*The Year of 2024*
This year was mostly about family and home.
Some changes and celebrations
A new day greets the year of 2024
—-JANUARY—-
We celebrate John’s 77th birthday in Sierra Madre at Monsieur Crepe
with Anthony and Daniel
We also went to Luna Luna - 6th Street, Los Angeles
 |
Eric Breuer Carousel |
 |
Keith Haring Carousel |
 |
Our Angel Daniel |
 |
Andre Heller - Dream Station |
Then Afuri for Ramen!
 |
Birthday Boy listening … |
 |
The Grandsons listening |
——
Christine comes to visit and help Laurie with the Family home in Sierra Madre, then Melinda and I get to play with our Friend at the Norton Simon Museum.
 |
Christine and Laurie The DeVault Sisters at East Highland Home
|
At the Norton Simon
——-
The Rangpur lime tree was prolific. I set the box out front and still was able to have enough juice for limeade and lime curd for lots of friends and relatives.

——
Work begins installing a supporting beam in the living room and repairing the sagging ceiling.
We also had to put in new flooring and paint the ceiling and walls.

Thought I had a finished picture - guess I was so tired of the work involved in cleaning after the repairs I just didn’t think or have the energy to appreciate with a photo.
———-
In February, Stephen Cherry comes to visit his mother, Ann, after Dale’s passing.
So she has a family dinner.

|
Stephen, Nicole and Ann |
Alex, Kristian, Tim and Stephen
Miyako, Nicole and Jackie
———--
March brings poppies in the yard, birthdays, Persian New Year Celebration and
a Wedding Ceremony!
 |
Poppies starting to bloom John enjoys the poppies |
_______
Happy Persian New Year at the Persian Household.
 |
Anthony, Daniel, Chelsea and Cat |
 |
Susie, Anthony, Naomi and Daniel |
 |
The Grandparents |
———-
Birthdays…
Happy Birthday, Anthony and Taylor!
 |
Taylor, Daniel, Anthony & John
|
__________
The big event…
The Wedding Ceremony for Yayoi and Dave
 |
Exchanging vows |
 |
Anthony charming Yayoi |
 |
Father and Son |
 |
Daughter and Father |
 |
Chelsea, Dave, Taylor & Emma |
 |
The Family John, Dave, Taylor, Susie, Chelsea, Daniel and Anthony |
____
April and May
We gather as a family
Firoozi/Berteaux family, that is.
 |
Naomi, Fabian, Daniel |
 |
Anthony, Taylor and Grandma |
 |
This Family… Naomi, Fabian, Daniel Anthony, Taylor, Susie & John |
______
For Mother’s Day
The grandson’s take Grandma to TEA!
 |
Grandma and Daniel |
_______
June brings…
A Reunion with Billie Jean!
Billie was my college roommate.
A colleague of her’s had a book opening at Vroman’s
So she invited me to join her and her friends.
 |
Billie’s book club friends and me |
—-
Then Diane comes for nephew’s UCLA Graduation
She invites me to spend the afternoon at
The Huntington Hotel
____
***JULY***
It’s the…
Christine comes to Sierra Madre with her granddaughter.
We go to Japantown for lunch…
——
End of August…
We have a Birthday Party for
Ann’s 70th Birthday
(At her house)
 |
Daniel and Anthony Susie Taylor Miyako |
Birthday Girl, each candle = 10 years
——
Kevin McCarthy comes for a visit from Wisconsin
It’s been about 20 years since we’ve been together
——
It’s September
I get to go on a trip to
Brithish Columbia
 |
Vancouver, BC |
Not sure how it happened, but Cynthia and I are included
in the “Phillips Sisters’ Travels”
 |
Travel sisters Susie, Meredith, Cynthia & Diane |
 |
Vancouver, BC |
From Vancouver, we go to Nanaimo to catch the Lady Rose
To Bamfield
 |
Cynthia has boarded |
 |
We are on our way… |
 |
It’s windy and brisk |
 |
Unloading on the Westide of the river |
 |
Loading an electric truck that couldn’t go up the hills of Bamfield West |
 |
Check in to the Hacas Inn |
 |
On the Eastside of the river |
 |
To eat, we need a water taxi to the Westside |
 |
At Floras - the best food in Bamfield (The only restaurant, so it has to be best) |
Expoloring Bamfield…East and West
 |
Looking to the west over the river |
 |
The river walkway - lovely |
 |
Cynthia pondering |
 |
After a full day in Bamfield, We wait for the Lady Rose |
 |
On our way back to Nanaimo |
——
After landing in Nanaimo
We go to Victoria
A highlight of Victoria…
The Empresss Hotel
The drinks…
 |
Empress Martini |
 |
Victoria gin and tonic |
 |
The Empress Gin |
 |
Victoria and Empress Gin |
 |
Walking back to our hotel |
 |
Looking over the bay Victoria Harbor |
 |
Taxi in the Harbor Leaving Victoria… |
——-
We Ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles
 |
Ferry to Pt. Angeles |
Then…
 |
Lavender Fields in Sequim |
 |
Port Townsend for a rest |
 |
Over the Hood Canal Bridge |
 |
We overnight in Paulsbo |
 |
SeaTac to Burbank with Cynthia |
——-
Back in Sierra Madre, Cynthia, Ann and I go to the Library Dedication
_____
October
Meredith and Bob come for an afternoon visit
On their way cross country
 |
With Bob and the Fire Chief |
 |
Meredith and me At Kersting Court |
——-
Party at Ann’s because Stephen stops
on his way back to North Carolina
 |
Nicole, Stephen, Kenji, Steve, Miyako, Tim, Nancy, Kristian Ann, Susie, Alex
|
————-—-
 |
Remember these mountains |
—————-
It’s October 25 and we are off to France!
 |
John with luggage waiting for the Uber |
—
The Travel Blog now Begins!
S & J’s Big Adventure(s)