Wednesday, July 18, 2012

LA Lost and Found

My dear friend Chania's most heartfelt gift to me,
allowed me to visit my son Ben in LA for a few days
last weekend.
 Ben grilled our evening meals out on his patio and you can see why. The view is spectacular each evening. You gals who are photo geniuses would do so much better than these, but it gives you the general idea.





Ben has visiting skunks and a coyote who comes quite near
 and red tailed hawks that swoop down 
hunting prey and it is just lovely. 

I despise the CA freeway system, I hate driving anywhere in CA actually, especially alone, I had to put on my big girl pants to do this trip. I managed to get lost only once the morning I left, scared myself a bit but I eventually found a freeway
 that got me back on track...
What good is a map navigator on your phone if it cannot locate your current location!!!!

We didn't do much running around, we mostly visited and 
grilled and had a nice mom/son time. I could not ask for more.

On the home front I have plans to rearrange some rooms 
soon and purge some more and well, there is the turning
"not sixty yet" later this week, so some fun get together
meals with gal pals are scheduled.

No, I have not yet photographed what totes are left,
sorry you girls who have inquired..I will soon I promise.
Some business woman I am..not

We are hot here and the rain that finally fell in
torrents, fell while I was gone..argh!

As much as some of you enjoy this time of year
because of the lovely places you live,
I am summer bah humbugging and praying for early fall
and winter to hurry..
sorry 




32 comments:

wendy said...

Mom and SON time....the Best. You are braver then me. I'd never attempt the CA freeways. NEVER !! I am terrified of freeways and new roads.
Beautiful view.

I am LOVING summer... !!!!!

Razmataz said...

Being with your kids....there's nothing a mother wants or needs more. Glad you and Ben had some special time.

erin's art and gardens said...

wowza! just catching up after my vaykay...and you drove to L.A? and saw the son!! you go girl! it has been hot here too and of course rained while i was gone...still in drought conditions though...i am ready for fall too. would love to hear more about your trip.
erin
xxoo

Anonymous said...

I have driven ther once.....and once was enough! The twinkly city lights sur are pretty though!!

Tanya said...

TORRENTS? MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - WHAT torrents? I think Sarah may have been stoned! Glad you had such a wonderful time with Ben. XOXO

Jill said...

I'm happy you were able to see your son. My only son a midst my girls will be a senior this year. Not looking forward to next fall when he will be off to college. Nooooo, not at all. My daughter is using a few items from my gift package from you in a 4-H project!

Faded Charm said...

I'm so glad you were able to take a trip and visit with your son. sounds like you had a great time just chillin:-)

While you are awaiting cooler weather, I still have hope that Summer will get here eventually....cloudy and cool ever since I got back from my vaca:-( All I ask is to see the sun every once in a while...why is that so much to ask??

Stay cool!!!

xoxo
Kathleen

Robin Larkspur said...

Nice to see you again! What a great trip you had to see your son!!
Major hot here in central New York, horrible, hate it. "turning not 60"? I just had my 60th on July 1st. I called it my Diamond Jubilee and embraced it. It wasn't awful.

Linda said...

Wow...LA is a crazy place to drive...I have lived in Southern California all my life and where I live the freeways are a breeze...but Los Angeles is a different crazy place! I don't go there! Glad to hear you had some time with your son! The weather hasn't been too bad here...I feel for all the places in the mid west that are really suffering. Have a great evening!!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

So glad you got to visit your son! I love the view!! Driving in Cali is a challenge for sure. Hugs, Linda

Kathy said...

Your pix are gorgeous and time with your son - priceless!!! I am so glad you were able to make the trip and have this time.
I turned 57 last week and I think I have enjoyed my 50s (minus that little breat cancer detour) more than any other decade of life except maybe my 30s when my kids were little. When I turned 50 I suddenly felt like had somehow "arrived" and was finally a grown up and could be who I am. Maturing does have it's rewards. Except maybe that donut thing that grown around your middle - LOL!

Boxwood Cottage said...

Go you for drivin all alone to CA Z!
So happy for you that you had some quality time with your ds. The view there is really spectucular and I love to hear about all the wild life!
I'm so with you concerning too much heat, I know I couldn't bear it, but on the other hand what we have here in northern Europe this year is hard to take also. It's such a shitty Summer ist doesn't even deserve to be called that. It's cold, very windy and rainy and it makes us all quite sad and tired. We all have our hopes high that Summer is still to come soon though before we'll head into Fall!
Oh so your b-day is coming up my friend I wish you a great time with your gal pals and wish I could be there to celebrate with you!
Sending you very happy birthday wishes
Carola xoxo~

LeeAnn at Mrs Black's said...

That sure is a lovely view! I do miss California, but not those freeways! Glad you enjoyed a nice trip. And we too are dreamning of Autumn and Winter, so much so that we just posted about Narnia and old wardrobes. x

the old white house said...

