Uncle Dick and Auntie Cheryl

Darle's Uncle Dick and Auntie Cheryl came to visit this past weekend. We had such a nice time with them and the family. Saturday we had a BBQ at Uncle Chuck's farm, sadly we didn't get any pictures. Then Sunday we had all the family over to our house for smoked brisket. Aunt Cheryl brought pictures on a CD that she had put together from slides she found. The slides were pictures Darle's Grandpa Darle, obviously named after, took back when Darle's dad and aunt were children. We were all able to see them on our big tv. Everyone really enjoyed seeing the pictures. There was a fly fishing pole in many of the pictures that was distinctive. The base was red and green with a cork handle. Darle and I ended up with that exact pole after grandpa passed away. Darle and Travis, or Trapper as Dick and Cheryl call him, got it out of our garage to show everyone. The pole is going back east with them to be displayed at their cabin in New Hampshire. The boys are very happy to see the pole go "home" where it was used. This fishing pole, along with a camp box is one of those sentimental items to the Dudley Family. In our home you will find various gears, one of the big ones we use as a door stop. Gears are another precious item that reminds the boys of Grandpa Darle.

Spring Break in California

For Spring Break 2009 Darle and I, along with Dave and their mom Vicki, drove down to San Diego for a visit with Darle's Grandma Dotty. She is living in a very nice facility in a two bedroom apartment. We took some photo's in one of the many beautiful garden areas on the property.

On our way back north we took a stop in L.A for a few hours. This picture was taken in front of the Chinese Theatre. Most of you probably know this about me but in case you don't, I love Gone With The Wind! This was a real find for me. I looked for Vivian Leigh, I am not even sure if she has a square. The picture was very difficult to take because there were people everywhere and all of them looking down at the ground. It is kind of hard to see but this is Clark Gable's hand and shoe print.

We went to San Francisco for a day. We took an Alcatraz tour, ate clam chowder on Pier 39, bought some chocolates at Ghirardelli Square then headed further north.

This was taken on the boat that took us to Alcatraz Island. You can see the steep streets of San Francisco behind us.