tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35533442736144706102011-10-10T08:56:45.117-07:00Il RegaloIl Regalo means "the gift" in Italian. Life is a gift and every morning there is a new gift waiting for us to unwrap.Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.comBlogger691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-36278372174993805702011-07-10T20:38:00.001-07:002011-07-10T20:50:37.103-07:00Lavender Harvest 2011<p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxyN9nQC8HQ/ThpxD-pH-nI/AAAAAAAAEmM/meMOncRP1c8/s1600/preharvest.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934997521889906" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxyN9nQC8HQ/ThpxD-pH-nI/AAAAAAAAEmM/meMOncRP1c8/s400/preharvest.JPG" /></a></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxyN9nQC8HQ/ThpxD-pH-nI/AAAAAAAAEmM/meMOncRP1c8/s1600/preharvest.JPG"><div align="left"> </div></a><p></p>Before the harvest. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0IykngJ3kZc/Thpw9L0z0WI/AAAAAAAAEmE/RRLW02vTBSo/s1600/uncut%2Blavender.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934880801476962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0IykngJ3kZc/Thpw9L0z0WI/AAAAAAAAEmE/RRLW02vTBSo/s400/uncut%2Blavender.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChtMFylWm5M/Thpw9Bp7rRI/AAAAAAAAEl8/8XamdlwXRbA/s1600/ready%2Bfor%2Bharvest.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934878071500050" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChtMFylWm5M/Thpw9Bp7rRI/AAAAAAAAEl8/8XamdlwXRbA/s400/ready%2Bfor%2Bharvest.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f1Ml-SNrfLE/Thpw8w4WnGI/AAAAAAAAEl0/inic0a4oGZ0/s1600/supplies.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934873568582754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f1Ml-SNrfLE/Thpw8w4WnGI/AAAAAAAAEl0/inic0a4oGZ0/s400/supplies.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h-wMVSF80Kw/Thpw8hRFvoI/AAAAAAAAEls/3w7oMCTBUoY/s1600/Diane%2Bcutting%2Blavender.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 345px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934869377367682" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h-wMVSF80Kw/Thpw8hRFvoI/AAAAAAAAEls/3w7oMCTBUoY/s400/Diane%2Bcutting%2Blavender.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMBEt0OUM6A/Thpw8XDxBTI/AAAAAAAAElk/E6oY69sfd_Y/s1600/Gicle%2527e%2Beating%2Blavender.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 284px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934866637129010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMBEt0OUM6A/Thpw8XDxBTI/AAAAAAAAElk/E6oY69sfd_Y/s400/Gicle%2527e%2Beating%2Blavender.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltg2O3wregc/ThpwncqK4LI/AAAAAAAAElc/z4ajrKwThF4/s1600/Wanda.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934507363131570" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltg2O3wregc/ThpwncqK4LI/AAAAAAAAElc/z4ajrKwThF4/s400/Wanda.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lE-1-DieqP8/ThpwnKsx2rI/AAAAAAAAElU/sfj4XFnaHLs/s1600/partially%2Bdone%2Bwand.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934502542236338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lE-1-DieqP8/ThpwnKsx2rI/AAAAAAAAElU/sfj4XFnaHLs/s400/partially%2Bdone%2Bwand.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nvY6CdP-9Uo/ThpwmwqTdeI/AAAAAAAAElM/WV2GHjOfCnU/s1600/harvest%2Bfor%2Bdrying.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 321px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934495552533986" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nvY6CdP-9Uo/ThpwmwqTdeI/AAAAAAAAElM/WV2GHjOfCnU/s400/harvest%2Bfor%2Bdrying.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JysjudhmPEA/Thpwm9JQVNI/AAAAAAAAElE/KnUzYbtyMQY/s1600/Harvested.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px; height: 293px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934498903577810" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JysjudhmPEA/Thpwm9JQVNI/AAAAAAAAElE/KnUzYbtyMQY/s400/Harvested.JPG" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RpD0rlH4VaE/ThpwmplT8NI/AAAAAAAAEk8/aTTXkbKJXjg/s1600/wands.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934493652545746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RpD0rlH4VaE/ThpwmplT8NI/AAAAAAAAEk8/aTTXkbKJXjg/s400/wands.JPG" /></a>Ready to be cut. <div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Pristine</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>All the necessary supplies are laid out.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>First cut.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Gicle'e is "helping"</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Making a lavender wand with Wanda. I think I'll called her Lavender Wanda from now on. :)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Partially done wand.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Harvest for Drying.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>All trimmed up.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Wands!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I look forward to this each year. It was fun to share it with a few friends this time. I know of nothing else that you can make wands of like this. So fun, relaxing, and beautiful!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-3627837217499380570?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-74638014927442453342010-12-30T18:15:00.000-08:002010-12-30T18:15:03.226-08:00<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TR08puQRaXI/AAAAAAAAEkI/sEJqN0NkY00/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TR08puQRaXI/AAAAAAAAEkI/sEJqN0NkY00/s320/IMG_3879.JPG" /></a> </div> My brother, Kenny, took my "Sunbird" picture and made a handmade box for me of it with the picture in marquetry. Is this cool or what? The box is made of figured Maple with Bubinga insets in the corners. The sky is figured Koa and the sun is mottled African Satinwood with some yellow dye. The mountains are figured Walnut. Wow! What a special Christmas gift!!<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7463801492744245334?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-52667021504534657762010-10-30T09:59:00.000-07:002010-10-30T15:20:09.071-07:00Sunrise Hike in Dublin Hills Regional Park<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxcxYWZGlI/AAAAAAAAEjE/wH4uCes8xyc/s1600/IMG_2630.JPG"></a> <div align="left">I awoke at 7 am and threw on some warm clothes, grabbed a small water bottle and my camera and hopped in the car for a short 1 1/2 mile drive to the Donlon Point trail head of Dublin Hills Regional Park. Knowing that the sun would rise at around 7:30, I felt some urgency as I huffed and puffed up the trail.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxP96aplFI/AAAAAAAAEi8/ZPwc5gUdg9o/s1600/IMG_2594.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885967203144786" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxP96aplFI/AAAAAAAAEi8/ZPwc5gUdg9o/s400/IMG_2594.JPG" /></a></div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div><div align="center">When I rounded a bend, I got my first glimpse of the sun lighting up Mount Diablo and turning it red although the upper part of the mountain was shrouded in cloud cover. </div> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxP9mn_gRI/AAAAAAAAEi0/D08qkqdu9WU/s1600/IMG_2602.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885961890398482" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxP9mn_gRI/AAAAAAAAEi0/D08qkqdu9WU/s400/IMG_2602.JPG" /></a> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Then I saw it. The sun was just cresting over the hill. I wasn't quite to the top yet to be able to look east over the valley.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxP8Nt450I/AAAAAAAAEik/bKYVY2PBxGI/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885938024376130" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxP8Nt450I/AAAAAAAAEik/bKYVY2PBxGI/s400/IMG_2608.JPG" /></a></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Looking to my left, I could see that the sun was now casting its golden glow on the grassy hills around me. </div> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPwSEugyI/AAAAAAAAEiU/HIaDjFCvWVk/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885733035475746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPwSEugyI/AAAAAAAAEiU/HIaDjFCvWVk/s400/IMG_2610.JPG" /></a> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div> </div> <div></div><div>Nearby was a coil of rusted old barbed wire, remnants of the portion of Schaefer Ranch that is now parkland. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPwGiWNcI/AAAAAAAAEiM/37Nn7SS4R-w/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885729938486722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPwGiWNcI/AAAAAAAAEiM/37Nn7SS4R-w/s400/IMG_2614.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div align="center"></div><div> </div><div align="center">There was also a pile of old fence posts from the old ranch. </div><p align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPv9oQYgI/AAAAAAAAEiE/xrEYl5TzC7Q/s1600/IMG_2622.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885727547351554" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPv9oQYgI/AAAAAAAAEiE/xrEYl5TzC7Q/s400/IMG_2622.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div> </div><div></div> <div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Then there was the view overlooking the tri-valley area.</div> <p align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPvpiBGmI/AAAAAAAAEh8/8PGXkNN_3wU/s1600/IMG_2631.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885722152475234" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPvpiBGmI/AAAAAAAAEh8/8PGXkNN_3wU/s400/IMG_2631.JPG" /></a></p> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPesglNFI/AAAAAAAAEh0/JhUGG72xvGQ/s1600/IMG_2631.JPG"></a><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">And below me the campus of Valley Christian Hill School. What a wonderful location for a school! No wonder they named the road "Inspiration Drive". </div> <p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPedgDnDI/AAAAAAAAEhs/dYUH7FYJygc/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885426865249330" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPedgDnDI/AAAAAAAAEhs/dYUH7FYJygc/s400/IMG_2633.JPG" /></a></p> <div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">What an amazing, spectacular show I got to witness this morning. Millions of people in the Bay Area and yet this was a private showing; not a soul in sight. The price of admission? Simply to rise a half hour before sunrise, drive a short distance, and enjoy a 15 minute hike. </div><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPeMWlQ0I/AAAAAAAAEhk/JXtUnPhguCQ/s1600/IMG_2628.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885422262108994" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPeMWlQ0I/AAAAAAAAEhk/JXtUnPhguCQ/s400/IMG_2628.JPG" /></a></p> <div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I felt myself feeling so thankful and praised God for the beauty of His creation. </div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPdxsFw0I/AAAAAAAAEhU/lF6FPMA7RiY/s1600/IMG_2630.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533885415104561986" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TMxPdxsFw0I/AAAAAAAAEhU/lF6FPMA7RiY/s400/IMG_2630.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I wondered to myself how someone could have the same experience and not believe in God; not be thankful to the Creator. I just don't have enough faith to believe that all of this beauty came about randomly.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5266702150453465776?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-52875331856955384302010-10-14T12:30:00.000-07:002010-10-14T12:38:01.964-07:00Nice Clouds<div align="center">We don't get clouds like this very often.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLda4F_0o2I/AAAAAAAAEhM/33mNXl6uf18/s1600/IMG_2459.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527986987349615458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLda4F_0o2I/AAAAAAAAEhM/33mNXl6uf18/s400/IMG_2459.JPG" /></a> It was fun to watch them interact with the sunrise. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdasuDpT8I/AAAAAAAAEhE/9dOmv9oVP5Y/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527986791944638402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdasuDpT8I/AAAAAAAAEhE/9dOmv9oVP5Y/s400/IMG_2470.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdarpfOuPI/AAAAAAAAEg8/aLpZwxvPs14/s1600/IMG_2476.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527986773538289906" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdarpfOuPI/AAAAAAAAEg8/aLpZwxvPs14/s400/IMG_2476.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdaqcCgONI/AAAAAAAAEg0/zzx76FU-q6M/s1600/IMG_2483.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527986752748271826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdaqcCgONI/AAAAAAAAEg0/zzx76FU-q6M/s400/IMG_2483.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdapdXNQII/AAAAAAAAEgs/7tk66mIlar4/s1600/IMG_2486.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527986735923675266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdapdXNQII/AAAAAAAAEgs/7tk66mIlar4/s400/IMG_2486.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdaoatRrcI/AAAAAAAAEgk/9e1GYKHK3Ro/s1600/IMG_2489.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527986718031064514" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TLdaoatRrcI/AAAAAAAAEgk/9e1GYKHK3Ro/s400/IMG_2489.JPG" /></a>Even starlings have to scratch now and then</div><div> (see far right bird with his leg up in the air). <div></div></div></div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5287533185695538430?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-86777482357466414632010-09-29T16:44:00.000-07:002010-09-29T17:01:18.650-07:00Montana Weekend<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPRigXsTxI/AAAAAAAAEgc/0Tl_qAkHG80/s1600/IMG_2355.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522487958821424914" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPRigXsTxI/AAAAAAAAEgc/0Tl_qAkHG80/s400/IMG_2355.JPG" /></a> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div> <div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPRS_cYgpI/AAAAAAAAEgU/zWCxd1xJPC0/s1600/IMG_2358.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522487692284691090" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPRS_cYgpI/AAAAAAAAEgU/zWCxd1xJPC0/s400/IMG_2358.JPG" /></a>Along the side of the freeway <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPRSv-U8FI/AAAAAAAAEgM/8BGjy2j3CUA/s1600/IMG_2357.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522487688132096082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPRSv-U8FI/AAAAAAAAEgM/8BGjy2j3CUA/s400/IMG_2357.JPG" /></a> <div> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQNvPyVtI/AAAAAAAAEf8/zuy0bq8pKSs/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522486502525916882" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQNvPyVtI/AAAAAAAAEf8/zuy0bq8pKSs/s400/IMG_2354.JPG" /></a>Sisters </div><div> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQM8pbOMI/AAAAAAAAEf0/g1H5fnMLEOI/s1600/IMG_2352.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522486488943245506" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQM8pbOMI/AAAAAAAAEf0/g1H5fnMLEOI/s400/IMG_2352.JPG" /></a>Micro braids </div><div> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQMsww9PI/AAAAAAAAEfs/wOmioB-i7fk/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522486484679062770" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQMsww9PI/AAAAAAAAEfs/wOmioB-i7fk/s400/IMG_2347.JPG" /></a>For me? </div><div> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQMfZHeCI/AAAAAAAAEfk/VGmBJCilRKs/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522486481090213922" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQMfZHeCI/AAAAAAAAEfk/VGmBJCilRKs/s400/IMG_2327.JPG" /></a>Happy girls </div><div> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQL-AGXKI/AAAAAAAAEfc/idj5Xd9dkZQ/s1600/IMG_2321.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522486472126913698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPQL-AGXKI/AAAAAAAAEfc/idj5Xd9dkZQ/s400/IMG_2321.JPG" /></a>Silly girls <div> </div><div> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPPlmhEmUI/AAAAAAAAEfM/dk8DtF_H7z8/s1600/IMG_2316.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522485812987730242" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPPlmhEmUI/AAAAAAAAEfM/dk8DtF_H7z8/s400/IMG_2316.JPG" /></a>Papa sure has big shoes! </div><div> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPPlVKAMQI/AAAAAAAAEfE/cuR9D9qYgGk/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522485808327569666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPPlVKAMQI/AAAAAAAAEfE/cuR9D9qYgGk/s400/IMG_2306.JPG" /></a>Meskerem's first Shirley Temple </div><div> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPPlHG99mI/AAAAAAAAEe8/BliB0j1Zrr0/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522485804556744290" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TKPPlHG99mI/AAAAAAAAEe8/BliB0j1Zrr0/s400/IMG_2304.JPG" /></a>Kidist's first Shirley Temple. The cherry was their favorite part. Come to think of it, it's still my favorite part as well. <div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-8677748235746641463?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-43623503309746074252010-09-19T17:29:00.000-07:002010-09-19T17:53:00.294-07:00Birthday Memento<div align="right"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TJauOaO5KZI/AAAAAAAAEes/j9WXQo-3LIo/s1600/straight+bracelet.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518789955972311442" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TJauOaO5KZI/AAAAAAAAEes/j9WXQo-3LIo/s400/straight+bracelet.JPG" /></a> </div>My brother and sister-in-law sent me a box of memories for my birthday this year. I pulled this out and couldn't quite figure it out. It's my mom's first initial and her last name. I asked my friend Wanda about it since she's worked in hospitals for a long time. Wanda: "What color is it?" Me: "Pink and white" Wanda: "Is it big or small?" Me: "Very small" Wanda: "It's the bracelet they put on you in the nursery so they'd know you belong to your mommy". <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TJauDBlRfOI/AAAAAAAAEek/CeqFPFLIbpU/s1600/bracelet+round.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 356px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518789760376732898" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TJauDBlRfOI/AAAAAAAAEek/CeqFPFLIbpU/s400/bracelet+round.JPG" /></a>Wow. I have to admit that gave me goosebumps and made me tear up over the significance of it. My mother passed away a number of years ago so I'm so grateful to have this special tangible memento. <div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-4362350330974607425?