HAPPY ANNIVERSARY JIM & JEN!!!!

Check out my sister!

My sister (okay, in-law) has just donated her long curls to Locks of Love. I've never seen her with straight hair before- is it cute, or what? Nice work Jen!

Let the Festivities Begin!

Sarah kidnapped me today for some delicious pre-birthday dessert at the Gastrognome (Idyllwild's fanciest). We talked Nancy into joining us to make it a full-fleged girl outing.


-Chocolate Truffle Cake


-Group shot by Bowden

Evangelism Catalyst

On days when I don't abuse the snooze button, I walk to work. Part of me decided that driving to work when I am capable of walking is being a bad steward of the air, my car and gas money, and part of me just wants to fit back into my favorite jeans. I cross the paths of dog-walkers, gardeners, fitness partners and all sorts of others as I skirt the pavement and trespass lightly the front yards of my neighbors. There are some that are eager to chat about the weather, and some who avert their eyes, pretending to be lost in thought. Eventually the sum of the nods, smiles and 'good morning's will be:

"So where are you headed?"...

and I will answer: "On my way to work at Camp Maranatha."

"You don't say/ That's interesting/ What on earth is a maranatha?"

to which I will respond: "Did you ever go to church camp as a kid?"

-"I played soccer in college."

-"I was on varsity in high school."

May (24 Days Late)

Wild

Josh spotted a coyote today through the office window and, blogger that I am, I had my camera handy. These pictures were taken with the telephoto lens at its extreme. I'm not crazy. Coyotes'll mess you up. I stayed on the porch. Josh on the other hand, just bellowed "Hutela!" repeatedly as he chased it into the gully.

Poorly Worded Seinfeld Trivia

What was the name of the dark writer who was the girlfriend of Jerry's cheery housecleaner who was accused of stealing George's statue from Jerry's apartment?

On the fifteenth I was able to visit my dear old Chiliheads while working at the annual charity golf tournament to benefit Canyon Acres. This was my fifth year as a volunteer- it is always a fun event. As I was scrolling through the pictures the other day, I realized that I was inadvertently saving them to Josh's computer. I then did such a good job of erasing them, that I actually took them off of my memory card. Sadly, these are the only shots that survived. They are from dinner the night before.

That Parked-Car Heat Can Make You A Little Crazy.

The chickens and I got to see this helicopter land on a nearby roof while we were in the desert.



Here are their excited faces:

Holy Smokes! Jack Attack!!

At the Breaka-Breaka Dawn

It wasn't until Thursday night that I realized that I had only scheduled two people for Saturday's breakfast prep. I told Josh and Paul about my mistake and they offered to come in a little early. They put my 6:40 arrival to shame by getting in at 6:00 a.m. They were not the same helpless staff boys that I worked with a decade ago! They got almost everything done by 7:00 (we serve at 8:00), and even did the big, scary tasks like oatmeal and chorizo. This, fortunately, gave us time to collect some blog fodder.

Whatever happened to listing simply: "natural flavorings"?

We May Be The Tiniest Bit Blog-Obsessed

Are anyone else's archive links suddenly in French?

Pizza Train

Yesterday after breakfast and devotions, we decided to take a quick walk on the trail since we'd have plenty of time for preparing pizza and spaghetti casserole for lunch.





This last picture was accidentally snapped as I was falling down. I guess Vans slip-ons aren't the best for hiking.

Gladlig Syttende Mai!!

Thanks to everyone for keeping my mom in their prayers!! She will be able to attend the Mother's Day party at Jim and Jen's today. Happy Mother's Day Mom and Jen- I'm sorry that I can't be there to celebrate, but am so glad that we got to spend so much time together last week. I love you both!!

Some Virtual Flowers For You, Mom

(If you recognize the picture, it's because these are the ones you grew for me last year.)

Get well soon!!!!!

My lovely mother is in the hospital due to a post-knee-surgery-blood-clot. In true Susie fashion, she shrugged off the inconvenience of the ordeal with: "Well, I was getting bored at home anyway." Make the best of it, and forget the rest of it, right? Getting out today is a possibility, and of course, my hope, so that I can save her from hospital food and cook her dinner. We Richards like to extend all holidays into long affairs- let the Mother's Day pre-party begin!

Love you mom!! See you during visiting hours.

Previously Unposted (I can't imagine why...)

Mom, here are the goofiest shots that I could find to keep you entertained (my apologies to friends and family).

Party Animal

"The dinner bill is HOW MUCH?"

One too many rounds of Trivial Pursuit

"You're going, going back, back to Cali, Cali without me?"

If you see this man in a dark alley, just dial 9-1-and keep your finger on the 1.

"I rule."

" Dave's winning at Young Players Edition? He's totally cheating."

"So glad I didn't get in to this game."

Photographers direction: "Look crazy excited, heavy on the crazy. Bingo."

um...

Idyllwild County Park

Trailblazing before and after