Tony and Carol

Yes, as you all know Angela and I are a bit...ok... COMPLETELY, obsessed with shoes (perhaps because it's the only thing in my closet that never fluctuates in size). But WHY would I blog about it? Well, my life is boring by most standards, but I'm not THAT desperate yet (after all I DO have a beautiful new grandson to talk about). Here's the deal...last night I went to my first Recessionista Shoe Party! A couple of amazing women that I know decided to start a little home party business and it has nothing to do with vitamins, makeup or kitchenware...it's SHOES SHOES SHOES!! Designer shoes at that! I arrived early (living out of town has it's advantages, people let you come at your convenience), upon where I was immeditely struck with shoe overload. I couldn't even carry on a conversation with all my friends who were scurrying around finishing last minute details, much less think about actually asking if I could help them (I'm so sorry girls), I was in sensory overload and unable to socialize..after all...I was on the hunt for Angela the best pair of shoes in the house. Picture me with camera phone in hand, sending pictures of shoes, texting details and finally calling to get the approval. Well...unfortunately for Ang, as fate would have it I came away with the best pair for myself...a beautiful speciman by Michael Kors, red patent leather wedges!!! Sorry Ang, but I've put in a request for the next pair of size 6's they get in that shoe. I was in heaven! Yes, I left the party with two pair of shoes, the other a nice lower wedge in black by Tahari for a more casual look. Wanting to make Tony feel included I also shopped their mens designer ties and dress sock area (gotta make 'em feel good ladies). I believe the next party is geared towards the more comfortable shoe, although let's be honest...it's all about style!

This party was so much fun, not to mention how successful it was, the house was packed with ravenous women. Even in difficult times women need their shoe fix. Truely unlike any home party I've ever attended, even had our "Mormon Mojito's", complete with cocktail glasses...oh yes, we think we're so cool. Anyway...fun fun night, I felt like I was in an episode of "Sex In The City". Great idea ladies, just wish I'd have come up with it! If anyone is interested in hosting a party let me know, I'll get you hooked up. Until my next post...happy shoe shopping!

I left Idaho in a blowing FREEEEZING snow storm, only to wake up each morning to birds singing, the sun shining and spending the ENTIRE day with my wonderful daughter. I had forgotten how hard it is to walk around the mall in flip flops and short sleeves shopping at a mall with all the best stores a mall could offer. And that darn sleeping in stuff is killing me! OK, so I'm obviously being sarcastic, but I wouldn't want anyone feeling too sorry for me. Seriously though...I'm really enjoying this time here. So thankful my wonderful, unselfish husband is willing to live without me for so long. I wouldn't want to miss this for anything in the world. Good times! I'll let you know when this little guy gets here!

to make my next blog short, and I will. Obviously alot has taken place over the past several months, (Thanksgiving in Idaho, Xmas & New Years in LA, another trip to LA for Angela's baby showers) but I'll spare you and share one piece of important information. Remember Tony's giant Sequoia? It's dead. Shocking I know, but given my total lack of horitculture knowledge it's not surprising. I'm so sad, can't bring myself to throw it out.

Oh well...Maybe next trip I'll bring something home that doesn't require care.

Hope all is well, we're just waiting for our baby boy to get here anyday!

Doin' things a little backwards this time. I've already told you we're home from our trip, now ABOUT our trip. This is will be difficult because I want to post some pictures. However, Angela could fill an entire memory card on a simple trip to the grocery store, so you can imagine how many we have after going on vacation. One word to describe our trip...BLAST!!! Our first day in L.A we went to the San Diego Zoo, quite amazing. It's a very LARGE and very beautiful zoo with lots of play areas for "kids".

She finds fun in everything.

Tony got the chimps going of course. While one tried slapping him through the glass, another tried kissing him...just like the women.


LOTS of fun pictures from the Zoo, but I'll move on. We ate dinner that night by the USS Midway. Can't even begin to describe the magnitude of that carrier...if you're ever there check it out.

Next to the Midway is an area with a Tribute to Bob Hope, kinda cool for those that grew up seeing him in movies and tv. There's also a replica of the famous snapshot where the soldier grabs the nurse and kisses her..and if you think Angela didn't find THAT a real photo op, you don't know her very well! It was dark, but trust me, they're in the picture.

Next we started driving North on the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco. What a beautiful drive. We took our time, staying anywhere we wanted and doing whatever sounded fun. We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Winchester Mystery House,and Alcatraz. No trip to San Francisco would be complete without driving over the Golden Gate, walking around the Wharf, and of course riding the Cable Cars. And need I mention the amazing shopping we encountered???!!!! I'll never be able to shop in Idaho again!

