I just got back from a short (for me) trip to Wisconsin. My nephew Zachary (my bother's son) graduated high school on Sunday (with high honors). He is enrolled in the engineering program at the University of Minnesota this fall.

    The party was on Saturday. Just like his older sister's party (she graduated in 2010) it was held in the basement of their church. My sister-in-law and her daughter did all the cooking and there was plenty of food. My mother and her sisters were there as well as was my only remaining uncle.

    My aunt on my Dad's side of the family could not attend because her son was getting married that day. The wedding was low key, held in the backyard of the family home. We stopped by after the graduation party. Everything was winding down so we sat in the shade of a tree with my aunt and her daughter and visited for almost two hours. It was a really nice visit.

   The graduation ceremony was on Sunday. There were 272 students in his class. One of the speeches focused on the number 272 and gave lots of interesting and oddball facts about that number (none of which I can remember just now). I got a video of Zach receiving his diploma.

   I spent the next two days visiting friends and hanging out at my sister's house playing games. My Wisconsin sister announced her retirement as of July 1. It will be nice visiting when she and I can go out and about together. I expect her to be down here much more often as well.
   My brother's next child does not graduate for four years.  I also have another brother in Wisconsin who has a daughter who will graduate in two years. The Louisville kids will be graduating in a few years, too. Lots more graduations to do.

California Trip May 2011

     My husband and I flew out to California to visit some of his family and to do some sightseeing. We had to wait until after the Kentucky Derby was over (we made the mistake of being away last year for the Derby and really missed it; its so much fun being in Louisville at Derby time). 

California Trip - Palm Springs

   

    We decided to start our trip in Palm Springs because my husband had been there previously and wanted to take me there. We were interested in the mid-century modern architecture of the place. Palm Springs is in a valley surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains (some up to 10,000 feet tall). The mountains protect the valley from rain and cold winds so it stays warm year round (and very hot and dry in the summer months). The weather and proximity to Los Angeles make it a popular get away for the rich and famous. Architects were drawn to the place because of the the ability to design homes with sweeping views and indoor/outdoor spaces for people who could afford to build them.

    Since we were interested in the mid-modern style I had to find a hotel that highlighted the architecture. We chose the Horizon hotel (http://www.thehorizonhotel.com/) and absolutely loved it! All the rooms are in bungalows that circle a central park with a salt water swimming pool. You can lay in the pool and look up at the tall palm trees with the mountains in the background. It was lovely, private and very relaxing.

    Our first day in Palm Springs we drove just north of town to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. You ride over 6000 feet up the mountain in a revolving car - that's right, the floor of the tram car revolves 360 degrees several times as you make the ascent. This tramway is one of only three in the world that revolves and it is the biggest of the three. You rise from the hot desert to the cool pine-treed forest at the top of the mountain. There is a mid-century modern lodge at the top including a restaurant and overlooks of the valley and the mountains. Several hiking trails start at the lodge.

    The next day we took the Palm Springs Modern Tour with Robert Imber. He talked about how the architecture evolved and showed us examples of the notable architects who worked in Palm Springs. He drove us by many of the star's homes including those built for Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore and Bob Hope. We also saw Elvis' home which is instantly recognizable (photo on right - he opted for the traditional Spanish architecture).  The tour was very interesting and informative. He gave us a much better appreciation of the mid-century modern design elements. Not all the buildings are big and grand; even gift shops, banks and gas stations were designed in the style. Later we drove back to several of the homes to take more pictures.  

 More Mid-Century Modern homes:


























    xxxx

This is where we ate dinner one night



California Trip - Los Angeles



TBD

California Trip - Santa Barbara

TBD