A post? Yes. A post.

I've been skipping about the past few weeks and apologize for not posting. My binlaw has promised to set up the router this afternoon, so photos will follow - maybe even tomorrow! No promises.

I have been accosted by another head cold. I do not think that I will succumb, but it is too similar to the cold of late October for me to have much hope. Still, here I can sleep in my own bed and that does give comfort.

We returned from the beach Sunday after Thanksgiving and my sister and I left for California on December 2nd. We were there to visit my father's father and his wife (I do not call her the step-mother as they married after my parents did, though I do call her Grandma). We also visited Mom's sister and husband. They are camp hosts at a state park near Rio Vista, where my mom grew up.

It was good to see the grandparents as they are growing ever more ill, but they are in good spirits and were good company. We played cards and ate and chatted. Ate, chatted, played cards.

My aunt and uncle are in a beautiful spot overlooking the Sacramento River. Driving from my grandparents' town to Rio Vista, a recurring thought was that I don't think this is what most people think of when I say I'm going to California. I see fields of corn, sunflowers, orchards of pear trees, almond trees and walnut trees. Rural towns that are no more than a bar, a gas station, and a church. Cows. Sheep. Horses. Worn-down river warehouses and well-kept, narrow drawbridges. Eucalyptus and cypress trees, oleander, black locust trees, pines that are shaped like a pine tree.

I'm going to go lay in bed now.