WEEK 4 .... and the prospects dwindle

post tea party anti-climax of a day (YAY)

It seemed only appropriate to have coffee "in England" this morning & since Spiker left me some crumpets from our gathering yesterday ..... well (munch, munch).

did I mentioned the beautiful flowers and mini-tea set that my Captain provided for our event? They were perfect additions!!

and ......... although the captain & I are not into fencing .... someone is, so it looks like they may be close to the finishing point. It's looking good, dispite the fact that it is over a month late! THIS will give me the true dimensions of my serenity garden. There's a lot of work ahead of us to pull it together and it will take awhile- but it's the first step.

ALICE ..... the tea party was today!!

I had lunch with a GREAT gaggle of women today!

there were trinkets for oggling.

delectables for grazing ....

glamour girls and studly boys.

dipping ..... and sipping

and lots of re-connecting too






THANKS LADIES ... for being part of my life. It's been a wild ride with most of you for the last few years and this tea party was a joy to host!! Each of you has a special place in my heart. I loved sharing stories & pictures & opinions together. Perhaps it will be only the first annual Princess' Tea

FWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIday :o)

hmmmmmmm sort of interesting watching someone work ..... and it was work - cuz it was LONG over due. Boy does it look spiffy now!!

now what do you suppose this is for ???

I can't

wait

to find out !

Hitchcock's THE BIRDS - shot on location in Avila Bay

WHAT A NIGHT !!
We pulled away from the dock, heading in the direction of the thick marine layer .... because that's where the open ocean was!! There would be a full moon this night but with the fog creeping in so fast, it didn't look likely that we would be seeing it ..... and this was labled a "moonlight cruise". HOWEVER, the moon was not really our reason for being out here. It was the graduation ceremony for the newest of Pecho Coast Trail docents. The trail leads to the Pt San Luis Lighthouse. It was also my Captains' 1 year anniversary of the same, making his 76th hike to date. (insert fanfare here) He would have loved it to be #100, but gee ..... we go on trips & vacations & dr appts, etc - so "life" interfered with that goal. but I digress ... back to the boat trip. It was incredible.

from the frenzy of sooty sheerwaters, gulls and cormorants feeding on schools of anchovy, to the sea lions covering the breakwater (and a few bouys as well), to the otters floating in the kelp beds with their pups! We sailed thru the middle of what appeard to be thousands of birds, floating on the water, diving down to catch fish, and surrounding us in the air like a swarm of bees. It was eerily exciting. Soon, flocks of pelicans joined in the feasting. There was so much to take in .... we saw egrets standing on the thick kelp & night herons flying overhead. The fog was behind us as we cruised out ..... glass of wine in hand, chatting, & sharing ooooh & ahhhs with new found friends. Dolphins played in the wake, harbor seals were slipping in & out of view & someone called out when they saw whale spouts in the distance.

2 hours later .... tummys full & feeling the chill in the air, we returned to the dock and shared a moment of silence together in remembrance of a recently passed lighthouse keeper (Walt Musso). We shared one last toast to the night & praised our luck for living in such a wonderful place that others just come & visit for a few days! It was a wonderful evening & after meeting some of the new members ... I might consider putting some time into the lighthouse myself after I enjoy a bit of retirement. ahhhhh life is good (and I deserve it)

hey! who's coffee maker is this?

I've posted about my coffee-lovin' cat before .... but today, she took it to new heights. She (apparently) smelled the coffee in the drip cup of the coffee maker & was doing her best to get to it. I believe she may have crossed the line this time!!

WEEEEEK 5 (more like weak)

wooo hoooo

and since my "week" is half over .... it's really only 4.5 .... and since there is a week that I may ONLY be needed 1/2 days ... it really means 4.0!

OMG- I still have sooooo much to do.

:o)

help .... I'm melting .....

alrighty then .... we apparently brought back the "normal" weather for Bakersfield this time of year and if so- do let me apologize for that !!

TODAY, it topped out at 90 according to our very own weather station .... at a time when the norm would be about 69 and that's perfect weather for here- it feels like a warm day .... because the sun is so direct!!(and keeping in mind that MOST homes don't have A/C.)

Mind you, I am not complaining - just staing fact. This only happens 4-5 days a year and I can deal with that. But .... the kitty kats have barely moved and I am under strict orders NOT to go into the kitchen. Dinner is on it's way! Cooler tomorrow .... I do hope so :o)

grandkids ....

they're noisy, disruptive, inquisitive, expensive, energy zapping ..... and the best thing since sliced bread !!! I may have to talk with my daughter-in-law about their fashion choices, but for now, I am just going to enjoy the fact that they still think gramma walks on water (and carries a big stick)

at 7:35 this morning, Addy crawled into bed with us & Anthony followed about 16 minutes later. It's been a long time since I laughed this much, this early. (and Addy slept in almost an hour later than norm according to daddy)

It was a YUMMY weekend!!

let's go to the roller derby!!

