Fun before the summer ends...

Last Sunday, we headed off for an annual day trip to Catalina Island. It's a good way to end the summer. Jet skiing was the favorite activity for the younger set. And today, it's back-to-school time in Palos Verdes.

The Little Spanish House

This is the first house my in-laws lived in. They bought it in 1946, when Palos Verdes was way in the boonies and when homes were affordable for a young couple starting a family with one income (in addition to the mansions for the wealthy.) The house was sold when my husband was two, and the family moved next door into a much larger home they had build. I noticed that a family with young children lives there now. They are taking good care of the little old Spanish house.


Bowers Residence, 4017 Via Largavist, Valmonte, PV Estates, 1931 (Curtesy of Palos Verdes Library - Local History)

  You can imagine my delight when I found a photo of the house in the PV Library Local History photo collection. The description is as follows: "Image shows view of the Edward K. and Stella Bowers residence, located on Via Largavista on lot 16, block 6311, tract 7143, in Valmonte. View shows front of the single-story, five-room stucco house with chimney and tile roof. Lush landscaping visible in foreground. House was possibly also owned by J.W. Brubaker (date unknown.) House was "built by City Builders, Inc." according to back of photo. Architect: Commons, E.F., Date Built: 1929"

Import/Export (PVDP on Vacation)

On Ivo Zaninovic street in Šibenik, Croatia

Not much of a photo, but it's full of symbolism. N. (our travelling companion and my close friend's daughter), was born in Croatia and came to California when she was 5 months old (export/import). We have a red Jeep Cherokee just like the one in the photo (import/export), and N. owns a white one... My son and I came to see the street that has my surname - my father's paternal relatives were all from this neighborhood.

On Sept. 7th, I will have been a US import for 40 years. I feel I have the best of both worlds.

From Golden Gate to Golden Arches - We've come a long way, baby??? (PVDP on Vacation)

The splendid Golden Gate ("Zlatna Vrata") or Triumphal Arch of Sergius, Pula, Istra - Hrvatska/Croatia

(1 August 2010)

The Golden Arches of McD's, in Šibenik, Dalmacia - Hrvatska/Croatia

(7 August 2010)

(Yes, we did eat at McDonald's TWICE - the first time, to have my Croatian friends try the food -- ratings were low on burgers and fries, very high on strawberry sunday -- and the second time, for the same reason we eat fast food here - convenience when hungry. The restaurant just opened the week before we got there and is much more stylish and posh than the US ones. The servers were just wonderful.)

The Narrow Streets of Rovinj, Croatia

From the narrow streets of Rovinj, which was once an island, there were steps leading down to the water where the goods were delivered to the storerooms in the basements of the buildings

My pretty young friend Daria by the shop located in the old storeroom.

Hrvatski-Americki Mladi u Sibeniku

On the beautiful Adriatic Coast, my son and his distant cousin are exploring the coast and their Croatian heritage.

1776

The Declaration of Independence (copy), Old Courthouse Museum, Dover, Delaware (August 2009)

On this day in 1776, my mother-in-law's great-great-great- ... grandfather, Roger Sherman, signed this document. I just love that I, a naturalized US citizen, married into a family with a connection to US history.

The best gift - Mask

A Christmas gift from my son which he made in sculpture class.

Mask

I.C.B., 2009

Hand Painted Plaster of Paris

La belle Libelle - Llano, CA

The guys purchased an expensive new (but old) toy earlier this year - a 1971 Glasflügel H-201B Standard Libelle sailplane (or glider). They are off to Crystalaire today to fly in chilly weather (below freezing at 9 am).

My son I. - ready for take-off.

"I gotta see a man about a sailplane." Instructor M. and my husband P. talking sailplane talk.

Update: "Glasflügel" is German for "glas aerofoil" and "Libelle" is German for "dragonfly" - thank you, Martina!

Greetings from Palos Verdes

View of RAT (Right After Torrance) beach, Christmas Day 2009.
My friend L. had family & friends gathering on Christmas Eve, for an excellent American-Croatian-Mexican-Colombian-Chinese feast.

Aren't ya glad...

... Thanksgiving is over?
We had a wonderful traditional meal with family, and in keeping with the family tradition, everyone prepares a few dishes making it a lot easier on the host: turkey (me), prime rib roast (my sister-in-law C.), gravy (me), sweet potoatoes (cousin L. - old Sunset Mag. receipe), mashed potatoes (C.), green-bean casserole (C.), green salad (L.), savory onions (L.), home-made horseradish (cousin L. - old family receipe), canned cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie (me - Libby's can receipe), apple pie (me - my mother-in-law's receipe with ready-made crust), and mince-meat pie (C.). For the first time ever, I couldn't eat much at dinner, so thank goodness for leftovers.

Resting Place

My mother-in-law passed away in Nov. 1998 and is very much missed. She was a long time resident of Palos Verdes and "rests" at Green Hills in Rancho Palos Verdes.

4th of July with Boomer McLennan

The local country music band of Boomer McLennan and the Rhythm Rangers were a big hit at the Ranch Palos Verdes 4th of July Celebration. Check out Boomer's "Arizona Sunsets" song under Samples in http://www.boomerm.com/. All the guys are excellent musicians.
Fireworks from above San Pedro - an abstract rendering (tripod needed!). (R to L) - My son, my friend L., her two daughters and son, with the Los Angeles Harbor lights in the background.

Pomp & Circumstance at UCSD

This is the last graduation for our family for this year with my nephew (coming onto the stage on the left) receiving his diploma in Math and Economics from the John Muir College at USCD.

"T" is for Twenty-Niner Left at Torrance Airport

Coming in for a landing after the flight around the peninsula, on last Mother's day, with my student pilot son and his instructor.

From City of Torrance web page:
"Runways:
29R-11L 5,000 feet by 150 feet asphalt paving
29L-11R 3,000 feet by 75 feet asphalt paving
33 Degrees-48 Minutes-12.09 Seconds-North Latitude
118 Degrees-20 Minutes-19.31 Seconds-West Longitude
These two runways are capable of handling a maximum aircraft weight of 20,000 lbs. per wheel. The combination of length and weight capacity makes the runways near ideal for general aviation, but are not recommended for air carrier type aircraft.
The airport is 101 feet above sea level, and is served by an FAA Control Tower. Modem navigational safety aids are in use to assure safe takeoff and landing operations. "

Join Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday Round 4!

Go Beach! - 2009 Graduates from Cal State Long Beach

Today, my niece (on the right in the 2nd photo) graduated cum laude with Bachelors of Science in Nursing today. Way to go, girl!

First Solo Flight

My 14-year-old son's take-off for his first solo flight in a glider (or sailplane). He did a short patern fight around Crystalaire Airport at Llano, CA and made a perfect landing! His dad and I, as well as his instructor Martin Martorana, are so very proud of him.

Last Sunset

My father passed away on 29th August from Alzheimer's at 79, in his ancestral Croatia. He was the kindest, gentlest of men; he is very much loved and I will miss him so.Moj predragi tata, zelim ti lagan ovaj zadnji put.

Angling at Hot Creek by Mammoth Lakes

Flyfishing is about being at the right creek ...
casting just right (this one did result in a catch, and release, of a trout) ...and knowing how to tie knots - to secure the fly - to catch the fish!

Last Departure

...not for the airplane but for my Dad, who today was on this plane, returning to his native Croatia after living 37 years in the Los Angeles area. "Tata, sretan ti put!"