It was a beautiful funeral mass for Eileen Shrader, everyone called her granny. Fr Aidan J. McAleenan sent her home in style just as she wanted. I have to admit the this is the first time I’ve heard Dancing Queen as the recessional, but for Granny, it was perfect.

Glad to be home, today’s adventures in retail therapy were exhausting.

Sitting and enjoying my morning espresso on my balcony

One of those kind of days. Kicking back and retrying the House of the Dragon.

Beautiful day in the city to see the Matisse exhibit. I especially enjoyed the display of Gertrude Steins famous salon.

Beautiful day on the bear valley trailhead

Haircut managed gay powers restored #gaythreads

Haven’t made myself a martini 🍸 in a while…… cheers!

One Palm Sunday we wear red

The perfect day in the city part two after leaving the museum drove to Ghirardelli Square. Had lunch at McCormick, which has the best view in the city. I’m surprised it’s not overrun with tourists. Then walked the Embarcadero down through pier 39 through the heart of tourist-ville sans tourists

The perfect day in San Francisco part one, started with the new exhibit at the DeYoung Museum, Monet and Venice. Great show if you have an opportunity, I highly recommend it.

Happy St Patrick’s Day

The bouquets to art exhibit at the de Young and the Legion of honor is an annual event. I always look forward to this year did not disappoint.

Perfect day in San Francisco one of the highlights was a stop at Fort Point. I haven’t been there in decades. #vertigo

Carpet I purchased in India arrived and was placed with the help of a good friend

Hoppy Holi

Morning blessings

Checked into the Taj Mahal Lucknow hotel then checked out the shopping district

After a long drive, about six hours on the bus, he checked into the hotel and then went to the Kathak dance Academy

This was a day that did not disappoint. Started out with a tour of the Taj Mahal, absolutely incredible everything you would expect it to be. I think most people know the history, but I’ll pop it here anyway. The Taj Mahal’s story is one of profound love and loss

The red Fort or Agra Fort was also quite a stunner the Emperor, who built the Taj Mahal lived and died here locked away by his son where his window looked out at the Taj Mahal

Then we managed to see sloth bear with two cubs , two different kinds of deer once on which had been breakfast ever present monkeys, and lots of lots of birds.

We got up at O:dark-thirty for breakfast and to head out for part two of tiger “Safari“. The day did not disappoint. We saw our first tiger pretty quickly resting after a hearty meal of deer half of which was still present. Then right around the corner, a sibling also resting

Our day in the life started out at a local school that is sponsored by the Grand Circle Foundation. Part of our ticket prices goes@in this fund. Our class was eight grades getting ready for their tests.

A bit smoky when we got to the hotel another wedding celebration is in progress.

Our first stop was to Amer Fort, it is a premier UNESCO World Heritage site built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I. Perched on the Aravalli hills overlooking Maota Lake, this 16th-century fort is a blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, featuring red sandstone, white marble, intricate mirror work

After a great lunch we went to a block printing exhibition ( I bought some PJs) track wood is used dipped in ink and stamped onto the fabric. We watched weaver making carpets some can take years to make. And yes, I did end up buying one. Then back to the hotel for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

Today we visited Gurudwara Bangla Sahib,in New Delhi, a prominent 17th-century Sikh temple renowned for its golden dome, white marble architecture, and sacred water tank. It is open 24/7, offers free meals to thousands daily, Kathleen helped in the kitchen and the bird was hoping for food too.

After a harrowing Uber ride where the “lanes are merely a suggestion /duck and weave driving style” we went to Qutub Minar A UNESCO world heritage site

Another beautiful evening in Rossmoor