Our first tourist stop: Monterey Bay

I love having a son.

Giulliano thought this was funny

Waaay too much time in the kids area:


Next Stop...Winchester Mystery House

If you don't know anything about this house, research it. Quite interesting. Of course anyone who knows Tony can figure out why Angela made this a "must" on our trip.

Do I even have to explain?



This beautiful front door wasn't even used since Mrs. Winchester NEVER had visitors in all the many years she lived there. How sad...



Of course Ang wouldn't miss the "Behind the Scenes" tour..heading for the old smelly basement.


On to our next location....pretty sure this picture needs no explanation.

Giulliano also drove us across the bridge and around Sausalito...I LOVED it there, it's such a beautiful little town.

Next stop..ALCATRAZ

I TOLD her to behave or else...(and yes, it's kinda creepy being in the cells)

Syncing our audio tour

Sitting in the mess hall on authentic benches used there.

Re-inacting the inmates in "the yard"

I LOVED Alcatraz. I learned so much about it's history. Did you know it started as a Military lookout to protect the Bay? It was later used as a Military Prison and eventually became what we all know it as, a terrible place for some baaaad people. And did you know some of the Guards families lived ON THE ISLAND?! There was even a play yard for them, and they took a boat into San Francisco each day to attend school..that's crazy. OH, and after it was closed as a prison the Native Americans overtook it for awhile, using it to protest against the Govt. How come I've never heard that? Tom...YOU would LOVE IT!!!! I couldn't stop thinking about you the whole time, wish you'd been there. One last picture from there..I think this depicts the Alcatraz reputation....
Well..I thought you'd be able to read the poster, it says: "Break the rules and you go to prison, break the prison rules and you go to Alcatraz"

After "getting off The Rock" we spent the day riding the Cable Cars and seeing San Franciso. Sunday morning we headed back to L.A. driving thru the Sequoia National Park on our way. WOW...amazing. I'll end w/ a few pics in S.F and the Forest.



Heading for home....



Tony bought a Giant Sequoia to grow in Idaho! So please tell your great great great grandchildren to look for it in Idaho some day. Perhaps by then it will be big enough to climb. heehee




Tony and Giulliano relaxing after FORCING me to drive!
This was such a fun trip, even more so because the four of us were together. I know, I should have just made this a slide show, but I didn't think about it until all this work was done...sorry if I've bored you to death. Thanks Ang and Giulliano for a GREAT TRIP!!! We love you and can't wait for that next road trip we talked about!

There ya have it...hope you weren't TOOO bored. Trust me, it could have been worse, I have about 500 pictures. Thanks for indulging me. I'll make the next post short, I promise!

If you've never raised cows before let me give you some advice...DON'T!!! They're alot of work. As if Tony and Randy didn't have enough to do, they decided to provide more then just wild meat for the freezer this year and raise a few "beef" (that's cattleman talk ya know), which promptly resulted in ALOT of cow chasing at various times throughout the spring/summer/fall. I know what you're thinking...Carol chasing cows? Not exactly my style I know. However, when you have those very large, very expensive creatures running all over your yard, the road, the neighbors corn field and anywhere else they feel like going, you really have no choice, city girl or not. If you think I don't have a reputation for not being farm savvy, consider the farmers son next door coming over after one escape episode and asking "how ya likin' them cows now?".

Anyway...after a long summer of watering, feeding, and chasing we finally...yep...we did, had 'em slaughtered. Couldn't there be a better word then slaughtered? Ick. That happened while we were on vacation thank goodness, didn't really want to witness that. We return home and guess what we spent our first night home doing? CHASING THE NEIGHBORS COWS!!! Hmmmm...could it be "karma" for killing ours? I was riding along on my lawn mower minding my own business when I looked up to see a heard of cattle running down the road. WELL...as any good country neighbor would do we got on the four wheelers and proceeded to chase them down. What a sight...cars stopping, people running everywhere, quite amusing. Then it got dark, a bit worrisome since the cows are all brown or black. Long story short..after a couple of hours of this craziness they were all corraled into our two pastures until morning when they could be moved "home" and we all went about our "normal" lives. Just another day in country paradise. My best advice...think twice before raising cows.

We're going be a Grandma and Grandpa!




This is a few weeks ago (week 12). Giulliano swears he/she is waving at them. Can't wait for March!