Presidents weekend at Tahoe?!

The Lodge at Lake Tahoe is ideally located just blocks from the center of South Lake Tahoe, with easy access to the grocery store, restaurants, and the South Shore and North Shore ski resorts.

Decorated in a traditional country style, the accommodations are very comfortable for a week’s stay. After a day on the slopes, the fully equipped kitchen makes it easy to prepare snacks, drinks, and full meals during your vacation.

Some of the amenities include:
Barbecues
There are gas barbecues located in the pool area.
Books/Videos
There is a collection of books and video rentals for your enjoyment.
Playground Area
On-site swingset, horseshoe pit and volleyball area.
Seasonal Pool & Spa
Seasonal pool and year round outdoor spa open daily from 9 AM until 11 PM. Pool towels available at the front desk for your convenience.
Internet
Free Internet Access available throughout the entire property.


Trip Advisor review average 4 stars........Here's what the most recent review has to say.

“A fine place to stay in Tahoe”

So little time -

The other day when I walked to the beach with the Purchases I pointed out a sailboat race offshore. There were dozens of boats heading north along the coast. I didn't know which race it was at the time, but we all could see the seas were a little rough. I told them I had seen worse. Later I was to learn this was the Offshore Full Crew Farallones race. 49 boats were taking part. Later in the day a boat with some very experienced sailors decided to take the inside tack around the island. These islands are large rocky islands surrounded by jagged rocks, usually a sailor will stay well off these waters and give the rocks a wide berth. But in this race, according to reports from other boats, this boat went in closer than many would consider. Then they were hit by a 12 foot wave. The wave knocked five people into the water. The remaining crew attempted to turn and retrieve their comrades when another wave hit the boat this time sending it up on the rocks and knocking another two people into the water while breaking the leg of the third. At the scene there were three people rescued, one recovered dead and there are still four missing.

Some times I feel when I am having a hard time sleeping like tonight, it is because I am all too aware of how short this life is. There is so much to be done. Sometimes when I am sewing and in a mad frenzy trying to finish as many projects as I can, I think, I better get it done, I may not have the time tomorrow. I look at little children and I think "take it all in they won't be this little for long". We visit Glenn's Dad as he sits at home reading his mail or playing solitaire on the computer, and I think "I hope I always can grab life with both hands and squeeze every bit of it until there isn't anymore. I do not want to be idle. I want to do it all".

Each and everyone of us have a responsibility to those whose lives have been cut short. LIVE life. LOVE every minute of it even if it is a challenge at times. AND do whatever you can to give that gift to others. It can all can vanish in an instant.

Walk abouts....

The day before yesterday I joined Leslie, Rob, Olivia, Jack, Joe and Arlene and Joe... for a walk to Tennessee Beach. Leslie's parents are out here again from Pittsburgh, you see Leslie will be doing what I did many years ago... she is having a hysterectomy on Monday.

Leslie has already fought and beaten Breast Cancer (3 years can I hear a WOO WOO?!) But ovarian cancer runs in her family. She decided to get ahead of Cancer this time and remove that chance of Cancer. I did the same thing.

After my chemotherapy was completed, the doctors had told me that basically, I would be in early menopause. I was taking Tamoxifen a drug that interferes with your estrogen basically stopping the estrogen from being a receptor for Cancer cells. A side effect of this drug is an increase risk of uterine Cancer.

One week, I had some bleeding that couldn't easily be explained. I high tailed it over to my OBGYN and suggested I might like to have a hysterectomy because if I could avoid ever hearing the word CANCER again that would be my choice. The Dr. complied. I had my surgery. Now here I was, a 44 year old woman with one breast, no uterus, no ovaries or the assorted other accouterments. There was no doubt I was flung past peri-menopause and directly into menopause. I had my night sweats. I had little mood swings. But by God I was Cancer free and still am.

