April 15,2014  8 pm cdst   73 degrees

It always amuses me that when we are expecting a change in weather  from warm to cool, people will say, "There is a front coming."  Sometimes you can even see it.

Neil and George talking to two Border Patrol at Santa Ana wildlife refuge.

  These two are on temporary duty here as this border is the current hot spot.   They run their route on bicycles.

These burials were from the late fifties to the early 1960's .  I wonder why there were only these few because they are very clear and have lasted well.

This sign in the drive up window at a fast food restaurant.

I'm not the only one who can't spell.

Well, this time it is Neil who is having a knee replacement.  He will check into Valley Baptist Hospital Friday  and as soon as he is well enough, we will head home for the summer, so this will be the last blog of the winter.

Hope you will look for us back here in the fall.

April 8 2014  7pm cdst  about  70 degrees

I think I have called this a bunch of wrong names but the word for what they are doing or what they are waiting to do is kiteboarding.

These people watch the weather every day and  when the winds are between 15 and 45 mph, they are ready to  kiteboard.

She is from Florida and he is from California and they are waiting for the wind.

And this is the line out from those kites you see in the pic above........about 40 feet.

There is a whole family  here who are truant from work today as all are kiteboarders and conditions were supposed to be great today.  Grandpa is 70 plus...he said he got all hooked up to  try it once  but ended up eating a lot of dirt so that was the end for him.  He is just here to watch today. The girl in the pic works for the family and is also a kiteboarder.

I kinda thought this to be their van, but I don't know that for sure.

The gulls watched and waited as did the kiters because although the weather forecasters told of great conditions, the fog held the wind down and they are all waiting for the fog to lift and the wind to pick up.

Well, one brave soul tried but he was having a hard time keeping it in the air.

I don't know, is that some sort of kiteboarder's hat or is he just a little strange?

About a gazillion black skimmers were grounded too.  I like the way they stretch out when they are resting.

Well, this guy decided to give it up.  The wind was just not cooperating.  

As did this guy but looks like he just can't remember how to repack  the thing.  The wingspread  on the kites is between 9 and 12 feet.

March 32, 2014  8 pm cdst    79 degrees

Finally, after a week of putting together, and getting a little silly and tired at the end,

At least we got silly...George stayed with the program and we finally have a shed.  We all agreed that the next time, if any and it's not likely, the shed will come to us all together.

At a cemetery we had not seen before  I was taken by this grave of a Maria and her namesake who were born on the same day 30 years apart and died within a year of each other.  Sad. But also I notice that in these cemeteries,  the family often brings unusual things to leave on the grave.  On the Marias' grave are a couple of angels, a fish, something that looks like a toothbrush holder and  a flamingo on a stick.

On this one, someone left grampa a bottle of Sprite. ( Might be warm where he is and he needs a drink.)  Sorry, that was disrespectful and  by and large, I think Mexicans are very respectful of their family that have gone beyond.

sadder yet, this grave looks as if it had  things there and someone took them away.

Next went to the flea market looking for some shelves for the shed which we didn't find but as usual, I am amazed at the variety of things available ....like puppies

 or a giant snow cone,

or a cup of corn, seasoned with salsa and lime.

Or maybe you want to get your face painted.

More than likely it is a sign of  my age, but I just don't like to see the many stalls that sell toy guns.

This just looks wrong to me.

On the way home I was tempted by this store, but unfortunately, the business is up for sale and I cannot get belly dancing lessons here.  Shame.