"Happy Birthday!"

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Lots of friends have birthdays this week.  My friend of forty years, Millie, celebrates her birthday tomorrow.  Her family and I had a surprise party for her last Saturday night and it was such fun.  She kind of suspected something, though it was still a bit unexpected for her.  I am glad I have been here so I could participate in the festivities.  One of the other fun parts was that she received several scarves.  A hand made swirly scarf, a hand crocheted scarf, a scarf with tassels and one scarf that could be tied in a variety of ways. Each of us was proud that we all were like minded with the scarf thing.  She, of course, was thrilled and is probably covered in this area for many years to come.

I am getting ready to head back to Morro Bay for a while.  I am looking forward to having a bit more temperate climate.  Predictions are for upper 60's by Friday.  I can handle that.  Then, depending on the weather, I will start planning my route.  Lots of wonderful ideas have come to me from all kinds of sources.  There are just so many amazing places to see.

I have come across several thought provoking plaques while shopping in craft stores and grocery stores.  Here are a few that caught my attention:

And this is true even for my little home on wheels.

This is probably also true for people they don't even know.

And this is probably true for all of us.

I am having lots of fun with family and friends and have lots to do before I start my travels back to the Central Coast.  I am so glad I have been here for as long as I have and I will always look forward to being back here as I am able.  

A beautiful flower in Morro Bay!

Enjoy your little things!

High Hand Nursery

Another mug at The Fresh Market

Gaytrell and I recently went to the High Hand Nursery in Loomis and I felt as though I was in a special part of heaven.  This incredible place has so many different plants and areas of plants that compliment each other so well.  There are vignettes of trees, plants and flowers through out the nursery.  As this is a time when most things are dormant, it was amazing to see the area as beautiful.  I can just imagine how beautiful it must be the other three seasons of the year.

There is also a wonderful cafe.  The food was very good though a bit pricey and I  feel it was worth the cost.   All of the walls are glass, including the ceiling, and on one side is a glass garage door that opens for events and outside eating.  Only one wall is solid and goes to the kitchen and a gift area.  The nursery sits next to the old packing shed that has been renovated and now houses an art co-op of local artists and several other unique and creative shops.  The building also includes the remains of some of the workings of the packing shed from its golden days of shipping products via train to the rest of the country.    This is a lovely place to enjoy the day.  






Wednesday I again joined "My Networking Group" for breakfast and had a wonderful time sharing with old friends and meeting some new business owners.  I love it when it is time for the speakers to talk about their business.  I always learn something new.  This was a day about finger and toe nail enhancements and care and also the interior designer brought our attention to the hardware world of design and decorating.  Always something to learn.






My Son, Daughter-In-Law and I went to a newly discovered Chinese restaurant for lunch yesterday.  Absolutely delicious.  We were the only non Chinese people in the restaurant and they were so gracious to us. We left a very happy group and very full.  This is definitely a place to go again.  I don't know the name however I know how to get there.  Gaytrell was kind enough to pick me up from my Son's as I returned his car.  I will be leaving Auburn today and going back to Millie's for a short time.  We have several eating out plans and of course, Mimi's is on the list with their French Onion soup and salad special.  It seems lately that a lot of things have been around food.  I wonder if this could be the cause of my weight gain.  Don't answer that.



I plan (used that word again) to go back to Morro Bay for a while before heading east.  I think it is probably a good idea to let the country thaw out a bit before I truly hit the road.  The Central Coast has still fairly moderate temperatures though they did experience some freezing temperatures the week it was so cold in Auburn.  I heard that even San Diego had below freezing temperatures.  It appears the weather patterns around the world are changing.




OK, need to get packed up, unplugged and ready to relocate.  I still have my taxes to finish and a few things I received in the mail to resolve.  Always something to do and keep me busy.  So, thanks to all of you in Auburn that I was able to connect with and share time with.  It was awesome seeing you, even if only for short time, and I look forward to seeing you again when I travel through the area.

The Fresh Market

Enjoy the flowers!

"We're Having A Heat Wave..."

Hooray for sunshine and it's warming effects!  Today I was able to shed the coat, the sweatshirt and the fuzzy lined shoes.  This was also one of the most accomplished days I have had in quite a while.  It is amazing what being warm can do, to at least this person. 

Oh, joy, rapture!  
Washed the sheets and was able to hang them out on the line to dry.  Did this with most of the rest of the laundry as well.  This definitely lifts my spirits.

I had a delightful breakfast with Bobbi this morning and then got on with walking the cat, doing the laundry and investigating a visitor on the property.  All was fine.  Even made a visit to my chiropractor this afternoon.  This was a day with Kidder as well.  He was never far from whatever I was doing.  I think I rather wore him out a bit.  He is now sound asleep on the sofa.

