Second Day

Lura and I took Laura and Robert to the Ronald Reagan Library.

Robert, Laura, and Lura in front of the Reagan Library

Lura, Robert, and Laura by a piece of the Berlin Wall

Lura, Robert, and Laura with Air Force One

Robert feeling strong

 

 

Robert & Laura’s Visit

On Monday Robert and Laura came out from Tennessee to visit us for a few days. We managed to jam in a few trips. Our first stop was the Santa Barbara Winery to do some wine tasting. Then we went to the Gainey Winery in Santa Ynez and did some wine tasting. Then went to Solvang to check out the town. Then went to Lafond Vineyard in Santa Rita Hills to do some more wine tasting and had a picnic lunch. Then we went to The Fess Parker Winery. On the way home we stopped at the Cold Springs Tavern, which was an old Wells Fargo stagecoach stop, in the San Marcos Pass and had dinner. It was a fun day.

Laura, Lura, and Robert at Gainey Vineyard

Laura, Lura, and Robert tasting at Gainey

Lura, Laura, and Robert in Solvang

Robert and Laura in Solvang

Laura, Robert, and Lura at Lafond winery

Lura, Laura, and Robert at Fess Parker Winery

Lura, Robert, and Laura at a coffee house in Los Olivos

 

 

 

Marianne’s B-Day

A few days ago we went to Marianne’s birthday party at Pacific Park in Santa Monica. She had a birthday lunch at Bubba Gump’s Shrimp House on the pier.

Marianne's birthday party at Bubba Gump's

Lura at Bubba's

Marianne, Cliver, Carol, and Steve

Pacific Park

The end of route 66

Dancer on the pier

Max’s 2nd B-Day

Yesterday we went to Max’s second birthday. The party was held in an old train car at the Travel Museum in Los Angeles. It was a lot of fun, and we all had a great time.

Max's cake that Lura made

The train car that Max had his party in

Max and Walker

The party inside the train car

Wes, Max, and Lura

Max getting ready to blow out the candle

Wes and the birthday boy

Happy B-Day Max

Max in the train engine

Lookout Walker!!!

Walker’s Visit

A couple of days ago Wes brought Walker out to stay with us for a few days. Its been great fun, for us as well as Walker. We’ve been taking hikes and playing games. Today we took a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains and visited the Satwiwa Indian Native American Culture Center and a horse stable close by.

Lura, Walker, and Jim on a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains

Walker at the Indian site

Jim, Walker and Me at the Indian site

Jim and Lura

Walker having a good time

Walker checking out the steaks

Chief sitting Lura

Walker in the Indian Hut

Christmas

We just finished a wonderful Christmas with our family. Lots of food, presents, and fun for all!

Our Tree

Walker watching the train

Max watching the train

Max, Wes, and Walker checking out the village scene

 

 

Trip to the Smokies

Here are some pictures of our trip to the Smokies. We stayed at a B&B called Eight Gabel’s in the Smoky Mountains. We had a nice Christmas dinner the Wild Plum. Linda, Jim, Paula, Pat and Phil went with us.

Eight Gabel's Inn

Inside Eight Gabel's Inn

Pat and Phil

Emerts Cove Covered Bridge

Emerts Cove Covered Bridge

Nice old barn

Pretty river

 

 

 

We’re Back

We just got back from a short trip (Eight days) to Tennessee. It was a very fun trip, but getting back home was rough. Our return flight was cancelled do to bad weather in Texas, so we had to change airlines and fly to Washington D.C. then go to California, we were up for 24 hours that day. I haven’t had a chance to catch-up on the blog since I didn’t take my lap top with me, so here’s some older pictures of Lura’s Christmas party that we had at our house.

Women's Christmas party at our home

Ladies in the Library

Lura by the Christmas tree with a friend

Paula at the party

What we’ve been up to

We had a very nice Thanksgiving with the family at Linda’s in San Diego. It was another day of over eating and drinking. It was great to see the family again.

On Saturday, Wes and Margaret brought the boys over to our house and we had a good time. Margaret made us an excellent dinner.

On Sunday, Lura, Paula, and me went to a few wineries in Oxnard to do some wine tasting. We went to Herzog, Rancho Ventavo, and Magnavino Cellars. All three were very good!

Thanksgiving at Linda's

I'am getting into the holiday spirit

Max and the fisher boy

Max and Walker (They're growing fast. Walker used to be the same size the little fisher boy)

Magnavino Cellars tasting room

Lura and Paula at Magnavino Cellars

Lura and Paula in front of Rancho Ventavo Cellars

 

 

 

We Made It!

We made it back to California today at about 4:00. Its good to be back! Total trip mileage was 2,256, driving time was 34.5 hours.