Spring? Spring? This isn't Spring

Here in North Idaho, April gave us a cool greeting. Snow, sleet, rain, and fog. Yech! The bright side is that it can't last forever. Or maybe this was nature's April Fools joke on us...

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle. Taken from the tour bus. It is about 5 miles up hill on a narrow, winding road from the visitor's entrance.

Entrance to a guest house behind me and gardens in front. All the statues are marble.


This is called the neptune pool. Very Italian Renaissance and all marble. The view from this place is amazing.

This is looking down on the Neptune pool.


The main house is to the left of the photo and is much more spectacular than this but this part of the house was added later possibly the 1960's


This place sports 18 guest houses. We only saw one and this was the view from the window!


Yeah so this is the main house. Over 100 rooms including 12 sitting rooms. We only toured a fourth of the grounds which is unbelievable.


In front of the main house is a courtyard with one axis looking out over the ocean...


And the other end of the axis overlooks the mountains. Hard to say which was more beautiful.


How about this for a front door!!! Inside this door was the evening room where everyone was expected to gather at 7 pm to await the evening meal. The pictures that I took inside didn't turn out very well because they don't allow flash.


As Hearst made his fortune in the news and media business and the home is fairly remote, he had his own movie theater. These are the light fixtures within. The whole place is somewhat of a contradiction. He collected ancient tapestries, artifacts, and materials to build this house so it definitely feels similar to a castle but yet it was built in the 1920's so there are light switches, ketchup bottles, and a movie theater.


The next stop is the pool house. The pool was 12+ feet deep with a low and high dive and every thing was tiled. The gold tiles are actually 22 carat gold sheets inlaid in tile.


On the way back down we got to see the zoo. He had cages for several types of bears that you just happen upon on the way back. All the area you see here was used for either cattle, horses, or exotic animals.

Sprink Break cont!

On Wednesday we all headed south to Bakersfield. We went to meeting at Scott and Shelli Hill's and Grant, Kelley, Holden, and I spent the night there. Thursday morning Grant and Kelley headed east to Las Vegas while Dad, Mom, and Rob headed south to L.A. and then north to Boise. I spent the rest of the week with the Hill's for some precious vacation time.

On Friday we took a short road trip to San Luis Obispo. We stayed in Avila Beach at a motel just a hop skip and jump from the beach. The town had to be rebuilt in the last couple of years because of an oil spill so it has become more of a tourist area than it used to be.

This is the motel where we stayed. Just a block away was the Hula Hut where they made fresh scones and coffee cake every morning. Saturday morning Lexi and I woke up early, snuck out for scones, and then ate them on the beach.


This is the view from our balcony. I could have sat out here all night and listened to the waves, at least until the storm blew in.

Next time we go, we will have to stay here at the Apple Farm. Mom would have sooo much fun. Its like staying at a tea house.

Spring Break!

Rob and I flew into San Jose on Saturday, March 14 to help celebrate Holden's first birthday with Dad, Mom, Grant, Kelley, Raymond, Kerin, Brenna, and Molly. It was the beginning of spring break and a week of much needed warmth and sunlight.


Definitely a John Deere kid! His new tractor and dump truck help him get around even faster so watch out.

He sure didn't waste any time playing with his cake just went right to eating it. Even licking the frosting off of his fingers.

The house that we rented had a small garden in front and one in back but the awe for us Idaho and Montanans were the calli lilies and lemon trees.



It was just a block from the house to the coast and along the coast was a walking path with many opportunities to climb down and play in the surf. Molly had Dad running up and down every one, climbing rocks and playing in the sand.

One of the tide pools where Dad found some sea urchins. Kelley was trying to take pictures but just when we thought it was safe a wave would come and cover this whole area and send us scrambling.
All the while Grant and Uncle Raymond kept a sleeping Holden company up above.


And what's a trip to the beach without wave pictures!!!

New Year 2009

Happy New Year everyone! Rob, Brian, and I were home to Montana for the holidays and in Couer d' Alene for New Years but have finally made it home. I was going through my computer cleaning it up for next semester and came across some pictures I thought I'd share.


Mike, Calysta, and Cora Holland

Cora Lee Holland


Sunset

Jeremy and Nicole Draggoo's wedding

Lindsay Sutcliff, Suzanne Kleppen, me, Jamie Barker, Britton and Berlyn Needham, Nicole, and the other two kids I don't remember. They're from Boise.



And Grant and Kelley.

Blast from the past...
Brian and Rob

Brad and Rob


The Gardner cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Kelley and I trying on swimsuits at Grandma's.


Kevin, Brian, and I covered in soot after playing in the tailpipes of the cars parked along the street

WINTER!!!

We've gotten about 3 feet of snow and its still coming down! These are some pictures I took last Saturday up at Scott and Shelli's. It was a beautiful day and the last one for a while apparently because it has snowed at least 2 in every day since.






The Grinch left his Christmas tree.

My friend the owl is still around. He follows me up and down the driveway and all around the house when out walking. Last year there were two but I've only seen one this year.

Here are some pictures from Halloween that Nila McCuaig took at Hill's Party. These are all the kids that were there. Most of the Pullman kids were there, maybe half the Moscow kids, and several from Spokane and Coeur d'Alene.


Yes this is Rob.

And this is Rob's pumpkin. I mean the one throwing up on the heart is Rob's.

Lincoln was about the creepiest clown I have ever seen but it was a kick to watch him ride his mini bike around.

Brian Barr was a pirate which really worked well because the right side of his face was in rough shape after an incident with a car. The patch was perfect for holding on the lens of his glasses.