Twin Sisters of Different Mothers...

Two people could hardly be more different. Over 20 years ago my brother married Lori...we were born on the same day of the same year...so that makes us twin sisters, right? Well, they are no longer married, but they are still great friends and I had the delightful pleasure of visiting Lori and her husband Mark a few weeks ago...here are some snaps of their beautiful home on the coast of California.

Here I am sitting on their deck with brother Jim...

At the kitchen counter with Lori...

Jim and Lori in the front room...We had such fun, catching up after years apart...I perused photos of their beautiful home in Mexico and showed off my pictures of life in Kenya. We shared lunch and dinner together before Jim and I headed south to his home, exhausted after a full day of so much fun...

Sorry, no pictures of Mark...and so few of their home...oh well!

Orion

Orion is the name my daughter Amanda and her husband Joel chose for their new bundle of joy!

He is a curious puppy
He is a big puppy - 24 lbs at 8 weeks

and he has BIG paws!
We affectionately call him 'conehead'

but he can't help it - that cap is for his ears...

Family portrait...that's me - gramma, then Joel - daddy, and Amanda - mommy
and the center of attention - Orion!

He is a typical puppy and giving his parents fits! But we know that he will, eventually, grow up (and up and up and up - to about 165 pounds!) to be a loving, cuddly, obedient and companionable adult...that is if he lives thru puppyhood!

Amanda takes the bar on the 28th thru 30th of July...after that she will have a whole lot more time and energy to be a full-time mommy.

Fifty is nifty

Two good friends of mine who have known each other since childhood just turned 50! One of the
many blessings emerging from my 'unwanted delay' is that I got to attend their big party on the 27th of June...

Eileen, one of the birthday girls and aided by her daughter Cheyenne, attends to the 'balloon' part of the decor...
...oops...a few strays!

Tess, daughter of the other birthday (Linda) girl getting spiffed up in 50's style...

We all got busy preparing the backyard for 70 of their closest friends and family!

Linda's husband, Brett, making himself quite useful!

Three of the four 'maids' arrive! and pose with Tess...

Brett & Linda's son Evan helps his dad with the drinks....grrr...man's work...

"Is there something we are supposed to do with these things...oh time to pose!"

Cheyenne and Eileen placing the balloons...

Do you see the "50" on Tom's shaved head? this is Linda's brother...he shaved his head to support his son Jake, undergoing chemo treatments for Leukemia...to the right is Thelma, Linda and Toms' mom...and my friend!

...okay, this just looks goofy! until you realize that it is probably 100 degrees out and this is a fan! ahhhh...Eileen's mom, Sharon, and Tess taking advantage of the breeze...

The other birthday girl, Linda, greeting a guest...

...practicing for the yoyo contest...i love yoyo's! (no that's not me...)

Gwamma Sharon enjoying her youngest...

...and the food is served! hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, french fries - yummy!

...two best friends...

...getting into mischief?

...okay, when is my turn???

photo op! l to r; Linda, Evan, Tess, Brett

l to r: Linda & Tess, Cheyenne & Eileen

aaaannnndddd...the bubble gum contest!

Eileen's dad Albert...knows how to blow!

...oops her sister Brenda peels some off her nose...

The duel...

...and bigger...

...and cleanup!

...cake time! it is a jukebox...pretty cool...well, now pretty hot with all those candles! look, Brett even needs his shades!

...but they managed to blow them all out...with the kids waiting anxiously in the background!

Two friends sharing the celebration and appreciating all the friends and family who braved the heeeeeaaaat to join in...

Linda on the left, Eileen on the right...

...enjoying the cake and ice cream... cutting and cutting and cutting...

...and cutting...and serving...

...and resting after all that hard work!

...time for presents...

finally - the hula hoop contest! i used to be a champ, but gave it up...

...not bad, for a boy!

at the end of an active day, two 11 year old cousins...enjoy a quiet game of chess. That's Tom's daughter, Abby, playing with Evan.

What a joy and a blessing to be a part of this special day...to visit with friends I see far too seldom and to spend time with Linda's precious family, all of whom I adore.