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-7806970793406509672010-07-17T15:25:00.000-07:002010-07-17T15:51:05.406-07:00Hawaii Trip<div align="center">Del has a well-travelled hat.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIvGICSElI/AAAAAAAAEd4/VmnKS77fCf0/s1600/Del%27s+Hat.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495006277628203602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIvGICSElI/AAAAAAAAEd4/VmnKS77fCf0/s400/Del%27s+Hat.JPG" /></a> Here it is in Hawaii, decked out with lei, on a tripod, in the midst of its beloved camera equipment. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIvADbIbKI/AAAAAAAAEdw/PrTX9xFPFB0/s1600/Del+and+Di.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495006173311036578" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIvADbIbKI/AAAAAAAAEdw/PrTX9xFPFB0/s400/Del+and+Di.JPG" /></a>Del's hat loaned Del the lei for the evening. Diane got one, too. A gorgeous white ginger lei. Too bad blogs don't have a smell option. It was fragrant! <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIu_oz78YI/AAAAAAAAEdo/oM9HxCIL4Us/s1600/room+view.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 367px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495006166167318914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIu_oz78YI/AAAAAAAAEdo/oM9HxCIL4Us/s400/room+view.JPG" /></a> The view from our room in Wailea on Maui. If you look closely, you can see Molokini in the distance (the darker island in front of the larger land mass across the water). <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIu_egyevI/AAAAAAAAEdg/BFzN8MMounI/s1600/spotted+dove.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495006163402652402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIu_egyevI/AAAAAAAAEdg/BFzN8MMounI/s400/spotted+dove.JPG" /></a> Even the pigeons in Hawaii are exotic. Not suprisingly, this one is called a spotted dove. <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIu_EsA16I/AAAAAAAAEdY/JM9JTmZmwBw/s1600/bird+of+paradise.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495006156470409122" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIu_EsA16I/AAAAAAAAEdY/JM9JTmZmwBw/s400/bird+of+paradise.JPG" /></a> Thought I'd throw another kind of bird into the mix (Bird of Paradise). <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIu-5XlLOI/AAAAAAAAEdQ/70vqeE61uAc/s1600/Myna.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 366px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495006153431919842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIu-5XlLOI/AAAAAAAAEdQ/70vqeE61uAc/s400/Myna.JPG" /></a>Myna. Remember the obnoxious character in the Lion King? They got it exactly right. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIusTEyuTI/AAAAAAAAEdI/-c9cZh_lF0s/s1600/francolins.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 338px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005833914923314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIusTEyuTI/AAAAAAAAEdI/-c9cZh_lF0s/s400/francolins.JPG" /></a>Francolins. Kind of like our California Quail, but without the fun top-knot. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIusGNWdMI/AAAAAAAAEdA/R1oyjZQzdXE/s1600/Japanese+White+Eye.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005830461158594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIusGNWdMI/AAAAAAAAEdA/R1oyjZQzdXE/s400/Japanese+White+Eye.JPG" /></a> Japanese White Eye <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIurqshSPI/AAAAAAAAEc4/A7q4eFENGlc/s1600/baby+bird.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005823075698930" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIurqshSPI/AAAAAAAAEc4/A7q4eFENGlc/s400/baby+bird.JPG" /></a>Her baby begging for food. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIurYXMhFI/AAAAAAAAEcw/SYGfwZhSFy4/s1600/red+crested+cardinal.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005818154419282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIurYXMhFI/AAAAAAAAEcw/SYGfwZhSFy4/s400/red+crested+cardinal.JPG" /></a>Red Crested Cardinal. Gorgeous! <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIurMCodeI/AAAAAAAAEco/bP7LzFubtRI/s1600/cattle+egret.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005814846944738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIurMCodeI/AAAAAAAAEco/bP7LzFubtRI/s400/cattle+egret.JPG" /></a>Cattle Egret. Like our White Egrets but with tawny head and without black legs and yellow feet. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuUTq6REI/AAAAAAAAEcg/GGRs9bNEVF8/s1600/looking+down+on+pool+II.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005421757940802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuUTq6REI/AAAAAAAAEcg/GGRs9bNEVF8/s400/looking+down+on+pool+II.JPG" /></a>Eerie downward shot of pool from Waikiki Marriott 20th floor. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuUAhrazI/AAAAAAAAEcY/MMHahLTerBg/s1600/looking+up+palm+trunks.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005416618945330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuUAhrazI/AAAAAAAAEcY/MMHahLTerBg/s400/looking+up+palm+trunks.JPG" /></a>Upward shot of palm trees. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuTtujcoI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/4rBlPArtLJM/s1600/sunset.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005411572675202" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuTtujcoI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/4rBlPArtLJM/s400/sunset.JPG" /></a>The obligatory Hawaii sunset shot. This was from the deck of Maya - a wonderful restaurant at the Wailea Marriot where we stayed on Maui. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuTSmYjaI/AAAAAAAAEcI/LREc5H97DhQ/s1600/Kailua+Bay+Buddies.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005404290649506" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuTSmYjaI/AAAAAAAAEcI/LREc5H97DhQ/s400/Kailua+Bay+Buddies.JPG" /></a>Our favorite local band. The trio version is called the "Kailua Bay Buddies". We look up Mark Caldiera (the guy in the middle playing the Cahon) and whatever band he's in every time we come to Oahu. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuTG_nIeI/AAAAAAAAEcA/LKVLXMebt8o/s1600/Del+and+Di+at+Alan+Wong%27s.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 392px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495005401175237090" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TEIuTG_nIeI/AAAAAAAAEcA/LKVLXMebt8o/s400/Del+and+Di+at+Alan+Wong%27s.JPG" /></a>Dinner at Alan Wong's in Honolulu. Yummm! <div> </div><div>All in all, not bad for a business trip. Del was on vacation the whole time; I had to work two full days in the middle of it. I don't recommend that. It's hard to truly wind down. That said, we did really enjoy the beauty that Hawaii has to offer. It is a special place. Aloha!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-780697079340650967?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-36548945469739640062010-06-13T20:02:00.000-07:002010-06-13T20:07:50.266-07:00The Grandkids - Meskerem and Kidist<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcMBG8OyI/AAAAAAAAEb4/LLGndiw5kvQ/s1600/Del+with+M%26K.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482459851663358754" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcMBG8OyI/AAAAAAAAEb4/LLGndiw5kvQ/s400/Del+with+M%26K.JPG" /></a> Proud Papa</div><div align="center"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcLrtuq0I/AAAAAAAAEbw/g8UMsL85epk/s1600/Del+making+bed+with+K%26M.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482459845920467778" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcLrtuq0I/AAAAAAAAEbw/g8UMsL85epk/s400/Del+making+bed+with+K%26M.JPG" /></a>Meskerem helping Papa build her bed with Kidist being playful. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcLbeH69I/AAAAAAAAEbo/WiUDhttaf0Y/s1600/Del+making+bed+with+K%26M.JPG"></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcLG3pCaI/AAAAAAAAEbg/8IKC3E58h-g/s1600/Kirsten+and+Del+with+Meskerem+building+bed.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482459836029929890" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcLG3pCaI/AAAAAAAAEbg/8IKC3E58h-g/s400/Kirsten+and+Del+with+Meskerem+building+bed.JPG" /></a> Mama Kirsten and Papa Del building bed with Meskerem looking on. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcK3pc5yI/AAAAAAAAEbY/xrl748jvsIg/s1600/M%26K+coloring.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482459831943882530" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWcK3pc5yI/AAAAAAAAEbY/xrl748jvsIg/s400/M%26K+coloring.JPG" /></a>Meskerem and Kidist in Coloring Zen. Very quiet. LOVE IT!! <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWb2jirgOI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/DFOaQAzOPYE/s1600/M%26K+on+horse+etc.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 393px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482459482949386466" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/TBWb2jirgOI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/DFOaQAzOPYE/s400/M%26K+on+horse+etc.JPG" /></a>Kidist with antique baby stroller and Meskerem with antique horse passed down through two generations. <div></div></div></div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-3654894546973964006?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-44563893880816670342010-05-25T19:22:00.000-07:002010-05-25T19:44:10.295-07:00My first videos of our new granddaughers<p>Del and I are having a good time staying with Kirsten in Montana this week and getting to know our new granddaughters. They call Del "Papa" and me "Ayat" which is grandmother in Amharic (national language of Ethiopia). </p><p>This snippet is of Kidist helping "Papa" build her new bed.</p><p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-bee834c101eae47c" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v15.nonxt3.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Dbee834c101eae47c%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D591D524AA6A39F3F59BC7DD45BF7C6E1218A254A.6BA994223E29811834739729294903A427505B6A%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Dbee834c101eae47c%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DMG3NJcaFjkmqnAJIWVdsSILZpwQ&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v15.nonxt3.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Dbee834c101eae47c%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D591D524AA6A39F3F59BC7DD45BF7C6E1218A254A.6BA994223E29811834739729294903A427505B6A%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Dbee834c101eae47c%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DMG3NJcaFjkmqnAJIWVdsSILZpwQ&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><p>And this one is of Meskerem "talking" on the "phone"</p><p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-8c2ef9cd7f986761" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v10.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D8c2ef9cd7f986761%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D2D8F1D17BC4784C6051C06154B1C1CCAFFABC355.282B7395318C4F540379116B85B4A409324A632D%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D8c2ef9cd7f986761%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DQCqVGlcb2Z--SqYS5B2oi9BYGU4&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v10.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D8c2ef9cd7f986761%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D2D8F1D17BC4784C6051C06154B1C1CCAFFABC355.282B7395318C4F540379116B85B4A409324A632D%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D8c2ef9cd7f986761%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DQCqVGlcb2Z--SqYS5B2oi9BYGU4&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-4456389388081667034?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-63008086252542459112010-02-20T20:41:00.000-08:002010-02-20T20:51:07.235-08:00First Visit to the Vet<div align="center">Gicle'e and Ashley had their first visit to the Vet today. They were great! They allowed themselves to be gently poked and prodded without crying out. They saw Dr. Utchen at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Clinic, who is our favorite Vet. He really love animals more than profit. We found out that both of our 1 1/2 year old kitties are in perfect health. And, we found out that Gicle'e is not a calico but it appears that one of her parents was an orange tabby and the other was a grey tabby, and one or both also must have had patches of white on them. I believe she represents a whole new breed of cat which should also be called Gicle'e. BTW, the pronunciation of Gicle'e is "Zhee Clay" which means squirt in French. It looked to us like God squirted her with various kinds of cats and we found out today that we were right! </div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S4C6PJsqDoI/AAAAAAAAEas/7hCDSI1ndSc/s1600-h/Gicle%27e+and+Ashley.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440553119327587970" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S4C6PJsqDoI/AAAAAAAAEas/7hCDSI1ndSc/s400/Gicle%27e+and+Ashley.JPG" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-6300808625254245911?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-76984682979986949042010-02-15T07:31:00.000-08:002010-02-15T07:51:05.800-08:00Table for Two<div align="center">Happy Valentine's Day!</div><div align="center">Del and I trade each year who plans Valentine's Day and who plans our Anniversary celebration. This year was his year for Valentine's Day, and he sure made it special! I woke up to a sweet card and what looked like a box of chocolates, but it actually contained a freshwater pearl necklace. He had also gotten me 3 dozen roses at Costco that are simply gorgeous.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S3lpRDlJvaI/AAAAAAAAEak/P0J5ko7Eszc/s1600-h/VDay+table.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 386px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438493766766411170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S3lpRDlJvaI/AAAAAAAAEak/P0J5ko7Eszc/s400/VDay+table.JPG" /></a>Then, instead of going out like we usually do, Del cooked me a wonderful Valentine's Dinner at home. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S3lpQxS8yVI/AAAAAAAAEac/WuWRd8dvB9I/s1600-h/bruscetta.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 293px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438493761858226514" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S3lpQxS8yVI/AAAAAAAAEac/WuWRd8dvB9I/s400/bruscetta.JPG" /></a>It started with our version of bruschetta: roasted garlic, cambozola cheese, marinara sauce with golden raisins in it and chives for decoration, all on asiago cheese bread. Yum! <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S3lpQqZKRPI/AAAAAAAAEaU/NMasEaPaXbY/s1600-h/spinach+salad.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438493760005227762" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S3lpQqZKRPI/AAAAAAAAEaU/NMasEaPaXbY/s400/spinach+salad.JPG" /></a>The salad was baby spinach with feta cheese, pepitas, apples and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S3lpQGhgiOI/AAAAAAAAEaM/_aEnZipbV_U/s1600-h/main+course.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438493750376564962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S3lpQGhgiOI/AAAAAAAAEaM/_aEnZipbV_U/s400/main+course.JPG" /></a> The main course was shrimp scampi, steamed King Crab legs, roasted asparagus, and mushroom risotto topped with grated parmigiano reggiano cheese. Everything was cooked wonderfully (OK, Costco helped with the risotto) and tasted delicious!</div><div> </div><div>Then we had individual chocolate lava cakes for dessert (also from Costco), Breyers vanilla ice cream, and fresh raspberries on top. And best of all, he didn't expect me to clean up. I ended up helping a bit, but even that was optional. What a great guy. </div><div> </div><div>Note to my dear husband: Thank you Del, for making this Valentine's Day a very special one. </div><div>I love you!! XOXO Diane p.s. I guess I'd better start planning a special anniversary celebration this year! </div><div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7698468297998694904?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-91731242815137774702010-01-24T09:09:00.000-08:002010-01-24T09:30:12.488-08:00Morning Walk<div align="center">Heading out for my morning walk, I was greeted by a brilliant show.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCrC2bq0I/AAAAAAAAEaE/SE0PYaMqZq8/s1600-h/morning+walk.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430358926713137986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCrC2bq0I/AAAAAAAAEaE/SE0PYaMqZq8/s400/morning+walk.JPG" /></a>I love a fiery sky through winter trees. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCqnORR6I/AAAAAAAAEZ8/d-nqGJpFgrY/s1600-h/sunrise+through+trees.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430358919296927650" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCqnORR6I/AAAAAAAAEZ8/d-nqGJpFgrY/s400/sunrise+through+trees.JPG" /></a> Today's the day our star will finally come down - weather permitting. <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCqay19vI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/D3rp0H3mKlk/s1600-h/Christmas+star+at+sunrise.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430358915960665842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCqay19vI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/D3rp0H3mKlk/s400/Christmas+star+at+sunrise.jpg" /></a> At least today looks better than yesterday. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCqHyJS-I/AAAAAAAAEZs/rytNhMZfMFk/s1600-h/rainbow+on+dark+day+from+patio.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430358910857464802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCqHyJS-I/AAAAAAAAEZs/rytNhMZfMFk/s400/rainbow+on+dark+day+from+patio.JPG" /></a>But even with the dark stormy sky, there was a rainbow. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCpx_NXTI/AAAAAAAAEZk/yLX6wzmXF0w/s1600-h/white+houses+in+storm.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430358905006677298" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/S1yCpx_NXTI/AAAAAAAAEZk/yLX6wzmXF0w/s400/white+houses+in+storm.JPG" /></a>And the strange light made for a stark contrast for the houses below us in the valley. Every day is different and has treasures of its own and walking is a great way to discover and unwrap those treasures. <div></div></div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-9173124281513777470?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-83490092555999206982009-12-29T20:10:00.000-08:002009-12-29T20:13:47.569-08:00Log Cabin on Whidbey<div align="center">The view from the dining room<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SzrTDWeqh0I/AAAAAAAAEZU/8ls5D5_6ZC4/s1600-h/from+inside+log+cabin.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420877156021077826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SzrTDWeqh0I/AAAAAAAAEZU/8ls5D5_6ZC4/s400/from+inside+log+cabin.JPG" /></a>Cabin and Swing <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SzrTDN6AOgI/AAAAAAAAEZM/oySPmBVmqek/s1600-h/cabin+and+swing.