Indiana

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCZgwHiH9nBBmNU3DllGAnBFUsS09qdkkztOVhtZQTOWOLi2fnpqDMnJkNJpjNhoz1M5NL42t44z4taKEod1I16hTQCVWlyoB0DwwHqRabl7yIUmbtF29l4Ryvb9CWPLKXkbTET4ZJNDd/s1600/P4221920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCZgwHiH9nBBmNU3DllGAnBFUsS09qdkkztOVhtZQTOWOLi2fnpqDMnJkNJpjNhoz1M5NL42t44z4taKEod1I16hTQCVWlyoB0DwwHqRabl7yIUmbtF29l4Ryvb9CWPLKXkbTET4ZJNDd/s200/P4221920.JPG" width="150" /></a>The majority of last week was spent with my good friends Jen and Landon in Bloomington, Indiana, with their new baby!  Micah turned 4 weeks old on Good Friday and Monday (the 25th) was his one-month birthday.  He is the epitome of cute, and such a sweet baby!  Micah did quite well sleeping through the night, and he only cried when he needed food or when his bottom hurt from diaper rash.  One thing I didn't realize until this past week, was that baby poop doesn't smell when the only thing the baby eats is milk from his mother.  Diaper-changing was no problem!<br /> <br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWFTIrwYe0Huq9Sgec4baJ31XiunICLGHRrjd6-MszKDiRlN-ZwKvrKVeqJ_D8rikmU3TnelIhyphenhyphenJON3kJy-s8oecwzMOZvEMZ-lv1mWeTJSjg76Ks_uuwDMqOcohOG92MZeIQa1fW22O8/s1600/P4211908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWFTIrwYe0Huq9Sgec4baJ31XiunICLGHRrjd6-MszKDiRlN-ZwKvrKVeqJ_D8rikmU3TnelIhyphenhyphenJON3kJy-s8oecwzMOZvEMZ-lv1mWeTJSjg76Ks_uuwDMqOcohOG92MZeIQa1fW22O8/s200/P4211908.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going for our walk</td></tr> </tbody></table>The days went by leisurely as we spent our time together talking, reminiscing about the past few years of our friendship, looking at photos, and most importantly... watching and playing with baby Micah!  Poor Landon had to wake up early every morning to go to work, but we were still able to all be together in the afternoon and evenings.  And we had a good time cooking delicious food together - soups, salads, breads, chili, cookies, cupcakes...On Thursday evening, we took a nice walk around the Indiana University campus, which was absolutely beautiful.<br /> <br /> On Good Friday, we attended the evening service at Jen and Landon's church, which ended in reflective silence.  That night there was an intense thunderstorm, with cracks so loud they bolted me out of bed!  Before going to sleep, we turned out the lights to watch the bolts of lightning - I had never seen such vivid thunderbolts so close up!<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY5aRx9dSG8lmRcq4fJZd9m91ShC3jMJUs7Hmbz4x0LvpVAndVYWIxjg-81hQJFk7Dgsa0GJogvRDgV0PkTuGy4VGWz4B1VK0Svpf3M_R8_XMw0ZyXUin4Gj7c5PAY40t07SQEgbFIqCz/s1600/P4241940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY5aRx9dSG8lmRcq4fJZd9m91ShC3jMJUs7Hmbz4x0LvpVAndVYWIxjg-81hQJFk7Dgsa0GJogvRDgV0PkTuGy4VGWz4B1VK0Svpf3M_R8_XMw0ZyXUin4Gj7c5PAY40t07SQEgbFIqCz/s200/P4241940.