Birthday Trip, part one

I like mini vacations. The travel is minimal and the location may not be exotic, but it is a place to explore and get a different view of the world. 

We decided to spend two nights in Redlands and it was fantastic.

We did not take the train, which goes directly there from Claremont once a day and has a single transfer the rest of the time.

We found plenty of bicycle parking near the station.

From the train stop we wandered around a bit, stopping at few places including

ice cream (but not the funny-colored one, I had passionfruit sorbet),

a clock with the time in the sister cities,

a building with an unusual feature, a doggie water
bowl built into the left side of the entryway,

a tempting board game store,

a tempting children's bookstore,

that also sold other things.

We took a long walk out of the center of town to a shopping center and enjoyed a dinner of Indian food.

We passed lots of historic light posts, but have not learned about them.

We also saw the Zanja Trail,
"Tracing the history of the Mill Creek Zanja through Redlands."

Weekend Activities

I am behind on posting, mostly because I am filling my time other ways. Sometimes that means sitting on the couch watching bicycling, but there were other activities, too.

Like sitting in front of the computer watching college baseball.

I took a spin on my road bike, which was more of
a mental challenge than a physical challenge.

I got back in time to go to a retirement community's sale

where I bought a great pair of pants.

From there I went to the children's book festival at the library.

Some people were making Piggie, from a popular book series.

I didn't see which book was tied into making a birdhouse.

I was a little jealous of the kids taking something home that they made from LEGO bricks.

The next day we got out for a tandem ride

and a stop for breakfast by the tracks.
It is rail side, but there is no date set for trains to run on the tracks. 

The afternoon was spent with the League of Women Voters, preparing for and giving my annual report about the local school board.

Sometimes it would be nice to have a day off after the weekend!

New Plates

I love the digital plates that allow the owner to personalize the bottom of the plate. The metal plates have dmv.ca.gov and here are some others I have seen.

"Aw, Jim. Robot camels!"
This is from the television show Family Guy.

This Kia K5 has a plate that reads, "Is that a [Toyota] Supra?"

"Making GOOD Happen!"

Sonic the Hedgehog on this wrapped plate. Everything I have found says these are illegal and the fine is anywhere from $500-1000. Maybe because they are made in Germany the company is not shut down.

Some people choose to leave the bottom blank.

Busy Afternoon

The baby I take care of is turning one. Her parents, with help from family and friends, had a fun party in the park.

The theme was Hawaiian shave ice,
which made for a colorful event.
The cone on the right is a piñata.

People could get a cup of ice and select their own flavors.

Matching the theme

Is it ok to say I hope I get to play with some of the gifts? 

Here is to a great year ahead and many, many more.

Busy Morning

 

I didn't take my phone on my morning outing so there is only one picture. My stops included

• delivering a birthday card
• stopping at four mulberry trees
• visiting four little libraries
• running one mile on a trail with rabbits and lizards
• discovering a neighbor's box offering home-grown vegetables
• supporting a yard sale run by a child raising money to buy a keyboard

Great treasures for a total of $10!

May Leftovers

 

My baby's adorable feet, xylophone for scale.

A receptionist's amazing miniature collection, but nothing for scale, unfortunately.

cactus in bloom

the powder room outside the bathroom
under the grandstand at the LA Co. Fair

Italian book that showed up in our little library

snapping a picture with a turtle in the water before thinking
that the turtle might snap at those juicy-looking fingers

matilija poppies

Our friends' daughter on the
front page of the New York Times