Week 30

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  It was a slow uneventful week compared to the one before but still we had some good times together and enjoyed being home.  The days continue to be hot, but we have a wonderful delta breeze blowing through the house in the evenings to help cool us down for the night.  It's crazy to think July is almost over and August is upon us.  I can feel summer slipping away.

Until then here are last week's pictures:

Day 202- Monday, 7/20/20

Rusty is watching over my puzzle.  I'm making good progress and the new board is working well but I'm having a hard time finding a place to keep it where it's not in the way.  That's the thing with large puzzles and I knew that going in so everyone will just have to deal until I'm done. 😁

Day 203- Tuesday, 7/21/20

His summer class and song writing work are exhausting but he's almost done.  One more week and then he can forget about studies for a few weeks until school starts again.  Sadly it will be here before we know it!  Good thing is it means another trip to the coast.

Day 204- Wednesday, 7/22/20

The university voided our old permits and quit charging for parking during the quarantine months but has now issued new ones and will start charging again in August. It was nice while it lasted.  I hung my new multi-year permit up for the first time at work today.  Back at home we enjoyed root beer floats after dinner--the perfect summer treat.

Day 205- Thursday, 7/23/20

After a few zoom meetings that took up my entire morning I retreated to the back yard to find some peace and tranquility.  It works every time, and am lucky I have a place outside at home to clear my head.  I do wish I could take those zoom meetings out here but our internet stability outside is a problem.  Meanwhile Justin is planning to make donuts this weekend and trying to decide which of the many in this book he wants to try first.

Day 206- Friday, 7/24/20

Time for the baseball season opener--Giants playing the Dodgers complete with cutouts fans in the stands.  I wonder how long these attempts at "isolated" sports will last?  Basketball is set to try next.  TGIF!  Brandon and Bella are ready for the weekend and will kick it off with a walk through the park right after dinner.

Day 207- Saturday, 7/25/20

I'm enjoying this refreshing summer wine while John is making us a nice steak dinner. Then while the boys were playing in the pool at dusk the sky lit up pink for us. Gotta love weekend summer nights..

Day 208- Sunday, 7/26/20

Today is the day Justin made us donuts and he did a bang up job.  They're raised donuts with espresso glaze and were a whole lot of work but totally worth it.  What kind will he make next?  We also finished watching Outlander tonight and have moved on to binge watching Yellowstone.

Wait!  One more-

July's Family Photo

Taken on our trip to the coast with the full crew.



That's it!  Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you next week.

Week 29

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  Last week was a fun week with some good family time.  It's hard to believe we only have Justin with us for a few more weeks before he heads back to school so I'm glad we could take a small trip together, and I hope we can do a few more fun things before he leaves.

Otherwise same old, same old.  This pandemic doesn't allow for very much summer adventure to happen but we're still trying to make the most of it.

Take a look at last week's pictures:

Day 195- Monday, 7/13/20

Justin is the only one cooking dinner this week since we're going away and he decided on pancakes and sausage.  He's big on breakfast for dinner and we're all fine with that. 

Day 196- Tuesday, 7/14/20

More pretty flowers brought to work.  The early morning sun always hits them just right as I'm showing up for the day.

Day 197- Wednesday, 7/15/20

This afternoon we traveled to Half Moon Bay just south of San Francisco for a quick getaway.  We went from 100 degree temps where we live to highs in the mid 60's but found it refreshing.  We're staying walking distance to the ocean in this house on the golf course near the Ritz Carlton.  It's perfect, spacious, and not as over-priced as the Ritz which we have to walk past to see those ocean views.

Day 198- Thursday, 7/16/20

Today we hiked to 2 different beaches on this amazing coastline. We also enjoyed some of the local food places by ordering takeout or delivery. Both the pizza place from last night and the brew pub from today were great choices.  The last picture was taken on a third trip out to the beach as we tried to catch the sunset but it was too cloudy to see it at all.  Guess we'll have to come back again for another try and maybe a round of golf.  Love those coastal flowers carpeting the clifftops. 

Day 199- Friday, 7/17/20

It's time to say good-bye to the coast and head home.  I wish we could stay longer but since we can't really do too much more than we already did because of COVID restrictions we decided 2 nights was enough.  The last time we were in Half Moon Bay was over 10 years ago and this tunnel was being built which was a huge undertaking so it was fun to be able to drive through it all complete now.

Day 200- Saturday, 7/18/20

We're home and enjoying the weekend.  This is the new fan I bought last week that John put up in our home office and it's a godsend especially after coming home to this heat and needing to get some things done in here.

Day 201- Sunday, 7/19/20

Typical Sunday evening right after dinner with the boys doing dishes and John lacing up to walk the dog.  She's already over by the door waiting for him.  LOL!  Our trip was fun but it's always great to be home.

That's it!  See you next week.

Week 28

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  After some unsettling news about California shutting back down we can at least look forward to an isolated family escape to the refreshing coast this week.  We all need the change of scenery and it will be a great way to beat the heat.  Last week was pretty uneventful and more of the same which is why there is a need to mix things up.

