Taking Time To Relax During The Pandemic

The past few days I have really been enjoying some down time.  I have a tendency to push myself with my writing work, housekeeping and gardening.  I often forget to take a day of rest.  One day bleeds into the next, especially since the virus hit. 

Yesterday and today I relaxed on the couch, read a new book on my mom's Kindle, and sat outside in the sunshine with my chicken, Snow White.  She normally stays in her coop.  I decided to let her venture outside of it for a while. I sat carefully on the swing and watched over her.  She tentatively scratched the soil, ate some bugs, and walked around, gingerly.

Overhead I spotted a hawk and heard the telltale sound, "Caw!"   I scooped up Snow White and held her close to my chest.  She snuggled into me.  She's so sweet and appreciative.  I walked  back to the coop with her safely in my arms and locked her securely inside the French door.

Her previous owner told me that her sister, who was also a white Silkie, was killed by a hawk that got into their coop.  How traumatic.  I know those chickens remembered.  Snow White is the only one of the four still alive now.  Her sisters used to totally freak out if I ever left their door open; I could feel them panicking.  They reminded me of the chickens in the Foster Farms commercials.  Today she seemed more at ease with me there with her.  It's so much fun to watch chickens; they are very entertaining.

Have you been taking time to relax and recharge?

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A Lovely Hike

Yesterday Lula and I took a hike with a friend of mine on the Acorn Trail.  I had always wanted to try this path, but could never find the trail head.  It turns out it is right near where I suspected that it was, but when I was looking, they hadn't yet put in the trail marker.  There is a Catholic camp right across the street.  The land and scenery is just wonderful!

Lula had a terrific time; she was in her glory.  I had packed a backpack full of supplies, water, a lunch and some dog treats.  Lula crunched on her dog biscuits happily.  My friend and I sat on some enormous  chunks of logs that were turned on their sides.

The Acorn Trail meets the famous Pacific Crest Trail.  The next time I take it, I plant to hike up to that section.  I hear that there are also some beautiful wild big horn sheep up in that area.   I am looking forward to seeing them.

It's been hot here, so I need to get outside and water my garden.  The sunflowers are still in bloom.  I love how bright and cheerful they are.  I spent some time knitting a dishcloth on the porch this afternoon.  Lula and I took an evening  walk when it was cooler and I chatted with a couple of my neighbors.  It was fun to catch up with them. 

How are things in your area?

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A Cleaning Frenzy!

I have been cleaning the cottage all day.   I was really in the mood this morning, so I decided to get cracking!  This little place  really is the ideal retirement home.  It's easy to heat, cool and clean.  There's a lot to be said for small living.  

I picked up my vacuum from the repair shop.  I had dropped it off to be serviced and also had the cord replaced.  (It was fraying and sparking.)  It's a great little vacuum, though.  It's made by Shark.  I bought it fifteen years ago, on the recommendation of a lady that was helping me clean my house.  It's really light weight and picks up the dog hair beautifully!  I like the strong suction and the fact that it doesn't use bags. .

I vacuumed, dusted, mopped the floors, and cleaned the kitchen and bathroom.  There are still some other small things that need doing, but this place feels like home again.  My mom was such an excellent housekeeper.  I always feel like I don't measure up to her standard, instead of just doing my best and making my environment as clean and neat as possible.  She told not to be like she was, that it would drive me crazy.  Now I see what she meant.  It does feel good once things are done, though.  I also did a load of laundry and hung it outside in the sunshine to dry.

I decided to stop at the new T. J. Maxx this morning.   Our old one had changed its location.  I wasn't quite sure where it was.  I drove around, and found the new store on Golden Valley. What a fabulous shopping center they have built there!  I was so impressed.   I picked up several things that I needed: a new pair of sandals made in Spain, a rose colored sun dress, some candles for the cabin, and a snake to clean my sink drains.  The prices were excellent!  I hadn't been shopping in months and months!  It was really fun, and there were very few people in the store.  Everything was so clean.

