Sonya's Country Bed & Breakfast

I think this was the main reason for the trip - to ....

Have lunch and....

enjoy the ambiance of the almost outdoor resturant....

And of course wander about the nice gardens....

and the bakery and Country Store.

Hanging Out at Michelle's

Yesterday (Tues) Michelle came down and picked up Jeanne and took her to lunch at the Peninsula Hotel and they also did some ....Guess what.... Shopping. It's called "Shop Til You Drop". Then Dea & I joined them for dinner.

Here we are hanging out at Michelle's.
Like her new wall Clock? (The big hand is on the 6 and the little hand is on the 5).

Shopping with Jeanne

Dea and Jeanne at the wet market looking at fish....

And fruit and veggies.

We got some mangosteen. and they were quite good. Think we'll get them again.

Also showed her the SM supermarket shopping here. A bit different than the wet market.

Floating Book Store

Saturday Feb 24th I drove to the Batangas Port about 45 miles south of us to go aboard the OM ship Doulos. Had a good visit with Coloradians Kirk & Dawn Wilson. Sorry I didn't get better pictures of them.





Here'd Dawn coming to take me aboard. They gave me a super tour and lots to enlighten me about living aboard ship. Something like 360 inhabitants and 55 different nationalities. Quite a floating community. See the link http://www.doulos.org/ for current info.













This is the small book store. The big one was quite impressive.

Jeanne in Dea's classroom

Yup! She did arrive safely at about 5AM Friday morning Manila time (that's 2PM Thursday for you in Phoenix). Dea promptly introduced her to the 3rd grade class ....

She doesn't even look like she was up the whole flight without sleep...

But without regard for the weary traveler, what does Dea do ....

In keeping with her longstanding class policy of "You come in my class, You gotta work!" she puts Jeanne to work helping the kids. I understand Jeanne about fell asleep but help she did.

Jeanne is a comin' there's dancin' tonite.

Well it's almost 7PM Thurs here in Brentville and I'm going to be off shortly for Makati to spend the night at Michelle's. Jeanne, Dea's sister is coming in at 5AM tomorrow so that will be way more convenient than driving there early in the morning. Hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures up tomorrow after we get back. Sooooo Stay tuned!

It's her first trip this long as far as I know and whether you've done it once or a dozen times it is still a LOOOONNNNGGGG way across the pond. I called and found that she got off on schedule at about 3PM Phoenix time so she's well into it now. We should be having breakfast with Michelle and family in about 12 hours.

'Her Car - My Car' Collage

Collage or Collision

Here's proof of the 'Valentine's Day Massacre' Ferbruary 14, 2007 approx. 5:45PM Philippines time. (That's my car on the right.)

Valentines Dinner with the Lambs

Last night since it was Valentines Day, and we had been invited by Kurt and Patricia our neighbors here in Brentville, we went out for dinner. And... in this picture we are just being served our order at The Pancake House at a rest stop/service area just off of the South Luzon Expressway.

Now you might ask "Why would you choose The Pancake House at a rest stop/service area just off of the South Luzon Expressway?" And I'll admit that it’s a question begging to be answered.

The short version of the answer follows. We left Brentville early last evening, about 5PM, to go to a selected and recommended Italian restaurant in Alabang about 7 miles north of Brentville. We were probably within a mile or so of enjoying Italian pasta when a slight altercation occurred between my car and a nearby driver. Our dinner reservation was cancelled and I left my three passengers parked under a dark expressway overpass where the local police precinct office was located. You'll have to ask them what went on in the car as I was occupied inside answering questions, explaining my version of 'the event' and filling out forms. Needless to say, the statements of the two drivers as to what happened differed but we got the process mostly completed and were happily on our way. Not to the Italian restaurant, but south toward home. A Starbucks waved us in off the expressway but it happened to be right next to, you guessed it, THE PANCAKE HOUSE!

So there you have it - the 'short version'.

The painting of Brentville has begun

First they put up the OSHA approved bamboo scaffolding...

Tied with the OSHA approved binding material...

And with the OSHA specified distance between steps! What more could one ask for?

Then they cleaned and painted roof tiles

WOW! Doesn't that roof look shiney new.

Looking out our upstairs window at our slick new roof.

All set to go...

Got my bucket of paint, got my long handled roller...

But...I could use an extra hand or safety belt though.

Then they did the exterior.

They make it look easy.

Good ole bamboo scafolding - sort of.

It's an easy reach.

And Armed Guards To Boot!

Don't mess with me buddy!

Actually they're here to watch and make sure the contract painters don't pull any shenanigans.

This one is crouched just over our back yard fence.

A couple of GOOD shots of Mike, Talisha, and Braedyn in Seattle

Yup! There's the best of Seattle! All three of 'em. (This and next pic stolen from their blog)

Super Shot of Braedyn in Seattle

My grandson checking out his new home town in the northwest.