Shadow Shot Sunday 2 - Winter Shadows in My West Sacramento, California Neighborhood - January 25, 2015

It's been down to freezing during the winter months but the days warm up to the 50's.  The trees are still bare and their
naked branches make interesting shadows on our bright
sunny afternoons.

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Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

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Shadow Shot Sunday 2 - Bringing Sunshine to Dispel Shadows Wherever She Goes - October 26, 2014

This precious little imp,

With eyes of brightest blue,

And wisps of golden hair,

Isn't sure what shadows do.

She runs to chase then down,

But they just get in the way,

They're glued at hands and feet,

And follow her at play.

The shadows quickly dissipate,

Lasting just awhile,

For rivaling the sunshine,

Is my lovely grandchild's smile!!!

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Carmen Henesy

Copyright October 26, 2013

Camera Critters #268 - Taffy and Bucky & Harper Ann - May 25, 2013

I spent three days in West Sacramento this week, enjoying my last days with
my son, Alex, my daughter-in-law, Laura, baby granddaughter, Harper Ann,
who is already a month old, and my granddogs, Taffy and Bucky.  It was a
wonderful visit.  Taffy is so maternal with the baby, always nearby and keeping
a watchful eye.  Bucky loves her but he is content to sleep on his bed near
her crib, with an occasional lick on her head.  Taffy, however, acts like she is
her puppy and it is so sweet to watch.

When Taffy isn't busy with Harper, she isn't far from Bucky and I love this
shot I got of them sleeping.

Needless to say, I will miss them all my six months in India.  I leave June 1st.

I am participating in 

Camera Critters #268

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On My Way In Ten Days - May 22, 2013

Last December, when I arrived home from India, it seemed eternities before I
would return again.  I had plenty to do in the meantime - catch up with friends,
have my total  shoulder replacement surgery, drink good California wine which
I had sorely missed in India ( relishing decent vintages, some priced at under
$10/bottle ), eating at my favorite restaurants, seeing all my physicians and
getting medical clearance to return, once again, to "the country of my heart".

I even tried to move out of the large storage space I'd been renting since October
2011 - at almost $400/month - into a smaller space, to no avail.  For my Mother's
Day gift, Shawn ( my oldest ) and Jeremy ( my youngest ) spent the entire
weekend helping me go through things but we barely made a dent in the pile
of boxes.  Nonetheless, I sent over ten bags of clothes to Goodwill, all clothes
I am now too slim to wear, plus many other thing, that I initially thought I couldn't
without.  Furniture, that failed to be snapped up by Craig's List buyers, was
broken apart and taken to the dump.  Perhaps, if I hadn't been sidelined for
three months with my shoulder surgery, I might have been able to accomplish
more.  At any rate, though, I felt quite righteous in eliminating as much as I did..
and I really appreciated the gift of time from my boys.  It was nice hanging out
with them as well.

Yesterday, I drove up to West Sacramento for my final visit with Laura, Alex,
baby Harper Ann, and Taffy and Bucky.  I am really going to miss seeing them
and watching my granddaughter's first six months of life.  Though he has not
done it yet, Alex has promised to download Skype so I can keep up with them
that way.

Harper Ann is now a month old.  She has gained three pounds already and she
is a charmer.  I get such a kick out of the two dogs who are aware  of her every gurgle
and, heavens, if she actually cries, they go racing to the crib, then back to Laura and
Alex if they think there is not a fast enough response.

Harper Ann still spends most of her time sleeping

At 11 lbs, 3 lbs over her birth weight, she's outgrown her newborn clothes!

A bit disgruntled and wanting food!

Taffy and Bucky standing guard!

I will be home again the first week in December.  One of my baby gifts was a 

Christmas stocking for Harper Ann and I'll be working on that while I'm in India.

I've made stockings for all my sons and Laura but this one will be a special

labor of love.  

I know I'll have a hard time saying goodbye when I leave West Sacramento this

time.  I've never been gone any length of time with a sweet granddaughter 

seven thousand miles away.

Most Remiss in Writing - Will Catch Up Soon - April 13, 2012

I've been very delinquent with my blogging.  I came up to West Sacramento on

Tuesday evening because my son, Alex, and his wife, Laura, invited me to join

them for their ultrasound on the following day ( my first grandchild is due the

21st ).  There was a great shot of the baby's face.  The little one is now occupying 

most ofLaura's uterus!  He/she ( they don't want to know the sex till delivery - I've got

fingers crossed for a girl! ).  I was heading back to San Francisco today but it

seems like Laura started having contractions during the night.  Now, they are

just seven minutes apart so I will probably know soon - granddaughter or grandson.

Either way, I'll be joyful.  

I did have a really nice rendevous with one of my nursing school classmates,

Ann Sneed Sorrells of Charity Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 9-10-65

( it is so hard to believe that we started school FIFTY YEARS ago, before

the first heart transplant was ever done and right after the Salk polio vaccine

was invented! ). She and her husband have kept their home at Lake Tahoe

and visit several times a year.  Laura and I joined Ann for a late breakfast

at Tower Cafe in Sacramento.  It was a great reunion.

Back to blogging soon!!

A Few Days With Family - December 15, 2012

I drove up to West Sacramento on Tuesday, December 11 because my sweet
daughter-in-law, Laura, had invited me to go with her and Alex to see her
ultrasound the following day.  It was a pleasant two hour drive and I enjoyed
listening to Patricia Cornwell's "Red Mist", another Kay Scarpetta crime novel
on tape,  It certainly made the time pass quiickly.