He is obviously comfortable as he sleeps on his back and almost upside down again.  He is one of the funniest cats I have been around.  

I also visited with the orange cat, Sam, that is now being cared for by my previous neighbors, Lynn and Raina.  It is so good to see him and know that he has adjusted to the change of care giver.  And also that he continues to let me hold and love on him.


My social calendar has been quite full.  Tuesday was a wonderful soup lunch with Susan at the Flour Garden.  Wednesday I attended the Networking breakfast, where I ended up changing my seat several times to accommodate my need to leave early and then to provide a more comfortable location for a member who arrived  using crutches due to a knee injury.   Lunch with Gail was yummy at the Frontside Cafe.  We were able to sit outside and enjoy the sun while we ate.

A mug at The Fresh Market

Yesterday Millie and I went to our dear Mimi's and had an all you can eat lunch of soup and salad, plus a muffin.  We overdosed on french onion soup (a second serving) and a citrus dressing for our salads.  We brought our muffins away with us so we could enjoy the extra soup.  So good.


After doing a few errands we ended up at Barnes and Noble and enjoyed a cold drink while sitting outside in the sun.  







Gads, the sun goes down and the temperatures plummet.  My little home goes from the windows being open with the warm sun shining in, to closing the door and windows and pulling the shades down to keep the warmth inside.  Today I had everything open as I did my laundry and other projects.  In the event the weather predictions are correct, there will be another several days of these glorious temperatures.  I shall enjoy every moment of them.

I am almost out of mandarins again.  It is amazing how many I have eaten.  I will also need to get another bag for Darlene and Tim, since they do not have the Newcastle mandarins available to them where they live.  I think it is wonderful that there are special treasures of nature all over our country.  While one area may have a special fruit or vegetable, another area may offer an exceptional view or a specific flower aroma.  This wonderful world is so full of beautiful and bountiful treasures to seek out and enjoy.  All part of the "Adventure."


And today was my first experience this year with a lady bug on my shirt.  I almost missed it since I was busy putting out bird seed and discussing many things with Kidder.  He and I went for our usual walk down to the hanger and then down a few rows of apple trees.  He usually lags behind and then runs full force ahead of me.  He tramples the ground so hard and it  sounds so loud one would think he was a huge animal.  Makes me laugh each time he does this.  When I encountered the unexpected visitor, Kidder made himself invisible and reappeared once the coast was clear.  Very smart cat.

7 Rules of Life

1.  Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the  present.

2.  What others think of you is none of your business.

3.  Time heals almost everything, give it time.

4.  Don't compare your life to others and don't judge them.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.

5.  Stop thinking too much, it is alright not to know the answers.  They will come to you when you least expect it.

6.  No one is in charge of your happiness, except you.

7.  Smile.  You don't own all the problems in the world.

-  Whispers of the Heart

Enjoy the warmth of your day!

Highway Slush!

The white is snow on the crest of the Sierra!

The recent snow and rain over the Sierra has left it's mark on the vehicles coming down this side of the mountain.  So many of them are covered with the remnants of the slush on the highway.  By the time they reach Auburn it has dried on the vehicles making them look rather foreign.  The only relatively clean part is where the windshield wipers did their job in keeping the view clear for the drivers.  If the vehicles have a rear window wiper, that too is clear of heavy debris.  Most of these vehicles also have no resemblance of their true colors.  They all look the same, an ashy beige color that covers everything.  No comparison to the pristine white snow that watches as passer by's make their way down the mountain to their destinations.  They are completely unrecognizable to those waiting for a familiar vehicle.

Another morning of ice on Tim's car!

Here, it is still cold.  While some areas have highs in the 30's, I am grateful to have high's in the 40's.  Predictions are upper 50's by Thursday.  Yes!  I am ready.  Bring on the heat wave.  There are a few things I would like to do outside though I prefer to wait until there is little risk of my fingers freezing in the process.  Meanwhile I watch the birds while they pick on each other for the best seed location.  It is interesting to me that the birds up on the hill are different than those at the little house where I used to live.  Here there are mostly dove and black phoebe.  I see the shadows of hawks as they search for food and an occasional nondescript brown bird or two shows up to eat.  It is great to see they all share for the most part.



The most frequent birds at the little house are robins, finches, blue birds, nondescript brown birds and orioles.  Occasionally there is the sound of blue jays and crows.  The distance between these two locations is very short, so I will need to check with by brother, the entomologist, to understand all about this.  Pretty curious.  Each group has its own attraction.  Though I must admit that I love listening to the song birds at the little house.  

