On our way to dinner at Steve and Laura's, we needed to stop by the Minden Airport so Steve could purchase tickets for the Aviation Round Up Airshow happening here this weekend. Attending is a Haerr Man Day so this was the show for me.

I think everyone knows about the awesome Blue Angels. Being as I'm a Navy gal, they are my favorite demonstration jet flyers with 72 Years of aviation excellence.

After being in their powerful presence, I wanted to know more about their history. Here you go... In 1946, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester Nimitz, had a vision to create a flight exhibition team in order to raise the public's interest in naval aviation and boost Navy morale. In the 1940s, they thrilled audiences with their precision combat maneuvers in the F6 Hellcat, the F8 Bearcat and the F9 Panther. During the 1950s, they refined their demonstration with aerobatic maneuvers in the F9 Cougar and F-11 Tiger and introduced the first six-plane delta formation, still flown to this day. By the end of the 1960s, the Angels were flying the F-4 Phantom, the only two seat aircraft flown by the delta formation. In 1974, they transitioned to the A-4 Skyhawk, a smaller and lighter aircraft with a tighter turning radius allowing for a more dynamic flight demonstration. And in 1986, they celebrated their 40th Anniversary by unveiling the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, which they still fly to this day. By the way, I have no idea what any of those previous planes are, but man, I'm loving the Hornet. Wow.










Here's just a brief video clip of the awesomeness the boys are going to experience. I'm so glad I got to see the pre-show.


Then at the end of the day, Mother Nature did her own show for us. Wow.

Meeks Bay is a very special place for Steve. It is where he, as young as two years of age, fell in love with Tahoe.

Almost every summer was spent frolicking on the West Shore.
When we read that there were going to be more changes to this unique Tahoe Treasure, we gathered equally curious Margaret and Lee and headed to Meeks.
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) hosted a public tour, to announce the proposed action and public comment period for the Meeks Bay Restoration Project.
Before the actual tour began, Steve took his own tour down Memory Lane.


We were eager to hear the "Purpose and Need for Action" for this extensive project.
According to the website: "The deteriorating condition of the existing marina infrastructure, concerns over aquatic invasive species, and concerns over degraded habitat for native species have prompted the need for action in Meeks Bay. The purpose of this project is to move the Meeks Creek stream channel and wetland/lagoon below State Route 89 (SR89) to a more natural condition where geomorphic and hydrologic processes support a functioning ecosystem while continuing to support sustainable recreation opportunities."
"There is a need to improve water quality in Meeks Creek; restore degraded aquatic, riparian, and wetland habitats and barrier beaches; provide high quality habitat that is resilient to a changing climate; improve fish passage through the SR 89 stream crossing; control or eradicate current populations of terrestrial and aquatic invasive plant species; maintain and enhance access to Lake Tahoe and National Forest System lands; provide sustainable recreation opportunities consistent with a functioning ecosystem; enhance educational and interpretive opportunities; enhance species of value to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California; and promote the Federally protected species Tahoe yellowcress (Rorippa subumbellata) and Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi)."



Most of the people on the tour were 'old timers' who remember Meeks Bay in its heyday. According to author Carol Van Etten, "Meeks Bay Resort, developed by the Kehlet family beginning in 1920, was a self-contained destination resort before the term was coined. Accommodations included a campground, a hotel and over 100 rustic cabins. No need to leave the Resort for food. Its lakefront dining room, two beach snack bars and a sandwich shop with full fountain provided the necessary nuances of nourishment. Campers and local residents could avail themselves of a grocery store and meat market on the premises, and a barber shop and beauty parlor kept vacationers looking their best.

To wile away the sunny days, a stables, pleasure pier and fleet of ride boats from kayaks to speedboats offered alternatives to the beach. Ping Pong and horseshoes were among other favorite amusements, and a brace of determined correspondents could always be found in the Lodge, scribbling “Wish You Were Here” on countless picture postcards.

At night, the Resort provided entertainment for (almost) every taste: first-run movies were the rule at the Meeks Bay Theater, and the beach-front Dancehall was the perfect setting for every budding summer romance. Gamblers didn’t need to “head for the line” to enjoy their games of chance. The Bingo (aka Tango) Room, with Freddie and Darel in charge, was always a lively spot,  and if all else failed there were always the Bay’s natural amenities to admire."

