Miss my dad

Thursday was my dad's birthday. I should have baked an apple pie (what he always had for his birthday.) He's been gone now for almost 4 years. I've really been missing him this week.
I went to Laguna to pick up my son and see my daughter and her apartment there last weekend. The three of us had brunch and went into a yarn shop. I found myself looking for yarn in colors that reminded me of my dad and times I spent with him. What sticks in my mind the most are how blue his eyes looked in the sky blue shirts my mom bought for him. They looked grayer in cloudy weather. We lived in San Diego and had boats. My mom liked deep sea fishing and whale watching so we went out fairly often. Of course our last boat was named for her, the"Dorothy D'. I got to live on the boat the summer I turned 16. It was so cool to have freedom for the first time. I remember the sand and kelp, the ocean skies, seagulls, sea lions, the churning swells of the ocean.
Dad grew up in Washington near Seattle. We saw movies he and a friend made of the two of them zipping around in skiffs. They were black and white movies. We went to Washington a few times and camped on Puget Sound on a lot his father owned. More pictures in my head of the gray sea. He helped us build rafts out of the driftwood on the beach. He gave us a Flag with a flying horse on it for one of them. It was the best raft we ever built. We tied up the anchor too tight and the tide came up and washed it away. The very night we finished it.
My dad was quietly supportive of me. I was so lucky to have him in my life. He changed after my mom died to become more of a rebel. He grew his hair long and wore an earring, though he was still the staunch Republican down deep. We were able to know him better once mom was gone.
I miss my dad. I was very fortunate to have had the great childhood I did. I had great parents. I wish I had more time with them.

The Travelers Return in Time to See Me Off to New Mexico

Well, Hubbo and the kids are back. They got back late last night. The had as good a time as you can going to a funeral. It's a nice thing to have family to share life's ups and downs with. They were so happy to have spent time with their aunt and uncle, cousins and husband's aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Today my daughter and I head to San Diego to meet up with my sister-in-law and niece before we all take off for New Mexico. I've been doing laundry and packing all day today trying to be ready. I think I've got done what I can for now. At least we have clean clothes to take with us and I have a couple of knitting projects to carry along. My cameras are charging and I just need to put a few more things away and bathe and dress.
At least I finished my Jaywalkers before leaving. I am going to wear them. My Noro Entrelac socks are getting there. I just had to get other things done today.

San Diego Orchid Show

Went to see the San Diego Orchid show at the Scottish Rite Center in Mission Valley today. My friend Leigh Ann, my daughter, and I drove down especially to hang out with Ramona. She is the coolest!
Here's Islander Delights - Ramona Wilson's Display - LOVE her Australian dendrobiums!!!
One of Dispays as you enter the show












Here are a few of my favorites as I looked around the show. It smelled as good as it looked in there. You should have smelled my car on the way home with all our fragrant new orchids. Too bad mine will have to compete with the jasmine blooming on my front porch.




Here are Leigh Ann and Ramona at her Islander Delights booth. See those Australian dendrobiums behind them? I can attest to the hardiness of these wonderful orchids. Mine have been neglected with little water or fertilizer and were outside for the duration of our cold winter this year and I still have spikes coming from almost every one of them. Ramona grows them beautifully so she's got clouds of these little blooms around her.





Met my friends Ginger and Rick at Fillipi's in Little Italy for pizza and antipasto. Wow, this place has become very popular. This is the line as we left. There is a line all the way throught the store to the restaurant in back as well as all the people you see out front.