Trimming the Trees and Feeding the Soil

 

Today I trimmed more branches off my Locust tree in the front garden.  After the green waste bins are collected tomorrow, I can refill them with the branches I cut today.  I should be able to finish the tree Thursday.  It is always such a feeling of accomplishment to get that completed.  It’s great exercise, and doing it myself saves me a tremendous amount of money.

The tangerine and navel orange trees have been providing delicious fresh fruit every day.  I gave my fruit trees a top dressing of compost.  It makes such a difference in the flavor of the fruit.  The rain soaked it in nicely.

I made my second loaf of sourdough bread yesterday.  I put it in the oven after spending the afternoon at one of my knitting/crochet groups.  It is a tasty loaf, but did not come out sour,  like my first one.  I think I need to let the starter sit in the oven for 36 hours to get that  superb flavor.  The recipe said just three to five hours.  It seems to take time, like cheese.  This one did have a better rise, though.  I used a tad more yeast.  It still came out with a wet spot in the center.  I just put it back in the oven.  

How are things with you?

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Very Happy With My First Attempt At Sourdough Bread

 

After reading my fellow bloggers’ comments about failed attempts at sourdough bread, I started to worry.  I had to make some tweaks to get mine to work, but am ecstatic with the results.  I will just have to be careful not to overeat it.  It is very moist and extra sour, like what we used to get at the fancy restaurants in  San Francisco.  It was definitely worth the effort!

This was the starter that I used.  I picked up this envelope at one of the gift shops in port on my cruise to Alaska last year.  I made some mistakes in the recipe, but it still worked out.  I accidentally followed the bread recipe at first when making the starter.  This one uses yeast, which I think made it much easier.  

I kept it in my oven for thirty-six hours, and stirred it with a wooden spoon several times each day.

My dough didn’t quite double in size, so I let it rise for forty-five extra minutes, and turned the oven on to its lowest setting.  That did the trick.

I had to add more flour than I expected, and after the second rise my dough was quite sticky.  I turned off the oven after about ten minutes.  This recipe is kind of a hybrid of a vintage French bread recipe I used to make, and The New York Times’ No Knead Bread.  

I  dumped the sticky mound into my Le Crueset Dutch oven and baked it for fifteen minutes.  It was undercooked and had a wet spot in the middle, so I put it back in the oven, this time covering it with the lid.  

After many small changes, I had my loaf of sourdough bread.  It was a thrilling experience.  I hope my blogging friends can have an easier time with a recipe with yeast, and possibly a warmer environment.  Let me know how your baking is going.  What kind of bread do you like to buy or bake?

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Healthy Routines for Seniors

 

During retirement, you have the whole day ahead of you to plan and seize.  You have time to go for a walk, to hike, cook nutritious and satisfying meals, or engage in your favorite hobbies.  Yoga before bed is my favorite routine.  It stops any numbness or tingling in the extremities for me.  It just requires commitment and effort.

This week, I am making my first loaf of sourdough bread.  initially,  it felt like too much work.  To my surprise,  I am enjoying the process of stirring the starter, replacing the plastic wrap on the glass bowl, and covering the project with a dish towel.  The wet, sticky dough is methodically bubbling and developing.  Tomorrow I will add the flour, knead the dough, let it rise, and bake it.  The anticipation and growth is very satisfying.  Bread is so ancient and universal.  It will be a treat to dip it in some extra virgin olive oil and salt.

I recently canceled my streaming service.  Instead, spending time gardening barefoot, knitting with groups and at home, and reading Barbra Streisand’s autobiography have become my new chosen  activities.   It is such a relief to choose healthy, talented company.  How are you using your free time?  Does it suit your needs, your soul and personality?

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Knitting Through the Cold Winter

 

Some of you asked to see a photo of my Stockholm Sweater.  Here is how it looks so far…I will start the second sleeve tomorrow.  I absolutely love the feel of angora and silk.  The yarn is held double, which gives it more strength and warmth.  It is also not so sheer this way.  I found it easier to wind the yarn double before knitting with it.    

 I also learned to do German short rows recently.  After practicing them on my latest pair of socks,  I am pleased with the results. I knit a lot of socks, so it was an easy way to learn a new technique.  I had the point of reference and understanding of the shape from doing so many wrap and turn heels.