Meeks' heyday has long been over but after this two hour long informational tour, we hope that the powers that be will remember the good old days and try to keep some of the historic and nostalgic aspects of this magical place intact. I'm hopeful.

The evening found us at Historic Camp Richardson's for Paulette Grune's Reflections of the Past. Paulette presents a costumed presentation of Victorian Ladies, Their Manners and Morals all told through clothing. As she dresses, the stories unfold. 

This was the third time I've seen this presentation and I was equally impressed.
Paulette begins in her pantalettes and slowly dresses to reveal what life was like for a Civil War era Southern Belle. So very entertaining and informative.


Paulette is an exceptional seamstress and has crafted her ensemble. We were all in awe by the beauty of her outfit and the hardship women endured for style. Did you know, at that time, the second cause of death for women, after childbirth, was burning from their hoop skirts catching on fire? Women actually died for fashion. Crazy stuff.
"During this time, a woman couldn't own anything including her own opinion."

Live theater is one of my favorite things. To help celebrate Karen's birthday month, I brought her to the Boathouse Theatre to see Steel Magnolias.

I hadn't seen the movie since it came out in 1989. I remember it mainly because of its stellar cast and the sadness it evoked. Interestingly, I will remember this one because of the very same reasons.
"Fall in love with the kind-hearted group of gossipy southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor. Alternating between hilarious and touching, the play reveals the ultimate strength and purposefulness of sisterhood. “Harling has given his women sharp, funny dialogue…The play builds to a conclusion that is deeply moving.” —NY Daily News.
This production was very unique. The entire play took place in Truvy's beauty shop and the many male characters were referenced but never appeared.

One line that the main actress, Shelby,  said was very poignant, "I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special." Tonight, in the Boathouse Theatre sharing this play with Karen, was way more than 30 minutes of wonderful. Something special indeed.

The last few days have been somewhat of a blur, so here is a blog post just to catch you up with some of what we've been up to.

We ended Steve's birthday, Saturday, with a small gather of good friends. Simple but wonderful.

A week ago, we hosted Riva Enteen at our library for the Follow the Money Book Launch and Discussion. Editor Riva Enteen introduced the audience to the just-released book, Follow the Money: Radio Voices for Peace and Justice. Follow the Money has been described as an "encyclopedia of resistance," a "book of hope" and "a book that inspires action".
I am very apolitical but I did appreciate Riva's passion and this was the first time I can say that I was in the company of someone who stated proudly that she was a Marxist Socialist. It was an interesting night with an interesting woman.
Melania Trump's face was for sale as a Halloween Costume at Grocery Outlet. I had to have this image.
My girlfriend, Keri met me in Placerville for brunch and some amazing thrift store shopping. I think she is now a fan! It's always great to connect with old friends.
We even popped by the Grand Opening of our newest bakery.
Crazy Good Bakery and Café is a family owned and operated gourmet bakery. The founder/owner and head creative mastermind behind these gourmet doughnuts, pies and other delicious treats Christine Andersen-Smith has been in the food industry for over 30 years. Her passion for baking came from her Hungarian grandmother Elizabeth. Standing by her side in the kitchen from a very early age she learned how to make people happy through food.
I know this will be a place in which my girlfriends and I will meet, linger and delight in the deliciousness. Life continues to be diverse and fun in Tahoe.

For Steve's birthday, we headed to the annual Fall Fish Festival, an event which focuses on a variety of fish species that live in Lake Tahoe and its rivers. In addition to the Kokanee, these species include the federally threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout and little-known smaller fish, such as speckled dace. It was a perfect day for it all.

Where else could someone not only hug a big blown up fish, but explore the insides as well? So cool.

Steve, Karen and I learned about the natural wonders of Taylor Creek from Forest Service biologists, as we strolled along the accessible, ½ mile loop Rainbow Trail. This peaceful walk meanders through forests, meadows and marsh lands to the creek where the Kokanee salmon spawn within a few feet of our own feet.
I had to share this photo of a woman and her husband who were hiking with their bird. She said that the bird goes everywhere with them. What a riot!

While we only spotted a few of these red-colored fish, we delighted in the hunt and just being out and about in Tahoe.

Dear Reader,
Lately my posts have been filled with various mistakes. Please ignore the errors and enjoy the content.

Remember this paragraph that went around the internet for awhile?

If You Can Raed Tihs, You Msut Be Raelly Smrat. "Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteers be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm."