Leaving CA

Vultures are not always birds...

2009-05-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

I am proud of the work done to the house. But, today I heard something that made me ashamed, embarrassed and all to aware of the neighborhood and the vultures that live nearby.

In all the years that I worked, the fun I had designing, planting, weeding, torn pants and broken sweat on the front yard landscape. It was after placing the for sale sign encouraged the vultures to appear. One wanted to know if they could take the rocks...they had no idea of the weight and I steamed long distance. Perhaps now the rock will find feet and disappear. I find that so funny...just try to use a shovel on them...it's no joke...you need a bobcat and chain to wrap around the boulders placed and the heart and joy the planning and placement in my yard of these beauties. I cannot believe this...my rocks, boulders have brought such joy to me. Apparently it seamed neighbors gained courage to want to take these...where were they all these years...amazing! Not a neighbor ever made any comment to my face about my yard, my sweat as they walked, drove by our house. So, why do they now?
I am reminded that after all...they are human so I won't make the mistake again and insult the reputation of my dear friends and birds...the vultures by naming the neighbors vultures, shame on me.

...little house, big heart, ready for a new family

2009-05-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

...I wish a family with a love for California Native plants, being together, creative and sharing lots of music!

...moved to Texas

2009-05-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

Saying goodbye to family, friends is not easy for me.
Moving is a project that should be thought out and it becomes tought, time takes days away, removes treasures to become trash.
Perhaps we do not need to move but to move on, grow.
It will be a new adventure...and I will document parts of it in another chapter of my blogg....Texas...a whole 'nother country'.

When do we get there?

2008-10-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

He waits, plays and eats all of my attention. He lifts his head in the morning and can see if I am awake and if I am not curls up and releases a restful sigh that can wake the dead.
Me, I was asleep until that sigh, but grateful it wasn't a dog fart. Those can empty the house quick or kill the unexpected occupants.
Eat a quick meal of kibbles, an egg and garlic and then wants to play catch by the kitchen back door.
No, I just finished mopping up the muddy mess from an hour ago.
Fine, I'll just do some dog work out in the yard and leave paw prints just after it drys.
NO, STAY OUT!
Fine, I'll catch bees then.
No sooner than I placed the mop away and was out of his sight when I heard his paws and panting just behind my knees in the hall down from kitchen.
Oh!!! but it is too late anyway. I knew the muddy paw prints were already stuck to the lino floor. Aw, it's okay, he's a dog, and I love him.

Trim for new growth

2008-03-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

Garden was overgrowing this early spring. I couldn't see our house anymore. I admit the house color is strong, we like it that way.

So I tended to the front yard by trimming back some of the lower branches of the Coastal Live Oak in front of our bedroom window. Now it looks like a proper trail head like the Cold Water Creek that we hiked on with the kids.

Lifestyles are alot like the overgrown garden. Take the time now to look at what you need to do to grow further with your partner, family and friends. Look for the repairing that nurtures new growth. Look into the mirror and what do you see. Oh, you haven't brushed your unruly hair yet, too early in the morning? Start now with changing your routine just a little bit each day and you will have found a spring in your step and a rosy glow to your day.

Love is grand, spred the glow.

Good Friday?!

2008-03-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

Spring announces that change is going to happen. We always want a change when we don't like the current state of our lives don't we? Interesting that no matter where you are in the world it can be spring somewhere. In Australia it is just starting fall, in North America it is starting spring. It's Good Friday and I don't have to work today. I suppose one would consider not going into work a good thing? But, considering I may have to face cleaning one of the bathrooms I would consider going to work a better choice. Naw, I still can skip doing the bathroom and still stay home!

Starting this spring I'm at my lowest weight in 22 years. My ideal goal is 10 pounds away now and I've kept off all that I have lost. But, I am at a plateau, a measure that is a standstill, a place in time where although not critical, it is to some a wall. I would prefer to title it as if it were a blooming time. The buds are full to explode with the beauty that it is. The full flower ready to open and release the perfume and send the bees and butterflies into a euphoric stupor of dizzy intoxicating attractive mist. Last time I remember being this weight only a few days, I was told I was pregnant! The beauty that develops as a woman reaches her full term of pregnancy is the most glorious. Men cannot resist the radian beauty that fills the space a pregnant woman occupies.

March Gifts

2008-03-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

It seems that these weeks have just flew by my eyes. The paper whites flowers have shed the petals and now seed heads have taken their place. The bearded iris have grown more leaves and fattened up and I am looking for the stalks to appear. They are starting to get overgrown by the Jupiters Beard so I've torn out handfuls and clipped some so they will not bloom...yet. It's too early for them and they tend to get very leggy, I don't like that so I keep them mowed low and short. I like the flowers to just be on the tips of the plants but not overgrowing the iris. One of my many favorite blooms right now is the proteas. I have two plants of the pincushion variety and have found at least 15 buds so far. Two of the early buds are blooming right now and I hope to take a few pictures as they develop and open up fully. Strange and unusual blooms like my orchids on my back yard coral tree.

