Surprise toy parrot ~

I find my grandson's toys in the oddest places! I started to water my Potho plant and found this little surprise waiting for me under the leaves . . . where it's been hidden for who knows how long! My grandson is quite the character.

Fresh cut Hydrangea ~

I am experimenting with this fresh cut hydrangea for a dried arrangement . . . I usually allow my hydrangea's to dry naturally on the shrub / plant . . . if they are cut too soon, the pink mophead will just wilt . . . I left this one on the shrub for a quite a while but not as long as I usually do for drying . . . we will see what happens. 

More flowers for Oma ~

Playing at the park ~

For some reason today . . . my two grandkids just did not want to get along and were bored to no end. I couldn't take it much more . . . packed them up and took them to a park very close to our home. I hadn't been to this park since my daughter was very young. It has a great play structure but the kids really got into the little stream that runs through the park . . . it actually felt like we were out in the woods. The park is great and it felt good to just sit and watch the kids (no fighting) . . . there was a nice breeze and it wasn't too hot out yet . . . turned out to be an enjoyable day for everyone!

Wisteria pods ~

Inside this pod of my neighbors Wisteria Vine, are the seeds for a fragrant Wisteria flower waiting to bloom.   

I learned today that the seeds are produced in pods and that those seeds are poisonous. 

Tiki torch ~

We had a neighborhood gathering in our cul-de-sac again this evening. One of our neighbors puts up these enchanting tiki torches. The torches also allow vehicles coming down into our cul-de-sac to see the children playing and the adults sitting close to the street in their chairs at nightime.

Allergies ~

I have been feeling a bit under the weather lately . . . allergies and sinus issues again so I had to make a visit to the doctors office . . .  where I spent part of my morning today . I am looking forward to the prescribed medication kicking in real soon.

Blooming artichoke ~

My neighbor up the street has quite a few artichokes growing in her front yard . . . I have never seen a flowered artichoke . . . they are so pretty. I took quite a few shots but this was the only one that I caught with two bee's at the same time.  In the photo below, I was able to capture a bee coming in for a landing.

Summer play ~

My grandson enjoyed riding his bike in our cul-de-sac early this afternoon and before it got too warm out. He is into BMX bike riding already at his age (six) . . . just like his dad . . . hmmm . . . Oma not liking it so much!

Gini's Family Tree ~

This is my new family tree chart created by Janet Hovorka, the Owner and Operator at Family ChartMasters, that I purchased while I was at at the 2011 SCGS Jamboree in Burbank, CA, a few weeks ago . . . thank you, Janet, I love it! Janet creates very beautiful charts . . . it was difficult to choose a background, there are so many beautiful ones to pick from. I plan to hang it just above my desk . . . not only is it neat to look at . . . it's an easy reference while researching . . . I love looking up and seeing all of my Ancestors there.

Morning tea party ~

I did a very small impromptu tea party for the grand-kids this morning! My granddaughter has a friend over and I thought it was a nice way for them to wake up and start their morning. I made cinnamon toast and the girls chose peach tea . . .  an interesting combination . . . my grandson preferred cinnamon-apple tea. My kitchen smells wonderful!

White roses ~

Several of these pretty white roses have the wonderful color of burgundy on the very edges or tips of the rose petals

Beautiful rose ~

All pretty ~

Koda went in for a bath and a summer cut today . . . now maybe I won't have so much dogie hair to clean-up! He looks so pretty! I couldn't get a clear photo, he wouldn't hold still for me so this was the best shot.

Hydrangea heaven ~

Both my 'Pia' and 'Endless Summer'  Hydrangea plants are in full bloom and covered with these beautiful pink Mopheads (Hydrangea Macrophylla).  I like to leave the blooms on the shrubs until they age and take on a vintage look so I end up with a wonderful dried arrangement that will last for a very long time. To retain it's intense natural color, you can use Silica Gel . . . I have not done that as of yet . . . I like to dry them naturally and have been very happy with the results.

An Orchid and a bee ~

Our lizard family ~

These guys are living high on the hog . . . fat and happy! The rock they are all laying on is heated and they hang out there most of the time and just relax. My favorite is the horny toad  . . . his name is Vincent and the one in the middle is Price (yes, named after Vincent Price!) - he is a blue belly . . . the one next to him (with arm/claw around Price) is Hunter . . .  then the one that is hard to see next to the horny toad is Midnight.

The mountains around me ~

If you walk up the hill in my backyard . . . this is the view at the top . . . the highest mountains in our area. 

