Night lights 02-20-21

 

The two girls in the cul de sac always seem to have something new to play with.  Now it is lighted balls.  Although the image is blurred, the balls are perfectly round, slightly smaller than a soccer ball (I think), and they glow orange.  Their dad was out playing with them, bouncing and chasing and kicking.   I might walk over and ask about them.  I wonder what makes them glow and still bounce, they can't be very heavy like a battery.  

I hope some of you were able to watch the Betty Busby ZOOM presentation today.  It was offered by the NCalifornia/Nevada section of SAQA and there were over 200 viewers present.  Fantastic presentation by Betty, very nice Show & Tell from members, and it was sooo special to see familiar faces after so long in isolation.  It was not recorded, so becomes just a treasured memory, along with my notes! 

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Another tree 02-19-21

Here is a tree at another Starbuck's.  Do they have a tree policy to plant exotic specimens?  I'll do some research on that.  This is at my local drive thru and has not only yellow flowers in the summer, but attracts yellow butterflies.  I think it is a type of locust.  Fabulous seed pods, eh? 

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A funny about those nice warm new slippers I showed the other day.  This morning when I rushed out the door to PTherapy I forgot to change into my outdoor shoes.  Didn't notice it until I exited my car!  My therapist noticed, but didn't realize they are slippers until I told her.  She says she has noticed that there are few colored shoes in their facility, except for athletic shoes.  Everyone seems to wear black shoes these days.  Including me. 

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Project Sidetrack 02-18-21

Sometime last summer I came across a bag of half square triangles that someone else had cut and given to me in a bunch of unwanted fabric.  i sorted them into light and dark and set them aside.  For some unknown reason, I am now compelled to sew them together.  Don't know that the colors work very well, but that is what I have and I probably will not cut any more.  I'll have to press and square up each set, a hateful chore,  Hope I can be random enough in the pairings. 

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There is always something blooming in SCalifornia, mostly imports from foreign lands.  This month there are bright pink trees popping out in the sunshine.  They are spectacular against the blue sky.  This one is next to a Starbuck's drive thru in Orange, CA. 

Pink Tabebuia Trumpet Tree  Tabebuia Heterophylla  

Deciduous, grows 20 - 30 feet tall.  Originates in the Philippines.

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Sewing 02-16-21

I actually sewed today, but only one block!  And it was a PROJECT.  I think I have forgotten a lot of what I used to know.  This wonky star is only 5" finished and my hands don't work as well as they once did.  But I managed to complete this very small project.  A couple points will be missing when it is sewn into the quilt, but I don't mind - it is finished. 

PTherapy this morning was hard because I now need to do twice the reps of each exercise.  Instead of 10 sit/stands I did twenty.  Oh, my thunder thighs are thundering tonight.  

I am concerned about my readers around the country with the terrible snow, iice, and below freezing temps.  Let me know you are okay, eh?  

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Warm feet 02-15-21

 

I have always had warm feet and used to stick them out from under the covers while I slept.  But lately my feet are always so cold and in all seasons I wear open Birks in the house.  I finally broke down and order slippers!  I haven't owned slippers for decades.  These are from LLBean and are very warm and cozy.  I was attracted to the pair with a dandelion on one foot and a seed puff on the other, but they were sold out.  So, I have robins which are very nice. 

It might be just thinking of the horrible weather in Texas and Portland and other places that don't usually have such heavy snow and low temps.  Every time I read someone's post on Facebok I shiver.  I remember "silver thaws" from my childhood in Oregon.  Every twig, blade of grass, tree limb and trunk, bush, and leaf is coated with ice.  Branches fall, roofs slouch, it is impossible to walk without "crampons" (or whatever those spiky feet appliances are called).If you have never seen such a thing check out the old movie "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" which was partially filmed during one of these climate phenomena.  Beautiful, but deadly.  And here I am in my warm, robin bedecked slippers.  M-mmmmm.

The visit with my primary doctor was good.  She took blood and we will talk about results in a couple weeks.  Meanwhile I am still struggling to use the BP monitor correctly so I get a reading on the first "pump".  Sometimes it takes three tries to get it to complete the measurement.  I'll get used to it soon, I hope. 

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KoKo with Valentine 02-14-21

This funny critter came as a Valentine gift from a neighbor today.  It isn't meant to be a doggy toy, but I figure KoKo can enjoy it until it falls apart.  He immediately ripped the hard button off the nose and I stitched it up.  There is a cute video of him putting it through the paces, but I cannot figure out how to post a video on my blog.  So, maybe that will come later. 

It was an unusually "gifty" Valentine's Day.  A heart shaped balloon that floats on the ceiling, a heart shaped box of Whitman's chocolates, a kazoo, a large mug that says "Soooo Cray About You" (???), and a plastic bag of Cuties, oranges, and lemons - waaay more than I can ever eat.  Guess I'll have to find a neighbor who needs some citrus.  And, of course, this critter which was stuffed in the large mug.  Guess I am on people's minds this week. 

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Lemon tree 02-13-21

It is citrus season here.  The orange, lemon, mandarin trees are weighted down with fruit.  At the same time the buds are setting for next year's bounty.  Kind neighbors share bags of fruit and I pass some on to others.  I could never use the 20+ lemons someone left on my porch last year.  

This little tree has been growing here for at least six years, but it gets no fertilizer and apparently only natural water.  The previous owners did not pick the fruit, so what wasn't rescued by neighbors just rotted.  Sad.  New owners seem to be taking better care. 

See all the tiny white blossoms coming on.  Hope a lot of them survive and the lemons will be abundant next winter.  

We are doing okay.  I am just so very, very tired and spend a lot of time resting, reading, and snoozing.  We did the loop both morning and evening today and I continue with the PTherapy exercises.  But then have to rest up.  BP is all over the map; I am taking it three times a day per instructions.  

Hope you have a special Valentines Day.  One of my neighbors brought me a heart shaped balloon.  It bumps along on the ceiling with my movements and KoKo growls at it.  I think he has accepted it now.  Funny guy.  

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