UE's Weekend Challenge - Seascape & Sundays in My City. May 19, 2013

This beautiful view is only about three miles from where I live, in Pacifica, 

California, next to - of all places - the Mussel Rock Transfer Station Disposal

Site ( the local dump ).  The daisies and wildflowers reseed themselves and,

every Spring and Summer, the hillside is a mass of spectacular blooms,  I 

think it is one of the prettiest spots I've ever seen.

I am participating in UE's Weekend Challenge: Seascape

and

Sundays in My City

Camera Critters #267 - Granddog and Granddaughter - May 18, 2013

Since Harper Ann arrived on the scene, Taffy, though she  was adopted
minus her uterus, seems to be experiencing some maternal feelings.  At the
first whimper from the baby, Taffy runs to check on her.  She watches, with
what seems like concern, while Harper is fed, changed, and sleeping peacefully
again.

She looked so sweet one day, while Alex was holding his daughter, and Taffy
had her nose on Harper's head.

I am participating in 

Friday Flash 55 - India Bound, Once More - May 17, 2013

India Bound Once More

Two weeks from now,

I leave once more,

To spend six months,

On a distant shore.

I’ve a brand new shoulder,

And a grandchild, too,

I’ve seen friends and family,

And every doctor I knew. 

I’ve enjoyed good wine,

And eaten lots of steak,

Now I’ll feast on curries,

And the great breads they make.

Copyright ( c ) Carmen Henesy

May 17, 2013

I am participating in the above

brainchild of Mr Know It All...

Friday Flash 55

join in with your effort in 55 words.

Signs, Signs - Awful Annie's - May 15, 2013

Last month, I had lunch at "Awful Annie's" in the quaint gold country town of 
Auburn, California which is not too far from Lake Tahoe.  I was with my lovely
daughter-in-law, Laura, and my new granddaughter, Harper Ann, who debuted
on April 14th.  Harper slept through our entire meal which was certainly nice
for us.  I wondered about the sign, "Awful Annie's" and why Annie earned that
nickname.  The restaurant was lovely - homey with lots of warm, welcoming
decor and a fabulous menu.  The food was excellent - we had trouble making
up our minds what to eat!  I left without finding out why Annie earned the name
"awful" but it is emblazoned on the menus and the signs everywhere.

I am participating in Lesley's meme,

Harper Ann Vukasinovic - May 7, 2013

I've written snippets here and there about the arrival of my sweet granddaughter, 
Harper Ann Vukasinovic, but to do her justice - and for posterity - I feel she
deserves to be memorialized in one of my blogs!  All along, we didn't know if
this first grandchild of mine was to be a boy or a girl.  Laura and Alex were
adamant at every ultrasound that they did NOT want to know the sex of the
baby, that they wanted it to be a surprise.  They didn't care if they had a boy
or a girl.  I was equally vocal that, if I had a choice, after raising three sons, I
wanted a girl!!

Harper's due date was April 21st.  The kids invited me to go to Laura's ultra
sound on April 10th so I made the two hour drive to West Sacramento, planning
to stay for a three day visit since my India journey is drawing close.  Laura was
told the baby was weighing in 8 lbs!

You can definitely see Harper's face here, hair and an expression that seems 

to say, "Good grief, let's get this show on the road."

At Laura's OB visit after the ultrasound, her doctor initially was saying the first baby 
is often late but, after examining her, he said labor might begin that week!!

On Saturday morning, April 13, as I was preparing to head back home, Laura told 
me she was having back pain and hadn't slept all night.  She was having irregular

contractions, she thought, about twelve minutes apart.  A shopping trip with her

mother was planned for the Galleria instead of downtown Sacramento so she

would be near the Sutter Roseville Birthing Center where she was to deliver.

I moved my suitcase back into the bedroom, amused at Alex's text, "Oh, no, I'm

not ready."  