Waste Container at Morro Rock

The bird sounds at the Central Coast are a whole different sound.  Lots of gulls and at the rock the peregrine falcons can be heard.  Pelicans have a very unusual and unique sound that is rarely heard.  I so enjoy watching them fly and especially dive for food.  It is a very different environment here compared to the coast.  


















While Millie and I were at the Fresh Market we came across mugs with wonderful sayings.  I like this one for the saying and the use of colors.  
















Enjoy being your sunshine!

Brrrrrr!

Ice on Tim's car

Beautiful ice crystals on the hood of Tim's car

As far as I am concerned, it is cold.  With temperatures at 29 degrees at 7 a.m., one must get dressed quickly.  Everything is frozen outside, including the vehicles which have a covering of ice on them.  I am certain this is nothing compared to the east coast, but for me it is cold.




Wednesday is the morning "My Networking Group" meets at Awful Annie's.  I used to belong when I lived here so I opted to join them this week at their breakfast meeting and say "Hi" to some friends.  It was great to see many of the regular members I know and meet some new ones.  Deborah, who started the group, and I had lunch yesterday and caught up on all sorts of things.  I also had lunch with Tim and Darlene on Wednesday at Red Robin in Roseville.  I am beginning to feel a bit like a social butterfly.  Yummy hamburgers.

Kidder resting on the back of the sofa

Kidder has been hiding out under the motor home in the early mornings, waiting to eat breakfast to warm him up.  He seems to have a fairly thick winter coat, so he fares well in this environment.  I, however, need to wear many layers to stave off the low temps.  He likes being inside the motor home and makes himself comfortable on the back of the sofa.  From here he can keep an eye on the birds while they eat the seeds I put out for them.  Of course sometimes he just can't seem to stay focused and goes to sleep.  Here he is almost upside down.  I suspect he is relaxed.  I do know he misses his people and I assure him every day that they will be home soon.


I keep getting distracted from getting my tax papers organized.   I got off to a good start, however, I have lost my momentum.  There just seems to be something unproductive in this whole process.  And if I owe taxes, well then, it seems as though I am working backwards.  I am thinking there is something very wrong with this entire scenario.  Hummm.   I must get  at it again.



This plaque was discovered when Millie and I were shopping at the Fresh Market.  I love the message.  It is now a part of the collection in my motor home.  I have limited space that is magnetic so I must choose my items carefully.  This one obviously is a keeper.

Enjoy your dance!

The Fresh Market

Sunday, Millie and I had breakfast at Mimi's and then ran some errands.  We ended up at a new store, The Fresh Market, in Roseville, California.  What a wonderful surprise.  The produce was beautiful with some of it being organic.  The prices were good.  They have a fresh meat and fish counter with wonderful looking items to take home and cook.  They had a full bakery with tempting baked goods for just about everyone.  They have gluten free items.  There is a section of already prepared foods, including twice baked potatoes, various salads, fresh made soups, a deli and more.  Lots of old time candies and specialty items.  It was wonderful.

I don't remember how long we were there going up and down every isle to see just all the many great things there were to discover.  However, we did it justice and even though I did not need to go to a grocery store, this was a perfect place to pick up a few unusual items.  What they do not carry is the ordinary canned goods and junk food.  

When we checked out we talked with the clerk who said they originated on the east coast about thirty years ago and this was their pilot store in California.  They plan to open a few more in Southern California.  I certainly hope lots of people discover and patronize this store because from what we could see, it offers so much at reasonable prices.  To me it feels as though it is a cross between Corti Bros., Nugget and Trader Joe's.  I will be going there many more times before heading out of the area at the end of the month.  

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Happy Birthday, Darlene!!!

Today is my daughter-in-law's (Darlene) birthday.  Sometime within the next few weeks we will celebrate her birthday, my son's (Tim) birthday and my (Roe) birthday.  Our birthdays all happen in a six week period so it will be just as much fun to celebrate them all at the same time.  We will just eat more dessert.  It seems as though we will enjoy some Thai food for the occasion.  Looking forward to it.

So for now, it is back to taxes.  As a friend once told me, be grateful you earn money and can pay taxes.  Grateful, grateful, grateful!!!

Enjoy your Market!

Kidder-Kidder

This is Kidder!  

He is absolutely beautiful and with the most beautiful blue eyes.  Here he is sitting on the step of my motor home waiting to go inside or for me to sit down so he can jump on my lap, curl up and purr.

I don't see him most of the day as I think he is out hunting or sleeping or just cat'n around.  He is always around the first thing every morning for breakfast.  And I usually get to visit with him in the evening.  He talks more than most other cats I have had or have been around, so we talk with each other a lot and have some very interesting conversations.
















