Silly Things

Perhaps these ladies have watched too much of the Olympics!

I did have a chance to try curling when I was around 10. We took a vacation to the Hotel Chantecler north of Montreal. It was a grand resort with skiing in the winter and golf and a lakeside beach in the summer. 

Found on the Internet

There was an elevator from the hotel down to the curling club floor. We went a few times to try the sport. 

According the Internet, this resort was demolished in 2020. 

Home Again

 My time in California came to an end before I knew it, and there I was, sitting at the airport waiting to board the plane. (and writing this post to help keep me awake!) On my last few trips I have flown the "red eye". The plane generally leaves around 11 PM and arrives in Tampa around 7. Some people look at me like I am crazy for doing this....and, perhaps I am! But, I find that I am tired when I fly during the day, and I've wasted the whole day. If I fly at night, I'm tired during the day, but I don't feel like I've wasted a day. Another plus...the plane ride seems to be that much faster as I try my best to sleep most of the way. 

A friend who has traveled extensively recommended that other folks who anticipate long plane trips buy a "Trtl" travel pillow. I bought one and I'm a believer. I don't have to carry around a bulky neck-roll type pillow which still allows my head to flop forward. The Trtl is made of a plastic frame covered in fleece. The fleece wraps around your neck and attaches to the base of the brace with velcro.

And look what happens when you put the Trtl on: you are suddenly 40 years younger, 20 pounds lighter and beautiful! Hahaha!

The pillow worked its magic and I slept fairly well. Before I knew it, an announcement came on saying we would be landing in Tampa in 25 minutes. 

As the plane approached Tampa I spotted the sun rise. It was beautiful, despite the dirty window!

I was tickled by the plane's path upon our approach. Seriously?! 

It looked like we circled and zig-zagged all of the way up the bay! 

I took a quick jaunt through the Tampa terminal, 

passing the iconic flamingo art installation.

Last week I saw that the artist had returned to touch up 

the flamingo's toenails! 

So, despite my having slept "fairly well",

I'm thinking my eyes are telling a different story!

Time to head home and get a nap!

New Pieces

 Uh oh.... I found another quilt shop in Berkeley. It's actually been in this location for 13 years, having moved from another Berkeley area. I have just never found it before.

I wasn't looking for a quilt shop....honest, I wasn't. I simply accompanied the grand kids to their fiddle lessons, which happen to be conducted upstairs. I've driven by the area many times, but I never ducked into the parking lot, which extends a bit back from the road so the buildings aren't really visible. But there it was, "New Pieces Quilt Shop". 

I had to go in to see what New Pieces there were to see. I wasn't going to buy anything. Really, I wasn't. 

But, somehow I found myself at the cash register with these three fabrics. The first is for the background of the new mystery quilt I am starting. The middle piece would make a darling tote bag, and the bottom piece might be used in my State challenge quilt - you do see why I had to buy the fabrics, even when I had no intention of doing so! Don't you?

Yes, I am thankful that I am not Susan! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Fighting the Funk

Do you sometimes feel like you are stuck in the doldrums? For many years I struggled in February. By that time I had had enough of winter. I had no energy, and I was basically unhappy with everything. Years ago I decided that I must suffer from SAD; Seasonal Affective Disorder. Once I realized that this might be the case, I made an effort to get outside more often. I bought a car with a sunroof so that I could experience more light on my way to and from work. (Later is was a convertible and the hours logged with the top down exceeded those with the top up - even in winter!) I walked to lunch when I was at work. I'd stay outside when I got home and play with the kids or the dogs. It did seem to work. My attitude was a bit better. 

From the Internet 

Currently I get a daily email called, "Start TODAY" that recaps segments of the TODAY Show. Sometimes I find interesting links. Thursday's message had a teaser link stating,  "two questions to ask yourself daily to feel joy  and feel more content.

The therapist (Niro Feliciano) in this synopsis of a recent TODAY show suggested that when people feel the way I often felt, they try to imagine the joy they will experience when they attain a goal in the future. Perhaps one of those ideas/goals you thought about at the first of the year! She described our lives as if we are living between the goal posts. I loved the imagery of that! But, she said that focusing on the big goals might not bring joy as that accomplishment may still be far off. 

What Niro suggested instead is to practice gratitude and be in the moment. She suggested a daily reflection where you celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and that will give you feelings of gratitude and contentment. To do this, the therapist recommended two questions to ask yourself daily:

• What are you proud of?
• What did you enjoy?

