Blooming Catalpa Trees

I think some of the most striking trees are Catalpa Trees.  I have two on the property where I live and several more close by.  The leaves are heart shaped and some of them have been more than a foot long.  In the spring they grow clusters of small orchid shaped flowers that have a very delicate fragrance.  Some have a yellow center while others are purple.  Simply beautiful!

As they develop the flowers fall and when it is windy and a lot fall at the same time it can appear as though there are large hail stones on the ground.  Several years ago the front lawn was so covered with flowers it looked as though it had snowed.  The only drawback is as they wilt and dry they get stuck to the bottom of shoes and hence end up in the house.  

The leaves turn a nice yellow in the fall.  About four years ago a young man came to my door as the leaves were falling and asked me if his children could pick up some of them and take to school for show and tell.  I was very impressed at the example he provided his children by asking.  They, of course, tried to find the biggest leaves with the most color.  When they fall the leaves feel rather leathery.  These trees provide entertainment for most of the year.  Of course raking them in the fall is continual until the last leaf falls.  Good exercise.  For now, I am enjoying the flowers as they are falling from the clusters on the branches.  

Enjoy our trees!

Two Catalpa Flowers

Catalpa Flowers On The Ground

Catalpa Tree With Flowers

Shearing Alpacas

Once a year the local Alpaca owners need to have their animals sheared of their fiber as the weather here is too hot for their well being.   This year my schedule allowed me to be a part of this process.  I can't even begin to explain how wonderful these animals are and how incredible their fiber is to handle.  It is so soft it almost can't be felt.  Over the course of a year between shearing each animal, the fiber grows and they appear very full and almost stocky.  After shearing it is very clear how small these Alpacas truly are. They seem almost fragile with very long thin necks and sleek bodies.  Quite a transformation.

These animals come in a variety of colors, and as the shearer is trimming the fiber away from the body, it almost shimmers as the newest fiber closest to the body is revealed.  This particular herd consists of everything from white, to beige, to sable, to black and many colors in between.  Each animal has it's own unique coloring, as well as, quality and texture of their fiber.  A sample is sent to a lab that tests and grades the quality.  It all feels wonderful to me.

The owner of these animals recently gave me some yarn spun from one of the Alpacas fiber from last year and I am currently crocheting it into a scarf for her.  It is amazing to feel the energy of the animal in the yarn as I work.   Since the animals are so different, it makes me want to crochet a scarf from the fiber of each of them.    Preparing the fiber by cleaning, combing and spinning it into yarn is quite a process itself.  So, we'll see.

Enjoy anything made with Alpaca fiber!

After Alpaca Shearing

Before Alpaca Shearing

The Machado Blimp is Flying

Machado's is again open for the season.  Yay!  They make the best fresh bing cherry pie I have ever eaten.  Until I came across Machado's I never knew of such a thing.  Well, now it is my favorite.  Since I live so close I can walk to get fresh produce and other goodies they offer.  


The only problem I see is that when they are baking pies they use large fans to blow the heat out of the baking room.  This amazing aroma makes its way to where I am and the temptation to run up the street to get something is very strong.  I know this aroma is why I have gained this extra weight.  Oh well, glad it tastes so good.


Come and enjoy Machado's!

Shenandoah River State Park, Virginia

I recently enjoyed some time with family in Virginia.  We spent several days at the Shenandoah River State Park.  What a wonderful time to be there.  The trees were covered with new leaves, birds singing everywhere and bugs galore to inspect.  


This park has the beautiful Shenandoah River running along a good part of the Park.  It was a gently slow moving river with herons, boaters and people fishing.  We took a different hike everyday during which we saw caterpillars, rabbits and a bald eagle.  BBQ every evening with wine and a sky filled with stars.  What a wonderful way to share family time.  We were fortunate to have clear sky's during our stay.  This is a lovely place to vacation with cabins to rent, campgrounds and RV hookups.  The trails to hike are graded from easy to strenuous, so everyone can choose their experience.  


So, while my official adventure is yet to begin, it was great to see and take in this treasure of the Virginia State Park system.  If this is any indication of what the State offers, it begs for more in depth investigation when I am on my excursion.  Very much looking forward to seeing all this State has to offer.  


My plane ride home was pleasant with a nice young man to chat with as we chased the sun for a long time before it set. We were unsuccessful, it set before we landed.  Other than getting a cold upon arriving home, everything was perfect.  Guess I'll just have to settle for sipping teas, taking vitamins and blowing my nose.  Many extra hours sleeping to recover more quickly.  


Living in California I have become very accustomed to a dry climate.  Virginia has a higher humidity rate this time of year which makes one feel the temperature more intensely.  72 degrees with high humidity is a very different thing than 72 degrees with very low humidity.  Warm rain showers vs. cold rain showers.  Returned home to upper 80's with low humidity and a slight breeze making for delightful sitting outside weather without sweating.  One of the great benefits of humidity is it keeps your skin moisturized.  Very nice indeed.  Living on the Western Coast offers the same, including that your furniture feels tacky most of the time.  Mold seems to grow more rapidly.  Plants love it!  Decisions, decisions.


