Ame's First Seven Months

 As busy as this summer has been, I haven't been posting near enough.  I plan to catch up on this right now!

Ames is at the top of my list!  Here is our grandson Ames soon after he was born.

 And a few weeks later with his Uncle David.

 Ron and Mary have been very good about taking his photo each month...here is how he has progressed....

 A great little montage of his expressions.

 Eating his first meal - avocados.  A very Californian kid....

 Ames with his mother Mary in San Francisco.

 Ames with his brother Cooper on the way to Lake Tahoe.

Cooper thinks this is all so cool...

Ruby Arrives

 We finally found the perfect dog for our family, and drove up to Fullerton to pick her up.  The foster home that had her called her Roo,  so Mateo lengthened that name to Ruby and it stuck.

Here is is on the 2 hour car ride home.

 Another shot of her on the ride.

 These photos show her first moments in her new home.

 She's probably a little tired from the two hour drive...

 ...and ready to be off the leash!

 So we turned her loose in the back yard.

 Off she went!

 She quickly adapted to her new environment, and has loved everyone she's met.  She'll be on your lap the minute she sees you!

 Here she is on her first walk with us.   Dave said she walked over 3 miles before she wanted to stop for a break.  Luckily they were almost back home at this point.

 This led to her first nap on the cool wood floor.

Yeah, she feels at home.  And we're glad.

Purdue University

 I spent a week at Purdue University on business this summer.  It was a very picturesque campus.

 Being summertime,  the campus was also very quiet.

 One of the administration buildings.

 A monument that was under repair.

 A few more shots.

A Farewell To Summer

 Because of the way things fell, we didn't end up with a lot of free time this summer.

But we were able to break away on a few Saturday afternoons to relax a bit.  Here are my wife and son enjoying some down time at Leonesse Winery.

 We also became members at the nearby Twin Oaks Valley Winery.  Spent several late afternoons here.

 Let's not forget the fine Michelada they made us at The Bellows.  Another favorite hangout of ours.

 My wife had a dentist appointment and took the boys with her.  Mateo lost a tooth while he was visiting the dentist!

What are the odds...

 A fine dinner at The Cave.  My son David and I.

 Get the pizza.  Very nice.

 We discovered Hernandez Hideaway this summer.  It is now a regular on our must-visit places to eat.

 Had some sushi while in Virginia.

 Visited Cruisin Grand on dragster night.  These cars were very loud - approaching dragstrip decibels.

 Another view as they made their loop down Grand Avenue.

 We spent several Saturday Nights at a restaurant at Palomar Airport.  I thought these service trucks very picturesque.

And with that, we say goodbye to summer.   It is dead and gone.  Queue "Mack the Knife"