Jamboree Virtual Surname Wall ~

This is a photo of the Jamboree's Virtual Surname Wall,  located just outside the exhibit hall. You fill out a little sticky that will list general information, including surname, geography, and time frame, for up to ten family names,  SCGS will maintain the information in a searchable online database.

My granddaughter and I had a wonderful weekend together . . . we attended great classes, met new genealogy blogger friends, and caught up with many old blogger friends. My granddaughter created her own genealogy blog . . . Emmasology all by herself after attending Thomas MacEntee's Blogger Summit I and II on Saturday. She is learning how to use her blog and I know I will be helping her  . . . not sure why but already when putting the words, genealogy and family history in the posting and comment area, links are showing up when no links were inserted, so, we will work on her blog together and I will monitor things closely. She is looking forward to researching and posting her family history and getting lot of followers!

I want to express a special thank you to Paula Hinkle, Speakers, and all who made Jamboree 2011 an amazing experience and so successful  . . . somehow those words are just not enough . . . Jamboree is like no other!

Pajama party cookies ~

The genealogy bloggers had a pajama party in the lounge area at Jamboree this evening. Some pretty neat pajamas were worn and some great cookies for all of us to munch on . . . these are just some of the cookies remaining. Thank you, Elyse for a great get together, and thank you Susan Kitchens for helping with the cookie photo shoot!

Jamboree Quilt ~

The Jamboree quilt is beautiful.  You can read all about this quilt on Genea-Quilters . . . the Genea-Quilters did an amazing job.  Seeing it in person is wonderful.

I have had very little internet access here so my photo of day is very late.

Arrived at Jamboree ~

2011 Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree

Marriott Convention Center

Burbank, CA

We have arrived!

Jamboree bound ~

I am just about ready for the Annual 2011 Southern California Genealogy Jamboree . . . a few things to gather up and I will be set to go. This year, I am taking my granddaughter so that one day, hopefully, she can take over for me . . . must get her started early.

The items in the above photo are from the 2010 Jamboree. I am looking forward to the many wonderful and informative classes being offered . . . maybe then I will have learned new tips and tricks and be able to research and locate my elusive "brick wall" Ancestor . . . my great-grandmother, Louella née Jarboe Ijames! I also hope to capture some Jamboree photos for my daily post here over the next few days.

RootsMagic tote bag was given to me upon registration. Beads and buttons from GeneaBloggers. Ribbons were collected from various bloggers and exhibitors. 

Blooming Hydrangea ~

My potted Hydrangea plant is bursting with blooms. I love the colors. 

No rain here ~

Our local Fox 5 weather girl predicted that we were to get a very small amount of rain during the day today . . . we never did get any rain at all . . . and we sure could use it here. We did have these beautiful clouds over my home most of the day.

Family tree ~

My granddaughter was using water based paints for a school project today. She asked if she could paint a family tree on the backyard fence (which needs to be painted anyway) and I said, "sure why not!"  This is her creation . . . she spelled "family tree" backwards starting at the bottom. She said, "Here Oma, now you have your photo-of-the day!" I like the way she thinks!

Sago Palm update ~

I posted about my Sago Palm in a previous post. The center has really grown and the new fronds are starting to open up.  I really never paid that close of attention to how this plant grew and operated! It's been in my front yard for years . . . that's the beauty of taking a photo-a-day and noticing things you may not have before.
   
As requested . . .  this ones for you, Carol, and thank you, I paid more attention to Mr. Sago Palm!

Blowing bubbles ~

My grandson picked a little bottle of bubbles for his prize at school today. As my grandson blew bubbles, our dog, Koda, would run after the bubbles trying to bite them. If you would like to see him in action and more bubble photos, click here.

Hearts in the Garden ~

I have had this brick with "garden" stamped on it since the late 90's. It has been placed in just about every area of my garden and flower beds over the years. Today, when I was looking for my photo of the day, I found this heart shaped rock mixed in with a bed of rocks along my fence in the backyard . . . made for a nice photo and a new addition to the garden.

Mom's Face in Space ~ Endeavour lands ~

The Space Shuttle Endeavour completed its STS-134 mission and landed at 2:35 EDT early morning today - at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. So glad their mission was safe and successful . . . congratulations to the flight crew. I was excited when I was able to print mom's Face in Space program Flight Certificate that I had entered for her on her "first birthday in Heaven" in March . . . the printed copy will be placed in her binder and mom's beautiful face in space will forever be a part of history.