 

Dr. Pepper, endorsed by this bride -wedding day fuel.

Later at the reception we got this awesome photo of the John/ Widdison side of the family. It was so cool that so many cousins could make it! 

It was a great day and everything went incredibly smooth. I am so happy for Cassie and Calvin as they start their new life together.

Congratulations you two!