Take a look at last week's pictures:

Day 188- Monday, 7/6/20

There were more beautiful wild flowers left at work today.  I'm not even sure what these are but I think they're pretty cool.  They certainly help brighten the day.  At home were working our way through the seasons of Outlander.  We didn't catch it in April or before then but are quickly catching up now.

Day 189- Tuesday, 7/7/20

It's a quiet remote work day.  Rusty napped in the office as I attended Zoom meetings and then in the afternoon I was able to add a few more pieces to this puzzle.  I made great progress over the weekend at least in one corner and hoping to branch out a bit more soon.

Day 190- Wednesday, 7/8/20

When he's not applying for jobs Tyler spends a good chunk of his days studying for the MCAT.   After prepping aggressively since December and having it reschedule on him 3 times he's more than ready to be done and can't say I blame him.  Meanwhile he too has a fur friend that naps close by in support.  These poor pets--the heat makes them so tired.

Day 191- Thursday, 7/9/20

Brandon learned to make one of his favorites dishes for dinner tonight--penne pasta with chicken in vodka sauce.  It turned out great and was a hit with all.

Day 192- Friday, 7/10/20

Walking the dog through the park this evening I found this beautiful big butterfly fluttering around and was able to snap a shot just as it landed for a bit.  Getting back to nature is good for the soul.  Later for our Friday night movie we streamed the just released Charlize Theron action adventure on Netflix to help us end the work week with a bang.

Day 193- Saturday, 7/11/20

We're finally getting around to a few home improvement projects, and I made sure to social distance in line with all the others starting or continuing projects.  Lowe's has been a busy place this whole quarantine time.  Top of the list for us is a ceiling fan greatly needed in the home office especially during those super how remote work days.  It's been on the list for years but not really a necessity until now. I also picked up a new board for my puzzle since the one I'm using really belongs as a door on the back of John's bar.  LOL!

Day 194- Sunday, 7/12/20

Today was a perfect day for an early morning Sunday drive getting some freeway training in and then a late evening Sunday swim.  The boys had fun thrashing about in the pool, splashing water everywhere, and then once they were done and the water had a change to settle it looked so peaceful lit up in the dark--perfect way to end the week.

That's all folks.  See you next week.

Week 27

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  I hope you all had a good 4th of July.  As you will see we enjoyed some great family time at home and stayed nice and safe.  It's getting ugly out there again and causing more shut downs but still so many crazy gatherings which just boggles the mind.  Sadly I have a feeling we'll be fighting this on and off through the rest of the year but enough of that. We're good here and doing our best to keep it that way.

Take a look at last week's pictures:

Day 181- Monday, 6/29/20

It's a new work week and a short one since Friday is a university holiday for the 4th.  This means I'm working in the lab only 2 days and remotely the other 2.  Back at home, for dinner tonight, Justin made baked chicken chimichangas.  We had 3 trays full of them but these are the only ones left--always a crowd pleaser.

Day 182- Tuesday, 6/30/20

After a few zoom meetings I spent the rest of my day volunteering in the Booster's fireworks stand (photo credit goes to a Booster's board member). This is the first year we've done that and it was actually fun but also a lot of work in crazy heat.  After that and dinner Brandon had a drive-by pick-up for the basketball end-of-season recognition that never happened during the school year.  It was nice of them to hand out treats as well and he got some driving practice in going to and from.

Day 183- Wednesday, 7/1/20

My July firecracker kindly posed with my monthly marker.  It's crazy to think he'll be 16 by the end of the month and yes he's wearing the same clothes from yesterday.  Ugh--such is the COVID SIP life.

Day 184- Thursday, 7/2/20

Thursdays I have a regular virtual coffee meeting with my friend Nadira.  When work was normal we coffeed every day in person and she used to ask me what I saw in the remains of her cup before parting ways.  It's been awhile so today she sent me a picture and asked again.  I see people in trees dancing around a fire at the edge of a lake reflecting the mountain top on the other side. 😀 Most of the time I see animals. It's like finding pictures in the clouds and a nod to her Turkish coffee days. For dinner later on Brandon had John teach him to run the grill and make burgers.  He did a good job--they were cooked perfectly.

Day 185- Friday, 7/3/20

We're all set for tomorrow with a new flag in the yard and some safe and sane fireworks bought from the Booster's stand of course.

Day 186- Saturday, 7/4/20

Happy 4th of July! We enjoyed eating surf and turf prepared by Tyler, Justin and John topped off with our traditional berry flag cake.  Once it got dark we set off some fireworks in the street out front with a few other families all social distancing.  It was a beautiful evening with no wind and perfect temps. 

Day 187- Sunday, 7/5/20

Today was a relaxing day where we were able to chill and enjoy some time in the pool.  It's nice when the holiday falls on a Saturday so you have the next day to ease back into normal before having to work again.

Wait!  One more--

June's Family Photo

Taken in the backyard pool area.  We may actually use this pool more this summer than ever since we have no where else to go and nothing better to do.  And look--we're all present and accounted for most likely until the end of August.

OK!  All done now.  See you next week.