Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Over the years we’ve met and made railfan friends from all over the world. Earlier this year our friends from Australia, J & R, stayed with us. We had a wonderful visit and by way of the internet and e-mail, they recently introduced us to their friends, G & E, who happen to live in nearby Santa Clarita. This past Sunday, G & E stopped in to meet us and to check out the garden railroad and our view of the train tracks. With our mutual friends in Australia setting up the introduction, we were assured to get along famously, and so we did. All too soon, it was time for them to head for home.

I happened to have some fresh Pumpkin bread that I gave them as a welcome gift, and in turn, G gave us a CD with over 1500 photos of their visit to Australia, including photos of J & R, our Aussie friends who stayed with us earlier this year. Times like this where we can connect with friends of friends are very special and make us appreciate how fortunate we are in this life.

Be safe, be well and know that you are loved. Be sure to tell those you love that you love them.

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Friday, September 14, 2018

This is the backside of Ruby, ever watchful of our hummingbirds and their feeders. I spotted her at her perch early this morning just as the sun was coming up. I tapped on the window until I got her attention and she ran to the window, stretching up and putting her paw up to touch my hand. LOL I went and got her treats — as soon as she saw me leaving the room she jumped down and raced for the sliding glass door. She’s such fun to watch as she watches the birds. From what the neighbors have said, every now and then she’ll catch a bird and bring it indoors to play with it. They catch it and turn it loose outdoors. She also brings in lizards — shudders — not my cup of tea at all, though I know they’re supposed to be good for the garden and they eat all sorts of insects, they give me the willies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw the pulmonologist today; I’d been having one heck of a time with an allergy attack. He gave me another inhaler, though I asked that I not be given one. This one is once per day. We shall see how it goes. The previous ones gave me an unpleasant side effect.

We’ve begun tracking/logging train traffic again. This is the log for this past Wednesday. I had to take off so there’s a large gap in coverage, but there are other moderators for the Tehachapi Live Train Cam who capture all of the traffic and publish a report at month’s end. Robert and I do it for fun, and because we used to do it each and every day when we first moved up here. We find it fascinating to look back at the records and see what’s transpired.

Be safe, be well, and please be happy. Be sure to tell those you love that you love them.

 

Friday, September 14, 2018

I love to read, and on a semi-regular basis, I feel the need to write. One of my all-time favorite authors was Tony Hillerman, who passed away in 2008. I’m quite sure I’ve read every one of his books at least once, and some of them more than once. A few weeks ago, I came across an article that mentioned Anne Hillerman, his daughter, and the fact that she had followed in her father’s footsteps and was continuing to write about Officer Chee and Joe Leaphorn. I immediately ordered Cave of Bones from the local library. I’m more than halfway through it and already looking forward to reading her first three novels.

I have a dr’s appt. this morning in Bakersfield. It’s a pulmonologist follow-up and I’m more than ready for it because I’ve had a really bad allergy attack these past couple of days. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he can help nip this attack in the bud.

Be safe, be well, and please be happy. Life is complex and beautiful. Enjoy it! Be sure to tell those you love that you love them!

Saturday, September 8, 2018

We had a fantastic time today. My quilting friends all met here at the house and we swapped out fabric strips, ate smoked tri-tip, salads, rolls, veggies and fruit, and several wonderful desserts. The weather was perfect and we had a wonderful time. We’ll get together again in December for our Christmas party where we’ll swap fabric strips again, only this next time they’ll be BRIGHT colors, like Kaffe Fassett creates. Eventually, we’ll be creating a very large quilt using a Split-Nine pattern.

One member of the quilting group is moving to San Diego to be closer to the kids and grandkids. I explained that we had done just the opposite and hoped to be able to stay in this home until our health forces us to move back to San Diego. May that day be years away…

Be safe, be well, and please be happy. There are so many things in life that are small blessings. My sister always felt blessings had to be huge things, like winning the lottery. Nope, blessings can be as small a thing as coming to a busy intersection and finding no cars in sight–like someone is holding back traffic just for you. Or going to a place where parking is a problem and finding a space open just for you. It’s truly the little things that make your life a blessing. Be sure to bless those you love, and tell them that you love them.

