High Hopes To Be Eating From the Garden

artichoke plant

Today was our watering day, so I got up early and started  at 7:00 a.m. The garden is really feeling alive.  I'm excited to see how things do this year.  It's taken many years to get into the swing of things, so that there is something always in bloom, ready to harvest, and another fruit tree on deck.  It's so satisfying to grow your own food.

baby bird at my writing window- a fairy

With this pandemic, I am even more determined to grow as much as I can.  I have only been grocery shopping every two weeks.  With the outbreak as severe as it is, I may make it a goal to shop just once a month.  I am hesitant to go back to Costco now.  I love buying things in bulk, but prefer shopping at a small, local store that isn't crowded.  It just feels safer to me.  I am able to pick my produce up at the co-op from my car, which I really appreciate.  I am staying away from everyone!  This virus is so contagious...it makes me very wary of being in crowded places.  I have been staying home, enjoying the porch and my backyard orchard.  I go for a walk or bike ride each morning, and do yoga or Pilates at night. 

How are you doing?  Is your food supply holding out?  What have you learned?

purple bearded iris

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Finding Solace In Nature During the Coronavirus

the hummingbirds have been sucking the nectar from these periwinkle flowers

Yesterday I felt renewed sense of hope after spending time in the garden.  I have all kinds of energetic, beautiful birds visiting.  I saw orioles, sparrows, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and a titmouse.  They all looked so happy and excited.  It's as if they were pleased to find plenty of bugs, nectar, and water to splash in; they love the birdbath. 

there is the first lime of the season

Seeing their antics gave me faith that everything is going to be all right.  They are busy with their babies.  I always take my cues from the animal kingdom.  They are so wise, in the moment,  and in tune with nature.  

the rhubarb is growing quickly

My artichoke plant is getting gigantic!  Soon I will be able to harvest artichokes to cook with homegrown lemons and Italian salad dressing.  It is an exciting time, and a bountiful harvest is just beginning...

Will you be growing food this year?  I left a bag of homegrown organic blood oranges and Meyer lemons in the mailbox for my mail carrier.  She was happy to receive them.

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Are You Feeling Depressed About the Coronavirus?

My heart has been sinking as I read the news each day, particualarly as I see the alarming death totals in Italy. The speed with which this virus is spreading, especially  in New York, worries me.  I have so many dancer friends there.  I just read two stories about teens who have died.  The headlines make me feel sick.  I feel so badly for the families of these patients.  It's a dire situation.

It's difficult not to sink into the quicksand of depression.  I've never seen anything like this in my life.  I think listening to the radio for an hour and a half this morning made it worse.  We are drowning in the constant stream of information. 

My mother's voice is whispering to me to focus on food and cooking.  Today I picked up my basket from the co-op.  I was shocked when I saw how it had shrunk.  I think it has, anyway.  I switched my attitude to being thankful for the fresh, healthy, organic produce, and that I have food in my refrigerator.   

I am so fortunate to have a garden that's producing.  I am forcing myself to take one day at a time, to listen to Louis Hay's affirmations on Youtube, and to keep exercising.  It requires effort and discipline to take positive action. 

I roasted a whole chicken and two small baked potatoes for dinner.  I tossed a spinach salad with homemade dressing, and heated up some leftover tuna and noodles casserole for lunch.  I just took a relaxing bath, and am going to push myself to do yoga and meditate.  At times like these, our spiritual practice is so important.  How are you doing?

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Taking Positive Action While We Are Staying Home Due To The Pandemic

I think most of us are feeling anxious and worried during this pandemic.  I watched a video on Youtube with John Edward this afternoon.  He used to be a ballroom dancer.  I have always enjoyed his readings.  Listening to him  made me feel much better about the situation.  He believes that it will last until June.  I can deal with that; we shall see...Things have changed so drastically.

Today I planted more rhubarb, and the Anna apple tree.  I also whacked back my Valencia orange tree.   I was afraid that it was dead, but then saw a tiny green leaf sprouting on one of the branches that I had thrown in the bin.  Perhaps the tree will recover and  come back?  I am going to leave it in the ground, and see if it springs back to life.  It looks like it has fire blight.  It's strange; all of the branches look like they have been burned.  At least my other citrus trees are doing well.  They are so green and fruitful.

I have been knitting each day on this pair of socks.  I absolutely love the yarn.  It's by Austermann, my favorite brand of fancy sock yarn.  I made a pair of leg warmers with this wool, originally.  They were pretty, but I never wore them.  So, I unraveled them, and started this  pair of socks.  I wear hand knit socks every single day.  They are so warm and practical.