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420877153719826946" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SzrTDN6AOgI/AAAAAAAAEZM/oySPmBVmqek/s400/cabin+and+swing.JPG" /></a> Front of Cabin <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SzrTCyVxJeI/AAAAAAAAEZE/x8uvQN_EzWs/s1600-h/cabin+outside+front.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420877146320086498" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SzrTCyVxJeI/AAAAAAAAEZE/x8uvQN_EzWs/s400/cabin+outside+front.JPG" /></a> Looking back at the cabin from the duck pond. We'll be back! <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SzrTCihtB8I/AAAAAAAAEY8/Do0fXAUrUwM/s1600-h/log+cabin.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420877142075180994" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SzrTCihtB8I/AAAAAAAAEY8/Do0fXAUrUwM/s400/log+cabin.JPG" /></a> <div></div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-8349009255599920698?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-16244140770452981772009-12-11T07:58:00.000-08:002009-12-11T08:05:19.135-08:00Christmas Decor - Simpler this Year<div align="center">I decided to go for a simpler look this year, especially on the fireplace mantel.</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SyJseCVDIJI/AAAAAAAAEXs/xFS8gB5fk2w/s1600-h/mantle.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414008965329789074" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SyJseCVDIJI/AAAAAAAAEXs/xFS8gB5fk2w/s400/mantle.JPG" /></a> <div align="center">Of course some things never change. Why is that kitties love wreaths and garland so much? </div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SyJsdr_fA4I/AAAAAAAAEXk/I4oofsY11-U/s1600-h/Ashley+in+Wreath.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 337px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414008959333761922" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SyJsdr_fA4I/AAAAAAAAEXk/I4oofsY11-U/s400/Ashley+in+Wreath.JPG" /></a> Speaking of garland, we can't forgo that, even for a simpler Christmas. Growing up in a single story house, I always dreamed of a house with a bannister to festoon with lighted garland. I have it on a timer so that it greets me when I get up in the morning as well as in the evening and it always puts a smile on my face. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SyJsdeJVxoI/AAAAAAAAEXc/_vW9eFdpUrY/s1600-h/garland.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 293px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414008955617003138" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SyJsdeJVxoI/AAAAAAAAEXc/_vW9eFdpUrY/s400/garland.JPG" /></a> <div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1624414077045298177?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-53468923443269454412009-12-01T18:01:00.000-08:002009-12-01T18:08:03.099-08:00Star Raising<div align="center">Thanks to great friends and neighbors, we had another successful star-raising party. This year, thanks to Del's reinforcements, there was much less drama. No folding back on itself or splintering apart. Here's a picture of the star at twilight . . .<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SxXK4_oSMjI/AAAAAAAAEW4/ekAlVVQZnXU/s1600-h/star+at+dusk.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410453607857402418" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SxXK4_oSMjI/AAAAAAAAEW4/ekAlVVQZnXU/s400/star+at+dusk.JPG" /></a> And at night . . . <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SxXK4tLRQHI/AAAAAAAAEWw/TIIrw-iwk3g/s1600-h/Star+at+night.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410453602903867506" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SxXK4tLRQHI/AAAAAAAAEWw/TIIrw-iwk3g/s400/Star+at+night.JPG" /></a> And here's the back patio (and probably all of Dublin and Livermore) aglow by the light of the "Dublin Star" . . . <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SxXK4ZQM6wI/AAAAAAAAEWo/NBUhHcGSdtE/s1600-h/basking+in+the+star%27s+glow.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410453597555845890" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SxXK4ZQM6wI/AAAAAAAAEWo/NBUhHcGSdtE/s400/basking+in+the+star%27s+glow.JPG" /></a></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5346892344326945441?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-53688601491557117102009-11-07T07:49:00.000-08:002009-11-07T08:22:16.152-08:00Backyard Flower Close-ups<div align="center">Simple backyard flowers can be even more beautiful close-up!</div> <div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWc5ScFAgI/AAAAAAAAEVs/l_wyKXdEERI/s1600-h/IMG_0499.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401395836116861442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWc5ScFAgI/AAAAAAAAEVs/l_wyKXdEERI/s400/IMG_0499.JPG" /></a> Paper White</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWc4x_Wr5I/AAAAAAAAEVk/Z_6AXDcsFl0/s1600-h/IMG_0516.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 367px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401395827406450578" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWc4x_Wr5I/AAAAAAAAEVk/Z_6AXDcsFl0/s400/IMG_0516.JPG" /></a> Raindrops on Rose Petal </p><p> </p><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXU-ZltJI/AAAAAAAAEVU/IgDOpvUPfx0/s1600-h/IMG_0448.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401389714704282770" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXU-ZltJI/AAAAAAAAEVU/IgDOpvUPfx0/s400/IMG_0448.JPG" /></a> Center cone of an Echinacea blossom </div><div align="center"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXUqg-ZhI/AAAAAAAAEVM/lsWkIwaYX1g/s1600-h/IMG_0456.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401389709366552082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXUqg-ZhI/AAAAAAAAEVM/lsWkIwaYX1g/s400/IMG_0456.JPG" /></a> Shasta Daisy <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXUZ03GgI/AAAAAAAAEVE/67QuEP7Pnrc/s1600-h/IMG_0462.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401389704886557186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXUZ03GgI/AAAAAAAAEVE/67QuEP7Pnrc/s400/IMG_0462.JPG" /></a>Tomato plant leaves </div><div> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXUBsRvJI/AAAAAAAAEU8/aoY3bpaCdE8/s1600-h/IMG_0469.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401389698408103058" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXUBsRvJI/AAAAAAAAEU8/aoY3bpaCdE8/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" /></a> Bougainvillea </div><div> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXT2pF7jI/AAAAAAAAEU0/snhwhF73lGY/s1600-h/IMG_0482.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401389695441956402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SvWXT2pF7jI/AAAAAAAAEU0/snhwhF73lGY/s400/IMG_0482.JPG" /></a>Potato Vine Blossom </div><div> Pause and look closely next time you're in a garden. It's another universe! <div></div></div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5368860149155711710?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-48389501611651640012009-10-31T17:08:00.001-07:002009-10-31T18:41:13.804-07:00This Morning's Walk<div align="left">I love this moment when sunrise happens. I try and witness as many of these as possible.</div><div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR7fhTgvI/AAAAAAAAEUE/vPXzSdnyeiw/s1600-h/IMG_0369.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398920873314058994" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR7fhTgvI/AAAAAAAAEUE/vPXzSdnyeiw/s400/IMG_0369.JPG" /></a> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">On the way back I met two "Westies" (West Highland Terriers). One is named Oliver and I didn't catch the name of the other one. They are father and son, out for a morning walk.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR6wtbxCI/AAAAAAAAET8/h1CVT2lxg5s/s1600-h/IMG_0378.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398920860748465186" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR6wtbxCI/AAAAAAAAET8/h1CVT2lxg5s/s400/IMG_0378.JPG" /></a></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR6lgsjmI/AAAAAAAAET0/aX-vueTbleo/s1600-h/IMG_0365.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398920857742249570" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR6lgsjmI/AAAAAAAAET0/aX-vueTbleo/s400/IMG_0365.JPG" /></a> Next I met a really cute Corgy with a regal Japanese-sounding name that I can't remember. </div><div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR6VefXgI/AAAAAAAAETs/C1yCyq0ASH4/s1600-h/IMG_0366.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398920853438029314" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR6VefXgI/AAAAAAAAETs/C1yCyq0ASH4/s400/IMG_0366.JPG" /></a> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR6elYIxI/AAAAAAAAETk/cXW2YI_gHE4/s1600-h/IMG_0348.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398920855882834706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SuzR6elYIxI/AAAAAAAAETk/cXW2YI_gHE4/s400/IMG_0348.JPG" /></a> <- I don't generally appreciate Halloween Decorations, but I must admit, this was so tastefully spooky and the right scale for the house that I really like it.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Happy Halloween everyone!! </div><div align="left"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-4838950161165164001?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-30937945277378189472009-09-04T06:47:00.000-07:002009-09-04T08:13:31.644-07:00Huntington Beach Birdwatching<p>Birdwatching at sunrise in Huntington Beach California.</p><p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-6ee320393533187c" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v23.nonxt5.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D6ee320393533187c%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D378612A58A37BB5D1435BD6AFC63B6A7172AEC45.517EFDA7F55953A07E9EB50596A71DED1DDCB8A2%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D6ee320393533187c%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DnmWPMO-3B_4Yiswxk0sUu5hyVYA&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v23.nonxt5.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D6ee320393533187c%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D378612A58A37BB5D1435BD6AFC63B6A7172AEC45.517EFDA7F55953A07E9EB50596A71DED1DDCB8A2%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D6ee320393533187c%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DnmWPMO-3B_4Yiswxk0sUu5hyVYA&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p> <p>A Willet and a Marbled Godwit digging for food with their long bills in between waves.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-3093794527737818947?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-85599346756063316482009-09-01T20:42:00.001-07:002009-09-01T20:52:15.268-07:00Surf City USA (a.k.a. Huntington Beach, CA)I made the most of my recent business offsite to Huntington Beach. The ocean is such a magical place to lose oneself in the immensity of it all, especially early in the morning . . . <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rHCd0CtI/AAAAAAAAETc/u6OAB9t3l-k/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rHCd0CtI/AAAAAAAAETc/u6OAB9t3l-k/s400/Huntington+Beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712036303768274" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rGvMJAnI/AAAAAAAAETU/ezYILZUgs50/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rGvMJAnI/AAAAAAAAETU/ezYILZUgs50/s400/Huntington+Beach-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712031129371250" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rGPmOQjI/AAAAAAAAETM/ZSXmkawpe50/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rGPmOQjI/AAAAAAAAETM/ZSXmkawpe50/s400/Huntington+Beach-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712022648832562" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rF6GmtoI/AAAAAAAAETE/2ymmXHMgyzg/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rF6GmtoI/AAAAAAAAETE/2ymmXHMgyzg/s400/Huntington+Beach-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712016879072898" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rFcgMQxI/AAAAAAAAES8/uuIavLfU5M0/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-8.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3rFcgMQxI/AAAAAAAAES8/uuIavLfU5M0/s400/Huntington+Beach-8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712008933327634" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qyMO5qgI/AAAAAAAAES0/m4U1y_xTs6o/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-9.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qyMO5qgI/AAAAAAAAES0/m4U1y_xTs6o/s400/Huntington+Beach-9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711678148323842" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qxs90LAI/AAAAAAAAESs/z6dt1ugM9zE/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-10.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qxs90LAI/AAAAAAAAESs/z6dt1ugM9zE/s400/Huntington+Beach-10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711669755161602" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qxcpA03I/AAAAAAAAESk/JJivhZdQ3UU/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-11.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qxcpA03I/AAAAAAAAESk/JJivhZdQ3UU/s400/Huntington+Beach-11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711665372943218" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qwwP2xDI/AAAAAAAAESc/eixSmIxJaX8/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-15.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qwwP2xDI/AAAAAAAAESc/eixSmIxJaX8/s400/Huntington+Beach-15.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711653456266290" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qwfVIv5I/AAAAAAAAESU/c9wmkDmwUtw/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-17.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qwfVIv5I/AAAAAAAAESU/c9wmkDmwUtw/s400/Huntington+Beach-17.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711648915013522" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qZzNzrjI/AAAAAAAAESM/EPKDRADDFqQ/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-20.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qZzNzrjI/AAAAAAAAESM/EPKDRADDFqQ/s400/Huntington+Beach-20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711259115990578" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qZKaKypI/AAAAAAAAESE/vuafOisv6FE/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-21.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qZKaKypI/AAAAAAAAESE/vuafOisv6FE/s400/Huntington+Beach-21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711248161983122" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qYyyKwwI/AAAAAAAAER8/5hz5YEvMK-Q/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-23.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qYyyKwwI/AAAAAAAAER8/5hz5YEvMK-Q/s400/Huntington+Beach-23.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711241820193538" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qYRnSl9I/AAAAAAAAER0/dHssFcN1-88/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-24.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qYRnSl9I/AAAAAAAAER0/dHssFcN1-88/s400/Huntington+Beach-24.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711232916199378" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qX3g4gnI/AAAAAAAAERs/nPVFROrtZJ8/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-25.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qX3g4gnI/AAAAAAAAERs/nPVFROrtZJ8/s400/Huntington+Beach-25.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376711225910002290" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qAK06CgI/AAAAAAAAERk/WSRNN-3-MDU/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-26.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3qAK06CgI/AAAAAAAAERk/WSRNN-3-MDU/s400/Huntington+Beach-26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376710818777401858" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3p_gSmzoI/AAAAAAAAERc/8xiNALubJrs/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-28.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3p_gSmzoI/AAAAAAAAERc/8xiNALubJrs/s400/Huntington+Beach-28.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376710807359245954" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3p_QhNwyI/AAAAAAAAERU/Nx0edSTG0W8/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-29.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3p_QhNwyI/AAAAAAAAERU/Nx0edSTG0W8/s400/Huntington+Beach-29.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376710803125551906" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3p-kuyR_I/AAAAAAAAERM/Kr-DNSFrTSk/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-30.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3p-kuyR_I/AAAAAAAAERM/Kr-DNSFrTSk/s400/Huntington+Beach-30.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376710791371311090" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3p-SOs3pI/AAAAAAAAERE/HRLvC0qL510/s1600-h/Huntington+Beach-31.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sp3p-SOs3pI/AAAAAAAAERE/HRLvC0qL510/s400/Huntington+Beach-31.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376710786404900498" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-8559934675606331648?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-35032368157023046952009-08-21T20:31:00.000-07:002009-08-21T20:49:42.704-07:00Last installment of Hawaii Pictures - Flying Home<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9o-te4AkI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/oD76-4bUUu4/s1600-h/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 340px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372628307046564418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9o-te4AkI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/oD76-4bUUu4/s400/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII.jpg" /></a> <div>^ Taking off from Honolulu.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9o973zijI/AAAAAAAAEQs/cTz-0xDQjuY/s1600-h/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372628293729356338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9o973zijI/AAAAAAAAEQs/cTz-0xDQjuY/s400/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-2.jpg" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> ^ Nice view of Waikiki </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9ouwWV_TI/AAAAAAAAEQk/JN56RpKUsfo/s1600-h/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372628032938179890" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9ouwWV_TI/AAAAAAAAEQk/JN56RpKUsfo/s400/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-3.jpg" /></a> ^ View inside of Diamond Head </div><div></div><div> </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9ouW7VjFI/AAAAAAAAEQc/2UP4AWKga3g/s1600-h/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372628026114018386" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9ouW7VjFI/AAAAAAAAEQc/2UP4AWKga3g/s400/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-4.jpg" /></a> <Heading out to sea. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9ouC-R__I/AAAAAAAAEQU/7tEQZEu_eK0/s1600-h/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-5.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372628020757659634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9ouC-R__I/AAAAAAAAEQU/7tEQZEu_eK0/s400/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-5.jpg" /></a> Aloha beloved Hawaii. I'll be back yet again. </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9othAdftI/AAAAAAAAEQM/7FxHKZioC0c/s1600-h/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-6.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372628011639996114" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9othAdftI/AAAAAAAAEQM/7FxHKZioC0c/s400/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-6.jpg" /></a> Sunset along the horizon. </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9otC0rOWI/AAAAAAAAEQE/25stOz0Ekig/s1600-h/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-7.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372628003537500514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/So9otC0rOWI/AAAAAAAAEQE/25stOz0Ekig/s400/RETURN+FROM+HAWAII-7.jpg" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Almost dark. G'night.</div><div></div></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-3503236815702304695?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-30109849877492780442009-08-14T17:18:00.000-07:002009-08-14T20:05:41.692-07:00<div align="left">I love birds and I find all Hawaiian birds exotic. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAg0lZ2EI/AAAAAAAAEP8/jrC9BM21Ky0/s1600-h/Red-Crested+Cardinal.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 350px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369980169557235778" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAg0lZ2EI/AAAAAAAAEP8/jrC9BM21Ky0/s400/Red-Crested+Cardinal.jpg" /></a></div><p align="left"></p><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Here's a great example. Is this cool or what? It's like a cardinal that you'd find in the Eastern US as all red, but it was introduced from Brazil and is called a red-crested cardinal. (BTW, these pics are not mine. I saw these birds but didn't photograph them. This is courtesy of this website:<a href="http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/Hawaii/BIRDS/Birds/Rock%20Dove.htm">http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/Hawaii/BIRDS/Birds/Rock%20Dove.htm</a></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAca0x2qI/AAAAAAAAEP0/L7SjDGeWdmk/s1600-h/Java+Sparrow.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 350px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369980093922925218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAca0x2qI/AAAAAAAAEP0/L7SjDGeWdmk/s400/Java+Sparrow.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAQQWEavI/AAAAAAAAEPs/2NzlEQicRFg/s1600-h/Myna.jpg">I love these little guys . . . Java Sparrows. From Indonesia. So cute!<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 350px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979884951333618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAQQWEavI/AAAAAAAAEPs/2NzlEQicRFg/s400/Myna.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Myna birds. Noisey great songs. Might get annoying after awhile if I lived in Hawaii, but I don't, so I love 'em! </div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAP-4MO3I/AAAAAAAAEPk/ChumLs75ZyA/s1600-h/Zebra+Dove.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 350px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979880262613874" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAP-4MO3I/AAAAAAAAEPk/ChumLs75ZyA/s400/Zebra+Dove.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Zebra dove. Even the pigeon-like birds in Hawaii are exotic!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><p align="right"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAPJcGNnI/AAAAAAAAEPc/P_IiRWU0hx4/s1600-h/Red-vented+Bulbul.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979865917699698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAPJcGNnI/AAAAAAAAEPc/P_IiRWU0hx4/s400/Red-vented+Bulbul.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">The Vented Bulbul. Very cool. Saw some of these on the hike to Diamond Head. Love the rocker hairdo. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAO_dkzXI/AAAAAAAAEPU/401YGdzbgtw/s1600-h/Spotted+Dove.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 350px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979863239544178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAO_dkzXI/AAAAAAAAEPU/401YGdzbgtw/s400/Spotted+Dove.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Spotted dove. Another exotic pigeon! </div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAN48j85I/AAAAAAAAEPM/iZCgzCB6VdY/s1600-h/Rock+Dove.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 350px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979844310594450" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoYAN48j85I/AAAAAAAAEPM/iZCgzCB6VdY/s400/Rock+Dove.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The Rock Dove. OK, these I had personal experiences with . . . </div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_6ZHWKqI/AAAAAAAAEPE/dRUt1A9Pfsk/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-27.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979509348379298" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_6ZHWKqI/AAAAAAAAEPE/dRUt1A9Pfsk/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-27.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">This one was on my balcony, 31 stories high.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_6HDIXtI/AAAAAAAAEO8/bSTmJ7uLD60/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-29.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979504498859730" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_6HDIXtI/AAAAAAAAEO8/bSTmJ7uLD60/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-29.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Checking me out. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_5vxBn8I/AAAAAAAAEO0/Jtz1QGxo0Rg/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-30.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979498248904642" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_5vxBn8I/AAAAAAAAEO0/Jtz1QGxo0Rg/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-30.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">And then there were two . . . </div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_5LnjEfI/AAAAAAAAEOs/PTpVQvvIGI8/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-31.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979488545477106" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_5LnjEfI/AAAAAAAAEOs/PTpVQvvIGI8/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-31.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">A long way down </div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_49A_TgI/AAAAAAAAEOk/BXtwmHp8TB0/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-32.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369979484625653250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoX_49A_TgI/AAAAAAAAEOk/BXtwmHp8TB0/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-32.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Hey! Wait a minute! How come you closed the door on me? I was just getting used to having Cheerios for breakfast with you!! </div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-3010984987749278044?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-54096991891669513402009-08-10T19:20:00.000-07:002009-08-12T07:35:29.332-07:00Waikiki<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWiJnmEiI/AAAAAAAAEOc/yhbW62hnENk/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526638011519522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWiJnmEiI/AAAAAAAAEOc/yhbW62hnENk/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip.jpg" /></a> View from my hotel room at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWh3I2c8I/AAAAAAAAEOU/fFBt8YY6GE8/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526633050731458" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWh3I2c8I/AAAAAAAAEOU/fFBt8YY6GE8/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-2.jpg" /></a><- Did I mention that my room was on the 31st floor? I don't mind heights so I ate breakfast every morning on my balcony. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWhRGa-wI/AAAAAAAAEOM/vgXo7QEF-sQ/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 276px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526622839995138" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWhRGa-wI/AAAAAAAAEOM/vgXo7QEF-sQ/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-3.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWhLxa4FI/AAAAAAAAEOE/u0rNBPXh5nk/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526621409730642" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWhLxa4FI/AAAAAAAAEOE/u0rNBPXh5nk/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-4.jpg" /></a> ^ I was intrigued by this guy making plumeria leis by holding the end between his toes. <div></div>The surfer and dolphin seem to like them. <div></div><div></div> So I gave the street lei-maker $5 and got one to decorate my room. Seems appropriate next to the botanical print of a plumeria. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWJvjejYI/AAAAAAAAEN8/Das-Qt3QOTc/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-5.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 339px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526218698067330" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWJvjejYI/AAAAAAAAEN8/Das-Qt3QOTc/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-5.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWJFQpLXI/AAAAAAAAEN0/fkfrQ5Nfwj4/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-6.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526207344782706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWJFQpLXI/AAAAAAAAEN0/fkfrQ5Nfwj4/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-6.jpg" /></a> This picture is from my cab ride on the way to the Diamond Head trailhead. It was the morning of the Tinman Triathalon (not to be confused with the longer and more intense IronMan). </div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWId5rPtI/AAAAAAAAENs/Aq-O-BJUL9Q/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-24.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 211px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526196779466450" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWId5rPtI/AAAAAAAAENs/Aq-O-BJUL9Q/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-24.jpg" /></a> This picture was taken at a local restaurant. Not a sign I tend to see in Dublin or Oakland. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWIF2b1MI/AAAAAAAAENk/UsjrpMJLzeE/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-25.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526190323422402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWIF2b1MI/AAAAAAAAENk/UsjrpMJLzeE/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-25.jpg" /></a> Looking down, the carpet is just as tropical as my dress. (Tropical Camo?) <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWHzFPpUI/AAAAAAAAENc/eItr8UVPLZo/s1600-h/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-26.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368526185285264706" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SoDWHzFPpUI/AAAAAAAAENc/eItr8UVPLZo/s400/Hawaii+July+2009+trip-26.jpg" /></a> Cloudy Sunset over Waikiki. </div><div>I'm glad I made the most of this business trip, at least in the early morning and evening hours. It's not as fun to be in Hawaii without my husband, though. Oh well, there's always next time.</div><div></div><div>Aloha </div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5409699189166951340?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-47066947935924495652009-08-04T20:34:00.000-07:002009-08-04T21:02:16.952-07:00Diamond Head HikeThe most famous volcanic crater in the world is Diamond Head, located on the South-east Coast of O'ahu at the end of Waikiki overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was originally named Laeahi by the ancient Hawaiians. The name meant "brow of the tuna" and looking at the silhouette of the crater from Waikiki, you can see the resemblance. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SnkAgBXeBZI/AAAAAAAAENU/2ARs-v2EBa4/s1600-h/diamond+head+from+bed.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366320981111342482" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SnkAgBXeBZI/AAAAAAAAENU/2ARs-v2EBa4/s400/diamond+head+from+bed.JPG" /></a> I was always curious about hiking this crater and I got my chance on Sunday, July 26th. I was even more intrigued since when I looked out of my room at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort, it dominated the view. <p>So, I ventured out early Sunday morning. I took hiking poles with me as I was just as concerned about the steep hike down as the steep hike up. </p><p> </p><p>I also took my little Leica binoculars since you never know what birds you might encounter. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-wxM8IxI/AAAAAAAAENM/L_yeQ1qkEiY/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 287px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366319069806732050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-wxM8IxI/AAAAAAAAENM/L_yeQ1qkEiY/s400/Diamond+Head+Series.jpg" /></a> Here was the list of possible birds. I'm sure I saw and heard at least the bulbul and some mynas on this hike. I've spotted most of the other birds on this poster in my various trips to Hawaii over the years, and saw lots of Java Sparrows again this trip, though not on the Diamond Head hike. </p><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-wvHKcqI/AAAAAAAAENE/4zTIDVCB1xE/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366319069245633186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-wvHKcqI/AAAAAAAAENE/4zTIDVCB1xE/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-2.jpg" /></a> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Man, that's a long ways up!!!</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-oNqEXyI/AAAAAAAAEM8/aBgiiHrwei0/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318922826276642" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-oNqEXyI/AAAAAAAAEM8/aBgiiHrwei0/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-3.jpg" /></a> Gorgeous, hot sweaty, humid country! </div><div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-n7edr9I/AAAAAAAAEM0/Rb1j0VYrfVE/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318917945765842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-n7edr9I/AAAAAAAAEM0/Rb1j0VYrfVE/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-4.jpg" /></a> Nice views kept me going as I made my way upward. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-ngBOdwI/AAAAAAAAEMs/wOZYK0LWACQ/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-5.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318910575376130" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-ngBOdwI/AAAAAAAAEMs/wOZYK0LWACQ/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-5.jpg" /></a> </div><div></div><div> Lots of steps between here and the top.</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-nT8uRhI/AAAAAAAAEMk/sEos04gEXN8/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-6.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318907335263762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-nT8uRhI/AAAAAAAAEMk/sEos04gEXN8/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-6.jpg" /></a> But more nice refreshing vistas. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-nCoQVLI/AAAAAAAAEMc/ZJmrZ_zWigU/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-7.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 323px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318902686012594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-nCoQVLI/AAAAAAAAEMc/ZJmrZ_zWigU/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-7.jpg" /></a> </div><div></div><div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-YgS8qvI/AAAAAAAAEMU/ZTjSCMkTZSI/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-10.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318652951669490" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-YgS8qvI/AAAAAAAAEMU/ZTjSCMkTZSI/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-10.jpg" /></a> </div><div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I love photographing tunnels. </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-XxhEHMI/AAAAAAAAEME/kBhipb1BJLQ/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-9.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 246px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318640394411202" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-XxhEHMI/AAAAAAAAEME/kBhipb1BJLQ/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-9.jpg" /></a> Lots of stairs, but worth a look back at the view. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-XqfJG1I/AAAAAAAAEL8/EkXtijMmME4/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-11.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318638507301714" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-XqfJG1I/AAAAAAAAEL8/EkXtijMmME4/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-11.jpg" /></a> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I thought the spiral staircase looked especially cool.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-XTI9N5I/AAAAAAAAEL0/7fXku3n4YMs/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-16.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318632240232338" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj-XTI9N5I/AAAAAAAAEL0/7fXku3n4YMs/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-16.jpg" /></a> </div><div> More stairs and framed vistas. </div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj9-5ibaOI/AAAAAAAAELs/pJGa6K1lQ1c/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-17.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318213050886370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj9-5ibaOI/AAAAAAAAELs/pJGa6K1lQ1c/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-17.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj9-oZcW5I/AAAAAAAAELk/aAhu0SGW80o/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-15.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318208449797010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj9-oZcW5I/AAAAAAAAELk/aAhu0SGW80o/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-15.jpg" /></a> Not sure what this was, but liked how it looked. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj9-U8oOqI/AAAAAAAAELc/D6Y4hCGxVYM/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-12.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318203228666530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj9-U8oOqI/AAAAAAAAELc/D6Y4hCGxVYM/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-12.jpg" /></a> OK, It was finally worth it! <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj9-GkzDeI/AAAAAAAAELU/56TlByl0r_Q/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-13.