I browsed through the gourmet foods and coffee, admired some of the dog beds and towels, and searched for a bikini.  The one that I usually wear is getting stretched out:  I guess I will have to mend it and take a tuck in the waist.  The top still fits perfectly.  I'm going to wear a two piece while I still can, because I know that someday it will not be a pretty sight.  The swimsuit I bought last year is still in excellent condition.  It's very well made.  It will easily last another season.

How are things with you?

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Cosmos In Bloom

The magenta Cosmos that I planted are now blooming.  Each week I feed them compost tea, and they have developed a lovely bright color through absorbing the nutrients.  It makes such a difference to amend and mulch the soil.  Ours is very rocky up in Wrightwood, California. 

I planted a few packages of sunflower seeds, as well.  I am hoping that they will bloom before the weather changes.  They always add a bright spot in the garden.  I sprinkled the soil with compost.  It was covered with pine needles, so I raked those up and deposited them in  the green waste bin.

I am nearly done with the writing project that I've been working on; it's getting exciting.  I have really enjoyed applying the hand written notes from Tommy Tune.  Peter Glebo emails them to me.  I will post the link once the article is finished and published.  It's so rewarding to use your talents, especially during a pandemic.  It's so easy to work with them.  That makes all the difference.

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The Serenity of Oak Trees

my front yard

Today the workers from Southern California Edison came and removed my neighbor's two dead oak trees.  They had been decimated by a beetle that destroys them.  It spreads rapidly, so it was important to get both trees out of there.  They were near the power lines. 

Tomorrow the men will come back and finish removing the dead branches and wood.  The trees remaining look beautiful.  They  really are spectacular.  There are so many on my property up at the cabin.   I always dreamed of having a home with an oak tree, and look what I was given!  The owner told me that they waited for the right person to buy their property, and that I was the right person.  I am still in awe of the beauty there. 

Old trees are so wise and comforting.  You can't put a price on the spiritual energy that  they add to a home.

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Health Insurance

The other day I received a letter from Covered California letting me know that I needed to submit proof of income to them for last year.  I stopped off at my accountant's office today and picked up the tax information that I needed to fax. 

I don't have a fax machine, so I used the service at our local hardware store.  It took a while for Covered California  to receive it, but eventually the pages were all transmitted.  That's a huge relief.  I receive a generous subsidy from our government for my health insurance.  It's important to stay on top of the paperwork in order to qualify.  I'm so glad it's all finished. 

I started watering the trees this afternoon, and stopped as the sky turned grey.  I put the hose away, and then it started to sprinkle.  I'm hoping for a dramatic storm.  So far it's just dark and impending.   

How has the weather been where you live? 

Mature Trees Need Water, Too

I learned the other day from our local arborist that mature pine and oak trees need to watered.  I had always assumed that if we had received adequate rainfall or snow, that their roots went deep enough into the ground to keep them healthy.

I asked him if a once a week watering schedule was sufficient.   "No, they need to be watered every other day," he answered.  Wow!  I had no idea.  I had noticed that the trees near my new woodland garden had been looking much healthier, happier and greener.  I thought it was the compost and mulch that I had applied.  The growth is now very vigorous on the oak leaves.  I soak that area every couple of days.  It makes sense.

The large trees near the lake look exceptionally beautiful;  same with those close to the beach in Ventura.  The dryness and lack of water makes in other locations them brittle, stressed and susceptible to disease and beetles.

So, I have a new hobby, forest bathing.  That's what the Japanese call spending time in the woods.  For now I am irrigating all of the trees on my land by hand.  Once I got into the new routine, my whole yard filled up with birds, butterflies and a sense of busy life.  The trees immediately responded.  I could feel their relief and gratitude.

Do you water your trees?

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Paying Home Insurance

Today I paid my my home insurance premiums.  I took the envelopes to the post office, mailed them at the counter, and bought some more Forever stamps.  It's such a relief when the big bills are paid.  Property taxes will be due before we know it!

The arborist who trims my trees called me and we arranged to have some more work done.  Maintaining large oaks and pines is expensive, but it's so worth it.  I am excited to see the transformation completed.  It makes the whole energy in the yard so magical. 

Tomorrow I plan to amend my soil with some homemade compost.  I've been saving my fruit and vegetable scraps and depositing them deep into the compost pile each evening.  It's attracted an abundance of red wiggler worms.  They do an excellent job of turning the soil and improving it.