Friday, September 7, 2018

Another absolutely gorgeous day here in Tehachapi. I have a lot to do but want to share what I’ve been working on. I tend to get sidetracked at times, but always for a worthwhile reason.

 

This photo of a butterfly is one I took when we were staying with our friends in Battleground, WA in July of this year. I shared it online with my 3-D Sheets 4-All group. The artists in this group create and share sheets of 3-dimensional images that can be cut apart and layered to create one of a kind greeting cards. The zebra stripes prompted a member, A.S., to write to me and ask if anyone had a sheet with a Zebra on it. In fact, one member did create a Zebra some years ago and I had created a card with it.

A.S. shared that she had been diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer, a rare form of cancer, and there was going to be an international conference in Henderson, NV, later this month. In discussing making cards to pass out to people at the conference, I suggested a bookmark would be easier. I said I had created bookmarks for my sister when she underwent chemo for breast cancer a number of years ago. Thus was born the latest reason for getting sidetracked. This is the bookmark I created for the NET Cancer Awareness conference, which will be held in Henderson, NV, September 27-29, 2018.  At first, A.S. said there were going to be about 200 attendees. After sharing the bookmark concept and sample with the president of the organization, A.S. said the number of attendees was more like 500. She said I could make as many as I felt like making, but she didn’t expect me to make 500. So, I printed out a number of sheets last night and began laminating them. (I had made a trip to Bakersfield on Wednesday to pick up black on black fabric (another project in the works) and a new cartridge for the laminator. I used the remainder of laminator material that was in the machine plus all of the new cartridge. Then I began trimming and cutting the bookmarks.

I finally gave up and went to bed at 1:45 a.m. I’m at mid-morning now and need to get back to work on the bookmarks, so I’ll leave you with blessings and a request to be safe, be well, and please be happy. Robert was watching me print out the bookmark sheets last night and commented that I get mixed up in so many things. I told him that my purpose in life was to take care of him and to help anyone who needed me in any way. That’s my purpose in life–to be there for others. Be sure to tell those you love that you love them; life can be very short at times.

Friday, August 30, 2018

Our weather has finally cooled off and the night air has that crisp feeling of approaching winter. A perfect time of the year–not too hot, and not too cold. San Diego’s temperatures were like that and having lived there for most of my life, I got acclimated to a minimum of change in temperature throughout the year. There used to be only a few days in the summer that were truly hot, but from what my friends tell me, the weather there has changed and summer heat is higher and lasts longer than ever before. The same appears to be true for here in Tehachapi. People are more than ready for some cold weather.

Cooler days means more time spent outdoors. We cleaned part of the deck yesterday and today we’ll work on the middle section. I’ve been vacuuming it because water will go down through the boards and flood the patio beneath. Not good. I’m thinking of buying one of those floor cleaners that washes the floor and vacuums up the water immediately. I think it might do a better job than just dry vacuuming. It’s a thought…

Labor Day weekend is upon us. Be safe, be well, and please be happy. Be sure to tell those you love that you love them. Blessings to all…

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

It’s another week coming to a close. I’m right at half-way done with the quilting on my latest quilt. Would much rather be completely finished, but it’ll get there, one spot at a time.

One of my cardmaking friends posted that she feels guilty at times because she gets caught up wasting time rather than working on the cards and folds she should be working on. I replied and said I knew what she meant —  I’ve got very little accomplished this week; far less than I thought I would get done. But I know that when I do work on things, it brings them a little further along.

Not much to report — one day at a time. One quilt at a time. Blessings to all. Be safe, be well, and please be happy. Don’t berate yourself for not working 100% of the time. You’re meant to enjoy your life and if doing nothing pleases you, then you should do nothing. Your projects will get completed. Trust me!