Life is good, even if I don't think so this moment.

Paths and Changes

2008-02-21T05:31:00.000-08:00

Amazing isn't it that we constantly seem to think we need things, we shop, constantly shop, for the things. What little cash my wallet holds and what an amazing amount of other information finds it's way into my wallet I find useless now. But it does hold various amounts of cash or checks I've written. Once this wallet was used for the sole purpose of a place to hold my privileged licence to drive, the check book and perhaps a credit card and bills, no place for change. Now I see I've made a great mistake. My coin pouch has more coin in it than ever before and my wallet has receipts and no bills. Not one dollar! So why do I make more money now than I had before and I find my wallet empty? The words come to my mind easily, "Something is wrong, something is terribly wrong here!" Oh, I have had my path change alright and I've been broke for two years and the sole support for more years than I can imagine. Most people have had it far worse than I. It may be an old roof, but it's still over my head for the moment, I have a pillow to rest my head and love is all around me. So, why am I disgusted with an empty wallet? I expected more from myself in life at this time right now, the life of being a pro ager perhaps. I fit in with others right now, but all aside, to live simple is at a pricey cost. Do I need a change? Do I need anything at all? Do nothing at this moment? I can't stop myself from doing things, thinking things, writing things, working, saying something even if nobody is listening at all. I've tried to keep things private, but you know what, I enjoy posting things. No, perhaps I enjoy fixing, chatting, answering, having an answer is what I like to figure out. I don't have the answer for everything, but that's what children do to parents. We are supposed to be the listening one whom if no answer is available there is always the encyclopedia, now it's Google it. Perhaps my answer to myself is, don't say anything, there are fewer questions and perhaps the question isn't really directed to me to answer. Perhaps I have too many questions and don't want to listen to any answers either. I'm afraid of my own questions now. I know the answers but avoid questions. I'm now afraid of my path and don't know if I have the courage to change. Don't think I am willing to continue this path I'm on because it only can lead towards the end. I've not thought much about myself after I'm over the hill and I still don't think or talk about retirement. So, I will continue to do what I feel like doing, my thoughts are that I need more courage, to change or accept changes. But more importantly to allow continued paths to develop for me and not to blindly accept the path I may think I am on is correct.

You got something to say?

2008-02-14T05:24:00.000-08:00

We all have a voice but do we really say what we want to? Our lives are filled with such confusing messages and I don't find most very amusing. Perhaps I find too much at fault with advertising messages to be downgrading of human intelligence or just bad advertising. Politics reflect our soap box drama lives and discussions in our workplace have uttered dismay over the current leader at the time. Come to find out yesterday there is a current of voice that is demanding to have three leaders instead of one, interesting?

Children always seem to voice something with assorted wants and desires. I reflect my memories of when they grew up and I juggled as best as one does in the role of a parent going thru my own soap box life and the mistakes I have made:

Do we compliment our children enough to boost the young growing self images they see in the mirrors? Is it enough so to overcome and destroy the images that media presents with pharmacy needs to sell on T.V. for sleeping aids, depression and guilt that seem to be present more today?

Today is Valentines day and for the first time that I can remember I haven't bought candy for anyone and find my feelings for others is ....blah. Why? I don't know why. I haven't stopped caring, it's because I am not open to let the feelings enter. I'm just starting to shut doors into me because I don't want to let others see when I am hurt, it's not all about them. Next time I see someone talk about PMS or Pro Age problems I feel the need to grab them by their chicken neck and squeeze them till the eyes pop! I was thinking of turning my thoughts around right now and just take one of my orchids into work to share my feelings about Valentines that way. But something stops me from wanting to do this. If I don't follow thru with this action, am I holding back from feeling good myself for doing this act of kindness? Maybe I just don't want to care anymore about anyone else at the moment. Am I starting to focus on myself and just feeling good, for myself good, and I am sure it is about myself that I am at odds with right now. Disappointment has a way of running it's course in my bloodstream occasionally and perhaps far to frequently. Humble is a practice I'm not sure I understand how to do and I feel the need to do this right now.

Humble is the woman content in all that she has sowed. I give you a kiss and hug on this Valentines day with no expectations but tenderness of heart.

Live for love as it is a gift that humbles.