It's been lovely sitting out on the porch each day.  We are getting more sunshine.  I have been making some fruit tea that I had in the cupboard.  I re-use the tea; it really holds its flavor well.  I made this tea cozy a couple of years ago.  It's Noro Silk Garden yarn.  That dog figurine belonged to my mom.  She used it as a door stop.  I love the shape of it.     
 

Are you doing okay where you are?   I know this is a challenging time for all of us.  I have been chatting with some of my neighbors.  It's interesting to hear everyone's take on the situation.

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Faith in the Abundance of Fruit Trees

These are some of the berries and a small fig tree that I just put in the ground

 
I have one more fruit tree to dig into the ground, an Anna Apple.  It's a variety that grows well in Santa Clarita.  It feels good to be working towards the future by planting fruit trees and vegetables.  The more I can shop at home in my garden,  the better.  I have small potted  live herbs in my kitchen window sill.  Some of the ones I planted in the potager garden  last year have made it through the winter.  Meals taste so much better with the  fresh sage, rosemary, and lemon thyme.  I picked up some small containers of green oregano, peppermint,  and basil, too.   I love the tiny leaves.

My neighbors had told me that our local stores were out of many of the basics.  I had done a big shop at Costco before the virus became an issue, so I was pretty well set.  When you buy in bulk, and you live alone, you don't have to shop as often as those who are feeding growing children.  I picked up an extra bag of dog food for Lula, and a second bag of French roast coffee beans for me.  I keep canned milk in the cupboard in case of an emergency.  At least with that I know that I can savor my morning cup of steaming hot coffee!  That means the world to me.

The ruby red grapefruit tree is covered with blossoms and some green fruit

I decided to see how things were going up in Wrightwood, at the cabin.  I stopped by their local grocery store, and was excited and relieved to find that they had everything, except toilet paper.  There were signs limiting people to one bag of sugar, flour, and other staples.  I bought a bag of Granny Smith apples, a head each of cabbage  and lettuce, a few onions, and some canned tomatoes and tomato paste.

I also purchased some pasta and sauce, for convenience.  I went home and made a tuna and noodles casserole, like my mom used to make.  I seasoned it with plenty of white pepper; that was always her trick.  It tasted so satisfying.  This is an opportune time to enjoy home cooking and baking from scratch.  It gives us a feeling of comfort.  I am doing all I can to avoid the creeping emotion of sick dread.  It takes effort and discipline.

I chatted on the phone with my close friend Mark, in New York.  He told me about the groceries that he had bought, and mentioned that there was plenty of food in the stores there.  He is able to work from home, and is still getting paid, so that's a relief.   I talked with a few of my neighbors, and was pleased to hear that they are all doing well, too.   

Do you have enough food?  How are you feeling during these challenging times?

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A Quiet Day At Home

Today sped by... I was busy cooking, bathing, knitting, reading, and studying dividend stock videos on Youtube.  The time just flew.  It's already getting dark.

I even started knitting again.  I had been  feeling like I could no longer do it.  I decided to attempt something easy, darning.  I climbed up on a chair and pulled out my sock yarn from the top shelf of my closet.  I couldn't remember which box it was in, but I quickly found it.  I matched the remaining balls to my gloves and hand knit socks.  They all had small holes that were opening wider and wider. It had been worrying me.  I darned them quickly and carefully.  It was so satisfying.  They look and feel like new items of clothing now.  They have hand woven patches.  Using the matching yarn makes all the difference.  You don't notice it.

I also mended the armpit of one of my favorite cashmere sweaters.  I used some blue embroidery floss that blends in well with the cable knit design.  This is the second time I have sewed together that seam.  The sweater is twenty years old, and is still very warm and soft.  I am so happy to have it fixed and ready to wear.  I will wash it by hand tonight. 

I put some of the decorations from my parents' house in my bedroom and garden.  In the photo above is the bedding from my old room.  I love her taste.  I tried to hang the lace curtains, but they are starting to shred.  I will see what I can do.  I may have to replace them.

Her patio had so many cute little figurines.  I adore these little fairies.  They really give the cottage a magical feel.  I think she would like how everything fits in here.  She was so meticulous with her home.

What did you do today?  Have you been staying in, too?

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Do You Have the Gardening and Cooking Skills To Get Through The Coronavirus?

Today I drove to the new  store around the corner from my cottage and bought some zucchini plants, herbs, rhubarb, a tomato bush, and a hot chili pepper plant.  I picked up a few more fruit trees.  They carry Dave Wilson's, (which are my absolute favorite.)  They are the best quality I've found.