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsU_bDXBRCmYDdyHGR84MtXs5ZktTn0BOKbTYyMAT1Wau5DO5G7-TCiXL6Ga1XcTL9F2HUOVLYzQeDBsRAVHD9zG-njotfmqnH3-h_G7htUgChjdZobWN76PR5YYWBkNVUwduBwCPsSNR/s1600/P4241942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsU_bDXBRCmYDdyHGR84MtXs5ZktTn0BOKbTYyMAT1Wau5DO5G7-TCiXL6Ga1XcTL9F2HUOVLYzQeDBsRAVHD9zG-njotfmqnH3-h_G7htUgChjdZobWN76PR5YYWBkNVUwduBwCPsSNR/s200/P4241942.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /> The best part of my visit was holding Micah.  He is so precious and beautiful and adorable!  His little yawns and stretches always elicited an "awww."  A couple of times he took a nap on my chest, and I did not want to let him go!  Jen and Landon are truly blessed and I know they will be wonderful parents to Micah as he is growing up - and they already <u>are</u> excellent parents!  They take such good care of him and shower him with love.<br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1XvNKpAaAcSf4JTfDqPWYRq6YrnYiAmNi8lUeYlq00Z0wJz0MfKFKiPeuqUO0MZBvnD3lX2wpccGIxsrRU33S6588JxZ2kp1bs-zR5gsCOhpvHnME2Q9VZQmuemeU0l6gti9hlOSe47Q/s1600/P4241951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1XvNKpAaAcSf4JTfDqPWYRq6YrnYiAmNi8lUeYlq00Z0wJz0MfKFKiPeuqUO0MZBvnD3lX2wpccGIxsrRU33S6588JxZ2kp1bs-zR5gsCOhpvHnME2Q9VZQmuemeU0l6gti9hlOSe47Q/s200/P4241951.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micah's first Easter</td></tr> </tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZncpralLttJpZ-2C07FKgJcI3PZG-dnDpmxdmd2eKcpf2aHNYIUe15q3ETEMlUqvqpt008PjerZYsHsQpoymJiz8OSjIMIsKZ8KrgwLlcvZbqSFhIqapZk9ZVXPN__wjg7A-M4KsGlKIf/s1600/P4241956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZncpralLttJpZ-2C07FKgJcI3PZG-dnDpmxdmd2eKcpf2aHNYIUe15q3ETEMlUqvqpt008PjerZYsHsQpoymJiz8OSjIMIsKZ8KrgwLlcvZbqSFhIqapZk9ZVXPN__wjg7A-M4KsGlKIf/s200/P4241956.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was one of the few times he cried</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /> On Sunday, we attended a lovely Easter service at the church (Micah's first Easter!).  Afterwards, Landon made delicious omlettes with onion, mushroom, zucchini, bell pepper, and goat cheese, which we had with fruit and multi-grain bread with apricot jam.  I made an apple pie for dessert.<br /> <br /> We did not want the time to end, but alas, I eventually had to get on a plane to come back to LA.  But I cherish those few days I had with Jen and Landon and Micah.  They are genuine and loving people, and I felt so welcome and comfortable in their home.  I love them so much, and I am happy to be called "Auntie Valerie"!<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVTmFXngQwRTKu2mUgpNSqLYvkKGX5d6tYz38o_l0DzpZKwMNbD7XagHXWPAV6SlTHPtRvIBGm4dIHREIYFRJzQGdpOEszCdYKPeilq60IY6Xspd9SrqIHT1GQxdvG2rIxLZXraX777aV/s1600/P4231927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVTmFXngQwRTKu2mUgpNSqLYvkKGX5d6tYz38o_l0DzpZKwMNbD7XagHXWPAV6SlTHPtRvIBGm4dIHREIYFRJzQGdpOEszCdYKPeilq60IY6Xspd9SrqIHT1GQxdvG2rIxLZXraX777aV/s320/P4231927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>

