Aaron and I recently returned from a whirlwind weekend visiting friends and family in New York City. We arrived Thursday evening in time for an amazing home cooked dinner with cousin Dani and fiance Dan in Brooklyn (though we unfortunately forgot to take the camera out!). We caught one of the last trains to Yonkers where my dad, Julie, and Jen now live. Friday we all drove out to tour Jen's college, Manhattanville in Purchase, NY. We spent some quality time with my dad and Julie, then headed into the city to meet up with some friends and to cheer on the Lakers at a bar in the Village. Saturday included bocce ball and a take out pizza picnic in Central Park with Lisa and Timmy. We were back in the park on Sunday morning to participate in the 4 mile Japan Day run with my dad - Aaron's first race ever. After a super tasty lunch at my dad and Julie's new favorite mexican food restaurant we took a much needed nap. Our friend Miro picked us up later that afternoon and we headed out to Jersey to see the new baby and new home. He and Nida treated us to a yummy backyard BBQ. Monday we went on a mini road trip to check out the Jersey Shore. The sun and sea air must have magnified our lack of sleep because Aaron and I both slept as Miro graciously brought us to the airport in time for our early evening flight back to LAX.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Schneider family farm update
Aaron built us a new garden box a few months ago to match the one we picked up on Freecycle last year - and we finally planted our summer crop! We installed a drip water system and outsmarted Alex this time by adding a plastic chicken wire on top of the soil. It has successfully kept him out, plus an unintended side benefit is that the squirrels aren't able to 'plant' their peanuts either.This year we hope to harvest loads of
strawberries, zucchini, squash, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, yellow pear tomatoes, swiss chard, corn, blueberries, red & yellow bell pepper, and carrots. The second photo was taken a few weeks after planting and the seeds have officially become seedlings.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Overnight in Bear Valley Springs
This weekend Aaron, Grandma Fritzi, and I went for a visit to Uncle Robbie and Auntie Marty's home near Tehachapi. We arrived in time for a trout lunch (U. Robbie caught it himself), which we enjoyed while watching the blue jays and woodpeckers land on the deck. With full stomachs Aaron, U. Robbie, and I went out for a hike on one of the hundreds of trails just steps from their front door - it was so beautiful and peaceful. Nearly 2 hours later we returned just as cousin Wendy pulled up. We were all a little too pleased that she also brought a load of laundry with her, which she later mesmerized us with using the new super fancy washer/dryer in the home. Guitar Hero kept us entertained while dinner was being prepped (oh, should we have helped with that?!) and we followed dinner with a game of Chronology. We were all pretty certain that G. Fritzi would have pulled out the win with her advantage of being alive for more of the events in the game than the rest of us, but actually U. Robbie won
It was a pretty quick turn around - we left this morning in order to get back to LA in time for Aaron's noon time basketball game. But it was worth the drive as we had a great time! The best part of course was getting a glimpse into the place that this part of our family calls home. They love it there and we can certainly see why. Perhaps next time we will stay a touch longer and make use of one of the private camping grounds? Or the tennis courts? Or the horseback riding? Or the fishing? Or the golf course?? So much to do!!
It was a pretty quick turn around - we left this morning in order to get back to LA in time for Aaron's noon time basketball game. But it was worth the drive as we had a great time! The best part of course was getting a glimpse into the place that this part of our family calls home. They love it there and we can certainly see why. Perhaps next time we will stay a touch longer and make use of one of the private camping grounds? Or the tennis courts? Or the horseback riding? Or the fishing? Or the golf course?? So much to do!!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Spring hiking
Last weekend's hike in Oregon: damp and chilly.
This weekend's hike in Orange County foothills: dry and hot.
This weekend's hike in Orange County foothills: dry and hot.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Easter weekend in Portland
Aaron and I went up to Portland this past weekend and spent some quality time with family. We flew up on one of the last flights of the night on Thursday, spent some time on Friday shopping downtown (no sales tax!), Saturday we went to the Woodburn Tulip Festival, and then to Silver Falls State Park for a hike. Easter Sunday brought us to church and then we pretty much just ate for several hours. We had some more time on Monday to hang out before heading to the airport for an early evening flight back to Los Angeles.
It's a shame how quickly 4 days can fly by, but as always it was a great trip. Nephew Carson and baby sister Hadley are growing up so fast! I know, that's what old people say all the time, but it's true.
It's a shame how quickly 4 days can fly by, but as always it was a great trip. Nephew Carson and baby sister Hadley are growing up so fast! I know, that's what old people say all the time, but it's true.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
San Diego Crew Classic - 2009
The San Diego Crew Classic was this weekend and my Marina Aquatic Center's Women's Masters team made a pretty good showing for ourselves!
There were 17 boats in our Women's Open category which meant that there were three heats on Saturday to see who would go to the finals. We came in third in our heat on Saturday putting us in the Petite Finals (consolation race) for Sunday. Too bad we drew the second heat instead of the third because we did technically have a faster time than their second place team. Anyway...
After loading up at a fantastic ocean front BBQ dinner everyone turned in relatively early after a full day in the sun and in preparation for an early morning today. We had another good row this morning and took first place in the Petites. Our coach said something along these lines before going on the water this morning "Hey, a race is a race, there is a winner and a loser." So heck yeah - we were the winners!
Now, to brag a little more here, I would like to point out that if you went strictly by today's times we kinda would have been second place in the Grand Finals. Yes, I totally get that conditions on the water change over the day and that you can't fairly compare a race that happened at 7:50 in the morning to one 3 1/2 hours later... but our time this morning was 7.37.20 and second place in the Grand Finals came in at 7.42.70. I guess those girls were all too tuckered out to pull hard for two days in a row except for the USC boat. We totally had the second fastest time today in our category. And yes, five seconds is a lot in rowing.
That said, which ever way you want to look at it, both of our races felt great this weekend and everyone was really pleased with how we did as a boat. So much fun!
There were 17 boats in our Women's Open category which meant that there were three heats on Saturday to see who would go to the finals. We came in third in our heat on Saturday putting us in the Petite Finals (consolation race) for Sunday. Too bad we drew the second heat instead of the third because we did technically have a faster time than their second place team. Anyway...
After loading up at a fantastic ocean front BBQ dinner everyone turned in relatively early after a full day in the sun and in preparation for an early morning today. We had another good row this morning and took first place in the Petites. Our coach said something along these lines before going on the water this morning "Hey, a race is a race, there is a winner and a loser." So heck yeah - we were the winners!
Now, to brag a little more here, I would like to point out that if you went strictly by today's times we kinda would have been second place in the Grand Finals. Yes, I totally get that conditions on the water change over the day and that you can't fairly compare a race that happened at 7:50 in the morning to one 3 1/2 hours later... but our time this morning was 7.37.20 and second place in the Grand Finals came in at 7.42.70. I guess those girls were all too tuckered out to pull hard for two days in a row except for the USC boat. We totally had the second fastest time today in our category. And yes, five seconds is a lot in rowing.
That said, which ever way you want to look at it, both of our races felt great this weekend and everyone was really pleased with how we did as a boat. So much fun!
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