She explained that these can be very small moments of your day. For me, I might list making my bed as something I was proud of. I always feel better when the bedroom appears orderly, but a lot of mornings, I feel too rushed or too lazy to take the time (all about 2 minutes?!) And something I might have enjoyed is reading some posts of my blog friends. Niro suggests writing your answers to the two questions in a journal, or in an app....I just answered them in this blog post! It was suggested that you reflect on these questions daily. Hmmmm, maybe I'll add that at the end of my posts! There's an idea!

So, what about you? How are you feeling today? What are you proud of? What did you enjoy? Surely, there is something in each day that is the answer for you!

Wonders on my Walk

 It is less than half a mile from my condo to the kids' house. I have to cross two fairly busy streets (Alcatraz Ave and Telegraph Ave), but believe it or not, California drivers are really tuned in to giving pedestrians the right of way. Besides the two streets, the rest of the route I follow is in nice residential neighborhoods, with many pretty houses and lovely plantings. 

It's easy to get distracted on the way....

No matter what time of year I come,

there is always something blooming

that brings a smile to my face

and brightens my day.

A Little Bit of Everything Sort of Day

After walking my grandchildren to school I came back to the little condo and set up my sewing space.

I brought some pieces with me from Lupines & Laughter, a mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter. 

I made a little bit of headway.

My younger son came by and we went out to local hamburger restaurant for lunch. 

I had a sloppy chicken breast 'burger' that was wonderful.

I accompanied my younger grandchild and the other grandmother on a walk among the redwoods.

There is a large park with trails among the giant trees within 15 minutes of my older son's home.

It's a delightful space with trails going in many directions, even in a light rain

that sometimes made it through the canopy of trees.

We rushed back to their house. The other grandmother made a welcome 

mug of hot chocolate and we were on our way into Oakland

to take my granddaughter to 'bandaloop'.

This is an amazing space where dance happens on the wall, and not the floor. 

It looks like a lot of fun, but I can see it would require a lot of core strength. 

There are several touring groups that practice at this facility.

The dance troupe often 'dances' on the sides of buildings. 

I was in awe of the instructors and how well they worked with the groups of children.

There were about 10 kids in the group, ages 6-12.

At the close of the class I chatted with the instructor, thanking them, and 

enquiring as to whether they have classes for old ladies...'yes'

and, for old ladies who are in lousy shape....'yes'!

Maybe if we decide to spend some time in California this summer I'll try it out! 

 

Winter Garden Challenges

While I am enjoying the relative warmth of the Bay Area in California, the Mister is reporting on the state of some of the plants in our yard following the unprecedented longterm, overnight freezes in central Florida. We had over 10 days in a row where temps dropped below freezing, all the way to 14 one night. After a day or two with slightly higher temps, we'd dip back to frigid again. It has been a terrible winter that has taken a toll on our sub-tropical plantings.

We brought some plants into the garage. Others we covered.

Covering the plants didn't seem to make a difference.

It was just too cold for too many nights.

This is one of two large Staghorn Ferns that apparently have turned brown.

We have two pygmy date palms that exhibit very little green.

The pot in the background used to have several  lovely, full, 

succulents. This is one of the 'shoulda-woulda-coulda' plants

that we could have wrestled inside.

This is what remains of my Chinese Hat plants that

I bragged about previously. 

This bank used to be covered with ferns and variegated liriope.

The perennials and cordyline were hit hard.

The Mister received an email from a gardening group that did offer this suggestion:

"Give your plants 2-3 months before calling time of death."

Hopefully many of the plants will come back from the roots. 

It may take time for our garden areas to look full and vibrant again.

And for those plants that don't regrow, we can follow the advice of the same email:

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!"

We will find a hardier plant that will be able to thrive in our climate gone awry!

Maybe we should replant with plants similar to the 

"Butcher's Block Plasticus" planted below....

The cold seemed to have no impact on this plant!

(This is an old pitchfork I found on the property.  I thought it would be cute to 

'plant' it in the garden with a vine growing up the handle. But, I didn't want

a vine that would grow out of scale and obscure the antique.

I bought a plastic garland, "planting" it in my garden

and entwining it around the pitch fork!)

So, we can celebrate one green thing in the garden!