Paw Prints on our Planet

2008-02-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

It comes to mind what we leave behind on our planet. A dog leaves a foot print, but what we choose to add to this dog may leave a larger foot print than we realize. How many doghouses, beds, toys, cushions, collars, shampoos, flea products, leashes and countless pick up containers , shovels, scoops etc. You know what I mean...picking up after them. Humans add unnecessary garbage. Taking care of them does not have to contribute to our landfills. Example: If you live near the beach, play with them in the ocean and when you come home quick rinse with the hose only and then break off some pleasant smelling sage and rub it on while they are still wet. Air dry by playing with them and no fleas. Fleas don't like the salt water and the sage makes the coat shiny and smell good. You both get a workout and one on one time, fresh air and feeling great. Even in the winter and rainy season I just wear a windbreaker and do the same thing but dry him off well with a towel before rubbing him down with a sage.

Simple? No, but worthwhile efforts payout longterm. I don't focus on a gym, but then I save money that way. Fresh air is free and I get some great ideas, meet dog lovers too and have always had a pleasant walk of 12 miles on the weekends that refresh me and empower a smile that doesn't end. Billy sometimes gets a call from me as I am at my half way mark on the beach near Leadbetter before I turn around to return to Henry's beach. Watching for the Low tide is important year round to be able to safely walk the entire time. Weather permitting? Well my windbreaker and water repellent Columbia pants does me fine. I recently replaced my wet suit socks for thicker ones and I wear Tiva water shoes. Occasionally I get a small blister because my toe nails grow fast being in water on weekends, but that reminds me to trim them again doesn't it. Small price to pay for neglecting my toes. But my heels have gotten better now that I've gotten a pumice stone. Still, the walks on the beach are priceless for me and I cannot picture a weekend without Owen and a tennis ball on low tide. Perhaps since I have dialed in when it hits 3 feet going towards a low tide makes it the best walking time, no matter what time of day. But the mornings have been serene and peaceful for us both. Besides the surf birds give Owen endless running time though he can't fly, but it seems that he runs like he is flying high.

Honor to caretakers of the Native Plants and Habitates

2008-02-07T06:10:00.000-08:00

In honor of my fellows....keep up the good work.
We continue to toil and educate those that do not know.
Live, learn and listen.

Native plants and habitat's need to survive.

Space and what occupies it and for how long?

2008-02-01T05:23:00.000-08:00

In the time that it takes to write this I find that the children no longer are 5 or 10 or even teenagers. I should have had this when they were little or when Billy would pop me with a sudden surprise of 'honey, can you fit in four more for dinner tonight?' Well, I always managed to stretch the chicken into as many days as possible. Now try that with Costco a few block away. Where were you when I needed you!

The kitchen is what it is and I don't think I need to remodel it. What does two pro agers need with a larger kitchen? Perhaps fit in more modern appliances? The only consideration necessary in my point of view of my kitchen space now is the fact that I can organize as much as I desire but a kitchen wasn't ever designed properly back in 1957. We have no pantry, deep and narrow shelves and limited shelf hight. It makes it really hard to organize when your cereal boxes have to be repackaged just to fit in any of the cupboards. The floor space design is fine, but most of the storage areas were not designed for any quantites that you can buy at Costco. I can't see going on my knees anymore to get a can of beans or look for the olives...if there is any more left.

Our house was built with a entrance hall and immediate coat closet just as you pass the entrance to the kitchen. The furnace door is facing the kitchen. How stupid is that! That could have been a pantry and a sufficient space at that. But for the last 10 years that coat closet had been the office and bill area with a shelf and organized mess we could just close the door on and it would disappear from our busy minds, for awhile anyway. I emptied the office closet. I went about measuring and selecting the wood from Billy's woodshed. Measured twice for accuracy, drilled holes, countersunk holes, made sure I found the studs. By the time he came home from work that afternoon I was very pleased with what I had finished so far. Needing to include him in this project was necessary as he had some really nice finished shelf boards that would be perfect for this project but I wanted to have him give it to me to use for this pantry and not just start sawing everything he had if he had saved them for another project I didn't yet know about. He wanted to put off his decision till tomorrow. Augh! Procrastination is his best defense for no answer again. Well, I wanted him to give freely and not just take it so I let it just settle. So, I distracted myself with something on the stove for awhile.

Enough time had passed that I started looking for him in the carport as dinner was ready. To my amazement, he had picked, stacked and had the table saw plugged in and ready for me when I found him. He had seen how I carefully hand sawed all the material for the shelfs supports myself without his help and was truly amazed at what I had completed that day. Together we measured and cut to fit the boards and it was now a completed converted coat closet to pantry. I continued that evening to relocate and sort the canned and dry goods into this pantry. I did discover how much I had packed into those original kitchen cupboards. But now anyone in the family can see what we have, have not and needed without stopping to ask me where something was.

Sometimes what once was a coat closet morphs into a office space and morphs again into a pantry for the kitchen.