While I was long past those days and night of tropical heat.... (night sweats etc) I have watched as my friends later approached this "change of life". Many opted for hormone replacement to handle those nasty side effects of menopause. I always cringe when I hear that is their decision. There is no guarantee these hormones would increase their personal risk for Breast Cancer, but we know they increase many people's risk (like mine!)

I didn't have a choice. I couldn't consider ever taking hormones again. And my quick flash method of menopause got be to the other side quicker than most folks. So all this is to say I understand what Leslie is going through today. It is a way to get ahead of Cancer but it is another bite of reality. A Cancer patient understands there is a lot to life that is not black or white, good or bad. There is a lot of gray that we all have to maneuver. I am hoping my walking buddy will be back in walking shape soon, because I need more days like the day before yesterday!

Take a look at some of the pictures of our sunny morning walk.

Off we go - The stroller is a good carrier for a lot of things... not always kids!

Jack was a trooper he walked the entire way!

Arlene being windswept taking in the view.

Leslie and Rob
Guess who! Miss Olivia!

Check out Olivia's hair! Jack being goofy and Rob being a Dad. They bought me a Super Duper burger as a post walk treat.

A Bountiful Easter

Easter used to be a day that was full of children, egg hunts and Easter bunnies, Grandparents and swimsuits, flowers and dresses with gloves and hats, baskets and cellophane grass and of course dyed eggs that looked like tye dye. These days it is different.

Glenn and I woke up to the sound of turkeys on our hill not children eager to go egg hunting. The day was beautifully clear so we put on our walking shoes and headed out to the Tennessee Valley trail head for a walk to the beach.

Every time we walk to the beach it is a little different. If it has rained the trail will be covered with several puddles that defy crossing. In early Spring there seems to be another new flower blooming on every walk. Sometimes the air is crisp and sometimes it is heavy with mist. Its a very special place to have in your backyard.

If I was to give this walk today a title it would be "The Shadow Walk" You know the kind of light that can cast tall shadows? Take a look at some of these pictures and you will see what I mean....

MR Turkey

THE WOMEN

The FENCE

Runner in the distance

ME

GLENN downhill

POPPIES waking up

A CROSSABLE CREEK

CROSSING on pieces of the TENNESSEE

CREEK runs to the ocean

Shadowy figures

Rocky cliff and cubby hole

Shadow - Cliff

Lookout

Glenn - looks out

Heading home

Spring

End of the trail.

We finished our walk and headed off for the rest of our Easter.

Easter is a time for me that "shadows" could be the perfect tag line. It is so full of memories. I remember my father buying corsages for my sister, mother and I every year. He even sent me one when I was away at school my first year. My Dad often was gruff and not particularily warm to me as a child, but Easter to him was the best day of the year. To me as a kid it was one of the real miracles of Easter to see my father get these corsages for his girls.

My mother's shadow I feel on Easter as well. I see her in her hat and gloves. I see the Sees Candy baskets she'd produce. I feel her heart when I remember her singing hymns a little off key in church. I remember my sister with her white lace trimmed socks in her mary janes, with her dress full of netted slip, held stiffly in place, her glasses (which I coveted) to me made her look like a secretary. I remember the little white flowers in the lawn of my grandparents front yard.
I smell my grandmother's rouge. I hear my Grandfather's mechanical voice (from his electric voice box he used after having his larynx removed). I remember my brother being born at Easter time and the blue bunnies that made their way to our home along with my beaming father.

As a mother myself, I would try to recreate the magic of these memories for our children. See's Easter Baskets, carbon copies of our Easter outfits, Egg hunts and visit to grandparents. Easter comes and there are so many shadows surrounding me, it makes me feel lonely at the same time that it makes me feel blessed. Every year we would go to the Yacht club and have brunch. The Easter Bunny would arrive and the kids would sit on its lap. Felix would make them Shirley Temples. Each girl "played" the bunny at least once.