The Christmas tree was up and we had time for a few pictures before heading
out for a sushi lunch.  Since sashimi and sushi were one of the things I would
NOT eat in India, I've been really craving them since my return home. so I've
been indulging myself.

My two sweet granddogs, Bucky and Taffy

Laura and Alex before we left for the ultrasound

At the doctor's office, we were joined by Laura's lovely mom, Christine 

who is already a grandmother twice

We got into a lively discussion with Alex about what we want our grandchild to call us.

Christine has already chosen a name...I'm still working on one.  Alex told us not to 

bother, "You're both going to be grandma," he said.  That boy!!

The ultrasound technician was really nice and didn't seem to mind having an audience.  I

must admit to having a tear or two at times...and there were a lot of ooohs and aaaahs in

the room.  I know better than to post any pictures of Laura's little baby bump in my

blog - she's only gained seven pounds at five months and she is still barely showing.  She

looks terrific and, of course, she is so beautiful.  Lucky folks to have such a pretty and

sweet paramedic show up when they call an ambulance.

This was one of the baby's best shots...great face pic and I think

he/she might be sticking that tongue out at us!

Of course, I was all smiles!  Whoops, time to color my

hair - the gray is showing and I'm not ready to be a gray grandma.

The next afternoon, while poor Laura had to work, Alex and I drive down to Vacaville 

to meet my oldest son, Sahwn, and his girlfriend, Dawn, for all-you-can-eat sushi at

Hisui Japanese Restaurant, near Travis Air Force Base.  It was the first time I'd seen

Shawn in uniform since he was promoted to master sgt.  I am so proud of him.  He

celebrates his 42nd birthday on the 17th!

Shawn is 12 years older than his brother, Alex, 14 years older than Jeremy.

He had been an incredible role model for them.

Wish Jeremy could have been with us.

Strange lighting in this shot...but Dawn is still beautiful.

The sushi was great...I like saba ( mackeral ) which is too fish for some.

Hamachi pleases nearly everyone.

Just getting started!

A great selection

The sushi chef

Shawn and Dawn

US Air Force Master Sergeant Shawn Edward Smith

My son, Alex's nice West Sacramento neighborhood

Cloudy skies and some drizzling rain going over the 

Oakland Bay Bridge back into San Francisco

Stopped at Manivanh Thai, my "family" restaurant where my dish, the "Carmen's special"

now appears on the menu.  San, the fiance of Ann, the owner's daughter showed up with 

this cake for us to share.  A piece of this and scoops of rum raisin and pumpkin ice cream from Mitchell's of San Francisco were a great end to my three days away. After the New

Year, it's back to sensible eating or I'll gain back all that weight I lost in India!

Sundays in My City - November 27, 2011

My lovely daughter-in-law, Laura, a paramedic, had to work on Thanksgiving
( a 5PM to 5AM shift which was her bid this go round ), so she and Alex
invited Jeremy and I up to their West Sacramento home yesterday to
celebrate, instead.  It was actually a lovely drive up, without very much
traffic, beautiful sky shots with nice cloud formations and, even some
beautiful fall foliage, that whizzed by so quickly, I couldn't get pictures.

Christine and Roger came ( Laura's folks ), her brother, Robert, and his
wife, Kristin, and their two delightful little boys, Conner and Holden, and,
in addition to my two granddogs, the Calhouns brought Tigger, the new
shelter dog that joined their family when their beloved Gus died earlier
this year.

The food was absolutely delicious.  Alex and Laura bought a new grill and
the turkey was brined overnight and cooked on the grill - a first time
event for Alex.  It was just hilarious watching him at the task, with
Jeremy helping.  The bird turned out to be the yummiest I've ever
eaten and it just fell off the bone.  Carving it was so much easier than
last year with the electric knife!  There was, also, a whole array of other
treats - a FRESH green bean casserole, an unusual - and heavenly
concoction made from cornmeal and sweet potatoes, two different
stuffings, eggplant caviar, a lovely fruit compote with cranberries, dried
apricots and other good things, lovely California wines, plus appetizers
to keep us happy before dinner.

And, of course, dessert - pumpkin and two apple pies - one with a cream
cheese frosting ( my choice, of course - like I needed more calories ) and
one without frosting.

It was a wonderful family day and, thankfully, Jeremy drove home so I
could doze, intermittently, awakening suddenly, thinking we were about to
face catastrophe on a California freeway.  It must have been my full
stomach!

The skies over Fairfield, CA

Flat farmland near Dixon, CA

Jeremy ( 27 ) and Alex ( 29 ) Vukasinovic

Taffy, my first granddog

Bucky, granddog number two

Beautiful Laura, my daughter-in-law

Grandma and her pooches

Macro of table flowers

Bucky's favorite position

Such a sweet face!

Having fun in the kitchen

Working on a pony tail!

Ohhhh, that's nice, Uncle Jeremy

Forget that computer and use both hands...

Thanksgiving flowers

Smells scrumptious!

A piece on the plate, a piece in the mouth

How about dropping a bite of that turkey?

I'm waiting over here, too.

Alex with his mother-in-law, Christine

Laura and Alex

Nini and Holden

Laura and Holden

I am participating in Unknown Mami's Sundays in My City -

check it out and tell us what's going on where you live.