Indiana

The majority of last week was spent with my good friends Jen and Landon in Bloomington, Indiana, with their new baby!  Micah turned 4 weeks ...

Read more »

Ohio

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiSSy9SQoMnqIAEOhYbVlySGC7q0VYslnQ5nr2_SsKxpa4XUacKQpJCo4X36RB_vM2SQ5U8k2l836tzkizRjRAYCkWaCYV2P91ckewVbKllKKQdLHnSiI1z1SuHXVVUHR_I3hygB2kG4y/s1600/P4201880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiSSy9SQoMnqIAEOhYbVlySGC7q0VYslnQ5nr2_SsKxpa4XUacKQpJCo4X36RB_vM2SQ5U8k2l836tzkizRjRAYCkWaCYV2P91ckewVbKllKKQdLHnSiI1z1SuHXVVUHR_I3hygB2kG4y/s320/P4201880.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Vera is such a delight!  - See the resemblance?</td></tr> </tbody></table>This week marked my first visit to the state of Ohio to visit my great aunt Vera, the sister of my grandma Imogene.  Aunt Vera is a spry, fun-loving lady who is an inspiration to me.  She actively exercises, uses her computer everyday, goes out and about, drives her friends around, eats right, and stays young and healthy.<br /> <br /> I first met Aunt Vera when she came to California in the summer of 1996 to visit us, and since then she has made several trips out our way.  However, this was my first opportunity to visit her at her own home, and have quality time one-on-one.  She is such a fascinating woman, and has lived a life full of adventure.  I can only hope that I will do as many fun things in my life as she has done.<br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbny_ZRlk_bj5t7JfLwSct2-BOnjKmgrwcjY0X6TS8-iJ2vsUBzUFIFzh82YFtDb65M7OP-BeZJ0j5IAKTXRb5bI0wOELsXfbHnGGSw6klBp0znwZlMSxNG2-OTyOLD5rd8T2so1-g79aR/s1600/P4191876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbny_ZRlk_bj5t7JfLwSct2-BOnjKmgrwcjY0X6TS8-iJ2vsUBzUFIFzh82YFtDb65M7OP-BeZJ0j5IAKTXRb5bI0wOELsXfbHnGGSw6klBp0znwZlMSxNG2-OTyOLD5rd8T2so1-g79aR/s200/P4191876.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our lunch table</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /> She lives in a small town of 11,000 people called Galion, Ohio.  My favorite part of the town was all the old colonial-style homes, many of which have been renovated and look amazing.  While I was there, we took a hour-and-a-half road trip up to Cleveland, which is on the edge of Lake Eerie.  After a short driving adventure, we found the restaurant we were looking for and ate lunch on a cliff that overlooks the lake.  It was a very foggy day, so the lake lived up to it's name...But I have to say that my "almond pistachio tilapia with lavender honey butter" was absolutely delicious!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> But, most of my time with Aunt Vera was spent in conversation around the house.  We looked through old photographs from the Chance side of the family (my maternal grandmother's side), going back to the Smith's and even O'Neal's.  I pulled out several photos to scan and put on my computer, some of which I had never seen before.<br /> <br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigybX4Lq2eh1ieoldW1ha1osn04SF_xpA9Ac1DsAbbplyy3jH5DvF9KgmD8V8Lj0g3uJj_cKqpgdmCvFITCf00zNv1i4j5n0nT54r4ItQrmboARZi61YQhJ45R_LgJ6d4fYPGxpspKv9p5/s1600/Chance-1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigybX4Lq2eh1ieoldW1ha1osn04SF_xpA9Ac1DsAbbplyy3jH5DvF9KgmD8V8Lj0g3uJj_cKqpgdmCvFITCf00zNv1i4j5n0nT54r4ItQrmboARZi61YQhJ45R_LgJ6d4fYPGxpspKv9p5/s320/Chance-1921.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great-Grandpa "Slim" Chance, Great-Grandma Lennie, <br /> with Grandma Imogene & Great-Aunt Gwen</td></tr> </tbody></table>Aunt Vera also told me all kinds of family stories that I had never heard before.  I heard about my great-great grandpa, who was a bugle/drummer boy for the Union in the Civil War, and my great-grandma's sister who married a professional photographer around the turn of the century, and my great-grandpa's birthtown, which is now at the bottom of a lake.  I sat down with all the resources Aunt Vera had, and created a family tree on my laptop.  It was great to have her there to answer all my questions about our family, since she is the only one from that generation, and she has a lot of information to pass on! <br /> <br /> Just listening to her talk about our family made me feel closer to them.  Looking through the photos and hearing about the lives they lived, made them more real to me.  Pictures of people who were once strangers to me suddenly came to life as I realized not only did these people live real lives, but they are my heritage.  I am a part of them, and it is my responsibility to carry on their legacy.<br /> <br /> Yesterday, Aunt Vera took me to rent my car to journey to Indiana for the next leg of my trip.  But as I drove through the beautiful scenery of Ohio, I still thought about all the people in my family who have gone before me and how important it is for me to stay connected to those in my family who are here with me now.  I love each one of them so much, and I hope that the circumstances that life brings will keep me close to them.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GM4JVBgktaQH_2zePcY7jes7djo4cXSvHVMrXScgi5RSTKj5LQnSINFXxFbQ6kdnFSQ7GLqcGmUXAOIeURLUAFsayCCMjDOBlmiX8QmeDO8klbPyEgfAN6U5Nij5D2pcXcXKKpt-l-lu/s1600/P4201890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GM4JVBgktaQH_2zePcY7jes7djo4cXSvHVMrXScgi5RSTKj5LQnSINFXxFbQ6kdnFSQ7GLqcGmUXAOIeURLUAFsayCCMjDOBlmiX8QmeDO8klbPyEgfAN6U5Nij5D2pcXcXKKpt-l-lu/s200/P4201890.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /> </td></tr> </tbody></table>

Ohio

Aunt Vera is such a delight!  - See the resemblance? This week marked my first visit to the state of Ohio to visit my great aunt Vera, th...

