Santa Clarita, California
Sunday family and friends join us for BBQ and visiting. Everyone's schedules are so full, we can't get the whole group together at the same time, but this afternoon we get close. They don't even see each other very often - jobs and school and family and life keep them all hopping.
We have a great visit, and of course these days is all about the little ones.
Richie (the youngest), Bill, and Corey (#2) with Maximus. |
Corey, Scott (Nick's best friend and like another son), Bill, Allie (Scott's wife), Nick, Jillian, Richie and Tessa. |
Maximus and Ella (Scott's youngest) |
Nick, Jillian and Maximus |
Ella and Daddy Scott |
Maximus and Autumn (Scott's oldest) |
Monday I never get out of my pjs while the high winds bluster and throw branches at our roof. Tuesday we get together with Brian for lunch and run some errands.
Wednesday the wind is not as bad and we're ready for some nature. There are forests "up the road" from us. Let's go see that!
Just north of the little town of Gorman, near the summit of the "famous" Grapevine hill in northern Los Angeles County, we leave Interstate 5 heading west.
The next six hours we traverse the very diverse region that is the Los Padres National Forest. While the hillsides along the interstate are very green, we spend most our day in grays and browns. It looks completely different here. Not because it's dead, or because it didn't get a lot of water, but because the indigenous flora here is mostly manzanita, chemise, scub oak, toyon sumac and true sages. The growth is thick and healthy, just not as much green.
From chaparrel, to juniper-pinyon woodland, to oak woodland, to conifer forest, to the sub-alpine fellfields at 8,000 feet, we enjoy an every changing environment under beautiful blue skies.
Throw in wildflowers, water, rock formations and snow - and we have a really great drive.
More signs of the heavy February rains. |
Woohoo!!!! |
Highway 33 connects us back to Highway 126 and home. |
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Spring blooms |
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Agave Maria's - my favorite Ojai eatery |
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Happy for bright colored shade. |
Thursday we spend a little more time with Brian and then meet Travis and Emily for dinner. Where I finally remember to get a photo of these two cuties. More blessings.
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Emily and Travis - getting married next June :-)) |
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Gabby, Richie and Bill....too much sunshine :-( |