I planted the raspberries, fig tree, and Aronia berries.  The soil is rich and fertile.  I added some homemade compost, and filled the holes with rain water that I had collected.  I topped them off with  straw mulch.  I think the main reason my front garden is flourishing is that I applied a thick layer of straw before we had our first rain.  We are in a flood zone, and the straw soaks up the water like a sponge.  It also attracts red wiggler worms to the soil.  They turn is for me, so I don't have to get out there and dig.

Tomorrow I will plant the Anna apple, nectarine, and peach tree that I purchased.  I also picked up a Santa Rosa plum.  Those do very well here.

This afternoon I made a batch of peanut butter cookies from scratch.  It is a relief to have plenty of staples in the cupboard.  I bought a dozen fresh eggs from my neighbor.  They're beautiful.  She has a flock of chickens.  Snow White hasn't started laying again. 

From what I hear, staples like flour, yeast, and sugar have been sold out this week at our local grocery stores.  I buy in bulk to save money, but I didn't expect for the shelves to be empty.  Thank goodness my mother trained me to stockpile.  I think having a garden with plenty of fruits and vegetables will really make a difference.  We need to be as self sufficient as possible.  The compost pile has done an excellent job of nourishing the soil.  I put all of my food trimmings in there.  Coffee grounds, carrot tops and peelings, potato skins, apple cores, and egg shells are all tossed into the pail.   It's so much easier to grow produce when your soil is rich with nutrients.  How are you faring in these times?  Please let me know. 

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Are You Prepared Financially For Coronavirus?

I learned from the financial crisis back in 2008 the importance of having enough money in savings.  Ever since then, I have been vigilant about keeping a heavy stash of cash in my emergency fund. 

When I had to have my hips replaced, the medical bills came to almost a year's worth of my living expenses.  Because I had read Suze Orman's book, I had enough money in my account.  She said that self employed people should have in savings enough money to meet their yearly expenses.  I had been slashing them by cutting out cable, taking the bus, walking, and cycling, growing my own food, cooking from scratch, and only buying needs.  I had also taken on a side job at a farm, selling produce in the mornings.  I would go to work at the dance/yoga studio in the afternoon and evening.  That extra $250.00 a week, plus the free produce, totally saved me.

When I closed my dance and yoga studio, it was because my profits had dropped 60%.  "It's mirroring the market," my father explained.  I ran the numbers, paid back all of my students, and quickly closed the doors.  I'm so glad that I didn't wait.  I knew the ship was sinking.  Many of my friends with studios stayed open and tried to make it.  They were flying to Korea to teach, working two jobs, and just making enough to pay their business rent.

Thanks to listening to Suze, things worked out for me.  The older I get, the more conservative I become, financially.  Her podcast today discusses the pandemic.  Here is the link.

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Thank Goodness for the Stockpile

I have not been able to comment on a few of my fellow bloggers' posts.  For some reason, they are showing up as dangerous sites here at the library.  I will be back to comment when I am on a private computer.

 One of my dancer friends who was stuck in Europe just made it safely home.  He is self isolating for two weeks.  What a relief it must be for him. 

I am very thankful to have my stockpile.  Right now I am at the library, checking out a few movies.  It is so helpful to have plenty of food, coffee, and home entertainment.

How is your stockpile?   I hope you have everything you need.   I made a trip to Costco a few days ago, and restocked all of my staples.  We were still able to pick up our baskets of produce at the co-op, thankfully.

The fruit trees in the backyard have been a Godsend, as well.  Do you have enough food and supplies at home?  I hope so.

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Changing Your Travel Plans Due To The Corona Virus

Mallorca

I just called NCL and opted out of the coastal cruise that I had booked with them for next month.  It was set to depart from Los Angeles, sail through San Francisco, and then end in Vancouver.  They sent us a letter stating that with their new Peace of Mind Policy, we could get a 100% credit towards a future cruise.  It has to be booked within a year, and must be used by December of 2022.

I already had made a reservation for a transatlantic cruise in 2021, so if the situation is resolved, I will apply it towards that trip.  I have a travel insurance policy, as well, but it's just basic coverage.  From what I've read, a pandemic is not covered.  I would rather take another cruise at some point, anyway.  I was really looking forward to this one, especially cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge!  Oh well...

I sent an email to the kennel where Lula stays, and explained the situation.  I hope their business isn't suffering too greatly.  This Corona virus in really having a domino effect on people, businesses, and stocks.  I just don't feel safe getting on a cruise ship right now, though. 

