Woody has a sweet tooth?`

Joan's Monkey Bread was really a hit on New Year's Day at our family's annual "eat-fest and game marathon". Even Woody was spotted trying to tear off a chunk of the cinnamon-scented pull-apart.

All kidding aside, we take our New Year's Day tradition very seriously...gathering at Kathye's house at 11:00 AM for brunch, followed by the informal gift exchange for all the cousins. Then it came time to breakout the potluck appetizers for munching while starting the games (this year we had two Nintendo Wii setups) and then about 5:00 Kathye pulled out the lasagna from the oven. Following the second serving of Theresa's home baked black bottom cupcakes, the conversation shifted to about when we were going to start the diet and exersize plans for the new year. Posted by Barbara.

The River Walk Tower

 This towering sign announces the way to the River Walk Parkway located on the banks of the Sacramento River in West Sacramento.

Happy New Year Featuring Best Photo of The Year

My favorite photo this year was the "Pink Perfection" camellia that I posted on November 9, 2007. The photo was posted just as it was shot by my Canon Powershot SD750 on November 5th, 2007 at 4:26 PM. There were no enhancements by any graphics software program except to reduce the image size for posting. Barbara Smith

See these other City Daily PhotoBlog Websites that are highlighting their favorite photo of the year:

Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Evry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wrocław, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India - Terrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USA - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Torino, Italy - Susanville (CA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Memphis (Tennessee), USA

A Quinquagenary (1958-2008): What's Your Story, Morning Glory?

Glistening raindrops -a radiant glow. Photo by Barbara

"What's your story, morning glory, What makes you look so blue
The way that you've been acting, I don't know what to do"
Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald in 1958-50 years ago.

That same year my family moved to West Sacramento; the Sacramento deep water channel was in construction; the movie Vertigo is released; Dwight David Eisenhower is in his second term as president; Charles de Gaulle is elected president of France; Tyrone Power dies; Madonna is born; Have Gun, Will Travel debuts on radio; the first IHOP is opened; Nikita Khrushchev becomes Premier of the Soviet Union; 9235 scientists publish a plea to stop nuclear bomb tests; Bobby Fischer wins the United States Chess Championship; Roy Campanella is in a car accident that leaves him paralyzed; Egypt and Syria unite to form the United Arab Republic; and Boris Pasternak wins the Nobel Prize.
Posted by Barbara

Farmer's Rice Cooperative

The Farmer's Rice Cooperative rice milling and manufacturing facilities are adjacent to the Port of Sacramento in the City of West Sacramento. Since 1944, the grower-owned rice marketing cooperative has supplied domestic and international food manufacturers, brewers, private retailers, exporters and distributors with premium quality California rice.
Photo by Barbara

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

These beautiful flowers are from our Bird of Paradise Plant ....It finally bloomed after 5 years and several relocations== and has been blooming for about 6 years or so.

I am sad now because the plant looks like it might have "croaked".. the fronds are all black and wilted. We'll leave it for now and hope it might revive. ...Photo by Barbara

Canal cleanup behind "Poquito Park"

This excavation rig from Rockin R Grading and Excavation Inc. was clearing reeds and debris from the canal that runs behind Poquito Park in Southport --maybe this is progress towards building a pedestrian footbridge over the canal so we can walk to the new Lowes Shopping Center!

Riske Lane-historical area

841 Riske Lane: Old warehouse and Union Pacific Tamper car on the tracks across the street from the River Cat's Stadium.
Post by Barbara

Chrismukkah Dinner: "What's cooking mom?"

Kurt was in charge of preparing this bad boy in his "set-it-and-forget-it" roaster. (I remember when my weekly salary was not much more than the price of this roast.) Can you believe the little boys asked for pizza...??

Of course my family still feels that Raley's has the best beef around. This loyalty goes way back -as my brother-in-law Chuck Blessing was the meat manager at the Raley's Supermarket in West Sacramento for years.

Anyway, the best part of our meal was having our family together this holiday.

Christmas Trees, by Mrs. Palamadessi's Kindergarten Class at Westmore Oaks School.

The family of each student in the class was asked to decorate a blank white Christmas Tree cut out of a piece of poster board. You'll see a clever use of finger paints, crayons, markers, glitter, glue, photos, stickers, beads, and assorted doo-dads. The trees where then hung in the entry hall of the school for all to enjoy during the holiday season! Our family's tree is now home with us, hung in our living room. It features green fingerpaint, silver tinsel garland, animal stickers, and ornaments made out of family photos. Post by Christy

SplashHound: Self Serve Dog Wash in West Sacramento Now Open

SplashHound U.S.A. Self Serve Dog Wash is now open in the Merkley Mall on Merkley Avenue in West Sacramento. According to their website " At SplashHound USA, we provide you with all the tools you need to wash, dry and groom your dog in a fun and comfortable setting -- at a fraction of the price of a full-service groomer. Photo by Barbara

Trivia: Some old friends who grew up in West Sacramento reminded me that when we were kids some of the tenants in this mall were Kendall's Clothing Store, Dave's Apparel, Don's Chuck Wagon, West Sacramento Hardware, "The Laundromat", El Rancho Cleaners....more to come as memories surface...

Two Ships at the Port of Sacramento Today

The Global Dream, top photo, (bagged rice) and Star Optimana, bottom photo, (fertilizer) cargo ships pictured at the Port of Sacramento today. Photo by Barbara.

West Sacramento Christmas Basket Project

Pictured above are some of the project volunteers taking a quick break to eat a bowl of the homemade chili that Debbie took to them at the ILWU Hall staging area on Thursday. These volunteers will be working over the next several days sorting, packing and delivering Christmas baskets to many people in our community who need a helping hand this holiday.

The Christmas Basket Project is directed by long-time community advocate Helena Helmold of West Sacramento and is made possible by donations of food, money and labor from community groups, business organizations, and many caring citizens in our town.

Angels Keep Watch Over OurTree

Photos of some of our Christmas Angels on the tree. Most of my angels have been gifts from my daughters over the years and each one has a very special memory for me. The top photo is our newest angel from Guatemala. If you know my family you will know why this angel is so special. Post by Barbara