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 394px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318199370616290" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj9-GkzDeI/AAAAAAAAELU/56TlByl0r_Q/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-13.jpg" /></a> Waikiki like I've never seen it before. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj997ts9UI/AAAAAAAAELM/hviGhsu9FmE/s1600-h/Diamond+Head+Series-14.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366318196455175490" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Snj997ts9UI/AAAAAAAAELM/hviGhsu9FmE/s400/Diamond+Head+Series-14.jpg" /></a> Postcard perfect! <div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-4706694793592449565?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-23243336493671673642009-08-01T08:28:00.000-07:002009-08-01T08:48:14.573-07:00My winning photo from the Paso Robles 2009 PhotowalkDel and I participated in the 2009 Worldwide Photowalk and we did it with a guide named Syl Arena in Paso Robles. We met some great people, learned some new things, and really enjoyed taking pictures that Saturday morning, even in the 108 degree heat. And to make it even better, it turns out that mine was the winning photo from the Paso Robles Photowalk this year! That means I won a book on photography and that Syl is submitting this photo to Scott Kelby who is the leader of the Worldwide Photowalk <a href="http://worldwidephotowalk.com/">http://worldwidephotowalk.com/</a> which includes photowalks from over 900 locations and over 30,000 people participating. It's a great thing to get people out to walk and see their local world in a whole new light. Here's my photo that was selected. It's called "Z Light" and it's a close-up of a Nissan 350Z headlamp that reminds me a lot of dichroic glass. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SnRhq1LbZtI/AAAAAAAAELE/uhxsefpGZ3o/s1600-h/z+Light.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365020444562515666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SnRhq1LbZtI/AAAAAAAAELE/uhxsefpGZ3o/s400/z+Light.jpg" /></a> <p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p> And here's the URL to see more of the photos from the photowalk, including another one of mine of a firehose nozzle and two by Del. My name on flickr is il regalo and Del's is smoking pizza. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40744627@N08/3744495109/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" __untrusted="true">http://www.flickr.com/photos/40744627@N08/3744495109/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-2324333649367167364?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-82842209230352951052009-07-11T07:34:00.000-07:002009-07-11T07:43:28.421-07:00Simple Pleasures<div align="left">There are some things that are not affected by the economy at all. It's a cliche' but indeed the best things in life are free.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikRASd_7I/AAAAAAAAEKg/L-vLucYJPDQ/s1600-h/IMG_3296.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357212368799399858" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikRASd_7I/AAAAAAAAEKg/L-vLucYJPDQ/s400/IMG_3296.JPG" /></a> A strange flower that looks like it came from outer space.</div><div align="center"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikQyfLZ1I/AAAAAAAAEKY/6yTjqA51Yc0/s1600-h/IMG_3303.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357212365094610770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikQyfLZ1I/AAAAAAAAEKY/6yTjqA51Yc0/s400/IMG_3303.JPG" /></a> A hawk in the backyard. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikQgXWaOI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/vOz44QOEowI/s1600-h/cropped+hawk.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357212360229939426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikQgXWaOI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/vOz44QOEowI/s400/cropped+hawk.JPG" /></a>Isn't he cute?!! <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikQIUaa0I/AAAAAAAAEKI/mgVgmTt6BdE/s1600-h/IMG_3307.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357212353775168322" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikQIUaa0I/AAAAAAAAEKI/mgVgmTt6BdE/s400/IMG_3307.JPG" /></a>A huge prehistoric lizard climbing the fence. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikP_NJwFI/AAAAAAAAEKA/GuFfLz97a3g/s1600-h/IMG_3308.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357212351328796754" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SlikP_NJwFI/AAAAAAAAEKA/GuFfLz97a3g/s400/IMG_3308.JPG" /></a>Actually, just a little lizard climbing the window screen. </div><div align="left">Don't you just love summer with the long days and lots of interesting free stuff to enjoy? I do!</div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-8284220923035295105?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-16533645756075529412009-07-03T11:58:00.000-07:002009-07-03T12:03:15.839-07:00Glads<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sk5VVkfRfII/AAAAAAAAEJQ/QZ8N2O6A6PU/s1600-h/IMG_3421.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 329px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354310836050558082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sk5VVkfRfII/AAAAAAAAEJQ/QZ8N2O6A6PU/s400/IMG_3421.JPG" /></a> He has made me glads . . .</div><div align="center"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sk5VVSJiskI/AAAAAAAAEJI/K8XptRHwXl4/s1600-h/IMG_3337.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 364px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354310831127573058" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sk5VVSJiskI/AAAAAAAAEJI/K8XptRHwXl4/s400/IMG_3337.JPG" /></a>He has made me glads . . . <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sk5VVBAqC5I/AAAAAAAAEJA/6SPRpnHqHoI/s1600-h/IMG_3336.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354310826526903186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sk5VVBAqC5I/AAAAAAAAEJA/6SPRpnHqHoI/s400/IMG_3336.JPG" /></a> I will rejoice for He has made me glads. <div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1653364575607552941?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-35675070575759985622009-06-17T20:06:00.000-07:002009-06-20T08:39:17.551-07:00Time for more kitty pictures!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sjz_4vSHFZI/AAAAAAAAEAo/hr-WNiChljA/s1600-h/IMG_2680.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 356px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349431807639491986" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sjz_4vSHFZI/AAAAAAAAEAo/hr-WNiChljA/s400/IMG_2680.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sjz_ztpsjUI/AAAAAAAAEAg/4lH5q1N4b5Q/s1600-h/Ashley%26Gicle%27e+June+%2709+II.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349431721302199618" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sjz_ztpsjUI/AAAAAAAAEAg/4lH5q1N4b5Q/s400/Ashley%26Gicle%27e+June+%2709+II.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sjz_resdbbI/AAAAAAAAEAY/LHHqEMTB4ng/s1600-h/Ashley+licking+Giclee.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349431579848306098" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sjz_resdbbI/AAAAAAAAEAY/LHHqEMTB4ng/s400/Ashley+licking+Giclee.JPG" /></a> <div> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sjz_Z3Qg92I/AAAAAAAAEAI/WZYolsGHApU/s1600-h/Ashley%26Gicle%27e+June+%2709.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349431277204338530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sjz_Z3Qg92I/AAAAAAAAEAI/WZYolsGHApU/s400/Ashley%26Gicle%27e+June+%2709.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjmwieAnvbI/AAAAAAAAD-o/EsTEk0MazxQ/s1600-h/IMG_2681.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348500138696883634" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjmwieAnvbI/AAAAAAAAD-o/EsTEk0MazxQ/s400/IMG_2681.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-3567507057575998562?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-16106061854035276602009-06-13T06:56:00.000-07:002009-06-13T07:16:48.400-07:00Backyard Close-ups<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0fIvWRGI/AAAAAAAAD9g/WBA2zIMap_g/s1600-h/IMG_3017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346815629633930338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0fIvWRGI/AAAAAAAAD9g/WBA2zIMap_g/s400/IMG_3017.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0bBqFPGI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/okb-m_ASQYA/s1600-h/IMG_3002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 387px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346815559013317730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0bBqFPGI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/okb-m_ASQYA/s400/IMG_3002.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0Vuh4gPI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/9nz9ZhMXfaM/s1600-h/IMG_2993.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 355px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346815467979309298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0Vuh4gPI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/9nz9ZhMXfaM/s400/IMG_2993.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0Pq_1KZI/AAAAAAAAD9I/HJDOX4AIXa4/s1600-h/IMG_3019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346815363951962514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0Pq_1KZI/AAAAAAAAD9I/HJDOX4AIXa4/s400/IMG_3019.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0KIEZcTI/AAAAAAAAD9A/qeWoOBy9EH0/s1600-h/IMG_3012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 378px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346815268676530482" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0KIEZcTI/AAAAAAAAD9A/qeWoOBy9EH0/s400/IMG_3012.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0CRsKu2I/AAAAAAAAD84/Ia5YVCIph-c/s1600-h/IMG_3010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 386px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346815133820304226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjO0CRsKu2I/AAAAAAAAD84/Ia5YVCIph-c/s400/IMG_3010.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjOz4-avWPI/AAAAAAAAD8w/DEqQoprUKJM/s1600-h/IMG_2996.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 362px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346814974028110066" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjOz4-avWPI/AAAAAAAAD8w/DEqQoprUKJM/s400/IMG_2996.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjOzG0dLSnI/AAAAAAAAD8o/HMjTpA-82Y4/s1600-h/IMG_3021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346814112360516210" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjOzG0dLSnI/AAAAAAAAD8o/HMjTpA-82Y4/s400/IMG_3021.JPG" /></a> <div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1610606185403527660?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-16437147342759316432009-06-10T20:11:00.001-07:002009-06-10T20:15:58.402-07:00Dog Poo in the neighborhood<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjB2I75P9_I/AAAAAAAAD8g/V-Ykn3rZMVg/s1600-h/IMG_3073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 345px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345902653577623538" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjB2I75P9_I/AAAAAAAAD8g/V-Ykn3rZMVg/s400/IMG_3073.JPG" /></a> The kind of dogs you have to "beware of" generally are prolific producers.</div> <div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjB2FjXo8uI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/WlXsP1cg4QE/s1600-h/IMG_3078.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345902595454595810" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjB2FjXo8uI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/WlXsP1cg4QE/s400/IMG_3078.JPG" /></a>Signs sometimes help . . . <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjB1-iTJdrI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/_jBWIP0V8ms/s1600-h/IMG_3072.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345902474908235442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SjB1-iTJdrI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/_jBWIP0V8ms/s400/IMG_3072.JPG" /></a> . . . sometimes not! OK, just kidding. These folks simply got their lawn aerated! :) <div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1643714734275931643?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-85908561535201481062009-06-07T19:04:00.000-07:002009-06-07T19:13:10.942-07:00Symmetry<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyqpfXGwI/AAAAAAAAD8I/93_bubostXc/s1600-h/IMG_3129.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344772934799399682" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyqpfXGwI/AAAAAAAAD8I/93_bubostXc/s400/IMG_3129.JPG" /></a> This is a pretty good attempt at symmetry. One can never control Mother Nature and the speed of growth, after all.</div> <div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyiLK-tbI/AAAAAAAAD8A/xZ7jE_0BpK4/s1600-h/IMG_3115.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344772789221897650" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyiLK-tbI/AAAAAAAAD8A/xZ7jE_0BpK4/s400/IMG_3115.JPG" /></a>Wow! Perfect Symmetry! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sixyau9DIsI/AAAAAAAAD74/ADj07IbJF7Q/s1600-h/IMG_3133.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344772661388190402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sixyau9DIsI/AAAAAAAAD74/ADj07IbJF7Q/s400/IMG_3133.JPG" /></a>Baby steps, but at least they're perfectly symmetrical! <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyTJgZ90I/AAAAAAAAD7w/E2FWflWkW2M/s1600-h/IMG_3122.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344772531076855618" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyTJgZ90I/AAAAAAAAD7w/E2FWflWkW2M/s400/IMG_3122.JPG" /></a>Nice!!! <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyODzjJ3I/AAAAAAAAD7o/Fq4mqPu02vc/s1600-h/IMG_3119.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344772443647190898" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyODzjJ3I/AAAAAAAAD7o/Fq4mqPu02vc/s400/IMG_3119.JPG" /></a> Kinda of a stair-stepped, graduated kind of symmetry. Not bad! <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyHZ2qFVI/AAAAAAAAD7g/eN9PcLNvIdc/s1600-h/IMG_3120.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344772329306723666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SixyHZ2qFVI/AAAAAAAAD7g/eN9PcLNvIdc/s400/IMG_3120.JPG" /></a>Uh . . . not quite. Sorry. <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sixx8azRBNI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/sq4fnkxPIjE/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_3143.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344772140582372562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sixx8azRBNI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/sq4fnkxPIjE/s400/Copy+of+IMG_3143.JPG" /></a>If you both have the exact same message for the world, is one of you not necessary? Just wondering. . . . </div><div> </div><div>In summary, perhaps symmetry is over-rated. After all, God created each of us to be as unique as snowflakes. Only you can bring what you were created to bring. Bring it!! :) <div></div></div></div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-8590856153520148106?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-70293405607058187602009-05-31T18:21:00.000-07:002009-05-31T18:36:54.375-07:00Flowers from recent neighborhood morning walk<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMwBqAGxjI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/Hp1UUSxh6ro/s1600-h/IMG_3169.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342166388004275762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMwBqAGxjI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/Hp1UUSxh6ro/s400/IMG_3169.JPG" /></a> I believe this is spanish lavendar. My english lavendar is just beginning to bud. Can't wait! <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMv7fU6t2I/AAAAAAAAD7I/PnvyC1AnYgs/s1600-h/IMG_3141.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342166282059560802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMv7fU6t2I/AAAAAAAAD7I/PnvyC1AnYgs/s400/IMG_3141.JPG" /></a> I don't know the name of this odd plant. Seems to be some sort of succulant. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMv0_Cy1bI/AAAAAAAAD7A/0QmAFpra3nc/s1600-h/IMG_3130.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342166170314397106" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMv0_Cy1bI/AAAAAAAAD7A/0QmAFpra3nc/s400/IMG_3130.JPG" /></a> I grew up with my Mom's "hen and chicks" plants by the front porch. They were about 3 inches in diameter. This is about 3 feet!!! <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMvwirpBgI/AAAAAAAAD64/9YAeGIreHX8/s1600-h/IMG_3086.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342166093981615618" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMvwirpBgI/AAAAAAAAD64/9YAeGIreHX8/s400/IMG_3086.JPG" /></a> Our next-door neighbor's ice plant. Spectacular color! <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMtRbS9fqI/AAAAAAAAD6w/-IkWt3FaNyg/s1600-h/IMG_3047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342163360399851170" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SiMtRbS9fqI/AAAAAAAAD6w/-IkWt3FaNyg/s400/IMG_3047.JPG" /></a> Close-up of a society garlic. I like the stark contrast. </div><div> </div><div>Just another morning spent ooing and awing while walking the neighborhood loop <div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7029340560705818760?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-73049608979948906332009-05-27T19:49:00.000-07:002009-05-27T19:53:29.702-07:00Things are not always as they seem . . .<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sh38OZOWp9I/AAAAAAAAD6o/GggoBTRjBOw/s1600-h/IMG_3048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340702057350735826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sh38OZOWp9I/AAAAAAAAD6o/GggoBTRjBOw/s400/IMG_3048.JPG" /></a>Gorgeous home with nicely manicured front yard</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sh38IaieLnI/AAAAAAAAD6g/IDsCR7Ts4m4/s1600-h/IMG_3049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340701954624335474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sh38IaieLnI/AAAAAAAAD6g/IDsCR7Ts4m4/s400/IMG_3049.JPG" /></a>Gee, what nice flowers! <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sh38C_l5_lI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/ayYpZpoPaPE/s1600-h/IMG_3050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340701861491637842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sh38C_l5_lI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/ayYpZpoPaPE/s400/IMG_3050.JPG" /></a>Oh, never mind. They're from Michael's (aka FAKE!!!)</div><div>Aaaaargh! <div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7304960897994890633?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-16060723735302703492009-05-26T20:23:00.000-07:002009-05-27T06:41:48.620-07:00Rocks<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShyzQhi14vI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/-n9l0LOSJ18/s1600-h/IMG_3063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340340354618352370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShyzQhi14vI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/-n9l0LOSJ18/s400/IMG_3063.JPG" /></a>Real Rock</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShyzLSHC2JI/AAAAAAAAD6I/ro7lKsJq8d4/s1600-h/IMG_3066.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340340264575883410" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShyzLSHC2JI/AAAAAAAAD6I/ro7lKsJq8d4/s400/IMG_3066.JPG" /></a> Fake Rock </div><div align="center">(nice try though, and the bird poo droppings add a realistic touch)</div><div align="center"> <div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShyzCXen8xI/AAAAAAAAD6A/vO9arvOeC4w/s1600-h/IMG_3064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340340111398138642" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShyzCXen8xI/AAAAAAAAD6A/vO9arvOeC4w/s400/IMG_3064.JPG" /></a> Real Rock <div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShyygSMSb_I/AAAAAAAAD54/kO-pJHusHds/s1600-h/IMG_3062.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340339525863501810" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShyygSMSb_I/AAAAAAAAD54/kO-pJHusHds/s400/IMG_3062.JPG" /></a>Fake Rock </div><strong></strong> <div align="left"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Duh!</strong> </div><div align="center">Do people really think these fool anyone? </div><div align="center">Are they any better looking than what they're attempting to disguise? </div><div align="center">I don't <em>think</em> so! </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center">Thanks, I feel much better now. Just had to get that off my chest! :) </div><div align="left"></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1606072373530270349?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-15059449186747175842009-05-25T07:57:00.000-07:002009-05-25T08:04:04.009-07:00Bloom . . . Wherever!As I was out walking one morning last week, I happened to look down into the grate over the large drain at the side of the road. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShqymLshgpI/AAAAAAAAD5w/oCHI5AYws08/s1600-h/IMG_3069.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339776677245452946" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShqymLshgpI/AAAAAAAAD5w/oCHI5AYws08/s400/IMG_3069.JPG" /></a> What caught my eye were some daisies growing in the most unlikely of spots in the dark. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShqyV37a6GI/AAAAAAAAD5o/2KKnl6y6WMo/s1600-h/IMG_3070.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339776397061318754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShqyV37a6GI/AAAAAAAAD5o/2KKnl6y6WMo/s400/IMG_3070.JPG" /></a> Remember the old saying "Bloom Where You Are Planted"? Well, this proves you can bloom just about anywhere! <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShqyRepPqiI/AAAAAAAAD5g/yrn3dzfZoAU/s1600-h/IMG_3071.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339776321554721314" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShqyRepPqiI/AAAAAAAAD5g/yrn3dzfZoAU/s400/IMG_3071.JPG" /></a> <div><div></div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1505944918674717584?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-84650331265002774832009-05-19T20:00:00.000-07:002009-05-19T20:27:40.925-07:00BalconiesOn a recent morning walk around the 'hood, I decided to take pictures of balconies and see what people are doing with them. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN20P_Q4CI/AAAAAAAAD5I/5S1em2DRwLw/s1600-h/IMG_3121.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337740623381323810" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN20P_Q4CI/AAAAAAAAD5I/5S1em2DRwLw/s400/IMG_3121.JPG" /></a> This one's not great, not terrible. But I think we can do better . . . <div>OK, this one's just sad. Perhaps a fake plant is better than a dead one.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN2XzWsppI/AAAAAAAAD5A/_HSQHv684gk/s1600-h/IMG_3106.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337740134658647698" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN2XzWsppI/AAAAAAAAD5A/_HSQHv684gk/s400/IMG_3106.JPG" /></a> Looks like one person would be in the other person's face. Too aggressive for balcony sitting, in my opinion.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN17Y-apgI/AAAAAAAAD44/4diLw-_bbDk/s1600-h/IMG_3105.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337739646541145602" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN17Y-apgI/AAAAAAAAD44/4diLw-_bbDk/s400/IMG_3105.JPG" /></a> <div><div>Possibly my favorite . . .<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN1u742GEI/AAAAAAAAD4w/ccrjod6y2qU/s1600-h/IMG_3104.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337739432574720066" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN1u742GEI/AAAAAAAAD4w/ccrjod6y2qU/s400/IMG_3104.JPG" /></a> <div>One option is to do absolutely nothing.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN1KWL89UI/AAAAAAAAD4o/GqfBzorfXPQ/s1600-h/IMG_3080.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337738803979023682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN1KWL89UI/AAAAAAAAD4o/GqfBzorfXPQ/s400/IMG_3080.JPG" /></a> <div> </div><div>One of my favorites. A real plant and bistro chairs with personality!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN0OeSiaHI/AAAAAAAAD4g/2TIjHvcMM5Q/s1600-h/IMG_3077.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337737775361976434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShN0OeSiaHI/AAAAAAAAD4g/2TIjHvcMM5Q/s400/IMG_3077.JPG" /></a> <div>I like the bistro set, but I'm deducting points for the fake orange flowers.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShNz8bSE_jI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/w47IFUUGEMw/s1600-h/IMG_3076.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337737465317097010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShNz8bSE_jI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/w47IFUUGEMw/s400/IMG_3076.JPG" /></a> <div>Not a bad attempt, but the plants are fake, so the greens will turn more and more turquoise.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShNzrADGs0I/AAAAAAAAD4Q/N-gdQDr2Q-I/s1600-h/IMG_3075.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337737165948760898" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShNzrADGs0I/AAAAAAAAD4Q/N-gdQDr2Q-I/s400/IMG_3075.JPG" /></a> <div></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShNzd7pi3bI/AAAAAAAAD4I/VsdG1tW8Vwk/s1600-h/IMG_3044.JPG"></a> And finally, my own false balcony outside my laundry room. A little spindly, but at least the geraniums are real. <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShNy_re5G-I/AAAAAAAAD4A/rvKIrNMFLpo/s1600-h/IMG_3087.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337736421693791202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/ShNy_re5G-I/AAAAAAAAD4A/rvKIrNMFLpo/s400/IMG_3087.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-8465033126500277483?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-3456957036116924912009-05-01T19:17:00.000-07:002009-05-01T19:23:27.564-07:00Turkeys!What is it? Oh, it's a turkey butt!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut1ZrjyTI/AAAAAAAAD34/0eGh2XeLWmo/s1600-h/turket+butt.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331045716861372722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut1ZrjyTI/AAAAAAAAD34/0eGh2XeLWmo/s400/turket+butt.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here he is! <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut1YlRmdI/AAAAAAAAD3w/GuiLQwsbsfE/s1600-h/Tom+Turkey.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331045716566579666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut1YlRmdI/AAAAAAAAD3w/GuiLQwsbsfE/s400/Tom+Turkey.JPG" border="0" /></a> And I think he's interested in her. Hope she's not interested in the bird food. I think she's a bit too big to fit on my bird feeders! <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut1Ar0f7I/AAAAAAAAD3o/BySVlVS_DXA/s1600-h/too+big+for+the+bird+feeders.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331045710151581618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 324px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut1Ar0f7I/AAAAAAAAD3o/BySVlVS_DXA/s400/too+big+for+the+bird+feeders.JPG" border="0" /></a> Not the most graceful bird, but hey, she <em>can</em> fly! <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut0o7skxI/AAAAAAAAD3g/Xn9r5Ng7GGQ/s1600-h/turkey+flying+up+to+the+fence.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331045703775720210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 370px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut0o7skxI/AAAAAAAAD3g/Xn9r5Ng7GGQ/s400/turkey+flying+up+to+the+fence.JPG" border="0" /></a> Most days, we have turkeys <em>outside</em> the fence. It's kind of unusual to have one <em>inside</em> the fence. My kitties don't know what to make of it since she's bigger than they are! <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut0eiX48I/AAAAAAAAD3Y/YoAqdrjKZ2M/s1600-h/Turkey+in+our+yard.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331045700985152450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 365px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfut0eiX48I/AAAAAAAAD3Y/YoAqdrjKZ2M/s400/Turkey+in+our+yard.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-345695703611692491?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-90814013610890917972009-04-28T19:21:00.000-07:002009-04-28T19:48:34.660-07:00Hard Wood Floors<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfe-elkmcSI/AAAAAAAAD1A/6_wselOnf-c/s1600-h/ficus.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329938116707250466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfe-elkmcSI/AAAAAAAAD1A/6_wselOnf-c/s400/ficus.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>This week's project was to replace the carpet in the family room with hard wood floors. The contractor did a great job and I <em>love</em> the Santos Mahogany that we chose. The hardest part by far, was moving the 25 year-old braided ficus in and out of the room. We determined today that it weighs more than a refrigerator, and I'm beginning to think it weighs more than my piano. Needless to say, when we finally sell this house, it's going with it. Other than the ficus drama, it went well and I must say that I LOVE the end result! Of course, then it made the walls and base boards look shabby so we had to have those painted. And now my burgundy leather sofa and loveseat look <em>really</em> shabby and are in need of a major refurbishment. One thing leads to another, even when you're barely dipping your toe in the pond of "remodeling". Yikes!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfe77pjKVzI/AAAAAAAAD04/fO59LqsdZLo/s1600-h/hardwood+floors+close+up.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329935317456279346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfe77pjKVzI/AAAAAAAAD04/fO59LqsdZLo/s400/hardwood+floors+close+up.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfe77c61FdI/AAAAAAAAD0w/RVL3KpnFIjY/s1600-h/hardwood+floors+II.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329935314065888722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfe77c61FdI/AAAAAAAAD0w/RVL3KpnFIjY/s400/hardwood+floors+II.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfe77PRQOcI/AAAAAAAAD0o/kzsMgKbxXm4/s1600-h/hardwood+floors+I.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329935310401845698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Sfe77PRQOcI/AAAAAAAAD0o/kzsMgKbxXm4/s400/hardwood+floors+I.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-9081401361089091797?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-24934878241695024052009-04-24T20:30:00.000-07:002009-04-24T20:33:21.404-07:00Commute Pictures Part IIMore commute pictures. Of course, it doesn't look like this the closer I get to Oakland. This is about a mile from my house. Still, it makes me go "ahhhhhhhh". :)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SfKEJarK-lI/AAAAAAAAD0g/qQvHfh8osRw/s1600-h/April+24+2009+Commute+II.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328466606446803538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SfKEJarK-lI/AAAAAAAAD0g/qQvHfh8osRw/s400/April+24+2009+Commute+II.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SfKEJH0vQ4I/AAAAAAAAD0Y/r5nxY7O3nbM/s1600-h/April+24+2009+commute+I.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328466601386656642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SfKEJH0vQ4I/AAAAAAAAD0Y/r5nxY7O3nbM/s400/April+24+2009+commute+I.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-2493487824169502405?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-12970051081535816092009-04-21T20:15:00.000-07:002009-04-21T20:22:31.143-07:00My favorite part of my daily commuteI cut through a new development near home where they've apparently liberally scattered wildflower seed around. I'm loving the wild lupins, California poppies, and abundant flowering clover. Puts me in the right frame of mind for the workday.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6MzCtJb-I/AAAAAAAAD0Q/DkIegWD7ftA/s1600-h/IMG_2719.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327350217753325538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6MzCtJb-I/AAAAAAAAD0Q/DkIegWD7ftA/s400/IMG_2719.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6MyrwZR1I/AAAAAAAAD0I/q2YFtcOtZzM/s1600-h/IMG_2716.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327350211592931154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6MyrwZR1I/AAAAAAAAD0I/q2YFtcOtZzM/s400/IMG_2716.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6MyT2gAoI/AAAAAAAAD0A/1KVzMdQP5EY/s1600-h/IMG_2713.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327350205176087170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6MyT2gAoI/AAAAAAAAD0A/1KVzMdQP5EY/s400/IMG_2713.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6Mx3JwkBI/AAAAAAAADz4/wJ7B5cWcJLM/s1600-h/IMG_2715.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327350197472235538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6Mx3JwkBI/AAAAAAAADz4/wJ7B5cWcJLM/s400/IMG_2715.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6MxpNVOSI/AAAAAAAADzw/7-ayXVFGyY0/s1600-h/IMG_2721.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327350193729124642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/Se6MxpNVOSI/AAAAAAAADzw/7-ayXVFGyY0/s400/IMG_2721.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1297005108153581609?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-10183402019678916462009-04-18T21:09:00.000-07:002009-04-18T21:18:05.178-07:00AshleyMy Idol-watching buddy <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SeqlaI4aVrI/AAAAAAAADzo/mpCZ8hIdcRc/s1600-h/IMG_2594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326251377798305458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SeqlaI4aVrI/AAAAAAAADzo/mpCZ8hIdcRc/s400/IMG_2594.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ashely Caleidoscope . . . <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SeqkQPXMsII/AAAAAAAADzg/uBw2QA6IvCI/s1600-h/Ashley+4+ways.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326250108227727490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SeqkQPXMsII/AAAAAAAADzg/uBw2QA6IvCI/s400/Ashley+4+ways.png" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1018340201967891646?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-59302854960836825522009-03-12T21:01:00.000-07:002009-03-13T06:41:09.015-07:00Gicle'e vs. the Yellow Fluff<p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-aedbfaaa20b86950" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v4.nonxt2.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Daedbfaaa20b86950%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D38A91F7A8F2F9912A275346E120807413718CA78.BC90ED2358ED5952B3602F9809C4BFE2D650EEC%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Daedbfaaa20b86950%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D3zCbLk1e1MFJ3dYLWMFr_bc4pYI&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v4.nonxt2.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Daedbfaaa20b86950%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D38A91F7A8F2F9912A275346E120807413718CA78.BC90ED2358ED5952B3602F9809C4BFE2D650EEC%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Daedbfaaa20b86950%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D3zCbLk1e1MFJ3dYLWMFr_bc4pYI&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><p>I'll enjoy this playful kitten stage as long as it lasts. What fun!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5930285496083682552?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-35364700421168737342009-03-09T19:32:00.000-07:002009-03-09T20:04:01.278-07:00My bathroom buddy<p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-bc161c408dd26e4" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v2.nonxt1.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D0bc161c408dd26e4%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D5F68093D7CD44FD7712E99776F6613BABBD68C1A.2D292FBD6E9DC80AC7FE9F1F0163520CC21628A%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Dbc161c408dd26e4%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DFkg8bmkpUEpaJ8mOBANG_td27Ks&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v2.nonxt1.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D0bc161c408dd26e4%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D5F68093D7CD44FD7712E99776F6613BABBD68C1A.2D292FBD6E9DC80AC7FE9F1F0163520CC21628A%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Dbc161c408dd26e4%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DFkg8bmkpUEpaJ8mOBANG_td27Ks&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><p>OK, OK, I know. I'm a very permissive Mom. Good thing I never had to raise humans! :)</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-3536470042116873734?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-44001156827125651272009-02-21T08:27:00.000-08:002009-02-21T08:37:37.533-08:00Hummingbird Feeder<p>We have our hummingbird feeder attached to our kitchen window, which makes for nice close-up viewing. The birds actually perch for awhile when there <em>isn't</em> a video camera in their faces.</p><p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-d76f45453c7e90a" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v4.nonxt6.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D0d76f45453c7e90a%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D4C5DC53A9E5964CF02AEB9BEF418822837D60EA5.36848A9D8E8775FEF64B3154875B01F3DFB95AF8%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Dd76f45453c7e90a%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DcG68tckiOakby9UVi242QV7rzRA&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v4.nonxt6.