Enjoy our State Parks!

Small Town Gentleness

My suitcase, which has a bracket on the bottom so it will stand up, somehow became wobbly.  It was difficult for me to actually see what the problem was, so I trotted (actually drove) to our locally owned hardware store.  I walked in and the clerk asked me if she could help me find something.  I held up the bottom of the suitcase and shook the bottom showing the bracket moving back and forth and said "help!."  She smiled and directed me to isle 12 where the nuts, screws and bolts are located, and over the address system I heard her ask for customer assistance on isle 12.

I was curious how this bracket was going to be made stable though felt I would be in good hands.  The clerk was already helping another customer when I arrived and so I waited as he finished what he was doing.  When he approached me I showed him my situation with the bracket.  He immediately went to one of the neatly stacked drawers and pulled out two little pieces and then turned to the other side of the isle and opening another drawer removed two rather large washers.  He asked me to follow him to the repair counter, which I did.  Can't loose the suitcase now.

With a hacksaw he removed both of the metal pieces that were intended to secure the bracket to the suitcase.  Then he placed a post type item with a flat head through the hole from the outside, placed a washer on the inside of the suitcase around the post and using a small screw inserted it into the post and tightened it  He did the same on the other end of the bracket.  Within five minutes I again had a sturdy, stand on its own, suitcase.

We chatted a few minutes about family returning from Army, Marine, etc., duty and how difficult it is for them to adjust upon returning home.  I could see he was saddened by his brothers experience and we ended our encounter with a four handed shake and words of encouragement.  When I asked him how much my charge was, he said "tell the clerk 2 times .90, plus 2 times .10."  That was it.  A whopping $2.36 (including tax) for this gentle soul assisting me with my broken suitcase.  I noticed his name tag and his name is Timothy.  The same name I chose for my son.  When deciding on a name Timothy was at the top because it means "gentle strength."

So I leave the local hardware store at peace with the world because this little town and it's  people are all about kindness, caring and gentleness.

Enjoy a gentle day!

My Networking Group

I have been in several networking groups over the years and the one I am currently participating in is amazing.  Most groups are strictly about promoting yourself and what you do.  You usually have ten minutes to speak your piece and then you are done.  People pass their cards around hoping someone will be in need of their service and deem them worthy of a call.  


"My Networking Group" (which is the name of the group) can be searched on the web and you will find an impressive list of professionals in various fields.  Our weekly meetings are held at Awful Annie's from 8:00 to 9:00 am for breakfast.  Awful Annie's has some of the best food in town.  We hold our meeting in the back room away from other enthusiastic diners, yet there are lots of windows to see outside.  A very pleasant atmosphere.


Each week we have two speakers.  What has developed is that our "speakers" have become educators for the group.  We have learned how to create a strong password from our computer professional.  We have learned how to get up close and personal from our photographer.  We now know how to efficiently wash windows, do our taxes, keep our books,(or have someone do them for us), the importance of healthy nails, knowing your credit score, how to secure a loan, buy or sell a home and add the final magic touches to decorating your home or office.  These are just a few of the many gifted and talented professionals in our group.  We are able to ask questions and get clarifications on things that are talked about.  Many times we are continuing to discuss items long after the meeting has officially ended.


As a result of this agenda, we have developed friendships, learned about things I never had thought about, and have received a greater knowledge of the individual and their work.  I can honestly say I recommend each of these people for the work they do and their passion for how they perform their work.  They all continue to take classes, etc. to enhance their particular  abilities.  So, check out our group and maybe you will find an answer to a long held question.  Perhaps you are looking for a group to join and this may be the right one for you.  Maybe I will see you there.


Enjoy your quest for learning!!!

The Bathroom Clock

Approximately fifteen years ago a I received a small clock as a gift.  It looks similar to a grandfather's clock though it is only five inches tall with a little handle on top.  This has been the best clock for the bathroom because of it's size and it goes great with my sea shells and all things ocean.  It runs by battery and of course this has needed changing over the years.

But something strange began happening to this charming little timing device.  It started to slowly add time.  At first it was only a few minutes.  However, now it is currently almost 20 minutes fast.  So I have to calculate the current time when I look at it to determine whether I am on time or not.  I have tried resetting it every week only to lapse and have it be at least 10 minutes fast again. Sometimes between battery changing it will be on time for many months only to suddenly begin adding time.  I have developed an odd liking for this little treasure and am seriously considering taking it with me on my adventure.  I am afraid that if someone else ends up with it they will consider it broken and throw it away.  That would be sad so I must resolve this before I begin my travels.