What are doing creatively at home these days?  Winter is such a cozy time.  It is starting to become my favorite season.  How about you?

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Winter Chores and More Wildfires in California

 

Winter is a peaceful and gentle time at the cabin.  The dogs and I get up early, go outside, I give them peanut butter treats, feed them, and make an Italian stovetop cappuccino for myself.  We sit down by the fire to enjoy the sunrise.  Blankets and shawls are piled high to keep warm. 

The fireplace insert needs to be fed a few times during the night to keep the house warm.  I empty the can of ashes every few days.  There is snow on the ground, and more headed our way this weekend.  I have been stacking firewood  in preparation for the storm.  

The Hughes Fire in Castaic was an inferno twenty miles from the cottage.  I used to teach for the Santa Clarita Parks and Recreation at that location.  I have never seen such an enormous black cloud of smoke in the air.  One firefighter described it as, “Nuclear.”  Having a go bag is so important in these times.  If you leave right away, you can avoid traffic and chaos.  I am thankful to have a comfortable place to go.

How are things with you?  What are you making?  I am loving my knitting right now.  I am on the first sleeve of my Stockholm Sweater.  It is so soft, warm, and fluffy.  It is a divine pattern and project.  The yarn is exquisite.

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Safe From the Los Angeles Fires

 

Thank you for your inquiries about my safety.  I have been fortunate, so far…the devastation is mind boggling.  I haven’t been able to blog because this disaster has made me feel sick.  Many of the dancers and dance teachers I worked with for decades have lost their homes and neighborhoods.  It is tragic.   None of us saw this coming.

 Knitting has helped me to ground and be productive.  I finished the pink socks.  I plan to gift them to my friend who lost her childhood home and current residence in Malibu.  I used to housesit for her parents, and the views and energy were breathtaking.

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Happy New Year! A Finished Christmas Sweater

 

Hello Everyone, I’m sorry it’s been so long since I last posted.  I hope you had a wonderful Holiday, whatever you celebrate.  We have enjoyed a mild winter so far…no snow except for a little bit before Winter hit.

Good news, I finished my latest sweater.  It’s another Carbeth; I used stash yarn.  I ran out of wool, (twice,) so I knit in some self patterning acrylic I had leftover from a pair of slippers.  I crocheted them ten years ago…it felt satisfying to use up the yarn.  What do you think?

Carbeth is designed to be a short, cropped sweater, but I decided to make this one long and cozy.  It covers my bum.  The yarn was from a farm and it had no label, so I wasn’t sure how much I had.  It was given to me by a lady in my knitting group.  She bought it decades ago, in the 1980’s.  It sounds strange, but I feel like the yarn is happy and appreciative to finally be used and worn.  

How are you?  Did you have a nice Christmas?  

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New Christmas Tree Curtains for the Cabin

 

I found these sweet lace curtains in Applewood Court, Wrightwood, last week.  I love the look of lace from the outside of a cabin.  It softens the edges.  I ended up exchanging the swags for valances.  Actually, I kept the valances and rehung them in the upstairs bedroom.  Since I have shades on those windows, I can still pull them down for privacy.

These are the old ones.  They may have been  here since the fifties!   Will wash them and save them, or donate them to a charity shop.  Isn’t the view spectacular?  Nothing like it…

The dogs are hogging the couch, as usual.  I bought a couple of Holiday throw pillows, too.  We are loving the fireplace insert.  It warms up the whole house.  There is something about sleeping at night under quilts and flannel sheets that is so comforting.  The heat rises and creeps upstairs.  

Are you staying warm this time of year?

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Benefits of Being a Snowbird in Retirement

 

Having a warm place to escape the cold and snow can be ideal during retirement.  Although I love sitting by the fire up at my mountain cabin, it is also a luxurious feeling to return to the cottage and to bask in the afternoon sun.  Meals can be eaten al fresco out on the front porch, and it is far easier to stay warm and comfortable.  Sometimes it is as simple as putting on a sweater or shawl in the mornings and evenings.  Hauling firewood takes time, strength, and energy.

