New Year's Dinner 01-02-21

Nothing special for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.  I just don't do holidays anymore.  A wreath on the door for Christmas season and multiple flags for 4th of July.  I can't tell you why!  I just lost interest about a decade ago.  I think it is part of being old and deciding to just be my own person and do whatever I enjoy.  

I do enjoy going out for meals, but that isn't something I can do right now, so I prepare food to eat; minimal cooking - microwave, toaster oven.  Today I had the urge to eat something special so I ordered takeout from The Wild Artichoke in Yorba Linda.  I have always enjoyed their food, which is rather pricey, and have picked up take out a couple times in the last six months.  Tonight I called and ordered their special salmon with capers, risotto, and veggies.  KoKo and I drove over to pick it up at 5pm, rather early for me, but it just seemed like a good time.  Beautiful sunset driving home; flashing behind buildings and trees like a film strip.  

The picture doesn't do it justice - much more colorful. 

But very delicious and enough for two meals for me, so I will enjoy the other half tomorrow evening. 

 

I ordered carrot cake for my neighbor, Mark-to-the-South, because he does love it.  I don't think it will be as tasty as the carrot cake from Katella Deli in LBeach, but I can't currently drive over there.  I delivered it to Mark when we went for our evening walk and he told me he has had the first of the two vaccinations.   He retired from the hospital where he maintains and repairs equipment, but they keep calling him back part time.  He'll have his second shot soon.  He says that some of his fellow employees are declining the vaccine,  They seem to want to see how effective it is with other people.  DUH!  

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A New Year 01-01-21

The thunder storms we had on Sunday night and Monday brought local hail, although I don't think there was any at my house, but we had 1 1/2" + of rain.  And there was snow on the local mountains (San Gabriel and San Bernardino ranges).  Someone posted this morning that there was were miles long traffic jams on the roads up to the mountain resorts.  I'll take the snow at a distance!

This was taken on Christmas Day from the roadside at Bastanchury Hill.  

 

And this was taken this morning, New Year's Day, while stopped in the left turn lane on Bastanchury Hill.  There was NO traffic this morning so I felt safe stopping in the middle of the street.  The closer hill you see is actually a land fill.  I wonder if it will eventually become so high that one can no longer see the mountain ranges.  

We went out to find a Starbuck's drive thru that was open.  And so did everyone else.  When we found one we spent about 45 minutes in line!  But it was okay since it gave me time to do my e-mail and read some Facebook posts.  And KoKo could see there were other dogs looking out car windows.  Sometimes they bark, but KoKo seems to realize those dogs are not going to come near.   It was a chance to get out of the house.  It was a gorgeous sunny day and the temp eventually got up to 73.  Nice California winter weather.  

I wish you each a joyful, calm, peaceful, friend filled, worry free 2021!

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Hope for the New Year 12-31-20

Since I don't do much of anything and don't go anywhere except for the walks and an occasional short trip to the market, I don't have much to say.  I've thought about telling stories from my past and may yet resort to that!  Today we dropped some things at the PO drive-by box, took some money out of the ATM at the credit union, and visited the drive though at Starbuck's down by the 91 Fwy, just to go some place different.  It is about a mile further than the Starbuck's we usually frequent.  While in line there we have a view of Anaheim Lakes where the white pelicans are moving in for the winter.  It is a distant view, but still nice to see.  Home to do a few household chores, throw Froggy for KoKo to chase, and read my current book, Barack Obama's memoir, "A Promised Land".  I do find it riveting and am surprised at some of the "characters" who are still around today; McConnell, Pelosi, Feinstein, both Clintons, and others.  I guess my memory is really failing me because I don't remember some of the really serious problems that existed in our country in 2009.   The high point of the day was a ZOOM meeting with the art quilt group in San Diego.  Always interesting sharing and conversation.  

So, here we go into a new year.  Along with everyone I know I am hoping for a MUCH better year ahead for the entire world.   Need to get those vaccinations rolling!

Some of you might remember how much I enjoy snowman cartoons!

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Wordless Wednesday 12-30-20

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Rain!! 12-28-20

The weathermen were right, we had RAIN!  I can't find a website that says how much rain there was in the last 24 hours, but it really came down.  It started last night about 1am with violent thunder that seemed to shake the house.  The thunder rolled and bumped and thumped for at least half an hour.  VERY unusual for this area.  I doubt that KoKo has heard thunder but a few times in his six years and he was terrified.  Shaking and barking and running around.  I caught him and held him close and stroked him and talked softly, explaining just what was going on.   He finally settled somewhat, but every little thunker rumble would start him up again.  Poor guy.  If we had more of this sort of thing I would buy him a "thunder shirt", but it is so rare I doubt it is worth it.  

We didn't walk the loop until about 10:30am and timed it correctly to be in between rain storms.  Tonight we went out in the backyard quickly, not because of rain, but it was only 43F!  The coldest it has been this year.  I took the picture below about 3pm when the rain was fierce, thinking the sparkling silver drops might show.  The neighbor's house does not have gutters/downspouts so you can see the water fall to the right.  And against the dark trees the white lines are the falling raindrops.  It was quite lovely.  As far as I can tell our last rain that amounted to anything was early April.  

So, what does KoKo do on a rainy day?  The same as he usually does.....

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Flowers in winter 12-27-20

The camellias are starting to bloom.  This one in a neighbor's yard is always one of the first.  It is against a west facing brick wall and protected by a shallow overhang high above.  I think everything in this yard in on drip lines, so the extended drought hasn't much effect.  We are supposed to have rain tomorrow, but the prediction has changed so much in the past few days I sort of doubt that rain will be forthcoming.  We need it so badly.  

I am trying to do the PTherapy twice a week, but the holidays sort of mess that up.  I should do the exercises every day at home, but don't often manage that.  It isn't that I have so much to do, I just have never been good at exercising.  KoKo and I do the loop twice most days, so that is two miles (more or less).  So I am not a complete couch potato! 

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