Sunny San Diego

Living the first 45 years of my life in San Diego means that when we come to visit we don't do touristy stuff. The places we revisit have obvious meaning and revolve around family and friends. First thing is always a with visit Mom. She is really enjoying her new cushions and the warm temperatures in her lovely backyard.

Most of the garden has been moved to the raised area so it's easy for Mom to tend. The barbeque that Dad built is just waiting for a couple of chickens to get thrown on.

Every trip to SD involves some food and drinks with best friends Mario, Patti, Daniel & Evie

This is Watson. He's a pet pig that lives at the RV Park we stayed in.

We had a great time at Mike Dini's birthday party. Kaela got to see the brother she never had: Zach

An excursion with Kaela and Joshua took us to La Jolla. It was a very windy day.

Veterans Day brought us to Mount Soledad to visit Dad's plaque on the wall of servicemen and women. There are Presidents, Generals, Spanish-American War Veterans, and peoples from all branches of the service. The the only civilian allowed on the wall is Bob Hope in recognition for his 25 years of entertaining the troops. One family has remembrances of the father and 11 sons who have served our country in the armed forces. The docent commented their mother deserved to be on the wall too. 

The last couple of years I have reconnected with my girlfriends from my Del Mar days. Sandi and Michele along with their husbands Tracy and Brad met up with us for an evening at Proud Mary's Blues Jam. Kaela's childhood friend Alex and her man Jonathan came along as did our good friends Evie and Daniel. This gathering reminds me of our Tacoma days.

While in San Diego, Kaela had a couple friend fly in to see her from Tacoma. We all went to dinner at Dini's

Can you believe I made these! They are as tasty as they are beautiful.

Tim golfs. I bead. It is my hobby while living on the road. In addition to jewelry, I enjoy designing and making these beaded votive candle holders. 

Wine drinking, camper girls, flower power, hummingbird, and Christmas lights

More holiday and other personalized designs are coming.

Early Thanksgiving at the Oswald's

The center of our Thanksgiving has traditionally been about the big bird on Dad's rotisserie. Tim did an amazing job, he kept the oak wood fire at the perfect low and slow temp. Dad was smiling down on Tim to let him know his first attempt was a great success. 

I carved the turkey and did a pretty good job of it.

Right smack in the middle of the kitchen is where to be during this time so you can score a taste of moist turkey (and skin) before it reaches the dining table.

The excuse for our early Thanksgiving was partially because Kaela and Joshua are visiting from Australia. Several family members wouldn't be in San Diego on traditional Thanksgiving day so we combined a welcome home with giving thanks..

Our family is a combination of carnivores, vegetarians, pescatarians, and vegans. Everyone brought a dish to share and the result was unique and delicious. What you don't see here are the 3 pumpkin pies, 1 pecan pie, 2 banoffee pies (a traditional British dessert), 2 pans of magic bars for dessert, and Ciscso's surprise German chocolate birthday cake from Meilu.

My girl and I have matching squinty eyes

Halloween is all about scary

Our hosts and good friends Daniel and Evie turned their home and garage into a haunted house. They went over the top with decorations and food. This could easily become our new Halloween tradition.

The haunted castle was so scary, kids wouldn't go in. I did. I'm not afraid to take candy from strangers.

Look into my eyes. Sucka

The devil made him do it.

Good clean family fun for the entire neighborhood

These yard games are fun. Hands down.

Must be present to win. Lucky us. We spent the night.

Doesn't everyone likes deviled eggs with spiders crawling on them?

This finger dog is just gross.

And who can resist a barfing pumpkin with salsa for brains?

I was a seamstress trying out a new pattern. Tim had a spitting headache that night.

Joshua Tree National Park

The Joshua Tree lives only in the Mohave Desert of California. This park has wonderful camping spots among the rocks. Although we did not spend the night, the star gazing is spectacular because of the clear desert air and elevation.

Unlike most boulders that are shaped by wind and water above ground, the boulders at Joshua Tree were formed underground. Then with the arid climate and flash floods the protective top soil was washed away. The huge boulders settled on top of each to form impressive rock piles. I've renamed Skull Rock to Conehead Rock. Kaela said I should have climbed in its eye socket.

Along the drive between the Colorado Desert at the lower elevation and Mohave Desert is a huge natural Cholla Garden.

We went on an easy day hike through a sandy wash.

We found some vintage trucks from the 1920's.

This is an abandoned gold mine.

Tim found this truck unique because the exhaust manifolds were in the middle of the engine

 You can see a climber in the middle working her way up. She didn't even break a sweat.

The National Park Pass we purchased in April has been money well spent. We've been to 9 National Parks and 8 National Monuments. We've saved over $200 in admission fees in the past 6 months.