Winter - California Style

While most of our country is buried by ice and snow, we are enjoying our taste of spring. We are surrounded by fields of almond, nectarine and plumb blossoms. Amira's friend, Bella, from down the street has a couple of cool grandmas. Grandma Betty picked up girls and dogs for a trip to the park to go skating. They traveled in style in the 1975 Cadillac El Dorado. Grandma Betty says it's all original except the stereo. She relinquished the 8 Track player.








Loaded and ready to go!








Sunglasses? Check!







The next day I left with Valerie's 8th grade class for a trip to Ano Nuevo to see the elephant seals and tidal pools. Don't they look like logs?





Even the parking lot at the state park provided entertainment.





Here's Valerie with her class on the hike down to the elephant seals and back. Lots of fresh ocean air and education on marine mammals and native plants.





It was hard to share the full effect of the elephant seals. The video below lets you hear the assortment of sounds from theses critters as they bask on the beach.

After our hike at Ano Nuevo we checked into the youth hostel at the Pigeon Point light house. This was operational and on some fantastic cliffs overlooking the Pacific. At night owls flew overhead and I could hear the pounding surf from my surprisingly comfortable bunk. There were ocean views from the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen. There were Adirondack chairs and picnic tables outside also with incredible views and beach access.






The students helped prepare dinner and clean up. Here you see Valerie with her hair up doing dishes and Jake in the background assisting. This field trip was the last hurrah for parents. The last field trip they will go on as a class will be to the back country of Yosemite for a week this spring. No parents allowed on that one!




Here's a harbor seal in the water. They were so close and curious!





The students got some free time to run and play on the beach. Here's Valerie taking some driftwood to help build a structure.





Here's the gang building on the beach.





Here's the view from the Pigeon Point Light House Hostel. This pod of dolphins came prancing by just for us!

In other news at home, Buster is really settling in. She's behaving more like a bunny. Her energy is definitely up and she's chewing on everything. When she hears people walk by Rex's room, she runs to the edge of the carpet in hopes of a good head scratching.

Rex took the video below of Buster playing on his bed. She's so much fun!