Week 29

Contrary to previous weeks, I have MORE than my allotted seven photos for this week's Project 365. Sorry, but a few days there were just too many and I was unable to choose only one.

We were in Sta. Rosa this week, for a belated anniversary getaway (the anniversary was in May). The day we arrived it was in the 70s and absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed a couple of days like that and then it turned COLD. Brrrrrr! Dropped about 30-40 degrees and stayed there. Winter had finally arrived!

But back to the beginning. Last Sunday we took a long walk around Belgrano and saw these flowers. I thought it was interesting that there were no leaves on this bush but scads of lovely pink blossoms.

And then to see irises in full bloom in winter! C.R.A.Z.Y. but fun.

By the time we visited our favorite tea shop on Tuesday, the colder weather had prompted the owner to start a fire in the fireplace.

Our favorite spot is right next to that, on the comfy couch and chairs. We always settle in for a good long stay, sipping tea or coffee, splurging on a decadent dessert (my favorite is the brown sugar apple torte) and enjoying some fairly fast internet speeds while we catch up on e-mails. And blogs, of course :)

Despite the frigid temperatures, we still took long walks every day, paying particular attention to the architecture of the homes we passed. We were struck by how out-of-place this home looked -- not at all what you'd expect to find here.

It's more suited to the neighboring German community of Belgrano. But I guess it's to be expected that we'll experience a spill-over into Sta. Rosa since the towns are so close, but property prices are significantly lower in Sta. Rosa.

We snapped this photo because we really like the variegated roof tiles...always on the lookout for ideas we can incorporate should we end up building our own house.

What do you think? Like the look?

Our last full day of vacation was spent hunkered down inside due to the constant precipitation outside. We woke to snow mixed with rain, then rain, back to snow...all day it was back and forth with some sleet thrown in on occasion. I actually didn't take a photo that day. We played with the embroidery function on my sewing machine, as Ivan figured out how to operate the system. I read a very funny kid's book I'd downloaded for free from amazon (Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help). But on the way home Friday we stopped to snap photos of the snow on the sierras.

I'm pretty sure I had a photo last year of the traditional snowman-on-the-hood-of-the-car but I'm including another one this year.

I just think it's a fun tradition, as long as the snowman isn't so large it obscures the sightline for the driver (which I've witnessed a few times). We saw a couple of cars pulled over with the occupants busy creating their own snowman-on-the-hood.

Saturday was so cold and parents were concerned about the kids being outside all day at the soccer tournament so plans were changed -- and they went bowling instead!

Here's Ivan and Lucas taking their turns. Most of the kids had never been bowling before and they had a blast. Definitely a good winter activity.

And that's our week. We arrived in Sta. Rosa in summer and left in winter -- or at least that's how it felt -- from the 70s to the 30s. I'm really glad I had the forethought to take my long johns! :)