Front to back: Justin, Thais, Lenin, Avery on Uncle Jeff’s lap, Aunty Leah, Lala/Rita.
The first and second grade classes:
Field Trip: Galleria in Roseville
The Galleria, the best mall in the Sacramento region, has been open for more than 15 years and I have never shopped there … until today.
Oh my, I was wide-eyed, so many stores. Phyl kept us not-lost. Obviously I am not a good shopper.
The lesson we learned today was a good one: beware of (fly-by-night) kiosks with hidden signs that say:
and don’t buy the following “reusable forever” pocket warmers. They work great once, maybe twice, and then they don’t.
At the Rio Linda Library
What a surprise! About 30 minutes into my browsing, a performance by local musicians – a relatively new ukelele (mostly) group with members mainly from the First Baptist Church of Elverta. 
They were really good! A few were longtime musicians, but others had only been playing the ukelele a few months. In the back row left is Ken Tomlinson. His daughter Sarah was a student of mine.
Thursday at Merrilyn’s
Except it was Thursday. Again, the food was delicious and the company just perfect. 
Walnut harvest
With the cold, wind and rain, the leaves were falling fast.
I raked my way down the row of trees to get the last walnuts of the season.
I love the nut weasel:
2015: 15 trees yielded 210 pounds!
RLEHS Sunday Social
Ireta Black with her nephew, Norma Horrell:
Harold Horrell, Norma, and Don Thorne:
Shirley Breckenridge, Catherine and Jason Greene:
Excellent potluck dishes:
Phyllis and Allie Brown:
The Music Therapy Singers from Calvary lead everyone in singing Christmas carols:
Joyce Buckland and Jeannie Akins:
The raffle was a lot of fun and made a nice donation to RLEHS:
Allie Brown won the Throwdown for Best Dressing – it was a very traditional version.
Deck the Hall
This afternoon, people gathered to decorate the Social Hall at Calvary Lutheran Church. Two long tables of decorations were laid out and everyone was encouraged to do whatever they wanted in any space they chose.
This young helper spent a few minutes acting out a conversation between the dolls. It was adorable.
Joan and Gloria:
From one friend to another
It was time to go home. Thank you Billie for all your hospitality. 
Thank you Adrienne for picking me in Sacramento!
The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. -Hubert H Humphrey
Back in Roanoke
We drove back to Roanoke on Saturday (actually Billie drove the whole way, again, 13 hours behind the wheel.) On Monday, she went back to work … in the third bedroom, headphones on, insurance-claims-adjusting for about 10 hours/day. (I am sooo glad to be a retired person!)
Meanwhile I converted a pillow to a wall-hanging,
watched a lot of stuff on the dvr, went for a long walk,
and made dinner every night Billie worked:
Fried Chicken Salad,
Couscous Salad with Chicken, Avocado and Tomatillo Dressing (too limey),
Pasta with Chickpeas (from a Cooks Illustrated Magazine-WOW, delicious!),
Bike ride #5
The winds were down to 20 mph, so we had to take a chance that a ride was possible. We started at
after waiting for a rain shower to pass over, and planned to ride around the Preserve. Rather than ride into the next shower,
we turned around and headed for Stuart. Drawbridge across the Intracoastal Waterway.
Our coffee break also allowed us to avoid another shower.
A little excitement on the ride back. We watched this oncoming scooter get too close to the gutter and down it went, the driver tumbling onto the sidewalk. 
Billie always carries a well-stocked first-aid kit and she went right to work. She might have been able to stitch closed the 4-inch gash on his leg, but instead instructed the man to go to the emergency room.
Final stop, Barbours Produce, for some fresh vegetables and fruit to take back to Virginia tomorrow.
Miles = 15
arletelouise 