16th Birthday Party

It's been a really tough year, but 2020 is finally over and we're hoping/praying 2021 will allow us to get together in person so we can start playing and having fun again.  Our Zoom events have been great, and they've kept us connected and in touch while we've been sequestered in our homes waiting out the Pandemic.  But it's just not the same as being together, in person, where we can truly share laughs, hugs, and friendships.  Today we're meeting to celebrate in person for the first time since our outing in November, and it's truly amazing to see everyone!

Our first event of each year is always our Birthday Party, and today we've gathered at Joy's house, still staying as safe as possible by being outside on the patio, enjoying the fresh air.  Food first of course!  And it was a delicious spaghetti lunch prepared by Carol N.  

Barbara, Anita, Kathy

Sharon, Heather, Leslie

Carol N, Debbie and Joy were at the third table, but somehow we forgot to take a photo of them.  😕

After lunch, we settled in to plan as many events for the year as possible.  Toni, Robin and Seema weren't able to join us in person, but we hooked them up via Zoom so they could help in the planning.  Because everything is still so uncertain, we decided to do "outdoor" type events for the first half of the year, and we came up with some great gardens and animal sanctuaries to visit, and then we'll figure out the rest of the year later.

After the planning was done, we said good-bye to our Zoom friends and played a Covid-safe version of BUNCO.  Each person played for herself instead of with a partner, we didn't change seats, and we kept our own scores.  And it was almost as much fun as doing it the normal way (although we do prefer the normal way and hope we can play it that way next time.)

Sharon was the big winner with the last BUNCO . . . . 

That scarf/shawl looks so beautiful on you, Sharon!

No event is complete without a group photo, so here we are . . . 

Masked . . . 

Front L-R - Anita, Leslie, Joy, Carol N
Back L-R - Barbara, Debbie, Sharon, Kathy, Heather

And Unmasked . . . 

Front L-R - Anita, Leslie, Joy, Carol N

Back L-R - Barbara, Debbie, Sharon, Kathy, Heather

SO. MUCH. BETTER. seeing those beautiful smiles!

Happy 16th Birthday F.R.I.E.N.D.S.  Here's hoping for at least 16 more!  

Los Angeles Arboretum

We are OUT!  Finally!  After months and months of not being able to do anything or go anywhere, we are OUT to visit the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia.  They have reopened with limited capacity, timed entries, and restrictions such as keeping at least six feet away from other groups and wearing masks at all times.  All of that is OK . . . The important thing is we are OUT!  And we are TOGETHER!  And we're gonna have the best day!

We've all brought our own lunch, and we ate at the picnic tables near the parking lot before we entered the gardens.  It was fun seeing everyone and having a little time to chat and catch up.  Somehow we forgot to take any pictures of our "picnic", guess we were having too much fun just seeing each other!

The Arboretum is such a beautiful place.  A picture is worth a thousand words, so here's just a sampling . . . 

The Arboretum and Botanic Garden

Let's explore!

Beautiful pathways, paved and relatively flat,
easy for walking

Elephant Foot Tree - Fascinating

A closer look

Couldn't you just sit here and relax all day?

Look familiar?  
Hint: "Ze plane! Ze plane!"

Another fascinating tree trunk

Another view of the lake

And another

Bamboo.  There should be Pandas!

Queen Anne Cottage

Not open right now, but so beautiful

Some info about Queen Anne Cottage

Here's the answer to that earlier question

This is the kitchen where all the meals were prepared

Rest stop.

Relaxing and enjoying the view

The tours are not operating now, but this man
gives little lectures about the arboretum and it's history.  

Listening and learning

Front:  Seema, Queen Debbie, Joy
Back: Kathy, Robin, Carol N, Anita, Heather

Along the way, we passed beautiful flowers and trees.  Here's just a sample . . . 

This tree!  Perfect fall colors!
And perfect contrast to our purple.

About the tree

One more look

Closer

And then we found this . . . 

Beautiful waterfall

Love the sound of the water

Perfect photo spot

Seated: Seema, Carol N, Anita, Debbie, Joy, Robin
Standing: Kathy, Heather

And of course, we saw critters . . . 

Lots of geese

Egret

Another goose

Turtles

And more turtles

And then the last section that we visited was filled with these . . . 

Gorgeous peacocks

Mr. and Mrs. ?

 

Smile for the camera

We were sorry that our wonderful day in the "OUT" was coming to an end, but it was time to go.  Next stop . . . . Dinner!

Queen Debbie found a restaurant nearby that offered outdoor seating . . . 

Matt Denny's in Arcadia

Carol N, Joy, Debbie, Seema, Robin, Kathy, Anita

And we celebrated our birthday girl with 
yummy desserts!

Happy Birthday Seema
Enjoy your last year as a Pink Hatter!

Thanks Queen Debbie for such a fun day.  We can't express how wonderful it was to be together again, and what a beautiful place for our first outing since the pandemic started.  This will also be our last event for 2020, so wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

See you at our Birthday Party in January!