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D0d76f45453c7e90a%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D4C5DC53A9E5964CF02AEB9BEF418822837D60EA5.36848A9D8E8775FEF64B3154875B01F3DFB95AF8%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Dd76f45453c7e90a%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DcG68tckiOakby9UVi242QV7rzRA&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-4400115682712565127?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-22931527244663778322009-02-15T19:34:00.000-08:002009-02-15T19:40:43.275-08:00Blooming Orchids brighten up the winterI love orchids. I especially love them when they've been dormant for months, and just when you're about to give up on them, they surprise you by blooming. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SZjftPj-3EI/AAAAAAAADzA/oe_pJu9-IsY/s1600-h/Orchids+for+Posting-17.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303234529593318466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 354px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SZjftPj-3EI/AAAAAAAADzA/oe_pJu9-IsY/s400/Orchids+for+Posting-17.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SZjfsmNr3DI/AAAAAAAADy4/sT691LcwxX4/s1600-h/Orchids+for+Posting-15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303234518493944882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SZjfsmNr3DI/AAAAAAAADy4/sT691LcwxX4/s400/Orchids+for+Posting-15.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SZjfstu8WoI/AAAAAAAADyw/7ukrJFRj7Og/s1600-h/Orchids+for+Posting-9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303234520512486018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SZjfstu8WoI/AAAAAAAADyw/7ukrJFRj7Og/s400/Orchids+for+Posting-9.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SZjfrw8uRVI/AAAAAAAADyo/6AL6Bt48pIo/s1600-h/Orchids+for+Posting-6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303234504195720530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SZjfrw8uRVI/AAAAAAAADyo/6AL6Bt48pIo/s400/Orchids+for+Posting-6.jpg" border="0" /></a> They're part of what holds us over as we anxiously await springtime. <div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-2293152724466377832?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-48989812064057231552009-01-10T07:35:00.000-08:002009-01-10T18:58:45.214-08:00<p>Time for more cat videos don't you think?! :)</p><p>Some of you may have seen this when I put it on YouTube. The most liked cat toys are always the cheapest. And hey, when you're a kitty, all the world's a kitty toy!</p><p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-793a8060acb76ab3" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v1.nonxt2.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D793a8060acb76ab3%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D6CCFEC97AD88A6768E72498889B2EAA713C28447.1050221C63C18CF675961338F0197645197ED95%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D793a8060acb76ab3%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DmLlZ--31wfbZnyz8WJ3qow_cgP0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v1.nonxt2.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D793a8060acb76ab3%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D6CCFEC97AD88A6768E72498889B2EAA713C28447.1050221C63C18CF675961338F0197645197ED95%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D793a8060acb76ab3%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DmLlZ--31wfbZnyz8WJ3qow_cgP0&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><p>Here's a quick one, but I actually got Ashley to speak on command! I know, I know, for you dog owners, this is no big deal, but for a cat? That's something!</p><p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-5273b3668baaaf37" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v21.nonxt1.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D5273b3668baaaf37%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3BD7E280D9C4C5EC42DA1AC3D873EE9D2ECE63E2.52EF311AA6AC1318152536607DBA848707E1F72A%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D5273b3668baaaf37%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DAgKNFkBo35nrqmmy8_B61KiDUFo&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v21.nonxt1.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D5273b3668baaaf37%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3BD7E280D9C4C5EC42DA1AC3D873EE9D2ECE63E2.52EF311AA6AC1318152536607DBA848707E1F72A%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D5273b3668baaaf37%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DAgKNFkBo35nrqmmy8_B61KiDUFo&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-4898981206405723155?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-71181425719592189112009-01-03T07:05:00.000-08:002009-01-03T07:30:21.067-08:00Ice Skating at Union Square in San Francisco after Christmas<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287085749058475602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SV-AegGpFlI/AAAAAAAADuE/l7Y_UYRL8Uc/s400/Union_Square_Ice_Skating-05.jpeg" border="0" /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SV9_gluGicI/AAAAAAAADt8/X89EI05FdxQ/s1600-h/Union_Square_Ice_Skating-03.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287084685414271426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SV9_gluGicI/AAAAAAAADt8/X89EI05FdxQ/s400/Union_Square_Ice_Skating-03.jpeg" border="0" /></a> Del's "kids", Peter and Kirsten came to spend Christmas in California. My other step"kid", Mary, is still living in Berlin, Germany, and her Mom spent Christmas with her there. Kirsten and Peter and I had a great time skating at Union Square after Christmas. Del opted to be our photographer and got some fun shots. For more, click on the slide show at right.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7118142571959218911?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-83020585480163312302008-12-07T09:39:00.001-08:002008-12-07T10:45:58.199-08:00A Bethlehem Star shines over Dublin/Pleasanton/San Ramon<div align="center"><em>This is the abbreviated story of Del's Bethlehem Star. See slideshow at right for full story.</em></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">It all began with Del's dream and a lot of PVC pipe. My brother Ron is captured here "aiding and abetting" the plan.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwPg1vlhfI/AAAAAAAAC0k/SW4vB4ao4Ek/s1600-h/IMG_1528.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277109920228279794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwPg1vlhfI/AAAAAAAAC0k/SW4vB4ao4Ek/s400/IMG_1528.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="center">Del's vision is taking shape.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwPTOLvK4I/AAAAAAAAC0c/kF4QdnKQ8m8/s1600-h/IMG_1557.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277109686270634882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwPTOLvK4I/AAAAAAAAC0c/kF4QdnKQ8m8/s400/IMG_1557.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div> <div align="center">Del and Ron painted it black to make it less reflective.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwPClbpcnI/AAAAAAAAC0U/apEDgGRAOWY/s1600-h/IMG_1562.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277109400453608050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwPClbpcnI/AAAAAAAAC0U/apEDgGRAOWY/s400/IMG_1562.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="center">If you noticed your electricity hiccup Thanksgiving weekend, this could have been why. The star has 205 10-watt C-9's. Thank goodness it'll be on a timer. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwOTNRKmUI/AAAAAAAAC0M/3zilNmyEQHk/s1600-h/IMG_4608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277108586513340738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwOTNRKmUI/AAAAAAAAC0M/3zilNmyEQHk/s400/IMG_4608.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><div align="center">The crew: Art Amon and sons (&amp; daughter's boyfriend), neighbor Gus, and Chris &amp; Laura Flanders. My brother Ron photographed the event.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwNyFm3NsI/AAAAAAAAC0E/lBTmVEu5hq8/s1600-h/IMG_4621-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277108017521178306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwNyFm3NsI/AAAAAAAAC0E/lBTmVEu5hq8/s400/IMG_4621-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="center">A modern day barn-raising, I mean <em>star</em>-raising!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwNf4pOgYI/AAAAAAAACz8/PGxh3LRdlIM/s1600-h/IMG_4625-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277107704803787138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwNf4pOgYI/AAAAAAAACz8/PGxh3LRdlIM/s400/IMG_4625-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><div align="center">Hoisting it up. So far so good . . .<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwNRzG51II/AAAAAAAACz0/y4iXSNfUedk/s1600-h/IMG_4640-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277107462799479938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwNRzG51II/AAAAAAAACz0/y4iXSNfUedk/s400/IMG_4640-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="center">Oops! PVC is way more flexible than we thought. This was the darkest moment of the day where we began to doubt and to pray really hard!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwM9hk4_4I/AAAAAAAACzs/l9l3NcZj538/s1600-h/IMG_4643.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277107114496032642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwM9hk4_4I/AAAAAAAACzs/l9l3NcZj538/s400/IMG_4643.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><div align="center">Well, it's up, but with one broken piece and quite the curve and a floppy top.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwMqMb6sAI/AAAAAAAACzk/QO-sNHPZPaU/s1600-h/IMG_4645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277106782403735554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwMqMb6sAI/AAAAAAAACzk/QO-sNHPZPaU/s400/IMG_4645.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><div align="center">Chris Flanders to the rescue.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwLoM0TEwI/AAAAAAAACzc/X7qarTK6P-o/s1600-h/IMG_4665.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277105648634630914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwLoM0TEwI/AAAAAAAACzc/X7qarTK6P-o/s400/IMG_4665.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="center">Finally looking stable from top to bottom.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwK28XR8jI/AAAAAAAACzU/N4x0CxqqG1k/s1600-h/IMG_4679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277104802404364850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwK28XR8jI/AAAAAAAACzU/N4x0CxqqG1k/s400/IMG_4679.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div> <div align="center">It was all worth it in the end. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277110778196844130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwQSx7O3mI/AAAAAAAAC0s/3xYH9xZcWy0/s400/IMG_4681.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center"><div></div>Now Dublin, San Ramon, and Pleasanton CA have a Bethlehem </div><div align="center">Star shining in the West to help celebrate Christmas. </div><div align="center"><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwKojYnXPI/AAAAAAAACzE/yfSVN4SpFJc/s1600-h/IMG_4686-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277104555180907762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 330px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STwKojYnXPI/AAAAAAAACzE/yfSVN4SpFJc/s400/IMG_4686-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"> Merry Christmas!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-8302058548016331230?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-60201562220294595442008-11-30T13:05:00.000-08:002008-11-30T19:58:47.076-08:00Gicle'e discovers the inkjet printer<p> <object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-dd32f15b3cd50d4a" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v15.nonxt8.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Ddd32f15b3cd50d4a%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D6698539C821B8593228834B4B42980C190F6F7A5.53626E3E92083834EC3F1437CC9349F72F528AAA%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Ddd32f15b3cd50d4a%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DQErC3SAkAV2Y3rn-DyMUf0x0bkM&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v15.nonxt8.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Ddd32f15b3cd50d4a%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D6698539C821B8593228834B4B42980C190F6F7A5.53626E3E92083834EC3F1437CC9349F72F528AAA%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Ddd32f15b3cd50d4a%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DQErC3SAkAV2Y3rn-DyMUf0x0bkM&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><p>Gicle'e can't quite figure it out . . .</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-6020156222029459544?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-78620090619814096912008-11-30T07:42:00.000-08:002008-11-30T08:01:13.300-08:00Thanksgiving at the Morissette's<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STK0yf8B9oI/AAAAAAAACmc/XUb12r09pgk/s1600-h/IMG_4552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274476893264017026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STK0yf8B9oI/AAAAAAAACmc/XUb12r09pgk/s400/IMG_4552.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>My brother Ron came down for the Thanksgiving weekend and we decided to just let it be the three of us for Thanksgiving Dinner. Of course, that didn't keep Del from smoking a whole turkey and throwing mulitple slabs of ribs on the smoker!</div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274480900156694626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/STK4buxsIGI/AAAAAAAACmk/HkjmPPVqFrs/s400/IMG_4554.JPG" border="0" /> The meat plus sweet potato fries, new red potatoes and asparagus made for a nice Thanksgiving meal and the company was great. :) <div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7862009061981409691?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-72351623601682983752008-11-27T08:52:00.000-08:002008-11-27T11:55:47.212-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SS7QVQFYaqI/AAAAAAAACmU/RAxt-vRjrMs/s1600-h/turkeys.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273381277210798754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SS7QVQFYaqI/AAAAAAAACmU/RAxt-vRjrMs/s400/turkeys.JPG" border="0" /></a> These two turkeys have something to be thankful for, and so do I. Actually, I have a lot of things. A wonderful husband and step-kids, my brother <a href="http://walkingfortbragg.com/">Ron </a>joining us for Thanksgiving, my other brother <a href="http://www.runnerduck.com/">Ken</a> sending his Thanksgiving greetings, a great bunch of friends, a diverse family, a fun yet profound church and pastor, nice neighbors, a good job and smart people to work with, two new darling kitties, the Christmas season and all the beautiful moments and craft opportunities that holds. In other words, too many blessings to count! I hope this finds you also counting your blessings and sharing Thanksgiving with family and friends. <div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7235162360168298375?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-12065650092398985982008-11-23T21:19:00.000-08:002008-11-23T21:36:47.637-08:00Ashley and Gicle'e<p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-22b98e4a62c60a9e" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v14.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D22b98e4a62c60a9e%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D692F35CB0D67DA2AE10066695130E9827440D6BD.1D95281EE82D2EB702BC0429E0E0F08585A58DCA%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D22b98e4a62c60a9e%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D7QaSMTIXU-Ur4pfIB9ptmCEDfTQ&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v14.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D22b98e4a62c60a9e%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D692F35CB0D67DA2AE10066695130E9827440D6BD.1D95281EE82D2EB702BC0429E0E0F08585A58DCA%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D22b98e4a62c60a9e%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D7QaSMTIXU-Ur4pfIB9ptmCEDfTQ&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><p>Ashley and Gicle'e discover the bathtub and suds. Ashley's trying to keep cool about the whole thing, but Gicle'e can't resist checking it all out. </p><p><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-aeb025f30c02579d" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v10.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Daeb025f30c02579d%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D406665C97EE97CA85BAA8BC964BE9C4CDB593D05.25FEED8D5B571BE66E8C7DD8926F6793DCC169C8%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Daeb025f30c02579d%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DBhaVjSIWuLLOCDPJhHXn5K5CIxA&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v10.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Daeb025f30c02579d%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D406665C97EE97CA85BAA8BC964BE9C4CDB593D05.25FEED8D5B571BE66E8C7DD8926F6793DCC169C8%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Daeb025f30c02579d%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DBhaVjSIWuLLOCDPJhHXn5K5CIxA&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><p>Perhaps Gicle'e was weaned too young? I'm amazed that Ashley patiently lets her attempt to nurse. They are both fixed females and are not sisters though they are the same age. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1206565009239898598?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-61469550290353624532008-11-22T19:06:00.000-08:002008-11-27T11:58:28.242-08:00An Autumn Walk in Dublin, CA<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjM5ML2qTI/AAAAAAAACis/lQg0aGkoUWc/s1600-h/autumn+leaves.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271688646732720434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjM5ML2qTI/AAAAAAAACis/lQg0aGkoUWc/s400/autumn+leaves.JPG" border="0" /></a> Beautiful fall colors. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjLqZGzcwI/AAAAAAAACik/rkAZMncLgFc/s1600-h/freeway.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271687292991533826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjLqZGzcwI/AAAAAAAACik/rkAZMncLgFc/s400/freeway.JPG" border="0" /></a> Amazing what you can find under a freeway overpass . . . <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjLgiUYDxI/AAAAAAAACic/WKoz6Av4YAE/s1600-h/Bro+Ken.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271687123665686290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjLgiUYDxI/AAAAAAAACic/WKoz6Av4YAE/s400/Bro+Ken.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjLZK99JAI/AAAAAAAACiU/wpJCDuVx3mY/s1600-h/Bro+Ken+in+context.JPG"></a>In honor of my brother <a href="http://www.runnerduck.com/">Ken</a>. