Sunday, August 12, bed # 12

It has been awhile, but I have been busy. (watching the Olympics!!!) I went back to bed #10 for one night. My eye doctor is on the UCLA campus and I usually take the bus (thus saving $11.) I was thinking that I would have to get up really early in order to make it, when I realized that if I went back to Westwood, I could just walk over. I was so pleased with myself!

The weather here has been really hot so I moved early to my next home. It has a lovely pool, which the kids have been taking full advantage of.



Then, when we finish swimming, we walk down the street to the Brentwood Country Mart for dinner.

Branwen has been wanting an American Girl doll. It turns out that she never seemed to spend any money, so had a LARGE hoard in her piggy bank...enough for a doll and some extras. I have really liked this company for a long time. 1. The dolls look like girls, not women. 2. The stories that go along with the dolls always show strong girls who solve their own problems and try to help people. 3. You can have a doll who looks "just like you", or pretty damned close. The downside to the dolls is that they are expensive and have lots of stuff that you can buy to go with them.

Branwen, Jef and I had a lovely time. It took quite a while to pick the right one. Branwen was matching them to her hair and skin. Jef was trying to find one that also had the right color eyes. The one that matched all three had freckles and that wouldn't do. It turned out that since Branwen doesn't really see her eyes, she wasn't as concerned about the eye color. She picked the right one, and counted out the money from her wallet into the lady's hand.

We went to the cafe for lunch. The doll gets a "treat seat" so that she can sit at the table also. I was very impressed by the fact that if you didn't have a doll, you could have a loaner, so that you weren't left out of the fun.



The pink bows in mini-B's hair were the special napkin rings.
Mini-B sitting in her seat.


In the lady's room, there were special holders for the dolls



Mini-B trying it out



At the next table, the adults had taken advantage of the loaners. We didn't do this because we didn't want to take any attention away from Branwen's new friend.


A fun time was had by all.

A lot of things have been ordered for the house- bathroom tile, sliding doors for the bathroom and closet, window and doors for the master and a wallbed for the guest room. The wallbed is a little premature, but they were available at Costco for a reduced price that I couldn't refuse.



using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday August 5, bed #11

I told you that Westwood was only for a few days! Now I am in a house a few blocks from Alec and Jef's. We have known this family since Alec was in junior high and he has played many a game of Dungeons and Dragons around their table. In this place I just have to be careful and not water the fake plants when I am doing the live ones.

The drywallers finished and things are looking interesting.

These boxes will contain Indian pottery and are on the wall between the living and dining rooms.



The fireplace is being redone and will also have Indian potter displayed.


My little watermelons are getting bigger



Yesterday was yard sale day. Here are the 3 Jennifers



FUN FUN FUN, yah right.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, August 1, bed #10

Rolling, I keep rolling...I've moved again into a faculty condo in Westwood. This just for a few days, but I do have to change the water and feed a Beta fish. I'm not too worried about this one - if it doesn't make it, I can always buy a new one. Did have a little trouble figuring out how to return it to its bowl, but managed.

My only problem is keeping up with my Olympics watching - none of these people have recording capability.

Westwood is fun for me. I can take a walk around the village before dinner (and decide if I want to eat anything that I see.)

The kids have been really doing well in swimming. They both can do all of the strokes. Here is Branwen being rescued by a teammate on "safety day."


Considering that they only wanted to doggy paddle when they started, they have come a long way.

My house is still coming along. The heat and air conditioning are in






This pipe is going to be aimed to splash on the window if there is a leak (a code requirement that makes a lot of,sense.


The drywall guys are mudding while wearing stilts.


I have little bitty watermelons.