Satuday Stories - Sharing a table 07-08-17

When Diane was traveling in Australia, about forty years ago, she was on her own most of the time.  She started out with a group of colleagues from work, but had planned further travels after they left for home.  It is a challenge being alone in a foreign country and living day to day without a planned itinerary.   Very exciting and, yet, sometimes lonely.  She discovered that in Australia one need not be lonely, the Aussies were very outgoing and willing to share.  The first time Diane was sitting alone at a table in a medium sized restaurant that was packed, the waitress calmly seated a couple on the other side of the table.  They said hello and proceeded to order their meal.  Then they turned their attention to their table companion and asked questions.  After getting over the oddness of it, Diane not only replied, but posed the same questions back.  They were locals, just out for dinner, and seemed delighted to meet someone from California.  They had lots of suggestions for places to go and what to eat and where she should go in her further travels.   They all paid their own checks and in parting exchanged names and addresses.  Diane rarely ate alone in the four weeks she travel around the country and ventured to the south island of New Zealand.  Even sitting at the counter someone on either side of her would start a conversation.  Always address/phone numbers were exchanged and some of them kept in touch for a number of years.   She always thought she would return to see more of the country and possibly connect with some of those long ago "friends", but it never happened.  It is probably a completely different culture now.  But what lovely memories she has. 

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Friday Feet 07-07-17

I don't get many male feet, don't find them generally interesting!  But here are a few I have posted in the past.

This guy was dressed in suit and tie, but was wearing these on his feet.  It was at Starbuck's - maybe he had changed his shoes and walked over from work.

These feet belong to a friend who had surgery and was wearing compression socks and "loose" shoes.

This is the guy who fixed the between-the walls leak in my family room several years ago.

And these belong to my endodontist.  For the money he charges I figured I could have a picture of his feet for my blog. 

 

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No summer trip this year 07-06-17

This is usually the time of year that I hit the road for some distant place, enjoying the driving, the scenery, the weather, the plants and the people along the way.  But this year I will pretty much stay home with KoKo and try to cure my strained right shoulder.  I had an MRI this morning - so we will see what we shall see!  Hope it isn't anything requiring surgery - I'm not into surgery! 

The flowers here are on a bush called the Mexican Bird of Paradise.  They are a landscape plant used extensively in the Lake Havasu area and these are at the Pilot station off I-40 and Arizona 95.  I see them around Fullerton/Anaheim/ Placentia, but I wasn't able to grow them when I tried them here. 

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Wordless Wednesday - with words! 04-05-17

Sometimes KoKo guards the back, but mostly he sits in the window that looks out on the front porch and barks at people going by.  If anyone should have the temerity to step up on the porch he goes into his whirling dervish routine and piles up the runner in the hallway.  The mail carrier is usually the culprit.   We had to shorten our walk again tonight because there are still yahoos setting off fireworks which make KoKo shiver and shake and run for home.  To avoid having my arm pulled out of the socket I picked him up and carried him home. 

 

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KoKo doesn't like July 4th 07-04-17

It was a quiet 4th of July here in Orange County California, except for the fireworks which had KoKo in a tizzy.  When we walked at 7pm (84F) there were already booms and bangs and he didn't want any part of it.   He strained at the leash to head for home until I had to pick him up and carry him lest he tear my arm out of the socket.  All the rest of the evening he was on me like another skin, so I had to sit and hold him, talking and petting and soothing.  He seemed to want to be on my head and he climbed up on the back of my recliner, something he has never done before.  For a while I wrapped him in his quilt while I held him, which seemed to help.  I had read about this online somewhere.  They make special 'bundling' coats for dogs, but I don't want to invest in one for one day a year.  Needless to say, he didn't get a bath today - tomorrow, for sure. 

It is very hot again, running in the high 80s and low 90s.  A little early in the summer for that kind of heat, but not unheard of.  I am still not quilting and it looks like I will miss another deadline.  Gotta get control of that lack of creativity soon or I will forget how to sew.

Meanwhile, I have finished the Surfside Quilters Guild newsletter.  A whole week late this time.  I will do better in future months.  The meeting is next Tuesday, already! 

 

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