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjKjmpA5bI/AAAAAAAACiE/6LrZwnGRvcs/s1600-h/boo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271686076853970354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjKjmpA5bI/AAAAAAAACiE/6LrZwnGRvcs/s400/boo.JPG" border="0" /></a> Boo!! <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjKa7iwANI/AAAAAAAACh8/9kIzRBwHG_s/s1600-h/swallows+nests.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271685927846019282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SSjKa7iwANI/AAAAAAAACh8/9kIzRBwHG_s/s400/swallows+nests.JPG" border="0" /></a> Swallow's nests. </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-6146955029035362453?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-134898943190132882008-11-16T15:53:00.000-08:002008-11-16T17:33:15.642-08:00Gicle'e Playing<p> <object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-7d7b8f9d5a1653f4" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v5.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D7d7b8f9d5a1653f4%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D1B9EA20C5C18CB23AF58434A877AF2B47D214377.512351908AD173F01C2FBBC9E4D8595FF4329588%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D7d7b8f9d5a1653f4%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DFJyeluzcOf74ZfYWHZ0tXaIFmzM&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://v5.nonxt7.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D7d7b8f9d5a1653f4%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1331383126%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D1B9EA20C5C18CB23AF58434A877AF2B47D214377.512351908AD173F01C2FBBC9E4D8595FF4329588%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D7d7b8f9d5a1653f4%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DFJyeluzcOf74ZfYWHZ0tXaIFmzM&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object> </p><p>OK. So, this is my first video ever and of course, it's sideways (you wouldn't expect it to be right on my first try, would you)?! It does show you a glimpse of why there's suddenly so much more laughter in this household. If you look closely, you can see Ashley in the background looking on.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-13489894319013288?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-72244854337194139762008-11-15T19:04:00.000-08:002008-11-15T19:05:53.623-08:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SR-N1cBjOYI/AAAAAAAAChk/F4UJD7q7p7c/s1600-h/looks+like+Ashley+and+Giclee.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269086038242048386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SR-N1cBjOYI/AAAAAAAAChk/F4UJD7q7p7c/s400/looks+like+Ashley+and+Giclee.bmp" border="0" /></a> A friend of mine sent me this. I can't get over how much this looks like my two kitties. :) <div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7224485433719413976?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-57661473634119970702008-11-15T18:59:00.000-08:002008-11-15T19:03:55.225-08:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SR-MoV-MvtI/AAAAAAAAChc/7evOoxgD9dg/s1600-h/Ashley+and+Giclee.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269084713767452370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SR-MoV-MvtI/AAAAAAAAChc/7evOoxgD9dg/s400/Ashley+and+Giclee.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here you can see Ashley and Gicle'e together, albeit looking a little guity for being caught lounging on the dining room table! But hey, aren't they cute?!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5766147363411997070?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-77318087038734974712008-11-11T13:11:00.000-08:002008-11-11T19:26:09.180-08:00This kitty finally has a name!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRn2BOTfwsI/AAAAAAAAChU/cUKM6nUgu6w/s1600-h/Ashley.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267511740066677442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRn2BOTfwsI/AAAAAAAAChU/cUKM6nUgu6w/s400/Ashley.JPG" border="0" /></a> Thanks to so many friends and family who gave us such great, unique, creative suggestions. In the end, the name Ashley seems to be the one that's sticking. Her color is like ashes and it's a pretty name that she seems to be OK with. The kitties are acclimating nicely and getting along well with each other. Since Ashley is about twice the size of Gicle'e (though they're both 4 months old) Ashley seems to be the alpha cat. Nevertheless, she spent most of Sunday hiding. Del and I turned the entire house upside down inch by inch looking for her and finally gave up. We were about ready to name her figment because we were beginning to think that perhaps she was just a figment of our imagination. Then that evening as it was getting dark, she just sauntered down the stairs and into the family room as if it was no big deal. Last night she and Gicle'e entertained us all evening. Gicle'e would hide behind the ottoman and Ashley would wait until the Gicle'e got curious and poked her head out beyond the corner of the ottoman and then Ashely would ambush her. When that happened, it was a sudden wild furball explosion with both of them shooting straight up into the air. I don't when I've laughed so hard.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-7731808703873497471?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-65860502030920917152008-11-08T16:08:00.000-08:002008-11-08T17:04:44.543-08:00Newly Adopted Kitty #1: Help! I need a name . . .<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRY2UweTenI/AAAAAAAAChM/ptFJTmexqno/s1600-h/Gris+3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266456544493664882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRY2UweTenI/AAAAAAAAChM/ptFJTmexqno/s400/Gris+3.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRY1xwMvWdI/AAAAAAAAChE/g2warmfkj-8/s1600-h/Gris+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266455943124572626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 367px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRY1xwMvWdI/AAAAAAAAChE/g2warmfkj-8/s400/Gris+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRY1iJUSz-I/AAAAAAAACg8/KW60dgZEvGE/s1600-h/Gris+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266455674989236194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRY1iJUSz-I/AAAAAAAACg8/KW60dgZEvGE/s400/Gris+1.JPG" border="0" /></a>So, she's a gorgeous grey kitty. Any ideas for a name? I'm trying to decide between Ashley and Misty at the moment, but could be persuaded by any cool name that signifies grayness, fluffyness (other than the overused "fluffy"), green-eyed-ness, etc. The test is that it has to sound good in the following two-word sentence: "Here ______". As to her personality, she's been hiding under the sofa all day (but then again, this is just day one). That said, when we did pick her up, she snuggled and purred. So, she's basically a shy lover. Thoughts for a fitting name? <div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-6586050203092091715?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-53201493145450626672008-11-08T15:51:00.000-08:002008-11-08T16:08:14.867-08:00Newly Adopted Kitty #2: Giclée<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRYnkMZp6WI/AAAAAAAACgs/eVkShmdD0YU/s1600-h/Giclee+back.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266440317013977442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRYnkMZp6WI/AAAAAAAACgs/eVkShmdD0YU/s400/Giclee+back.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>We've named her Giclée (pronounced "zhee-clay"). Giclée is an invented name for the process of making fine art prints from a digital source using ink-jet printing. In this kitty's case, it looks like her fur was squirted with wavy bands of different colored patterns including brown tabby, orange tabby, and pure white. Cool!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5320149314545062667?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-18900949195389695152008-11-08T15:16:00.000-08:002008-11-08T16:07:16.350-08:00Two more views of Gicle'e<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRYpoDFNJOI/AAAAAAAACg0/-Vl0sSufvps/s1600-h/Giclee+4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266442582255019234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRYpoDFNJOI/AAAAAAAACg0/-Vl0sSufvps/s400/Giclee+4.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRYl9LCegbI/AAAAAAAACgk/NcpXgf5W_OM/s1600-h/Giclee+back.JPG"></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRYlTTrp60I/AAAAAAAACgc/Mgjs0YE0YQI/s1600-h/Giclee+back.JPG"></a> <div> </div> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRYh4JXPH8I/AAAAAAAACgU/ZqHzHpyK7Y0/s1600-h/Giclee+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266434062726143938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 255px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SRYh4JXPH8I/AAAAAAAACgU/ZqHzHpyK7Y0/s400/Giclee+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> What a sweet little girl. She's four months' old and she's very curious and playful.</div> <div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1890094919538969515?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-63989316852007475782008-11-01T06:56:00.001-07:002008-11-01T07:00:28.972-07:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SQxgFhHRV2I/AAAAAAAACfw/YGbVPn66GhM/s1600-h/Bill%27s+scraps.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263687712393746274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SQxgFhHRV2I/AAAAAAAACfw/YGbVPn66GhM/s400/Bill%27s+scraps.jpg" border="0" /></a> Look what I found outside my door a couple of days before Halloween! I hadn't had time to get and carve a pumpkin and this looked festive (kind of like a modern art scarecrow). What is it, you may ask? Well, I asked the same thing. It's a gift from my woodworking neighbor . . . made out of guitar-building botched attempts. Check out his blog for the whole story. <a href="http://billsguitars.blogspot.com/">http://billsguitars.blogspot.com/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-6398931685200747578?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-46427520936898993682008-10-25T18:10:00.000-07:002008-10-25T18:18:37.941-07:00Evening Prayer<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SQPD0ehRMQI/AAAAAAAACfQ/yYYp-IXQ8aI/s1600-h/sunset+sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261264096012087554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 341px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SQPD0ehRMQI/AAAAAAAACfQ/yYYp-IXQ8aI/s400/sunset+sm.jpg" border="0" /></a> For the darkness of the night enveloping the earth, enclosing the day's labour, thanks be to you, O God. For the quiet that surrounds me and your promise of peace deep within me; for the stillness of sleep for my body and the hope of healing for my soul, thanks be to you. I bring not only my own wearienss but the tiredness of people who struggle this night. I bring not only my own pain, but the sufferings of those who cry out. Hear my soul's prayers for rest, O God, hear my heart's plea for healing. <em>Recall the events of the day and pray for the life of the world. </em>-- Celtic Benediction <div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-4642752093689899368?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-12343355758489993072008-10-19T07:01:00.000-07:002008-10-19T07:04:52.137-07:00Sunday Morning Prayer<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SPs91on-ieI/AAAAAAAACfI/MsLJF-usT44/s1600-h/sun+peaking+sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258864981532641762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SPs91on-ieI/AAAAAAAACfI/MsLJF-usT44/s400/sun+peaking+sm.jpg" border="0" /></a> I watch this morning for the light that the darkness has not overcome. I watch for the fire that was in the beginning and that burns still in the brilliance of the rising sun. I watch for the glow of life that gleams in the growing earth and glistens in sea and sky. I watch for your light, O God, in the eyes of every living creature and in the ever-living flame of my own soul. If the grace of seeing were mine this day, I would gimpse you in all that lives. Grant me the grace of seeing this day. Grant me the grace of seeing. --- from Celtic Benediction by J. Philip Newell <div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1234335575848999307?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-5194019081731795602008-10-18T07:30:00.000-07:002008-10-18T07:50:26.026-07:00Sunrise Prayer<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SPn1L_Xn2iI/AAAAAAAACek/B6HpKNoumTk/s1600-h/God_is_speaking_fullsize.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258503626269645346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SPn1L_Xn2iI/AAAAAAAACek/B6HpKNoumTk/s400/God_is_speaking_fullsize.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">"I watch this morning for the light that the darkness has not overcome. I watch for the fire that was in the beginning and that burns still in the brilliance of the rising sun. I watch for the glow of life that gleams in the growing earth and glistens in sea and sky. I watch for your light, O God, in the eyes of every living creature and in the ever-living flame of my own soul. If the grace of seeing were mine this day I would glimpse you in all that lives. Grant me the grace of seeing this day. Grant me the grace of seeing." From Celtic Benediction by J. Philip Newell</span> <div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-519401908173179560?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-4311085014088574892008-10-11T07:55:00.000-07:002008-10-18T07:30:17.331-07:00Chihuly<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SPC-gZDhQ2I/AAAAAAAACec/ypi66vfdo7o/s1600-h/chihuly+sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255910228832109410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SPC-gZDhQ2I/AAAAAAAACec/ypi66vfdo7o/s400/chihuly+sm.jpg" border="0" /></a> I've been a fan of glass for many years. I love its translucence, its mystery, and having worked with it in a kiln, its unpredictability. Although I've mostly done fused or slumped glass and only tried glassblowing once, I am big fan of masters like the glassblowers on Chihuly's team. My husband and I were blessed enough to get a "backstage tour" of his home and studio thanks to my nephew's sister who worked for him. <div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-431108501408857489?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-40364001847392849412008-10-10T20:26:00.000-07:002008-10-11T07:49:36.239-07:00<div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SPAc9JbncoI/AAAAAAAACeM/OvkCYJlkOaA/s1600-h/bike+gas+mileage.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255732601970717314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SPAc9JbncoI/AAAAAAAACeM/OvkCYJlkOaA/s400/bike+gas+mileage.JPG" border="0" /></a> Not a bad idea. Skates would work too, as would simply walking. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-4036400184739284941?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-15810816739815786632008-09-28T18:53:00.000-07:002008-09-28T19:02:23.004-07:00Watercolor Flowers<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SOA1VuzXFdI/AAAAAAAACeA/A1cwjgOgCcw/s1600-h/watercolor+flowers.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251255812970976722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SOA1VuzXFdI/AAAAAAAACeA/A1cwjgOgCcw/s400/watercolor+flowers.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div> I <em>love</em> flowers! I wouldn't call myself a master gardener by any means, but I'm a pretty good dead-header. Doesn't sound glamorous, but it does keep things blooming a whole lot longer (something I learned from my father who raised orchids and fuschias). I've been playing with Corel "Painter" lately and created this "watercolor" out of picture I took of flowers in my kitchen window with dappled sunlight on them. Not too exciting yet, but I'm excited by the possibilities! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1581081673981578663?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-15650894541431405592008-09-21T13:13:00.000-07:002008-09-21T13:50:11.655-07:00Gifts of Lavender<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SNaxtIoIwaI/AAAAAAAACd0/o67nOllZkqw/s1600-h/lavendar+wands+med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248577804714951074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SNaxtIoIwaI/AAAAAAAACd0/o67nOllZkqw/s400/lavendar+wands+med.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>I had a huge lavender crop this year and wondered what to do with it all. My sister-in-law, Marilyn, found an article on how to make lavender wands. Since then, I've found a good explanation on the web as well: <a href="http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/extras/62lavenderwand.php">http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/extras/62lavenderwand.php</a></div><div>I made many of these while on an airplane. The plane smelled sweet, I believe we were all more relaxed thanks to the soothing properties of the aromatic lavender, and I sure did get a lot of curious onlookers who had never seen them before. I'm hooked. I hope my harvest is even greater next summer. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-1565089454143140559?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-59110675182308883022008-09-21T10:22:00.000-07:002008-09-21T10:44:56.261-07:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SNaIE4pycMI/AAAAAAAACdU/bmcPQfHZ4sA/s1600-h/birthday.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248532033255403714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SNaIE4pycMI/AAAAAAAACdU/bmcPQfHZ4sA/s400/birthday.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div> <div>My husband, Del, took me out the night of my birthday (Sept 12) to a wonderful local restaurant and we ate outside. This was the view from our table and there was a live band playing on the other side of the water. Perfect!</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-5911067518230888302?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3553344273614470610.post-5139308509233126372008-09-21T08:29:00.000-07:002008-09-21T10:43:04.290-07:00The Gift of a Sunbird<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SNaHnzXOxCI/AAAAAAAACdM/tYLqVXOV_Jg/s1600-h/sunbird+for+web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248531533619184674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oGFgeKVGoXg/SNaHnzXOxCI/AAAAAAAACdM/tYLqVXOV_Jg/s400/sunbird+for+web.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div> <div> <div>This is one of the favorite images I've ever captured. I had been getting up before dawn every morning for about a year and taking sunrise pictures. This morning, as I was capturing the rising sun, a raven flew into the frame at just the right moment. It was truly a gift.</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3553344273614470610-513930850923312637?l=ilregalo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428193635495360624noreply@blogger.com2