About 5PM, i headed to the hospital and joined Christine Calhoun, Laura's mom 

for the grandmother vigil.  I was most impressed with Sutter Roseville's beautiful 

birthing rooms and, especially, with Donna Taylor ( I think that was her name ),

a wonderful OB MSN from Alabama - I picked up on that kindred accent 

immediately ) - who was simply amazing.  As the hours passed, Laura finally

decided to have an epidural and then the atmosphere became downright festive.

Alex's two brothers arrived as did another family member of Laura's and we

waited patiently for the debut of "baby Vook."  

Here are the three brothers together.  Shawn Smith, the oldest, at 42, is senior

to Alex by 12 years.and is 14 years older than Jeremy.  I don't think I could

have managed without his help when I had extensive back surgery when his

younger brothers were just toddlers.  He says he will remain forever single 

and has done his child rearing with his two brothers.

As the hours passed, everyone began to grow weary.  Alex hopped up on the

hospital bed and napped between Laura's contractions and everyone else

got a little shut eye wherever they could.

Jeremy had borrowed a motorcycle from a friend and made the two hour drive from

San Francisco in pretty cold weather and he was totally exhausted.  Shawn, in military

style, can sleep anywhere.  "Nana" and "Nina", both nurses, of course, could sleep

standing up, if necessary.

Christine Calhoun, who will be "Nini" waited patiently for her grandchild.

Laura's cousin, Iva, was also a cheerleader all night.

Finally, as dawn approached, serious contractions began and all but Alex were

urshered out so Laura could begin pushing earnestly.  A short while later, Alex

came out and said Christine and I were grandmothers, still not telling us whether

he and Laura had a girl or boy.  "See for yourselves," he told us.

The first thing we saw on entering the room was the sign next to the door:

A GIRL!!!  The answer to my prayers - a beautiful, healthy baby girl in our family

of testosterone laden men.  

With Nini

With Nana and Daddy

With Uncle Jeremy

I've got my eyes wide open for Uncle Shawn

I was waiting when Laura, Alex and baby Harper arrived home from the

hospital on April 15th.  She was greeted by Taffy and Bucky who wondered

about this strange little creature.  She must have immediately aroused some

dormant maternal instinct in Taffy who responds to her every gurgle and cry.

Bucky says hello

Now it's Taffy's turn

At 8 lbs, Harper is already outgrowing newborn sizes!

I am overjoyed with this sweet granddaughter.  I have to get the kids hooked up

with Skype so we can have weekly visits the six months I'm in India.  June 1st is

such a short time away.

Laura and Alex have settled into parenting so easily.  I am very impressed.

Harper isn't really fussy at all.  She's a good eater and she can sleep just

about anywhere.  We've already had her on outings and, as long as she's dry

and fed, the adults can enjoy dinner without interruption, for the most part.

One of Harper Ann's favorite spots to "hang" out

With great Uncle Charley, Nana's brother, from Georgia

Supervision from Taffy

Lunch at Awful Annie's in Auburn, CA with Mommy and Nana

Needless to say, this is only the first of many pictures to come of Harper Ann 

Vukasinovic.  There will be a bit of a hiatus while I am in India for six months but 

I will certainly post an update from time to time.  I expect to be back in California 

for her first Christmas and I will need to have her stocking finished by then.  What 

a joy she will be to all of us, that is for sure.  Thanks to everyone for your wonderful 

wishes and prayers at the start of her life.

The Hollands at Cafe Divine, San Francisco - May 5, 2013

What an incredible San Francisco evening!  The sun was shining brightly, with
temperatures near 70 degrees in the afternoon and San Francisco's North 
Beach was jamming.  My dear friend, Kris, picked me up and we headed to
Cafe Divine, one of my favorite spots on Stockton, to see the dynamic duo,
Sony and Jerry Holland perform.  They surprised us with an email announcing
a quick trip up from L. A. and I couldn't have been happier with this chance to
see them once more before heading off to India

Driving down Lombard Street - perfect weather!!