One of my dancer friends is working as a choreographer in Europe, and he wrote to me that he is desperately trying to get a flight back home to Canada.  Another dancer/writer that I worked with at Dancer Magazine is out floating on a cruise ship near Japan.  No one will allow them into port.  They were supposed to fly home, and then the plans were revoked.  It must be so scary to be in that situation.  They are so far from home.  I am saying prayers for both them and all of the other people affected by this virus.

How about you?  Have you changed any travel plans?  I feel lucky to be able to stay at home, to have a stockpile, and to be able to work remotely.   Life is uncertain.

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Jack Bogle on Index Funds, Vanguard, and Investing Advice

I Got A Job As A Reporter!

Last Saturday I attended a dinner for seniors over 55 at the Wrightwood Community Center.  They served homemade spaghetti, fresh salads, delicious desserts, and beverages.  I was very impressed with the quality of the food, and met some very friendly and talented people.

One of the men seated at my table happened to be the publisher for the local newspaper.  His wife was with him;  she is the editor there.  He invited me to stop by their office, and suggested that I write articles on local events for them.  He told me that they would pay me as an independent contractor.

Although I was very tired from moving all of the stuff from my parents' house home, I pushed myself to follow up this morning, and went in for an interview.  Writing is so important to me, and this man used to work for the Los Angeles Times.  It's exciting to be around talented artists.  I love the paper they produce, and am excited to get started on my first article.

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Going Through Your Parents' Things

Yesterday I drove back home with another car load full of items that once belonged to my parents.  It's been a long  and tiring day today.  I am slowly getting rid of things at the cabin that are not my style, or that I'm not using, and replacing them with gorgeous items  that belonged to my mom.  She had impeccable taste.

I redid the tiny upstairs bathroom today, and am so pleased with how it looks.  I replaced the 1950's curtains that were dusty, heavy, and dark green.  In their place, I hung some cream colored lace curtains.  They look so light and feminine.

I put a lovely rose quartz stone lamp on top of the vintage toilet.  I gives a warm glow to the room.  I also hung a pretty print with roses that my mom had in her home. 

I draped a pink shawl I have over the light fixture.  It gives the room some texture and is a lovely shade of pink. 

I also hung up my favorite towels from my parents' master bathroom.  They are a soft, pale green, with pink flowers.  My mom had them just for decoration.  They are still in perfect condition.  She took such good care of her things. 

The little bathroom upstairs is now totally transformed.  I adore it.  I even keep the door open, to show it off to people when they climb up to the bedrooms.

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Who Will Inherit Your House?

Today I met with the woman who wrote my trust.  We were redoing some things since my dad  passed away last year.  I  replaced a couple of people handling the financial side of things.

As we were reviewing the new trust, she told me, "Well, the way it reads now, if something happens to your friend, The Salvation Army will inherit your cottage and its contents."  I freaked out.  "YOU want me to leave money to charity!" I exclaimed.  "I am not comfortable having The Salvation Army in here.  "I will give  money and time to charity while I'm alive," I told her.  And I do...  

There were some tense moments and an explanation of taxes, limitations, and IRS rules.  It was decided that I will leave my house to another close friend if something happens to the first  person.  She is ten years older than I am. 

I'm telling you this so that it doesn't happen to you.  Can you imagine?  What a disaster that would have been.  I have spent a lot of money and time working to get all of my must have documents done correctly.  Thank God she told me.  

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Opening An Account At A Discount Brokerage

Today I opened an online brokerage account at TD Ameritrade.  I was surprised at how easy it was.  You just fill out the application as directed, and voila, you have your own account.  I set mine up in about five minutes. 

Once we sell my parents' house, I plan to transfer my third into a few different areas.  I will set aside five years of living expenses in cash and CD's.  It sounds like a lot, but at my age, and in my situation, that makes me feel secure.

I will buy some dividend paying stocks, ETF's, bonds, and index funds.  I have my eye on a small, tree filled piece of land up in Wrightwood that is gorgeous. 

I think many women and artists are nervous about the stock market, and so they avoid investing.  I started out with some stocks that I inherited from my father after he died.  I took his advice, and didn't do any trading.  "Just leave them," he told me.  It's worked out very well. 

You have to be careful after the death of a parent, because so many brokers, lawyers, accountants, bankers, and other people will try to influence what you do with your money.  Everybody wants your account. 

I mapped out my steps carefully on paper, after researching what Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey teach.  I also followed my gut with real estate, since that has been enjoyable and  profitable for me in the past.  We all have different areas where we feel secure and confident.  

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