Keri Snapshot #58: My Dad, aka Chuck Norris' Hero

July 31, 2010.  Keri: Wendell, Idaho.  Some people wear Superman pajamas to bed...Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas...but Chuck Norris wears Roger King pajamas.

Keri Snapshot #57: Trauma

July 31, 2010.  Keri: Wendell, Idaho.  We've spent the last few days in the hospital...again.  Thursday night we took Mom to the Emergency Room due to a high fever and an inability to wake up from a deep sleep.  No Fun.  But thankful for the amazing and skilled ER team.

Dave Snapshot #56: Drive-Up Oil Change

July 29th, 2010.  Dave: San Jose, California.  Building 13 and 14 parking lots, 

Oil Change from this guy who shows up at work -  $39.95

Do it yourself oil change around $10

KNOWING how do do it yourself : priceless! 

Keri Snapshot #56: Care Giver

July 29, 2010.  Keri: Wendell, Idaho.  "Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct [a] ship...that I may carry thy people across these waters."  1 Nephi 17:8-9.

Keri Snapshot #55: Room 324

July 28, 2010.  Keri: Wendell, Idaho.  We brought Mom home from Room 324 today.  Now she is sleeping in her own comfortable bed.

Dave Snapshot #55: Frozen Love

July 28, 2010.  Dave: Cube #1893-41, San Jose, CA.  This is a great example of RHFLFMWSIDS. Don't know what RHFLFMWSIDS is? well, duh! It's Rock, Hard, frozen love from my wife so I don't starve.

Dave Snapshot #54: Love Notes in a Cubicle

July 27, 2010. Dave: San Jose, CA. Bright Pink Love note from my wife on Boring Green Wall

Keri Snapshot #54: Mom's Surgery

July 27, 2010.  Keri: Wendell, Idaho.  My mom is one of the most courageous women that I know.  Today she undergoes surgery for the third time in her life, due to cancer.  But you would never know it.  She has never missed a beat with her primary concern always for those around her.  I love you Mom.

Keri Snapshot #53: My Mom, My Hero

July 26, 2010.  Keri: Wendell, Idaho.  My mom is thee most amazing women in my life.  She has a faith that moves life's mountains, a courage that keeps her smiling, a work ethic that keeps her going when everyone else is spent, and a love that keeps her giving in all capacities of life.  

Dave Snapshot #52: Mix and Mingle

July 25, 2010.  Dave: Santa Clara, California.  This is what a California LDS Linger Longer, Mix and Meet, Greet and Grin, looks like...WHEN THERE'S NO FOOD!!

Dave Snapshot #51: Empty Closets

July 24, 2010.  Dave: San Jose, California.  Suddenly Dave has all the closet space he needs. =(

Keri Snapshot #52: My Sister and I

July 25, 2010.  Keri: Wendell, Idaho.  Enjoying a Sunday afternoon with my sister.  She loves taking funny pictures!     

Keri Snapshot #51: Somewhere, Nevada

July 24, 2010.  Somewhere, Nevada.  I found this rest area very agreeable...there is a profound quiet that accompanies solitude...that was until a crow chose to output some digested berries onto my head...yes, the only person for miles.

Snapshot #50: Morning Jog

July 23, 2010.  San Jose, California.  

Snapshot #49: Please Comment: Need Recipe for Really Good Banana Bread

July 22, 2010.  San Jose, California.  These bananas are at the perfect stage for banana bread...but I have yet to find a great recipe...does anyone out there have one? 

Snapshot #48: Stocking the Kitchen

July 22, 2010.  San Jose, California.  I am going to Idaho for 10 days...and taking the car with me.  As a result, my primary focus the last couple of days has been stocking the kitchen with home-made goodies for Dave.  Lots of baking:  sandwich bread, banana bread, granola, lasagna, roast w/potatoes...you know...the good stuff. 

Snapshot #47: War Games

July 21, 2010.  My brother Sherman, a Navy Seaman, is living aboard the USS George Washington. In recent months he has not been permitted to tell us where he is voyaging; somewhere in the big blue.  Monday I read in the New York Times that early this morning his carrier was to arrive in South Korea.  This morning we received correspondence from him via email that he just pulled into Busan.  He says, "It looked really awesome pulling in seeing all the mountains right on the waters edge with buildings all over them.  Never in my life would I have imagined I'd ever visit South Korea."  I am proud of you Sherman!

Snapshot #46: Steinberg Architects

July 20, 2010.  San Jose, California.  If Dave gets a full-time offer from Cisco, in 12 months we will likely be moving to San Jose indefinitely.  I am starting to scope out the area for future employers.  Today I visited the offices of Steinberg Architects.

Snapshot #45: Poolside

J

July 19, 2010.  San Jose, California.  I am avoiding the work of the house by escaping to the pool for several hours.