Old friends were in attendance and the food and wine, as always, were superb.  
Thanks to Milo for his great suggestion on the wine, a Domaine Santa Duc 
Digondas 2010 from France.  We really enjoyed it with our shared dinner - arugula 
salad with blue cheese, pears and walnuts, steamed mussels, penne with Italian 
sausage and grilled vegetables.  And, of course, we could not turn down the 
gingerbread cake and ice cream!

We were too busy eating to photograph any more of the food!

Sony and Jerry were fabulous ( when aren't they ).  They sang some of our old
favorites, including "I Was No Angel Myself" and "On a San Francisco High".
They always leave us feeling wonderful.  I've been so lucky this six months at 
home - I've gotten to see them six times!!  I just wish they would come and 
perform in India!

We had a special treat as well.  Our friends bought McKinley ( named after
the highest mountain in the U. S., Alaska's Mt. McKinley ), whose nickname is 
"Mac".  He's the sweetest Siberian husky who joined their family when their 
beloved, Sabrina, after enriching their life for fifteen years, went to Husky 
Heaven.  Mac is so smart, having already learned so many tricks.

It was a perfect celebration for the one month date before my arrival in India.  I

have enjoyed my long stay at home, got a brand new pain free left shoulder,

and my sweet first grandchild arrived a week early on April 14, 2013, with all

of us there.  I'm ready now, though, for good Indian food, seeing my friends

there and, hopefully, losing 20 more pounds.  If I can get down to 200 pounds,

I'd be delighted.

Camera Critters #264 - The Bees Are Buzzing - April 27, 2013

Today is a bit cool ( 54 degrees right now ) and a bit overcast ( I keep thinking
that I'll be sweltering in Mumbai's 100 degree temperatures in a month ) but
flowers are blooming everywhere and, with them, bees are cavorting and 
satiating themselves with nectar.

I'm excited because my brother, who lives in the Atlanta area, called and will
be out on Monday to see a client in Sacramento.  He'll stay over Tuesday to
meet his new great niece, Harper Ann Vukasinovic, who debuted on April 14th,
so I'll drive up Monday and have a couple of days with my granddaughter, too.
Wish Susan, my lovely sister-in-law were making the trip with him. I haven't
seen them since they were out for Laura and Alex's wedding which was three
years ago May 10th.  They will will celebrate an anniversary and Laura's first
Mother's Day!

I am participating in 

Camera Critters #264.

Add your critter picture 

and join in the fun!

Thusday Challenge: Transportation - Motorcycles in India - April 25, 2013

Motorcycles have always frightened me.  As a nurse, I've seen far too many patients

with serious injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents.  There is just so little

protection for riders, even when they are clad in leather jackets, pants, boots,

and helmets.  At highway speeds, weaving in and out of traffic, cars, often, don't

notice them.

In India, motorcycles are a major form of transportation.  In cities like Mumbai,

with a population of 18 million people, one sees entire families on a motorcycle -

father, mother, and two children, sometimes more.  Many areas now have helmet

law but, usually, only the driver is wearing a helmet.  Other passengers - and 

the children - are riding without protective headgear.  Even the passenger with

a helmet is too often not wearing it properly.  Chin straps are not fastened so,

in the event of a mishap, the helmet would fly off the driver's head, affording him

no protection at all.  Of course, nurse that I am, whenever I am stopped in a

rickshaw or taxi next to such a driver, I have to say something.  If even one 

person listens and learns, I will be happy.

It amazes me that women, in their beautiful saris ride side saddle - or pinion -

as they call it.  Many roads are filled with potholes and they manage to stay

on board, often clutching a baby in one arm while holding on to the driver

with the other.  I just offer up a prayer for everyone on Indian roads and hope

I survive to get home to my California freeways - which aren't the safest places

in the world either!

I am participating in 

Thursday Challenge.  

This week's theme is:  transportation.

Submit your photograph to join in the fun.