I bet it was Thursday evening around 7:30pm and you said to yourself .... what am I going to do this weekend? And self answered "let's go to where it's over 100 degrees during the day & see a soccer & a roller derby game!!"

and it's not enough to be in W-A-R-M weather .... but let's to go to events that are in places that have ONLY fans (the windy kind, not the people kind) Smart huh (???)

I ran into another photographer while there & we swapped some tips & foto stories.

Anthony informed me that the best way to keep your water cool is to ONLY fill the container with ice. By the time you are ready for a drink ... you got plenty of water!! At 9am it was already in the 80's so the heat was inevitable .... & we were prepared.

my puddy tats quak me up

our little Monkey knows how to get the best outta life. Her "routines" are calculated and well timed for the most part. Let me just run you thru a typical day with her ....... she sleeps on our bed .... usually on some part of our body. She sleeps hot like the Captain ... so that is her #1 pick. With me .... I get too warm with her on top of me so I often turn & move to find a cool spot on the sheets. On the days I stay in bed longer to drink my first MUG of coffee & watch the DVR, she returns to the bed after her breakfast and insists on laying atop me no matter how many times I move. If I have my laptop with me .... she crawls under it or walks across it. Within minutes .... she's taking her first of many baths. If she is clean before she's ready to stop licking ... then she looks for a bare hand or leg .... or Poki cat. Next she wanders about the house to see where everyone is. If I'm gone, she hopes the Captain is sitting at his computer so she can climb into his lap- if he's not, she will tunnel under the bedspread in the guest room for a nap. IF I AM home ... she follows me around until I finally settle into my craft studio. She will walk about the project table hoping for a pat down, an unattended coffee cup or to get onto my lap. Since my tap here, pet there (while trying to use the computer) isn't usually enough attn for her ... she eventually jumps up onto the high cabinet in the room, where she has a bed. knead, knead, knead ..... circle twice, lay down ... begin snoring. About an hour later ... the birds are hanging out in the side yard so she comes down to a lower bed to obsessively stare at them feeding & chattering. This lasts for quite a while ... or until the Captain is heard in the kitchen ... when this happens, she bolts out of the studio in his direction. NOT for food, as Poki does ... but because she loves the attn she gets from him when she stands on the counter & equals his "petting height". If she squeaks or gives an ever-so-rare meow, she knows it will gain her a few extra strokes! So this means both cats bolt to the kitchen numerous times during the day ... but for totally different reasons. One for tuna, one for touching.

after all the purring involved in this activity- she is exhausted & has to find somewhere to nap undisturbed. Often on the pillow in my bed. Sometimes under the futon. Occassionally in the tall seagrass hamper in our closet. OF course such an activity requires a snack or two when she's again out & about- and with luck, the lanai door is open so she can have her sniff & explore time. Each day .... she wanders around out there, as if it is all new to her. Sometimes she gets so involved we have to coax her back inside so we can shut the door. We don't leave her totally unattended, as it is an upstairs landing & we worry that she will jump up onto a post to get a better look someday. So dinner rolls around and that means a few seconds of rubbing her face into the kitty grass while she waiting for the main event. nibble, nibble and off she goes to check on "her" birds again. She will often take this opportunity for another snoozefest. When the humans have finished their own dinner & she hears the closing bell of The Wheel of Fortune, she knows that means a movie is about to start & with that comes availability of my lap. Sometimes it starts with a couple of run-thrus where she just walks across then off & away ... but eventually it means a pair of legs to stretch out on. If we are late in getting this part of the evening rolling .... she wanders aimlessly, reminding us of her schedule! Movie ends, she gets a little snack, then meets us in the bedroom where she is waiting for the sliding door or window to be opened so she can take in the night air & the sounds that accompany the darkness. I get myself settled with my Kindle and she walks across my legs to get over to where she knows is the MOST welcoming spot .... on top of the Captain! And another day comes to an end.

as for POKI - he naps .... A LOT!!

I could've sworn it was Friday only a week ago!!

and yet .... if 6 days have gone by as the calendar claims .... I am wondering why I only have 3 days worth of things done? And 2 of them were to go to work ..... so, what does that say about my week? As the time nears for me to shed my work week altogether, I am beginning to wonder if there will be enough hours in the day even then! ha-ha Well, really, I am just seeing the reality of how time moves even faster as we age .... and I am aging (and I don't like it).
Where has the time gone? Nearly everyday someone mentions that they can't believe that over half the year is gone already. half a year .... OMG, I can't believe over half my life is gone!!!! What I DO believe is - it's not the best half. Some of the best things in my life happened in the first half (Terry, Chris) .... but certainly not the best times of my life (other than what I have & had with the 2 of them). SO -on that note .... I am going to pad off to bed because tomorrow looks to be ANOTHER full day .... starting with sleeping til I wake up (you know what I mean) and then I'm off to hang with my Spiker chick-a-roonie. TTFN