Read more »

Huntington Gardens in Arcadia

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRtpLuUjr1AHSZbSIAptgGHZt_AVM9W2xNLfg-6o0EPdx3TZX3B09Ewr9Ea2kz7vQ2hHZ1CjuHtsnn2PaABQYwmxuslh478bPxTgZoY9e8N024e6txdL41BlB_dzFTfGpDejULCkwSZpk/s1600/P4021824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRtpLuUjr1AHSZbSIAptgGHZt_AVM9W2xNLfg-6o0EPdx3TZX3B09Ewr9Ea2kz7vQ2hHZ1CjuHtsnn2PaABQYwmxuslh478bPxTgZoY9e8N024e6txdL41BlB_dzFTfGpDejULCkwSZpk/s200/P4021824.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEYLCiUf2Ea7lgV92OMjMmWW8eHvTcvb_hfGGyWVJpwoqKzMo46qegrcM2jYlUIYgsj5nbew4M5AfZdoWs_38jaVAupZcrpHUdNUib85WiCiSv3BOXHHM8MBqYD3ztmHvY28BuqIH8wKi/s1600/P4021820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUgAjxfe6Z-nBzNzsKLLRstBzQAQMe7KvZYcGbO2gZ6nE55d85VV6qpD6dZAPBRLdo-Q0CLhEQKVPaTYCGUSvupV_wrBRV-A7AVOR0t6Gsv6qxDsAk67An8U8KOURSArWHI3Lzyjm2r5u/s1600/P4021826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUgAjxfe6Z-nBzNzsKLLRstBzQAQMe7KvZYcGbO2gZ6nE55d85VV6qpD6dZAPBRLdo-Q0CLhEQKVPaTYCGUSvupV_wrBRV-A7AVOR0t6Gsv6qxDsAk67An8U8KOURSArWHI3Lzyjm2r5u/s200/P4021826.JPG" width="200" /></a>One of the things on my "Before I Leave LA To-do List" is the Huntington Gardens in Arcadia, and thanks to my friend Jill and her husband Dave, I was able to mark that one off my list! <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxaX6qsmEkg2s0EBT7d_zPEQKTn8e4L07SLXiCrj7Mgm9Mhdj4_-5vxQbSMwfaZEgtS8L87l94jGs2WtOj4fw5VpXbE-Og3kqHBHyPbz0HXpgSFLkd1tUJXAvuqTci5YwW6R1WonxpZgg/s1600/P4021821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxaX6qsmEkg2s0EBT7d_zPEQKTn8e4L07SLXiCrj7Mgm9Mhdj4_-5vxQbSMwfaZEgtS8L87l94jGs2WtOj4fw5VpXbE-Og3kqHBHyPbz0HXpgSFLkd1tUJXAvuqTci5YwW6R1WonxpZgg/s200/P4021821.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEYLCiUf2Ea7lgV92OMjMmWW8eHvTcvb_hfGGyWVJpwoqKzMo46qegrcM2jYlUIYgsj5nbew4M5AfZdoWs_38jaVAupZcrpHUdNUib85WiCiSv3BOXHHM8MBqYD3ztmHvY28BuqIH8wKi/s1600/P4021820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEYLCiUf2Ea7lgV92OMjMmWW8eHvTcvb_hfGGyWVJpwoqKzMo46qegrcM2jYlUIYgsj5nbew4M5AfZdoWs_38jaVAupZcrpHUdNUib85WiCiSv3BOXHHM8MBqYD3ztmHvY28BuqIH8wKi/s200/P4021820.JPG" width="150" /></a>Dave is the curator for the Chinese and Japanese gardens, which were absolutely beautiful.  The Japanese Garden closed the Monday after we visited it in preparation for its 100th anniversary, so we were able to see it just in time.  We did not spend much time at the other gardens, since we knew this was our last opportunity to see the Japanese Garden before it closed for renovation.  All the plants, flowers, ponds, and scenery were amazing, and I will definitely have to go back once all the work is complete on the new garden next year!

Huntington Gardens in Arcadia

One of the things on my "Before I Leave LA To-do List" is the Huntington Gardens in Arcadia, and thanks to my friend Jill and her ...

Read more »