Day After Christmas

Santa's reindeers were let off our backyard. LOL! Almost everyday you can see a herd of deer grazing at the backyard. I sometimes make fun of them. I would talk to them as if they are people (No, I am not crazy, yet) I just like to see what they do. They would stop, keep still, and look at me. I would then stomp on the deck or shoo them and they would run as fast as they can.

Christmas 2011

Day before Christmas, hubby and I worked around the yard. I was able to rake the back the house and at the side by the swimming pool. About 17:00 we left for Sac to pick Hannah at the downtown train station. We got there right on time. Her train just arrived and passengers were disembarking. We  did a turn around of the parking lot because there are too many cars parked on the sidewalk picking people. It was almost after 18:00 and hubby decided we are going to eat out so, of course we went to his favorite restaurant, Black Bear Diner on El Camino. I am surprised they are open and will also be open on Christmas Day.

Christmas morning, we opened our gifts and as I wanted I got a new 17.3" laptop. Woohoo!! Now, I have have one in Sac and one at Apple Hill. My 7 years old laptop is still very good but, I wanted one with a built-in camera and newer version of Microsoft Office. I am very good with the old version but, at work we use the newer version. I need to get proficient with it. I actually wanted an iPad but he said iPad3 is coming so I could wait.

We drove down to Stockton to spend Christmas with my family. We took the scenic route through Plymouth, Ione, and Jackson. We are also celebrating Mark and Bianca's birthdays. Gift exchange is fun as usual along with great food which my sister cooked.

Had pictures taken and I really like the picture below of my niece Morgan and I. She just have her hair styled kind of like mine and she looked like a younger version of me. Don't you agree?

Below is a picture with my dear sisters. 

We had a 4 day weekend and we spent all of it at Apple Hill. There are too many things to do. It seems like I need to rake all the time. I do not want to use the blower if possible, my right shoulder still is aching after the 8 hours blowing sometime in March last year.

Doubles

It is fun decorating for Christmas. I have 2 of everything. What is "not fun" is taking down the decorations and putting them away.

Wood burning fireplace, efficient. We use it all the time.

Wood burning fireplace...... Never used.

Fake Christmas tree.

Real Chritmas tree. Freshly cut from the Christmas Tree farm by me.

Christmas Tree 2011-Apple Hill

 Search for the perfect Christmas tree at Harris Tree Farm in Pollock Pines.

Fall 2011- DIY House Painting Recommence

I have been very busy the last few weeks. It has been a while that I have posted anything. Today was hazy, cold, and yet sunny. I did not really wanted to paint but, I have to. There are only few weekends that will be sunny and we need to finish painting. We need at least 2 more weekends and we are done. Yay! At this time we are at the lowest level by the in-laws quarter. Hubby takes care of the deck and mine are the walls. I did not start early. I did not get off bed until almost 08:00. I had a good night sleep in my very warm bed.

Most of the oak tree's leaves have fallen or blown by the gushing wind in California for the last few days. The front yard was clean but most of the dried leaves have accumulated in front of the the front door and the sides of the house. I

 This is how the lowest level looked like when I stated this morning. One more layer of the primer white and then the siding brown. Hubby was staining the underneath of the deck. I guess it is better for the wood since it have not been painted for a long time. It really looked much better than before.

 This is how it looked like after the stain is applied.

Foothill Home, One year later

It has been a year, and if I count the changes we have made...countless. Looking at the front of the house it seems like it is a different house. We have been painting every weekend since May and we are almost done.

Timber!

Last week of Summer '11

Fall feel is here. This weekend felt very different from the last weekends. It was overcast Saturday and Sunday as well. It was between 71 to 79 degrees outside. On Saturday there was a time when I put away my painting buckets because I thought it is going to rain. It did but it was just a rain cloud passing . Raindrops fell twice that day. It was chilly Sunday and I put on a long sleeve shirt. I have it on all day.

Hubby is painting the north side wall. He has built a platform about four feet tall and helped him put up the 3 stories of scaffolding in the morning. I continued on my project, above- the fence by the pool. I do not like the rosemary, they are old but we have to keep it for now so the area will not look bare. Someday I would like to cut them off and landscape the area. Before doing that we need to fix the sprinkler system. The pool's equipment enclosure will be my project for the next weeks to come. There is also an enclosure for the gas tank behind it, so 3 weekends tops.

Oh Rosemary!

Remembering 911

Labor Day Weekend