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It’s warm enough to do yoga at night before bed, which helps with circulation.  Many seniors notice numbness and tingling in their extremities as they age.  Inversion like handstands, headstands, and shoulder stands can help alleviate this issue.  I find in the mountains I don’t want to do evening yoga when it is cold and dark.  I am more likely to curl up in bed with an interesting book.

Flowers bloom year round in a sunny location.  They provide beauty,  cheer and color.  The difference in temperature gives a whole different vibe in the winter months.  Packages and deliveries  are easily made, and you don’t have to worry about icy roads or travel conditions.  You can also hire workers year round for your home maintenance. issues.  Sometimes you can negotiate a discount around Christmas, when business is slow for certain areas, like fencing and gates.

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A Tiny Christmas Tree and a Beautiful California Rainbow

 

Yesterday I finally figured out how to light my little Blue Spruce.  It is still very young.  I found a long extension cord that the previous owner had neatly wound and hung on a side hook in my shed.  It had been patiently waiting for me.    It is just long enough to reach this tiny tree.

On my way to the dump this morning, I spotted this gorgeous rainbow.  I had never seen a full rainbow till today.  I usually find this part of the drive out of Wrightwood sad, because of the charred remains of one of our previous fires.  This beautiful light gave me a new perspective.

This last photo I took on my cruise to Alaska.  The power of nature is so spectacular there!  I love unspoiled places that are pristine.  That’s why I enjoy my mountain cabin so much…the surroundings are so natural.  I have no desire to fill it with stuff.  It is getting harder and harder for me to drive to congested, polluted cities in LA.  I prefer the peace and tranquility of nature. How about you?

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Shopping In Norway and Iceland

 

I was delighted with the gorgeous hand knits available in the port stops in Norway and Iceland.  The designs seemed so familiar.  They have such classic beauty.  They are expensive, but as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for…”

I purchased some Icelandic Wear merino wool long underwear in pink.  It has a sweet snowflake design.  I have been wearing the top and bottoms as a base layer regularly.  I was a little shocked at the price tag when I arrived at the cash register, but they are a hearty basic that will get a lot of use.  

I stopped in this little bakery for a mug of tea, a cheese scone, and to check my email.  The atmosphere was very homey, with plush, comfortable chairs, a wood burning oven, and happy travelers.  You could feel the history and the charm.  It was just a short walk from the ship!

The art and sculpture made me chuckle.  This little guy holding his flag is such a character.  I definitely would like to take this cruise again.  The itinerary and the Norwegian Prima were spectacular.

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Warm Clothes For Winter

 

While in Norway, I purchased one of their beautiful traditional sweaters.  It is so warm, thick and cozy!

The matching gloves are exceptional quality.  I have been wearing them in the mountains, they are double knit.

The above slippers are from a quaint shop carrying lovely hand knits in Iceland.

These gorgeous hand knit sweaters are made with Icelandic wool.  They really cut the wind and insulate the body.  I have been wearing layers each day, and have put the flannel sheets back on the bed.  The throws that I knit and crocheted add a comforting warmth as we sleep.

How is the weather where you live?  Are you making soups and stews?  Hope you are staying warm, or cool for the Aussies.

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Making Friends on a Tour or Cruise

 

On my last cruise, I made a few friends from both the pre-cruise tour and by being on the ship.  This woman lives in Florida, but she is from Puerto Rico.  She invited me to dinner with her in the specialty restaurants on three different nights. She is an avid cruiser, and a Platinum member.  The dinners were delicious, and we had wonderful conversations.   She told me she wouldn’t have gone on her own, and her gift certificates were for two.  It pays to be loyal to a cruise line.  We were on the Norwegian Prima.  I love this ship! 

We also ran into each other while waiting to board the bus back to the ship after one of the London tours.  We sat near The Tower of London Gift Shop and discussed our impressions of the city and its history.  I picked up some salted caramel biscuits to give to my friends who had me to dinner at their flat.

I loved this cafe with the rooftop garden in Norway.  It was right next to a lake.  We had lunch nearby with our tour group.  

The fjords were awe inspiring.  I absolutely loved the energy and incredible nature in Norway.  I definitely plan  to return.  

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