my love affair with Yankee Candles

I adore Yankee Candles.
I love the names they choose for the scents. I love the colors they use for the wax. I love the fact that there is a million of them to choose from. I love the advertisement that comes in the mail with the scratch'n'sniff pages. Is it really love? YUP. Is it, perhaps, more of an obsession? I don't think so (but it's possible). I use them .... several times a week. Particularly in my craft studio ..... I like using the word studio these days ..... I don't just collect them. Or use them only when we have guests. I buy them to use. And I do. And I love them. Buy me a tart or two (what I use most) and I'm tickled pink. If I see a tart warmer in a gift bag for me ... you're probably added to my Christmas card list. If there is a real jar candle .... OMG, my heart is palpitating. From pumpkin pie, to lavender, to clean cotton, to hyacynth, to dune grass .... it ALMOST doesn't matter. The only "flavor" I don't buy is anything peppermintish. So when I have a coupon .... or a shopping code for Yankee .... I'm ecstatic. It's almost better than fresh flowers.
YANKEE CANDLES .... you get princess points & a big thumbs up!

and with an afternoon to call MY OWN- I am inspired.

With the wonderful weather full of sunshine (lately) .... our flowers are bloomin' left & right and AS IF I needed an excuse to be banished to my creative cave .... I used the inspiration of nature's own and prettied up the gift bags I've been planning for my "TEA PARTY" that's coming up. Once I finally got focused .... it was sooooo much fun. I was disappointed when I found that I was finished!! It's just as well since I am working tomorrow- otherwise I would be wishing I was home even more than usual.

this .... is the kind of thing that inspires me to create!

nature's beauty cannot be denied ......................

colors, textures, definition. ahhhh .... I love being inspired!!

week 6 (AKA 12 days)

I know what you're thinking .... 12 measley days ... ha! But those are (in my opinion) 12 days that physically amount to about 30 ... when you take a look at how long the day is, how much multi-tasking is happening & the occassional stress level. bottom line .... at least the time is still ticking in the right direction!!

we had a grape day

OMG .... I cannot believe how lucky I was today!

What we ended up doing with our Aussie guests, turned out a little differently than planned .... so off we went without a camera.

MY LUCK turned out to be getting some pictures I really liked with my telephone. Having not used it before, on top of the fact that it was sunny & difficult to see the screen ... I am soooo tickled they came out so nicely. (and my Kelsey Vineyards Golden Delicious wine ALSO turned out well!)

cheese it - the cops!!

well I'm no Cagney or Lacey & he's no Magnum PI .... but it was still fun doing the police volunteer thing!! I found that there was respect & appreciation even for what we handled today. Very Cool.

crykie ... it's a bloomin hibiscus!!

MOST beautimous !!

it's such a shame that the hibiscus doesn't have any stink to it .... I think they are so interesting. AND- I'm not sure I've seen any tw that are exactly alike. And trust me ... I have seen a LOT of them!!

what a weekend (and it ain't over yet)

The Captain was off on a hike yesterday .... while I was trying to ready the castle for our incoming Aussie guests & doing the laundry. I had hoped to get some craft time, but the chores just weren't gettin' done fast enough. HOWEVER, I did get rewarded for my hard work by seeing some whales spoutin' & playing from our lanai. THAT was very cool! It's not the right time of year .... but this may have been the pod that tends to hang around Morro Bay all year (?) We're ALSO excited to see all 3 of our newest hibiscus plants blooming. IF WE EVER get the fence work done, we'll be even happier if they bloom again after we get them planted. If all the plants live thru all the commotion .... it should be 6 or 7 different colors that will eventually make up a little hedge. Today the Captain & I had our first volunteer patrol assignment together. I can't say that standing for 4+ hours straight is particularly fun .... but I actually did enjoy bantering back & forth with the people around the city today!!! (only next time I am taking a snack with me!!!!)

the simplest (& cheapest) outings are often the best!

We took a drive today- it was time to get dad out of the house .... to chat & converse & move around .... and since we had his physical therapy session later in the day, we took off after lunch and didn't come back til dinner time!

Off toward LosOsos we headed and the sunshine met us there with open beams. With Pops on his scooter & the Captain & I charting the way- we walked the length of the Elfin Forest.

oooooo, I love lichen. It's sort of spooky & eerie looking to me. I especially liked it on the trees in Savannah ... but since I don't have to take an airplane to see it here ... this will certainly do for me!! and there are some HUGE patches of it here.

& The Buckwheat is just about bloomed out for the summer ... but we found a few that were hanging in there (waiting for me & my camera)

A farmhouse had sunflowers all along the front border of their property. There was a flower that must have been nearly a foot across & just about to seed out. HUGE

I find sunflowers to be just about the cheeriest flower there is

:o)