This year Glenn and I joined Patti, John and Patti's sister Cindy at the club. The bunny came by boat but it wasn't Katie or Allison inside the costume. But we had a nice time reminiscing with our friends. They too have memories.

After brunch we went back home where I finished the quilt top for "Circle of Hope". This quilt is all about shadows and light. The quilt will be given to a Cancer Warrior after our event in July. Anyone making a donation in the name of a Cancer Warrior, Survivor or Angel will have their name on a card that will go with the quilt. This symbol of love and support will surround the Cancer Warrior with the knowledge they are not alone. You can donate to the quilt by going to http://www.pinktiniandpopcorn.com/ Just be sure to indicate who you are honoring with the donation.

This quilt top is heading to the quilter today... I will post the finished quilt later. But donate today!

After Glenn took a little nap, I called my father and talked with he and his wife Sandy. The conversation was a little unnerving because Sandy shared a story about a trip my father made (inadvertently) to Redlands. He had gotten completely lost and an 1 hour errand turned into a nightmare. I heard my father on the other end of the phone seemingly unaffected by what she was saying. I realized he is getting quite old. I am so glad I will be seeing him in November after the 3 day there.

Glenn and I finished our day by heading to his father's house where I made Easter dinner. Glenn showed his Dad his new I-Pad and some pictures he thought he'd enjoy. Every time we go to this house it isn't hard to imagine Glenn's Mom still being there. Nothing has really changed. It as if things were frozen in time. I think Glenn's Dad hasn't been able to really move forward since she died. There are more things around (after we moved him out of his office all those things are shattered about). There is a full time person there cooking meals and helping him. But the cards are still on the bookshelf she had there, her notes are still on the side of the refrigerator. It has been over 3 years.

The thing is about shadows, they cannot be as powerful if no light is around.

I am blessed to have shadows who are powerfully kept in the light.

This Easter was that kind of day.

Squeezing it in

It started out at around 9:30 last night when we received an offer on our listing at 326 County View, That is good news, but other potential buyers made the evening interesting. The buyer's offer came with a response time of 10 am. That was not only short notice, but wouldn't fairly allow another interested buyer to make up their minds, our client the time to fairly consider the offer on the table or me the walk I had scheduled for over a week for my "day off" Tuesday.

But somehow after all the emailing, phone calling and late night ruminating I was able to commit to a shorter walk and be back by noon to work. So that is what I did.

I met my team mate Patty in Corte Madera and drove to downtown San Rafael. We parked the car and headed toward China Camp Village and a promise of a Glenn "sweep" to bring us back. Leaving at 9:30 this gave us enough time for the 7 mile walk.

Patty has been juggling it all too. Work, an aging parent, a daughter, a husband and his family. It would be easy to just focus on one thing, but life isn't like that.

We caught up while we walked and talked. Then Patty called out for me to look at three shorebirds along the edge of the bay. That reminded me I had a camera with me!

So here are a few photos of our walk and final destination.

Patty and me
Working on the phone - its a new world.
But at China Camp it is still an old world. The old shrimping village has survived the budget cuts so far with the help of community contributions.
Its a great place to take photos.
With out without people in them!
The old dock and equipment showing the signs of time.
With young ladies getting younger with every step.
There is still some sort of fishing activity that goes on here.

And in not time at all our sweep van had arrived.

Our walker stalker, boa boy and best ever team crew... Glenn.
We scurried off to work. Patty off to sell beautiful linens and me to over over a contract. It always does your heart good to be able to get in that time that you need for you... and still work and be productive. I know my partner Myriam is juggling too, but she has taught me what her running means to her. Its sanity and perspective. My walk is that to me. It centers me and makes me feel like I can make a difference even beyond a CAR contract.

We need donations! Have you made yours? www.the3day.org/goto/arewethereyet donate to any team member.... Allison, Barbara Bryant (she's on the San Diego page) Patty, Judy or Leslie. Or me if you must!