Monday, June 12, 2017

We had a great two-week trip to Aurora, Colorado and Reno, Nevada recently. We drove to Aurora, where my one cousin, Mae Jane, lives. Then our mutual cousin Chris, and her husband Terry, flew over from the U.K. They were only able to stay four days, but we packed those days to the hilt with factory tours, great food and scenic drives.

We were one minute late in snagging this table by the window at a river restaurant. It was occupied when we were first seated, and I brazenly took this photo. Those people finished their meal and left, but before we could get our things picked up and moved to the window booth, the waiter brought another couple to be seated. Ah well, a picture with someone else’s drinks is better than none at all.

It was really an idyllic place to eat. The service was great and the food wonderful. Such a great memory.

I have another train quilt in the works for the Depot gift shop. It’s a children’s panel that I’ve made up a couple of times before. I still have three more panels to work up, but before I start on them I have a pieced quilt I want to make. Once I get ther first row done, I’ll post photos.

Until next time, be safe, be well, and please be happy. Be sure to tell those you love that you love them. Be grateful for what you have, and for what you don’t have!

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Yesterday morning I caught all five ground squirrels feeding beneath the shepherd’s crook bird feeder station. This is after watching a black cat make off with one in his mouth the day before! A bit after I took this photo, we watched Carl try to catch one of the squirrels–he missed, doggone it! But at least he was out there trying! LOL

We do get a wonderful selection of wildlife parading through our back yard. This morning I caught Red-headed Woodpeckers at the neighbor’s feeder.

 

I happened to catch the one when he was looking my way. It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Yes?” “Can’t you see I’m eating here?”

Then this afternoon, we suddenly noticed a huge gathering of horse trailers and RV’s in the meadow across the way. Tonight, they have a campfire and huge spotlights going. We’re not sure what the occasion is all about, but there’s more than a few people in attendance.

 

There have been times we’ve watched people set up an archery range with straw bale targets. They’re there for a day or two and then they leave. We usually see them in the late summer/early fall. The property is all part of the Broome Ranch, which extends all the way to Keene on the north side of the highway.

Not much else going on — I’ll close this with blessings to all — be safe, be well, and please by happy. Be sure to tell those you love that you love them.

 

 

 

Saturday, May 13, 2017

My neighbor was over visiting the other day and saw the child’s train quilt I was working on. He offered to purchase it on the spot, but I told him it wasn’t finished just yet, I was still working on the binding. I told him I had another panel he might like better than the children’s design. I showed him the Lionel panel and he agreed it would be a better choice.  I finished it this morning and am pleased with the way it turned out.

I also have three pillows cut out and ready to put together. There was a small piece of the binding fabric left and I knew I had a similar sized piece of my train postcard fabric in my stash, so these pillows will be the result.

 

I still have the children’s quilts to work up, but I’ll get them done as time and energy allows.

Our day started out all socked in with fog, but about 10:00 a.m., the fog lifted and the sun came shining through.

 

Hard to believe, but we’ll be heading for Denver in another week. I’ll be spending the next few days doing laundry and getting ready for our trip.

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

 

 

 

Thursday, May 11, 2017

When we booked the follow-up appointment yesterday, the receptionist offered June 9th as a possible date. It made me realize how quickly this year has gone by. We’re almost at the middle of the year — it seems like it was only a couple of weeks ago that we were hearing Christmas carols. Each day grows in value as we move toward the end of our time in this life.

I picked up a like-new copy of “A Seth Reader” at the Friends of the Tehachapi Library book sale the other day.

Instead of showing the author’s name on the cover, it simply stated, “Edited by Richard Roberts.” I was intrigued by this, and have many books on the metaphysical side of life, so into my bag it went. For those unfamiliar with Seth, Wikipedia states, “… Seth is the internationally acclaimed spiritual teacher who spoke through the author Jane Roberts while she was in trance, and coined the phrase “You Create Your Own Reality.” Seth’s empowering message literally launched the New Age movement.””

I was introduced to Seth and the works of Jane Roberts many years ago when my step-mother talked about Seth and gifted me with a copy of “Seth Speaks.” A search for a copy of this book just now brought a huge surprise when I found a listing on E-Bay for $137.71! There are numerous reprints of this book with different covers, that cost far less than this. But this particular printing is the one in my library. Published in 1972, it was probably close to brand new when it was given to me. It opened the door to the metaphysical side of life and I’ve marveled at all I’ve read and learned since that first book.

We never know when something we experience will have a lasting impression on our lives. It could be meeting and connecting with another person, or reading a book that opens your mind to other doorways and pathways of thinking. The important thing is to keep your mind open to possibilities and to continue to learn about life. I sincerely believe we are guided in our lives–there are no accidents. We are here to learn and to love others.

