Surfing in Tahoe?

Song - Say Hey (I Love You) Giants Version by Michael Franti & Spearhead

Just returned from a weekend wedding in Lake Tahoe.  My nephew Paul got married on Saturday and it was a wild & crazy day.....weather-wise!

Friday afternoon and evening were beautiful at the Lake.  We sat out on the deck and enjoyed the evening stars.  Chilly but clear and calm.

Saturday morning we woke to high winds.  The pine trees were thrashing against the cabin.

We visited with my beautiful parents, enjoyed the fall color, went to breakfast and then a drive.

My parents were in Tahoe for the wedding as well!

 


Due to the winds the waves were big for Lake Tahoe.

Then guess what we saw?????

Ashley dipping her toes in the ice cold water!  Burrrrr.......


AND


Surfers on the Lake!

Until this moment, I had only heard that sometimes you (not me but you!) can surf the Lake.

I personally was amazed!

Mr. B, Andy & Ashley, and Jon all voted to return to the cabin to light a fire and play Canasta with Tyler!

Out of 8 boxes of cards we could only find 1 that was complete.

So then guess what happened?

Yep.....it began to rain, then snow.  It was majestically beautiful!



And oh so very romantic for the wedding.............


.....except the bride and groom were planning on getting married outside!



But as the 4:00pm wedding time began to roll around, the sky parted and sunshine showed it's sweet little face.  I think Mother Nature heard the brides prayers!

The staff set the chairs up on the dock and lit the heat lamps.

Then guess what happened?

Grandma Betty and Grandma Tillie came out as the "flower girls"!

And the beautiful, happy bride Katie and her father came down the isle.

Sunset on Saturday night.



Sunday morning we woke to a warm and calm day.  Go figure!


A GIANT footnote about the wedding:

Now, my nephew and his dad (my brother) are Giant fans, so since the wedding was being held during game 4 of the World Series, they were kind enough to leave a TV on in a separate room so those of us that just couldn't stand the torture could occasionally peek!  It was a great win and wedding!

Thanks Paul & Katie!

Thanks Giants!


“I don’t have a great answer for that (inspirational speeches),” Pence said. “I’ve read a ton of books. Not one in particular, but I consciously try to find the good in everything in every situation that happens. Was it Voltaire who said, ‘I choose to be happy because it’s good for my health”? Why not? Even through some of the toughest things that’ll ever happen to you, there’s something that makes you stronger, something you can reframe to make it good. It’s what I believe. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it makes me feel better.” --Hunter Pence (a Giant star!)

Summer Wind

 Song - Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra

Our weather lately has been a little like the two figures who are on the window ledge in my office.

 OPPOSITES

Elmo is the 3 1/2 year old red furry puppet from Sesame Street, who talks in the first person and has a lot of innocent questions about the world around him.

And Quan Yin is the Chinese Buddhist goddess of compassion, mercy and understanding.

Huh?

I like them both.

But my point is the difference and the changes, just like our weather!

A "fried" rose

We had a heat wave last weekend during my art show and the weather was up to 105.


But over the last few days it has been overcast and blustery.

Chairs are being thrown

In fact, it has been so windy that several chairs blew over as well as several of my favorite topiaries came crashing to the ground.  The pool is full of debris and it has left me with an "unsettled" feeling. 

Chards of terracotta

Today began with cold-gray skies, just the kind of day you want to stay in bed, snuggle the dogs (Mr. B was out of town) and read but it has turned into a mild afternoon, so I thought I would take my camera out into the yard and see what's growing (or what has fried in the last week!)

I let the Sweet Pea's go to seed to see if I can save them for next year

The grapes on our pergola are very happy

Sweet Feverfew

Grandpa Art's favorite - Double Delight

My Heirloom tomatoes grew very fast during the heat wave

Tarragon is great with chicken!

Thai Basil - first time growing this

Lobelia is growing happily in the shade but got fried in the sun

Even my garden bunny is looking up for sunshine

Alpine Strawberries that the dogs like to eat - they are tiny but with an incredible intense sweet flavor

All three Apple trees are filled - time to thin them out

The lemon trees are also developing fruit

Tyler's Jeep has had the roof off for the last week - I guess he doesn't mind the wind.....or heat....or cold?

 But my one of my favorite flowers is beginning to bloom right now - The Hydrangea

I don't know what it is about Hydrangea's but they feel so "cool".  Probably because they grow in semi-shade around here and take so much water to keep alive (which is why Mr. B doesn't like them! - but I grow them anyway but don't tell him!!!)

Zinnea

Dahlia

Agapanthus - kinda looks like fireworks

Single petaled Dahlia

Echinacea or Cone Flower

Thanks for taking a walk with me through my garden.  Please come again.

"A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit. " - D. Elton Trueblood