Green effects: No cost, found material and hardware, minimum labor, more efficient use of space and more importantly...no bandage or visit to the emergency room for stitches.

Learned: To have more patience waiting for my project or idea, to be accepted and appreciate the gracious rewards of praise for not going over my head in a project and maintaining it a safe one for me to do. Keep it simple, safety first. I excersized our rule not to use hand power tools that are potentially dangerous tools without Billy at home. Using only hand tools and gloves and not rushing to finish before the sunset that day.

Mend or fix? Priority or project?

2008-01-02T05:02:00.000-08:00

Even if I have already started with changes to the kitchen in some major way it doesn't take priority over any fixes that may come up in need. Take for instance my major bathroom just started to adjust it's self. The tile between the tub and the wall are separating. Where it meets is about 1/4" to as much as a 1-1/2" gap between the top of the tub and where it is supposed to meet with the wall tile. As a quick measure we bought some ready made product to fit in the gap. Just temporary, but I still have not installed it yet. We had 15 people over for a week during my St. Nicholas Feastday and it is still needing attention. So my focus needs to switch gears to that bathroom. Money is spent already, so I might as well do the deed. I need to clean it up some more with borax and vinegar and now bleach to kill any mold or bacteria. My hold up now is that the configuration of the tub and fixing job is torture on my back. Not that Pop's back is any better, we are taking about my back right now. So, I need to review the situation before I attempt the job myself. This is what it is all about anyway. Figuring how to accomplish this task with my labor and limitations or abilities lacking funds to hire some able person to do what I need to have done. There, now that I have said it. I can focus on how to go about doing this fix job. It may take a few days to think this through and not hurt my muscles. I shall view the web for some examples for a day or so. I need to target this weekend to do this job I think. Seeing as I spent yesterday cleaning up my art studio floor that always leads to clearing the table. That leads to organizing the glass beads of course! Smile, it was a day off of work and one should mix play with pain, yes?

Changes and living within our means as Pro Agers

2008-01-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

What a pleasant ring 2008 gives to my ear. I'll not start off by saying that the old years were good to me or horrible or bad. I am giving this blog my resting place, my brain to store all the collective bits of Living Green. Considerable time and effort for me to store and log information that I am learning on changing my 1957 home into a healthy, living, simple and sustainable on a lower budget than what I have been accustomed to in the past.

Life changes begins with living within our means. So, I have to change many things but remain within my means and still change as we head into our 26th year of marriage and I'm a ProAge woman. Change with me first is necessary. We become accustomed to the consumable market we call USA and I don't want to change some of the simple things that I cannot let go of. I may have some tools and accessories, electronics that enable me to go about my day, 24 hours, but I don't like using them daily, but they give me more valuable time. At my expense, which I must cut back on. Time during the day means still having balance, peace, health and mobility.

Living Green or is it living wisely?

2008-01-01T05:52:00.000-08:00

Living green...living wisely >> Living well

What does that mean? I picked up the latest copy of Natural Home July-Aug 07 www.NaturalHomeMagazine.com

Yes, I am researching into upgrading my home to Living Green. Eco-friendly resources, 10 things every green home should have, How to tell if it's really green, safe producs to clean almost anything...and so on. I am tired and fed up on all the commercial garbage and sensory overloaded, over powering, over smelling products, over polluting, over priced consumer empty recycled THINGS! However, it does appeal to my 60's side, roots and all, natural side. I have started to paint the house trim, Mayan Turquois Green and the trim is Black Bear. So I've also seen the need to start painting the inside of the house. But, I have to face it, house painting is not what I want to do every 5-10 years, or other options like the american clay for walls and ceiling.. So, I'm looking into www.americanclay.com for a clay plaster to cover my inner walls of the house. The accoustic ceiling is going into the trash as I will do one room at a time after finishing the outside of the house. I don't know anyone who has done this inside their home before. We have a Living Green showroom and supply gallery here in town that I went to visit about 3 years ago. My idea is to piece by piece turn my house into a eco-friendly, energy efficient home in 10 years time. I have already installed the expensive!!! appliances to cover this time frame with the Boch Washer and dryer, Fisher-Paykel cooktop and (2) dishwasher drawers. Replacement of the oven will need to wait...Miele Convection (H 4680 B) wall mount. As well as waiting to finish the rest of the kitchen as it is very functional for a long while. As I am not remodeling the house as much as I am opposed to that task. I am upgrading it to Living Green, a level I can do all myself and without major expense and upkeep later in the years to come. Thinking ahead and planing for the future for ease of living. Flooring will be last on my list. I would rather beat the heck out of what we have now with the oak floor panels and vinyl floor coverings. But the bedroom carpets will eventually disappear too.