Now I know how a pizza feels

Well the shoveling of the Pyles 08 continues...This episode is "The Revenge of the Pizza Oven"....Started on Friday night with a strategy session(beer and brains)...Saturday morning the 8 pallets of blocks beckoned and we hit it hard , making good progress till it hit 102.9 degrees at 3:PM...zoiks how does he always know when the heat will be on for these things.
Sunday also went well and the field is done for the backyard area....started on the driveway and ran out of gas and sand so called it quits for the weekend....Looks great....Also got to see Eddas sista Julia again,,,visiting from Florida,,,just look at that tan!!!! Great to catch up....Its good to know we can cook a pizza on the backyard pavers if need be....................

What did you do with your Stimulus Check

Well we paid to have the tree in the front yard cut down. I sounds heinous but it had to be done to fit Rich's vision on the landscaping for the front. So while we were down in Santa Cruz, Davey Tree came down and the first day took all the branches off and today took the stump down and ground it out. Another step...note fisheye pix to come after I finish the roll. I hate manual camera's I'm soooo spoiled...ps. Aunt Sue took great care of the pets...she is the best!

Santa Cruz Family style

We picked up Carl, during his Summer States visit and headed to Santa Cruz. Ol Waltons family adventure, night Johnboy, night Marysue...night Louis...no wrong name...but you get the gist. Friday night we went to Pacific Ave for tacos and alittle shopping. Saturday we woke up, to Carl flipping around on his air mattress, flip, flop...I'm not sleeping....and we all tried to go back to sleep at 7:30 but were forced by nature to get up. We doned our bike helmets and Carl on his skate board to Cereality, a cereal bar again on Pacific Ave. Yes Rich had Chocolate banana oatmeal...and I had some cinnimon Life with maltballs YES FOR BREAKFAST. Then off geocaching...we rented a bike for Carl and went North on the coast. Rich found like three geocaches and we were aclimated to the innerworkings of SC. Then on our way back, dodging tourists, cars and animals...thats when it happened, I was doing really good on the bike but spaz, among Spazed out, flipped my bike between a huge woman with a cast, highway 1 and the end of the side walk....I froze and over braked and flipped my bike over my head and wound up on my arse in the middle of Highway 1. Carl tried not to acknowledge that his Aunt isn't totally retarded and Rich turns into a momma hen, keeping close watch on me. Then we came back and switched to kayaking. Off in the harbor, and as Karma has it...while Rich was launching from a wet dock he was trying to get in the water DUMPED IT out the gate. Gallantly he mounted the boat and got back in, like "who, what...where" I didn't just do that. No laughs were uttered Then we ended to open ocean, Carl, at 16 has kayaked but like a stud he took to the boat naturally. But we didn't count on wind, we got in some chop...and our parenting paranoia kicked in, What if??? What if he dumps it? We were in some wake+open ocean and it was hairy, Rich and I started freaking, "well we need to get Carl in...and we are going back and forth,,,all the while Carl is behind us in the S Heet. HE was happy as could be...we grouped together and got out....great exposure to his natural skills. All in all great day, pizza to boot.

Ready for a SUSHI bash

After a couple of fun days digging and compacting at both Marks backyard and our front yard,,I took Mark to Oto's and got some supplies. Spent the afternoon prepping in the lovely A/C.. tried out a new knife for veggies(note the cucumber wrapped roll) and did a salmon roll that has the fish completely around the rice topped with spicy crab. Also got some wasabi tobiko,,all in all great chow...and the edamame from COSTCO rocks. So after eating sushi for three nights in a row even I am ready for a burger. Tommorow we start the retaining wall at marks and friday the guys from DAVEY take out my Tallow tree......Project time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm been working on these since April

So thrilled to finally have these complete! Great weekend end, much work with the new kiln, dialing it in. Plus reconnecting with neighbors and friends, that fills my heart. Plus we watched Rock and Roll Circus, The Who, Taj Mahal, Rolling Stones, Yoko and John...what a flashback, if you like music...you must Netfix it!

She's Hot!

I've been eyeing a smaller kiln, quicker to heat up and down. Smaller area to heat up, meaning quicker kiln time...she's beaut! And I got her for a steal...plus glass was 50% off at Rainbow glass...I'm so excited...come on Stimulus Check!!!!

quick Post....sparklers are fun, I kept trying to write my name...but then again, I was Jdrunk

Rich claims to see his name here...if red backwards, maybe....oh yeah....I've changed my name to "Oooooooooooooooo" K

can I get an Amen?

four total days off this 4th and we are rockin it half way through. Thursday we got up and shovel in hand, started on Rich's latest vision in the front yard. Sweating through my bandanna, 45 minutes into it, I'm like what the hel>> am I doing, this is crazy...I was assigned to remove the pavers in the front yard...yes cemented from years of living there...but I yonked them out from the yard's parameters but Rich (aka stud boy) was busy fighting the "root monster" you don't know where they are but they are a bastage when you run into them. These roots require man handling to get them out, we had the pick axe, the shovel and the digging bar to get them out. We fought, sweated and dug s_it out. Two hours of back breaking work and we were toast. But the change had begun, then off to more chores...with a pit stop at Hooters...ya know a pit stop at Hooters britens anyones day, I say! We dropped off the fixed Taro's sign and our friends requested us to attend their 4th of July block party. So next we went to see Hancock, I'm a Will Smith fan. It was good but freakin loud, why do they have to make movies soooooooooooooooooo loud??? Either way delightful unfolding story and Jason Bateman again, gave a great performance (loved him in Juno!) Then hooked up with Anna to a new sushi place, on her recommendation. We went to Kru and our chef , Billy, competeted in the Sushi Masters that we attended. Great food, ambiance needs work but great to try something new. Anna's game for new sushi places but doesn't eat raw fish, go figure.

Then afterwards stopped by Mark and Edda's, all three of us...even though we weren't at Kelly's it felt right to be together.

Oh ps. watched The Hammer, the Adam Carola movie really good.

Today got up and attacked the front again. This time I was assigned to plant relocation. To abide by Rich's vision we had a half a flower bed to "de flower" and Rich again battled ruts...thats how its said...ruts. He got one out the size of a cow! Brutal. Then he was crazy and started on the next stage....he hopped in his car, strapped the tow rope to the front Juniper and yonk, gone! three other bushes, yonk and gone! And after our Green Waste was filled we started thinking where else can we put these transplants....so we move the Juniper to the back with a couple of day lilies.

The front is coming along. ....Then 4th festivities...Anna met us over at John's block party. Yes John is the sushi chef from Taro who's in a band....that we've never seen. So we got to hang out in the fabulous 40's, drink beer catch up more with Anna and meet some new friends. And we actually got to see John play this time. I just don't know why Rich's likes him, Sushi chef, drummer and camera guy....and kinda geeky! Happy 4th to all!

I cannot take all the credit....

Here's my ring...that the instructor had to fix for me. I love it! Think its green agate....cewl! And trying to connect with the instructor, I really like her and offered to trade some kiln time for some solder time, piqued her curiosity!

ps. got our refund from the Ca Rice Association-ahhhhh justice!