"Like a band of Gypsies we go down the highway ~~ We're the best of friends ~~ Insisting that the world keep turnin' our way…" Willie Nelson – Johnny Cash
Sheltering Through the Winter
We haven’t posted to our blog since December so this post will update our (somewhat limited) activities over the winter and spring. An accompanying post describes some traveling that we were able to resume in May. Our last post was on December 16, Andy’s birthday! We weren’t able to celebrate in person due to Covid-19 but we had a Zoom visit. Click on the first photo in each block to view larger images in a slideshow.
Andy is celebrating his 40th birthday. How can we have a son that age?
Fancy balloon bouquet for Andy’s birthday.
Andy and Heather went to a crazy Christmas hat party. A Gothic Christmas.
We spent the Christmas holidays at a guesthouse on the outskirts of Davis, described in our post last December.
Our home in Davis over the Christmas holidays was out in the country; a guesthouse behind the main house.
The owner of the Davis country house used to teach gardening at UC Davis, so his yard is a joy to view.
The main Davis country house, with our guesthouse to the right in the rear.
Delicate glass mobile/wind chime on a bare fig tree at the Davis guesthouse.
We decorated the guesthouse for Christmas and made it look quite festive. We spent Christmas day alone but were able to visit with family and friends via Zoom.
Our pictures and decorations are above the TV which is tuned to a YouTube Christmas scene. Creates a holiday ambiance for our home-free lifestyle.
Stockings from Christmas past and present decorate our mantle.
Presents and decorations make it a cozy space.
Slow but sure, putting a snowman puzzle together.
Carrie finished the snowman jigsaw puzzle. It wasn’t easy!
Zooming with Andy and Heather on Christmas morning.
Celebrating Christmas morning opening gifts with Andy and Heather via Zoom, a first!
We enjoyed walks around Davis and around our old neighborhood in nearby Woodland. Christmas decorations brightened our walks.
Full harvest moon rising over fields in Davis countryside.
We can always count on Woodland to deliver beautiful holiday decorations to view on our walks.
A festive door in Woodland.
Christmas navels, juicy and sweet.
Is this Alice in Wonderland or Woodland?
One of many xeriscape yards in Woodland to reduce water usage.
Roses in December.
Red hot poker plant seen on a Woodland walk.
Christmas views in Woodland.
Clever idea to simulate a campfire with red lights and twigs.
Our guesthouse was a short drive from UC Davis and we enjoyed walks around the UC Davis Arboretum and around the nearly deserted campus.
Llama at UC Davis campus.
Taking a walk along the xeriscape garden at the UC Davis Arboretum.
In January we moved to a cottage in the Arden Park district of Sacramento to spend the winter hiding from Covid-19. We had stayed at this cottage several times in the past and it is one of our favorites. The neighborhood is perfect for long walks and it is near the American River Parkway, another great walking destination.
Interesting shape is reflected off the towel rack with sun coming through the bathroom window.
Spring blooms are spectacular in our neighborhood in Arden Park.
Deer along the American River in Sacratmento.
Ubiquitous turkeys. He’s showing off for her today.
Mating season in Arden Park.
Turkeys roosting in the tree for overnight.
We celebrated Charlie’s 70th birthday in April. We didn’t feel comfortable going out to a restaurant so we splurged on a beautiful prime rib roast that we cooked at home. Charlie got a fancy new meat thermometer for his birthday so the roast came out perfectly.
We splurged and bought a nice prime rib roast at the local butcher in Sacramento for Charlie’s birthday.
We requested lower fat, less marbling in this rib roast. It was delicious!
We got our Covid-19 vaccinations at the UC Davis Health System. The process was quick and efficient, kind of like a big assembly line.
Waiting for our turn to be vaccinated at UC Davis Health.
Time to get vaccinated against Covid! UC Davis Health.
We enjoyed occasional drives over to Woodland to walk around our old neighborhood. The central part of Woodland has homes dating back to the latter years of the 19th century.
One of Carrie’s favorite Victorian homes in Woodland on 1st St.
Bright white trellis, flowers and a flag in the sun are beautiful together.
Driveway gate with interesting metal work in Woodland.
One day in mid-winter we drove out to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, about an hour north of the city. Migratory birds spend the winter at this preserved wetland and they are spectacular to see.
About an hour’s drive north of Sacramento, the best time to view the most birds here is Fall/Winter.
Egret posted on the tip of a long branch.
3 turtles on a log.
Partly cloudy/sunny day for viewing the wildlife.
Turkey vulture spreads its wings to gather heat from the sun.
