Photo Friday - Spring Fever

I'm a California girl, born and raised (except for a brief time out of state).  If you know anything about the weather in the southern half of this beautiful state, you know that we are spoiled with pretty mild weather year-round.  Truly, it doesn't feel like winter.  As I look at the weekly forecast, every day is in the upper 60s to mid 70s and at least mostly sunny.

Granted, we do still have some bouts of colder weather that remind us not to pack away our cooler weather clothing just yet.

No, I'm NOT complaining.

Yes, I know that what we here in La-La-Land call winter is more like an awesome spring day in most parts of the world.  On those days we're here bundled in parkas, beanies, boots, and scarves and out-of-state visitors are welcoming the weather with tank tops and flip-flops.

Still...

I marvel at how God timed the seasons to last just the right amount of time.  At the start and close of each season I am perfectly ready for the change.  And at this time of year, I'm beginning to feel the itch for spring to have sprung.

It also makes me think of SPRING TRAINING.

Yes, you read that right:  I'm talking BASEBALL!

So my photos for this edition of Photo Friday are in honor of my hometown team: the San Francisco Giants.

Scottsdale Stadium--exclusive home of the San Francisco Giants during spring training.

I had to include the schedule.  Come on, people!

Let's get this party started!

I know this image is small, but I'm just thrilled that Posey should be back in the lineup this year.  Oh, how we've missed you, Buster!

Photo Friday is ORANGE Friday!

Spring Training is well under way and, as such, it is time to honor the team we love:  the San Francisco Giants.  Here are a few pics from our many years as Giants fans together.

Seth posing with our dear Lou Seal.

One game, three balls.  One hit me during BP, Seth caught one, and an employee gave me another one.  It was a good game.

Couldn't ask for a more beautiful skyline, Coke bottle and all.

With my love at our home park.  AT & T Park definitely has a piece of our hearts.

When Bonds hit #700, we were there.  Absolutely beautiful.

It was a crazy-fun atmosphere.  Talk about being electric!

A match made in heaven.

Here's to many more years in black and orange with my main man.

May 2010 be our year.  GO GIANTS!!!

Autumn Blessings

We were lucky enough to take a much needed vacation during fall foliage season in New England. We took in a few baseball games, visited many museums, stopped off at the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory, and even got up, close, and personal with an apple cider press.


We tried to settle on a few highlights from our trip, but there were too many to count. So, instead, let me give you a run down of the sights and sounds:

Day 1: Virginia--Arlington National Cemetary, Christ Church in Alexandria, and Mount Vernon-home of our nation's 1st president



Day 2: DC--monuments, archives, and museums galore!



Day 3: Baltimore--Orioles Park @ Camden Yards, Crab Cakes, Ace of Cakes (Charm City Cakes drive-by), and Fort McHenry (I'll never hear our national anthem the same way again!)



Day 4: Philadelphia--Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Graff House (where the Dec. of Independence was written), Reading Terminal Market, Rocky Steps, Boat House Row, Philly Cheesesteaks and a Phillies game (they clinched the div. at that game--such a fun atmosphere)




Day 5: Drive to Boston--Mystic Seaport, Providence, R.I., Plymouth Rock



Day 6: Boston--Freedom Trail, Clam Chowder, and a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park




Day 7: Lexington, Concord, Cambridge (hello, Harvard!), & Salem (they really take the witch trials to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL...)



Day 8: Drive to Maine with stop-offs at Kennebunkport and the L.L. Bean Flagship store




Day 9: Acadia National Park and an authentic lobster dinner--yum!



Day 10: Drive through New Hampshire to Vermont (Oh. My. Goodness. BEAUTIFUL! Our pictures really don't do it justice.)



Day 11: Vermont--Route 100, Ben & Jerry's, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Red Leaves, Gold Leaves, Orange Leaves, Green Leaves...




Day 12: Cooperstown--National Baseball Hall of Fame



Day 13: Drive to Gettysburg with a stop at "The Office"



Day 14: Gettysburg battlefield, museum & cyclorama



Then, back to California. Whew! Tobie was happy to have us back home. And we were happy to be home with her.