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

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

I finally went shopping for groceries yesterday. My pantry is full, as is the refrigerator. Robert had Depot Duty yesterday and lunch with the Signal Crew afterwards. He learned that the grilled Ham & Cheese sandwich with fries was not a good choice as his blood sugar was at 153 an hour after lunch. That and the tortilla chips and salsa snack did him in. I gave him half of a cut up orange as a snack last night — I felt he needed something in his stomach and the orange would bring his blood sugar up enough to hold him until this morning. His blood sugar reading was 103 this morning, which is good. He sees the dermatologist this afternoon–hopefully it’ll be the last visit for a while.

I went to the Optometrist on Monday, expecting to get a new/better pair of bi-focal glasses. Nope, I got a recommendation that I go for cataract surgery and THEN come back for new glasses. <sigh> Now I know the trepidation that Robert felt before he had his eyes fixed. I look forward to having it behind me. My first appointment is a month from now, so I expect that the surgery won’t take place for at least 6 weeks, and then another six weeks for the other eye. I truly hope to have it all over and done with by the end of October when we (hope, hope, hope) will head for Arizona for the winter. It’ll be the last hoorah for us there, as we plan to put it on the market at the end of the season. Probably should put it on the market at the beginning of the season and catch the people who are looking for a place to spend their winter. We shall see…

I do need to get off of this computer and get to sewing, so I will say my blessings to all; be safe, be well, and please be happy. Be sure to tell those you love that you love them!!

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Another apron is close to being finished, and I have a quilt panel layered and ready for quilting. Progress … 

 

 

 

 

I’d like to get all of the quilt panels completed before mid-June as I’ll most likely be undergoing cataract surgery then. I had my eyes examined yesterday and rather than getting fitted for new glasses, the Optometrist recommended that I have the cataracts removed. I knew I would need the surgery eventually. It’ll be nice to be able to see better than I do now.

We took a quick trip to San Diego last week, for my Uncle Bud’s funeral service. He was buried at Miramar National Cemetery, and by coincidence, that’s where my half-sister Barbara and her husband Bruce are buried. While there, I was able to capture photos of their headstones for my genealogical records. Then we drove to Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery and took photos of my mother’s, step-father’s and aunt’s headstones.

Robert and I were utterly amazed at the growth and change in San Diego, especially in the businesses in our old neighborhood. Where there previously had been single, stand-alone buildings, there were now strip malls. And the traffic was unbelievable–it was like 4:00 p.m. going home from work traffic at all hours of the day.

We stopped by our previous home and happened to catch D.K., the gentleman we sold the home to, working at renovating the place. His previous tenant of 6+ years had passed away and he was fixing the place up in preparation for renting it out again. He was only going to be here in the States for one month before returning to his wife and home in Italy. We had a really nice visit with him, and he updated us on all the changes in the neighborhood — home prices (and rental prices) are through the roof! Amazing that our previous home is now renting for $2700 a month! He said he’d had no problem at all renting the home because of its location and condition. He advertised it for rent and received 45 responses in one week. One woman offered him $300 a month more than he was asking–she wanted her son to be able to attend the local high school, and was willing to pay more so he would qualify to enroll there.

As beautiful as San Diego is, we were very glad to be back home here in Tehachapi. The pace of life is dramatically different. We are so very blessed to have beautiful hills to look at, day in and day out. Much as we love our son, his wife and our two grandsons, we missed the serenity of our home here.

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

 

Wednesday, April 3, 2017

It’s Wednesday!!! Hump day!!! Hooray! I have a lot on my plate today–lots of errands to do, and a Volunteer Appreciation dinner at the Depot tonight. It’ll be good to see everyone. I missed the lunch last week–wives were invited for a change, but I wasn’t up to it. I had tummy troubles and didn’t feel like getting out, much less eating anything at all.

The blackberry plant that I bought a few weeks ago has never come out of hibernation. I am sooo disappointed. I pulled it out of the ground yesterday and have it in a plastic bag, ready to return to Home Depot. <sigh> I hope they have some new plants — the last couple of times we’ve been there, I’ve checked and they didn’t have any blackberry plants. Someone has been beating me to them!

My Irises are blooming — will have to get out and get a photo of them. The common purple Irises have been blooming for a couple of weeks now, but the larger, more dramatic bulbs bloom about two weeks after the first wave of purple has finished. I would like to have some Daffodils or Narcissus bulbs — maybe I’ll buy some of those when I’m at Home Depot returning my deceased blackberry plant. I need to persuade Robert to build me another planter box!

It’s warmed up a bit and something that I’m violently allergic to is blooming, because my eyes are just giving me fits. Allergy pills and eye drops are the order of the day. This too shall pass.

Be safe, be well, and please be happy. Know that you are loved and no matter what you are going through, you are not alone. Each day is a gift — enjoy it. Robert and I will be going to San Diego tomorrow for a memorial service for my uncle who passed away last month. We’ll be returning home on Saturday. Till then, take care and remember to tell those you love that you love them.