New River Train Excursion

 

Backyard Birds And Groundhog Day predictions

Laying on the bed looking out the big window and watching all the male and female cardinals. I feel so lucky to have this view, it is not the ocean, but it is beautiful and so serene.  I'm missing my hubby,  it been a week and I'm ready for him to come home from Japan. Trying to keep busy but it's pretty hard to spend this much time keeping busy when I get lonely.  Today is also GROUNDHOG DAY...........from what Punxsutawney is predicting it looks like 6 more weeks of winter

Link to read about Groundhog Day Prediction for Ohio

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/02/02/groundhog-day-2015-punxsutawney-phil-sees-shadow-predicts-six-more-weeks-of-winter/

Today is my birthday in Japan.  :-)

 

Nice to hear from my Japanese friends there :-)  wishing me Happy Birthday.

Today also in Japan on Feb 3 Japanese celebrate Setsubun.  Children and adults rid their classrooms and homes of bad spirits by gleefully flinging handfuls of roasted soybeans, known as fukumame.   Classmates and family members disguised as oni (Ogres).     

Balboa Lake and Park in CA

We packed and cleaned up our room preparing for our flight home.  We cleaned the van and then went to Audy's house to help pack the kids.  

After some talking and trying to decide what we can do today the decision was made to go to Balboa Park/lake.  I loved the park from the minute I got out of the van.  The park was filled with a variety of ducks and birds.  I took some great photos.  

 KINGFISHER

Audy and I sat in a gaxebo and watched the ducks catch fish, enjoying their lunch.

Walking towards the bike rental there was a guy sitting in a chair down by the water.  He had a toy boat in the lake and was having fun using it to chase some ducks and  race it around the water.

This boat moves pretty fast across the water.  Looks like a neat toy to have.

Mason and BB had wanted to ride bikes from the minute we got out of the car.  We are almost to the rental area.

This bike rental place had a variety of bikes to choose from.  We ended up getting one bike where 5 people could sit in it but only 4 could pedal.  Greg took Seamus for a walk while we took a bike ride.

Mason and JL took turns riding the single seated bike.

OK its Greg's turn to ride and Audy and I got out.  Love the expressions on there faces.

Dancing in the park........let the good times roll.

Setting under the gazebo watching the ducks catch fish.  The kids had some graham crackers and broke them up in small pieces to feed the ducks.

 Its time to head back to the van and go eat at IN AND OUT burger.. we are all dreading today as today we are leaving CA.

 IN AND OUT BURGERS one last time before we leave for the airport.

 A hill was behind where we ate.  Audy and the kids went up there to play and spend time together.

 We have the RED EYE flight out of LA and going  3 hours early. We have to return the van and get some shopping done.

 On the plane and ready for some shut eye on the red eye.

Griffin Observatory in Hollywood CA

Today we are going to Griffin Observatory in Hollywood. The road to the observatory was filled with traffic and the closer we got the more traffic we endured.

Marlon let us all out and we started walking up to the observatory which was a long walk straight up. My knee felt like it was going to explode before we got to the top of the hill.  At the top there was free wi fi and Audy called her Dad to see where he had to park.  He parked so far away that the observatory was not even visible to him.

I told Audy there was no way I could walk back down that hill then walk all the way to where Marlon had to park.  She contacted the security guy who gave Marlon permission to park right outside the observatory.  Thank goodness.  While we waited on his arrival it was picture taking  time.  

 The Griffin Observatory Hollywood CA was a great place to see the Hollywood sign.

Marlon has made it to the top and found a place to park.   Audy and the kids took off one way and Marlon and I set off in another direction.

 Inside the observatory was very interesting.

 After a quick look around in the inside, we went to the top of the observatory for a great view.  Huge telescopes are also located up on the roof and I sure hope we get a chance to look at them.  Today its so windy, I kept my hat up the entire time we were on the roof.

We barely made it in time to see the telescope........we were the last ones to go inside and to see this amazing instrument, it was huge.  I would love to see that big door open and actually get to look through it.

Good times with Aunt Audy at the observatory.......

I spotted them on top of the roof.......they seemed so far away.  No matter how sick they are when they are with their Aunt Audy life is good. :-)

 One last time to look out at the Hollywood sign before we go home.

New Years Eve........Audy wanted to stop on the way home and  get some sparkling apple cider to bring in the New Years with.  Marlon stopped again and bought them some of Mason's favorite  burgers at  IN AND OUT BURGER>

 
Audy told us about Greg going out with some friends and where he was going to be.  Marlon and I left and went to find him at a British pub called the White Harte.  Greg introduced us to all his friends that were there.  He didn't stay long he wanted to go back and be with Audy.  Marlon and I enjoyed there company.
When they left we moved up to the bar and ordered some dinner.  We were given party hats and ordered a drink to toast the New Years in.  The pub had the NEW YORK ball drop on TV.   so its 9pm here in CA time which would be midnight in Ohio.  We toasted in the new year of 2015 and finished eating our dinner.  We met a musician while we were sitting at the bar.  He sometimes plays in Ohio at Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza.  He gave us his card  and said when he comes to Ohio please come and see him.  Super excited to have met Todd Wolfe.  Let the good times roll........