A California Escape

It was cold, and the yard was full of snow when we drove out of Idaho on our way to California.  It is that time of year when our commitment to performing in the Nutcracker, on Temple Hill in Oakland, brings us back to California.  We left a week earlier than planned to attend our grandson, Scott's, farewell.  He's going to Thailand.  The Idaho roads were snow packed and slushy when our trip began.  But as we progressed into Oregon the bad weather cleared and our drive became pleasant and full of sunshine.  I was hoping that we would use the 11 hour drive to record some of Layne's life story.  I've been bugging him to write it so we can share some of his adventures with the grandchildren.  I had my computer in hand for this golden opportunity.  But he would have none of it.  When he is driving he prefers silence.  So he can concentrate.  This is yet another example of our differences, which I'm trying to celebrate.  If I were doing the driving, I would like stimulating conversation, lively music, or a good story to listen to.  But that's me.  So we enjoyed some small talk, enjoyed the views and munched our way to Audrey's and Cliff's home in Mountain House.  We got there in plenty of time for dinner.


Here we are with grandson Scott, who entered the Missionary Training Center on November 19th.

California cannot be beat for beautiful weather.  Although this past week and a little more has been mostly filled with rain (so treasured since the rather severe period of California drought), it has been relatively warm.  Especially compared with the single digit cold and snow of Idaho.  Of course the local Idahoans claim this is most unusual.  The Boise area is, after all, a sort of Idaho "banana belt".  Unusual or not, our current home state has been filled with cold and snow for the duration of our visit here, thus far.  It is only now beginning to warm up enough to melt the snow.  So we've escaped a bit of early winter!

One of the things I dislike about living in Idaho is that we are strangers everywhere we go.  There are no familiar faces to bump into as we go about our routines.  But here in California there are friends everywhere.  So far, we have run into people we know everywhere we have gone.  It is so sweet!  I love that about here.  We have a 40 year history.  That covers a lot of friendships.  There are even school chums to find here.  That is going back some 50-60 years!  I love the joys of familiar faces.

We visited with our busy foster daughter, Michelle, who works with special needs kids.

We had lunch with good friends Hedy and Chris Eyre.

Here is my Uncle Mike.  He couldn't believe that I could take pictures with my phone!

We visited my Uncle Mike last week.  He is my Dad's younger brother.  At 94 years, he is our last living relative of the older generation.  I was hoping he could share some of his memories of his parents and grandparents, and Cedaredge.  He did share some things but I was a little disappointed that he could remember nothing of his grandparents.  He has always been, as the is true of the Kisers, quiet about much of his thoughts and feelings.  But I believe he was very happy to see us.  His daughter and my cousin, Judy Kiser Perry and her husband, Stan, met us there as well.  We had a lovely time visiting with all of them.  Uncle Mike appeared to be in good shape for his age and was clear in his mind.  He lives alone in a very cluttered home in Healdsburg, a three hour drive from Audrey and Cliff's.  I have a feeling that this could be the last time I see him.  But perhaps not.

I went hiking with Audrey, Rayne and Allegra.  Our trail took one and a half hours to complete.  Sore muscles followed!

I took this shot of my three girls through this metal sign.  It seemed to me to be a very creative idea at the time.

One of the many beautiful views in Sunol-Ohlone Regional Park, where wee did that 1 1/2 hour hike.

We have had such fun visiting with our kids and other friends this past week or so.  Today we are headed to  Ben and Jessica's to do some work for them.  Ben has a list of "to dos" for Layne, and Jess wants me to help her organize the girls' room.  The new baby is going to be a  girl, so the other four girls in the family will need to be in one room.  My mind has been filled with ideas ever since she asked for my help.  I love to organize things!  I'm not sure why such an odd thing should appeal to me so much, but my mind seems to take fire when the thought of organizing comes up.  I hope not to overwhelm her with my ideas on structuring things up because I can get carried away.  I'm looking forward to helping her with this particular challenge.  So we are off!