April in E Nicolaus

Plowed fields.

Irrigation pipes opened.

Rice fields ready for seeding.

Tractors working most of the farmland.

Mowing, mowing, mowing.

This year, Justin does not have any cows, but rather about 9 acres planted in winter wheat.

Alma's Pie Club

About a month ago, one of the staff members at El Camino Gardens told me they were having a discussion with the residents trying to come up with some ideas to start a club. Ideas were not forthcoming (no surprise) even though the staff was doing their best to encourage conversation and ideas. Finally, someone spoke up - Mom - who said "Let's have a pie club."

This afternoon when I walked into the communal area, Priscilla told me that in 3 years of having cooking activities, for the first time, Mom participated and made a peach pie. It was still warm, and it was delicious.

Dick leaves

Monday. We drove to Palo Alto to spend the night with Mark and Carolyn.

Dick's mother, Leta, came over for dinner. Carolyn brought out all her high school prom dresses all made by Leta.  And they almost still fit - Leta is clutching the back zipper. 

As we drove into the San Jose International Airport this morning, the mural on the rental car garage was striking showing hands raised to the sky in gestures of “welcome” or “farewell”.

Closer up it looked like ping pong balls stuck into chain link fence.  The fences around Rio Linda High School frequently have plastic cup messages.  This installation by artist Christian Moeller uses 107 chain link mesh panels and 368,718 industrial-grade plastic snap-on disks. It's 1240’ long and 61’8” high.

Goodbye, Husband.  Mistress #1 (her name is Cuatro de Mayo) has beckoned from Lihue Kauai.  Right now she needs his TLC desperately.

Walking with Phyl

This week we attacked the new section of the Sacramento Northern Bike Trail between M St in Rio Linda and Elverta Road in Elverta. It follows the old railroad tracks.

Along Electric Avenue:

This week in the yard

Last week, it was the front yard, this week Dick attacked the 2 acres in the back.

 

Thankfully the tenant came back to gather up his chickens, all roosters.  Immediately, we began spotting a pheasant couple living in the back yard.   

I tried to get closer, but the male took off running.  I think the hen stayed hidden in the tall grass.

 Justin came over one day after work with his chain saw to remove the the dead trees and the live unwanted trees growing among the redwoods.

Even better, he hauled away most of it to be burned in E Nicolaus, Sutter County.  There's is no outdoor burning allowed in Sacramento County.

 

I learned how to operate the weed eater and weed sprayer as I will attempt to keep up the yard after Dick leaves for Kauai and the boat. 

 

Luke Abel is one month old

Sophia's birthday

Barandas Park was a great place for a big birthday party.

The fascination was the ladybug on the tip of the boy's finger.

Really good pork, carne asada, and chicken tacos.  Chando's is currently very popular in the Sacramento area.  Justin, Dick and I all thought they were just like the street tacos you can buy on almost every street corner in Mexico.

Musical entertainment.

Lenin's sister, Holly, set up a face painting station. At right is Sophi'a cousin, Lauren.

L-R: Hazel, Jessica, Finn.  Thais and Jessica first became pen pals because of a high school freshman English assignment.  Jessica lived in Indiana.  They continued to write after the assignment was over, Thais visited her one time during her college years, and they've managed to stay in touch for the past 20 years. Jessica moved to the Sacramento area recently when her husband got a job with Raley's.  Her children are almost the same ages as Sophia and Avery.

As the first candy dropped from the pinata, Lenin hurried to get out of the way.