So happy that you were able to visit Ben! I also have a wonderful weekend planned, Danielle is already here and John is flying in for a few days and we are all going to Ann Arbor to hang out at the Art Fair! I will have my entire family together and I cannot wait! It's raining here right now, so my silly rain dance can stop for a while. Ben's view is fabulous, except for the critters I would stay out there always :) Have a fabulous birthday,you deserve it! Happy Happy Birthday to you my friend! love, t.xoxoxoxoxo

Cindy said...

What a spectacular view!! I am glad you got some mom/son time!
I am with you on the early fall! I dispise this hot,dry weather and the furnace is heating up more! Come on Fall!!
XO
Cindy

gail said...

I am so with you on the "can't wait till fall" issue. It's my favorite season, but also I deal with snow better than I deal with heat. I actually get sick of sunny days. I guess I'm just crazy.
Love the view, and the photos are perfect! Glad you are able to spend time with your son.
And the birthday thing? I turned 60 in Sept. and still am adjusting....just not handling it all that well mentally!
xoxo
gail

Debbie said...

How cool that you had time with your son! and good for you that you braved the scary freeways out there!!! I would have needed "depends" while driving myself...seriously!!
Glad you had a good time.
xo

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Oh then, you'd love it here Z ...... it has been raining for weeks now but, we are promised some better weather in the next few days ..... I'm just hoping that it will be warm and sunny for the Olympics.
What a stunning view your son has.....no wonder he chose to live there. I can remember when we were in LA and seeing those magnificent views. I'm so glad that you have had some quality mother and son time. That will keep you going for a while.
Sorry to have been absent lately ..... am still getting to grips with my new computer. I'm waiting for all of my photos etc. to be transfered from my old computer to my new one. XXXX

The Boston Lady said...

We are moving there in a month!! So glad you had that time, compliments of Chania's assist, with your son. It sounds like you had a perfect time and hopefully refreshed your spirit while there (in the blasted traffic)> Ann

Sue said...

I think your photos are gorgeous! As for loving summer...fall is really my favorite, but usually I enjoy summer for the flowers and the longer days and the sounds of kids in the neighborhood. This year...NOT! Over 100 degrees every day, no rain for weeks and weeks, everything brown and all the neighbors staying inside. Fall will be a welcome relief!

time worn interiors said...

awh how sweet! I'm glad you got to visit your son! Glad you had a great time!
tot

Lana said...

Always happy to see your posts, Z~ So nice that you got to visit with Ben, of course. Those "do nothing" times are the best... It's crazy hot in Oklahoma~ all over-100 degree days. Enjoy your birthday ahead with buddies! At 64 now and I just count the blessing of each new day...and go forward being ME! :) Have a very happy week!

Kit said...

I am so thrilled you got to see your boy! And I quite understand your feeling about the heat. Been hiding indoors myself. Hang in there! Kit

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Hi Z ~ so happy you got to visit your son! The photos are fabulous and the picture you painted sounds wonderful! You made some memories that will last forever!

Carole said...

Glad your time together was so special.
Fall will be here before you know it. It's raining right now and I feel a little guilty with areas like the midwest with nothing.

x
C

Garrett said...

The traffic further north is much more manageable :)

Rebecca said...

I am so glad you got such a lovely visit with your adorable
son!!! It looks fantastic and it is good for us to get out of our comfort zone once in awhile... as much as I travel I am always lost! I have no sense of direction but I always eventually get back on track
Blessings my friend
R

Terra said...

The photos are spectacular, and how brave you are to drive the freeways in the LA area. It is too confusing for me. Your friend sounds like a sweetheart to help you visit your son.

Nella Miller said...

Hi Suz, you have been busy! Your sewing skills are as accomplished as the rest ! Lovely bags! I know about driving in crazy traffic, it takes all of my resolve to drive into the big city too!! But what would keep you away from visiting your son?...I truly love California as well! I have been engulfed with stuff here and waiting for some down time to do a post soon....too busy, but healthy and happy and hot !! wishing you a wonderful, healthy, happy birthday with all that is precious to your heart.... Much love, N.xo

June said...

I would be bah-humbugging too in that heat Z. We had a week of 100+ degrees and as luck would have it I was visiting my BIL and sister in Boise when it came, so it was about eight degrees hotter than at home.
I am so glad you were able to spend some time with your boy. He has a beautiful view of the city.
There are NO big girl panties big enough to make me get on a CA freeway. However I do plan to make my way to St. George by myself sometime in the future, but I am not going through Salt Lake if I can help it. But Highway 93 through NV doesn't have cell service along a lot of it, so I don't know which will be worse.
I'm so glad to hear you made it home safe.
sending hugs...

Romeo said...

WOW! What a wonderful gift to wonderful you! To spend time with son could only be equaled by spending time with daughter. So glad you had this opportunity! And the view? Now that is something to behold!!!! Enjoy!

"Her" and Romeo

Beatnheart said...

YOur son looks like he lives in a really nice area...my view is not at all spectaular...ugh. Living in LA/Long Beach...you love it and hate it all at once. A nice area helps but most of us do not have that luxury. Freeways...imagine doing it every single day...I must have spent about 10 years of my life on the freeway or looking for a place to park.