Somewhat improving! 06-30-23

This evening we took our walk and did the complete loop (a little less than a mile) for the first time since Sunday.  I just haven't had the strength and it is hard to have leash, cane, and hold a tissue to my nose!  I did use a  "croup tent" twice today because I was so drippy and sneezed in  multiples.  It does help, but I should have started sooner.  Talked at a distance with  several  neighbors and discovered that what I have is something that is "going around".  I suppose I should have seen the doctor, but I do dislike taking antibiotics  if  I can possible avoid them.   I will just keep doing my old-time treatment and see if I can be well by next Wednesday. 

I did manage to take KoKo to the groomer yesterday -  isn't he handsome? For this picture I lifted him up on a neighbor's wall right in front  of the volunteer cherry tomato plant.  The neighbor  has been caring for the plant, but went off for a ten day vacation, so every other day I took a bottle of outside water and gave it a drink.  I intend to enjoy a some cherry tomatoes in a few weeks!  The tomato plants volunteer from the mulch a lot of people use.  It contains sewage sludge (treated, of course), but the cherry tomato seeds seem to come through unscathed and usually  give  a great crop of sweet,  tiny tomatoes.  I had them in the 60s in Huntington Beach and in this backyard when I took care of it.  

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Too sick 06-29-23

My cough is much less, but my head is stobbed ub and my nose is constantly running.  I'm dong OTC drugs, hydrating, resting, not talking.  I did manage to get KoKo to the groomer, he was so shaggy and now he looks ten years younger. As you see, he is taking care of me.  I really cannot do much  - you know how this kind of thing wipes you out.  Anyway, I hope to be well at least by Monday.  Good Night!!

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Wordless Wednesday 06-28-23

 

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Got a cough! 06-27-23

 

Had to have a picture and this is one of my favorites from Facebook.  I think I will have a mat like this on the INSIDE of my door.   I'll add "Check that the outside doors are locked."

My news is that I have a terrible cough.  This is the first illness I have  had since the lockdown and mask wearing when  Covid struck in 2020.  Really amazing since I usually have bronchitis every winter.  I went out to dinner with neighbors on Friday evening and one of the guys had a cough.  If I had know of that before I got in his car I would have stayed home.  But at the restaurant he kept coughing and I was stuck.  He claims that he just has allergies, but I recognize a bad cough that is not an allergy to anything.  Anyway, I treated myself when I got home, but by Sunday night I had a scratchy throat and knew I had contracted his cough infection.  By Monday night I was whooping it up pretty bad.  Fortunately I have a supply of Fisherman's Friend cough lozenges, so I can  control it somewhat.  I wore a mask when I took the boys to school and hope they do not catch anything.  A friend suggested a Covid test and I have at least a dozen test kits, so I did the test (such tiny printing!} and it was negative  I really don't have any symptoms other than the cough. 

I am just resting and drinking fluids and sucking on Fisherman's Friend.  Hope it goes away quickly.  Fortunately I don't have anything on my calendar this week except taking KoKo for grooming on Thursday.  He is pretty shaggy.  Maybe I can do some sewing, doesn't take a lot of energy!  Or, as always, read. 

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Ruth McDowell quilt from TCQC 06-25-23

There are dozens of Ruth's quilts in the Collection and I love every one, but there are a few that I really cherish.  Especially this one of "Harvey", the everyday name for the registered name of Baron von Ruffhausen.  Bernese Mountain dogs are the favorite of Ruth's family and Harvey ruled the house of Ruth's daughter and family.  He has long gone over the rainbow bridge, but his memory lingers in everyone's heart and in this wonderful playful quilt. 

"Baron von Ruffhausen"  Ruth B. McDowell - Minneapolis, MN   2004

Commercial cotton fabrics, machine pieced, machine quilted.

Ruth purposefully chose Marimekko's bright prints to contrast with the dignity of this great dog.   Her machine piecing is simply impeccable and the straight seams seem to magically read as curves.  

My favorite part is his feet.  Created with solid white fabric and each toe defined with black quilting stitches.  

Such a fine touch makes me look closer to a quilt every time. 

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A war in the park!! 06-24-23

When KoKo went out for his afternoon piddle I saw all these barrel shaped things in the park.  They moved a little so I think they must be filled with air.  Then along came a hoard of boys (maybe aged 9 to 12) running from the other end of the park carrying pretend long guns.  They divided up and took up positions behind the "barrels".  Then their adult "director" blew his whistle and the boys moved toward each other, shielding behind the "barrels" and firing away.  They must be using those foam rubber bullets that I see laying around in yards and on the sidewalk, especially after a holiday, as they went around picking them up after the battle was over.  I don't know how they keep score, I didn't see anyone fall and play dead.  They attacked each other three times before the "director" called them off to drink some water and they trooped back the way they came.  

The blue rectangle looks like a large gym mat is leaning against the 25' flood light post, can't tell the purpose or what the blue thing on the other side might be.  

I didn't catch them in the heat of the battle. 

The other end of the park.  See the blue patch in the center?

The headquarters with blue awning to provide some shade, the high today was 77F. The black square is the usual trash can that is there all the time.  

I don't know how long they were out there playing war.  KoKo was ready to come inside and what KoKo wants, KoKo gets!!  

When there were more and larger trees there was much more surreptitious activity, including some fornication, but the trees became infected with something and died so they had to be removed.  A variety of long needle pine trees were planted and are slowly growing. They have done well this year with all the rain.  The very large trees you see are outside of the park.  

Lots of excitement in my neighborhood!! 

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Friday Food 06-23-23

 If  you read my blog often or if you know me in-person, you know that I do love desserts.  Just look at me!   I especially enjoy the fancy, gooey, desserts served at restaurants.  Like the two just below.  I don't remember where I enjoyed these luscious treats, but they were tempting enough to take a picture.  

This variety of plating makes things more inviting - or so they think. 

One of my favorites is carrot cake and I sometimes drive to LBeach to pick up a cake aat Katella Deli.  I think their version is the very best. 

Cookies are an everyday mainstay.  These came from Cookie Elements a shop which sells only cookies made on the premises - sooo good.

This post was prompted by dinner out with neighbors.  We ordered one dessert, a chocolate/raspberry cake. It has five layers (I think) and the flavors differ on different days.  We were lucky tonight, it is the best flavor.  But we were also ravenous.  It was gone in a flash!

I have to remember to take a picture before attacking dessert!  Sorry. 

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