How are things going with you?

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Have You Been Moody During the Pandemic?

I am trying out the new Blogger but cannot figure out how to add photos or how to separate the paragraphs. How are the rest of you bloggers doing with this new version? I miss the old one.  I had to go back to it to fix this post.

Yesterday I felt down in the dumps, and had a hard time shaking it. I was frustrated with Lula on our walk, and she didn't understand why. I ran into another man with walking his large Border Collie off leash. I asked him to get his dog. It walked towards me,  away from the owner. I had my pepper spray in my hand, and a rod iron golf club, as well. I placed the club on the ground between the dog and I to create a boundary. "He's not going towards you, he's going towards your dog," the owner told me. He stood there, passively, watching. He made no attmpt to leash the dog.

With this virus, I definitely don't want any people or animals coming close to me or my dog.  The man finally put the dog on the leash, but it was an exasperating experience. I guess in these times we are going to have to learn to deal with oppositional people who refuse to follow any rules. I lost my temper and he told me where I could put my golf club.

After doing yoga, working on my latest article, and knitting outside, I felt like my old self again. It is a challenge these days to remain calm and unaffected. Taking a walk is not what it used to be. I may start staying closer to home. It's not worth the aggravation. Lula loves to fetch a ball, anyway. She's happy to lay on the porch or deck with me outside. I spent some time yesterday afternoon looking at my photos from my vacation in Europe. They make me so happy. It was so incredible there. I loved being on the ship and visiting the ports.   The people that I cruised with were wonderful.  Travelers love travelers...

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Remembering A Magnificent Vacation

Today I flipped through some of the photos that I took while on my cruise through the Mediterranean last November.  These are from Monte Carlo and Monaco.  It seems like so long ago...yet it's only been nine months.  My, how life has changed for all of us since that time!  I feel like I was so fortunate to get to visit these places  when I did.  It was such a magnificent trip.  Perusing the photos takes my mind and spirit back to all of the magical islands and European cities.  What an incredible trip it was!

Today I did a load of laundry and hung it out on the line in the sunshine to dry.  I love the effect that the sun has on our clothing, sheets and towels.  They feel and smell so fresh when you take them off the clothesline and bring them inside the house.  I  folded everything carefully and placed the items  neatly in my clothes basket, like my mom used to do for us.  She trained me well.

The other day I coated my hair with red henna.  My grey roots were starting to show, so I painted over them with a brush and left the henna on for four hours.  I always feel like a new woman after I bump up the color on my hair.  I could really use a trim, but with this virus,  I'm going to have to wait.  Henna  picks up the sunlight so beautifully.  I get so many compliments on it when I'm at the lake.  People still refer to me as a   natural redhead, which  I really get a kick out of... (especially since I'm totally grey now and color my hair myself.)  Henna deep conditions the hair and really keeps it healthy.  I just love it.  I will probably use it for the rest of my life.  Juliet Prowse kept her hair red as she got older, and it looked great on her!

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Back To The Library-Just Published

This morning I took Lula for a relaxing walk down the Wrightwood Trail.  I stopped at the post office on the way back, while no one was there.  In my mailbox was the latest edition of our local newspaper, The Mountaineer Progress.  My article on our sweet little library was in it.  It's so fun to be in print again.  My friends have been so supportive.  It's sweet. 

I stopped at Mountain Hardware and picked up some Cosmos and a large, impressive  Russian Sage plant.  Cosmos do very well in Wrightwood.  They get so tall!  I also bought a couple of bags of rich, black  planting soil.  As I was digging into the dirt in my front garden, I was disappointed to realize that  most of it is still very dry and rocky.  A few pockets have improved, but not nearly at the level that I had expected.  I need to do some more amending and mulching.  My friend always told me, "Just keep planting..."

It was so satisfying to work closely with the earth and plants.  I love how my tiny woodland garden is coming along.  I hope to add some berry bushes and more colorful flowers.  The purple Russian Sage plant is so delicate.  I've seen them growing in my neighborhood, and they thrive.  It helps to pick plants that do well in your location.

Have you been out in the sunshine lately?

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