Exploring California: Snapshot #44: Balconies Cave

July 17, 2010.  Pinnacles National Monument, California.  2.5 miles.  2.5 hours.  102.5 degrees.  The boulders are not quite as heavy as they look.

Snapshot #43: Job Hunt

July 16, 2010.  San Jose, California.  Starting the job hunt in Utah...again.  Today we gave our 30-day notice to the apartment complex.  Can you believe it...only 30 days left!  darn.

Snapshot #42: Caspers Hot Dogs

July 15, 2010.  Hayward, California.  Calling all hot dog aficionados...today an old college roomie introduced me to Caspers. "They" say it's the best dog in the bay area.  And what's the best part?  I can Mail Order for that next camping trip...my preferred locale for roasting a hog dog.  And what's even cooler than that?  This hot dog joint has been around since long before I was born.  

Snapshot #41: Before & After

July 14, 2010.  San Jose, California.  A couple nights ago I was chatting with my sister and she realized for the first time that Dave and I did not bring a TV with us to San Jose for the summer.  I assured her that I rarely get bored, and keep myself busy with sundry projects.  After this post however, she may beg to differ.

Snapshot #40: Ironed Shirts

July 13, 2010.  San Jose, California.  This happens so infrequently that I need pictures to prove it.  A special thanks to my movies, for keeping me distracted.

Recipe Diaries: Snapshot #39: Homemade Granola

July 12, 2010.  San Jose, California.  Homemade Granola--the number one, greatest method for rotating through all those cans of rolled oats in my food storage.  I'm experimenting, searching for that super-star recipe...still, it's best right when it comes out of the oven, served with chilled milk. 

Recipe Diaries: Snapshot #38: Dave's Breadmaker, Super Model #KJW1207

 

 July 11, 2010.  San Jose, California.  This breadmaker comes with a lifetime guarantee, infinite variety, and multiple moods, I mean, modes and settings.  Today's bread creation is a combination of 50% home-ground whole wheat flour, 25% white flour, and 25% home-ground oat flour.  Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Exploring California: Big Basin Redwoods State Park

On Monday following the July 4th holiday Dave and I chose to hike the Big Basin Redwoods State Park--part of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  The park is only 34 miles from San Jose, but it took us nearly an hour to get there along winding mountain roads.  The drive was beautiful, and the park with its magnificent Redwoods even more so.  The entrance fee at Park Headquarters was $10 with an additional $5 for the trail map.  Although we went for day use only, the park also has varied camping sites as well as small cabins for a longer stay.

Our minds were set on seeing the four cascading waterfalls, so we chose to hike the entire Berry Creek Falls Loop.  We started our hike at 2:00 PM and moving at a steady pace, we covered 10.5 miles in 5.5 hours; arriving back at Park Headquarters at 7:30 PM.  

Getting to the falls along Sunset Trail was not a steady uphill climb, but rather it wove in and around mountain hills, up and down small ravines, until reaching a high mountain meadow that descended into the falls.  

Some of the highlights were towering redwoods.  Did you know that Redwoods are the tallest living organism on the planet?  And grow to be as old as 2000 years?

Fallen redwoods.  We look mighty small in comparison.

Fire-Blackened Redwoods. 

Lush Greenery

Patches of clover

Not far beyond this mountain meadow and before reaching Golden Falls was a sign for trailside campsites (maybe next time) 

It took us 3 hours to reach the pinnacle of our trip, starting with Golden Falls

Cascade Falls

Silver Falls (where we ate dinner)

and Berry Creek Falls with a 60' Drop

Just beyond Berry Creek Falls we passed a trail and sign for Waddell Beach.  The return hike, along Skyline to the Sea Trail started out downhill.  We descended to the bottom of a deep ravine and walked alongside Waddell Creek for several miles.  When we were most fatigued we had to climb up out of the ravine before the final descent into camp.

I would have liked to have spent a little more time at the "top" enjoying the varied falls, but on a trail entirely new to us, we spent only a half hour at the top and then quickly made our way back because we were nervous about the setting sun.  In the end I think our timing was perfect.  The forest was shaded and starting to see long shadows, yet we made it back with blue skies while managing to miss large crowds.

The drive home along Highway 9, with the setting sun behind us, was also beautiful.

Snapshot #37: The Fellowship of the Ring

July 9, 2010.  San Jose, California.  Last night I finished reading Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring" for the first time.  I don't remember much from the movie, so I am looking forward to watching it with my hubby tomorrow night.

Snapshot #36: The Finished Top, for Baby Girl Quilt #2

July 8, 2010.  San Jose, California.  I finished the 2nd baby quilt for my hope chest.  The idea behind this quilt is that the edges of the flowers and the leaves will fray with time and look super cute.  Imperfection is part of the design; great for novice quilters.