I am certain he misses his people and he tells me all about them.  He misses his man who plays with him with a wad of paper on the end of fishing line of a fishing pole.  And his woman who always calls for him to come and have something to eat.  I have explained to him when they will be coming home and he seems to have accepted that he has to put up with me until then.  











So he does his part to make me feel as though I am doing a good job taking care of him, that his man and woman are grateful to not have to worry about him and that he appreciates that I make sure he is fed and entertained.  He is really a joy to be around, though I know he will be ecstatic for their return.  Until then I wander around the yard calling for him, while I am certain he is watching me and chuckling to himself as he considers just how long he will make me wait until he makes his presence known.  Cats are a hoot!

Enjoy your critter!

Red Sky at Night....

Red Sky at Night...Sailors Delight:

Red Sky at Morn....Sailors Take Warn!

This morning the eastern sky was red and glowing through the evergreen trees.  As the day has progressed, the clouds have increased and the sky is now gray.  A good possibility of rain tonight.    Sitting on top of a hill in the foothills gives me a great view of the incoming weather.  I doubt there will be much star gazing this evening and the cat will probably head for cover.

I went with Gaytrell to the Flower Farm and we had a mid morning breakfast.  The nursery there is closed now until February and most of the plants are resting.  We almost had the entire place to ourselves as we sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air.   This is a favorite haunt for bicycle groups as they do their treks up and down the back roads of the foothills.  There was a huge group just leaving as we arrived.  

We went to a local craft store so Gaytrell could get some supplies for a project she is working on with a client.  I, of course, had to check out the yarn.  I came across this wonderful soft yarn which I just had to buy.  I must remember to "back away" from the craft stores since I am a succor for yarns.  We then went into the wine store next door and I found a "port" that I hope will meet the requirements of wonderful taste for Millie and me when I see her towards the end of the month.   We will celebrate our birthdays, which are two days apart, and I think port and chocolates will work just fine.  (Notice I said chocolates!)  

From there, Gaytrell and I went to get some Mandarins.  We went to two different orchards only to find that they were closed and then ended up at the Newcastle Store.  Bought a bag and when I got back to the motor home peeled at least ten mandarins and split apart the sections.




I am certain that by the time I have finished compiling this writing, they will have all been eaten.  A great source of vitamin C!  Everyone around here says that the Newcastle Mandarins are the best in the country because of the climate.  I have to agree.  Yummmmm!!!!

A plaque  with a message to ponder.

Two orange sections to go and they will be gone.  I have had more than my fair share of vitamin C today.  Watch out germs!


Enjoy your sunrise!  (Just ate the last section...)

Time Warp

Apple orchard with afternoon shadows

How in the world did it get to be January 4th already?  If this is how the year is going to go, I am in big trouble.  This means I will need to do the things I want in one fourth the time I think it will take me.  Of course, I could just eliminate a quarter of things I want to do.  I'll need to give this some serious thought.  Which I will have to do in one quarter of the time.  Crazy... 

Apple orchard with more shadows

I am settled on a hill of the apple orchard with a beautiful view.  The apple trees are in the process of being pruned so they will be ready to provide the fall crop of fresh apples. The trees are dormant and bare now, very different from the spring flowers, summer leaves and fall fruit.  It feels very peaceful and quiet for now.  

Apple orchard with motor home shadow

One of the fun features of being where I am is the view of birds.   A lot of the time they are flying at my level as they fly over the orchard.  Lots of dove and black phoebe gather to eat the scattered seeds near my motor home.  Yesterday I heard a bird hopping its way across the roof of my motor home.  It sounded huge, though I am certain it was something other than an eagle.  I am caring for the cat, "Kidder-kidder," who is playing very elusive for now.  A beautiful Siamese critter that is extremely friendly and playful.  I will attempt to capture his picture.  This is a lovely place to spend the next several weeks.  







I have found a new snack.  I struggle to find great snacks that are corn free and non-gmo.  It is ridiculous when you read the ingredients on the various packages of potato and bean chips that the first ingredient is corn.  Label reading is a full time event when buying anything packaged.  The time I spend reading labels will remain as a necessity.








I have been working on getting my tax information together.  My record keeping has been less than current do to all of the activity around this Adventure.  So, now I am paying the price.  I want to get this all in order so it is finished and ready for the accountant by the end of January.  I have a very simple system, however, it is time consuming.  Another fourth to be dealt with, I'm sure.  



Here are a few more wonderful sayings from children, taken from Art Linkletter's "Kids say the darndest things."

When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it is already too late.

A six year old can start a fire with a flint rock, 

even though a 36 year old man says they can only do it in the movies.

'Legos' will pass through the digestive tract of a four year old.

'Play Dough' and 'microwave' should never be used in the same sentence. 

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

The human nostril can hold approximately 7 pussy willow buds.

Enjoy the children!