My bathroom also contains the most wonderful bar of soap.  It is from Italy and is made of virgin olive oil.  It is brown and has a very clean smell.  When I get it wet it feels soft and very much like satin.  It seems to do its job by getting me clean.  I have used it on my face and am considering using it on my hair.  Imagine having one bar of soap that does it all.  What a savings in money, as well as space.  I like it!

So now that I am clean and have figured out I am on time, I came to realize how amazed I am at how many people  I have run into lately that I had not seen for quite awhile.  Within a two day period I saw one client in the bank and the other in Staples.  My client in the bank and I chatted while including the banks small business representative, a teller and a few other employees of the bank.  We definitely had a social gathering in the lobby.  This bank is also the only bank I have ever been in where I get hugs from the employees.  Pretty impressive!

The other client was in Staples.  No hugging from employees here. She and I caught up on things and she was very enthusiastic about my upcoming adventure.  She and the clerk assisted me in getting the "do it yourself copy machine"  to let me make copies.  We exchanged connecting information before she left and I finished making copies of my good by letter and referral list for my current clients.  I have been very productive.  And I am still pondering how wonderful, when one thinks of another, that that person suddenly appears in your life.  Good vibrations?

Machado's will be opening for the spring, hopefully in the next few weeks, when the cherries are ripe and ready for eating.  This wonderful local produce store makes the most awesome fresh bing cherry pie I have ever had.  I can gain two pounds just sniffing in the aroma.  Yumm.   Since I live just down the street from the store, I think this explains my weight gain.  Completely unfair.  I may as well just eat the pie and get the enjoyment of the flavors and textures.  And there has to be a scoop of ice cream.  That goes without saying.  For now though, I will wait for the aroma to make its way to my front door.  Then, knowing they are open again, I will be on the attack.

Enjoy the smells!

RV Search Continues

The right wheels are going to show up soon.  I'm feeling it.  I have checked out several coaches since my last post and it is easier to go through one now and know if it is worth checking out further.  My specs are a bit tight so fewer units fit my criteria.  If I was in the market for a fifth wheel or trailer, I'd be in "hog heaven."  Not to worry, I am being patient and still learning so much.  This process is continuing to be fun.  Good thing!


One of the major requirements for the motor home is storage space.  I have a huge amount of books I want to take along.  I'm figuring the gross vehicle weight needs to accommodate this requirement of mine.  I may have to forgo other items (food, clothing, etc.) so I can stay within the units load limit.  This could be interesting.  Just how many pairs of shoes do I really need to take?


Truly enjoying spring, (aside from allergies) as I  go to sleep with the sound of frogs and wake to the sounds of robins, finches and geese. I have one iris (Lemon Chiffon) that is blooming and beautiful and my rose bush (Angel Face) now has six flowers in full bloom and several buds almost ready to bloom.  Awesome.  While the blooming Dogwoods failed to be snowed on, they certainly were rained on.  Temperatures went from mid 40's to upper 80's in a few days and are now in the low 70's.  Everything is confused as to how to behave.  This includes people.  Some are cranky, some are happy, some simply don't talk, while others talk as if speaking to someone they can see and I can't.  At least they are friendly.


The apple trees seem to have fared well after the rains and now with the new leaves they actually look fluffy.  The Catalpa trees are leafing out and soon they will have beautiful clusters of orchid shaped flowers that emit a very slight lovely fragrance.  This is certainly a wonderful season as everything comes to life again and I am reminded of just how many shades of green there are in nature.  Amazing.  The various colors of green weeds is another story I prefer to avoid discussing.


May 20th is predicting a solar eclipse.  I need to look into details about what time of day/night it will occur and if it will be visible from where I live.  It was very impressive the last time I saw this event and hope to view it again.  Pretty amazing stuff.  I think it was last week as I was getting ready for bed, I could see the moon outside the kitchen window waning at about a quarter with this bright planet shining right next to it.  Something on my list of to do's while on my adventure is to become better acquainted with the solar system so I can be more specific with what I see in the sky.
So much to learn.  


Anyway, I am working on sending good by letters to my clients and providing a list of potential replacements for the work I do.  All of my clients and friends (with the exception of redroni) are so supportive and continue to spy motor homes and offer great ideas and suggestions to make my adventure jam packed full of places to go and things to see. Redroni is really a very dear and special friend who loves to give me a difficult time.  


 It will be soon that the things I am disbursing will begin being disbursed.  A lot of things have new homes to go to and there are items yet to sell.  My home looks rather odd since I have put bright pink sticky notes on what I am selling.  I am beginning to feel as though I am a short timer.  I think I am.  At least as far as living in this place I have called home for the past almost eight years.  Just where does the time go?  I am beginning to suspect that my road trip adventure will be longer than I currently thinking.  So be it!


Enjoy your day!!!