Bob Fosse & Carol Haney "I Love A Piano" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Lunch With an Old Friend

Yesterday I met up with a woman I used to dance with when we were younger.  We went into "Hello Hollywood, Hello!" at the same time.  After that we did three separate companies of "Sugar Babies" together: one at Harrah's in Atlantic City, one at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, and a third in Las Vegas, at The Desert Inn.

I suggested we have lunch at El Torito in Marina del Rey.  I had been kayaking there that morning, and knew it was close to LAX, where they had landed.  After taking a shuttle bus and an Uber to El Torito in Fisherman's Village, they arrived before I did.  This is a convenient restaurant for layovers, away from the hustle and bustle of the airport and traffic.

The weather was gorgeous!  The water was so still for kayaking, and there were very few people at the beach this time of year.  What a change we've had  in the weather since all of that rain and flooding we experienced earlier in January.  I checked to make sure the riptide warning had passed, and that the wind was calm.   This lifestyle is why I live in California, in spite of the challenges.  

The chips, salsa, burritos and mud pie were delicious!  It was heartwarming to catch up with Mandy and her husband, Bob.  I always enjoy talking with them.  

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Snug and Warm Noro Socks

 

I finally finished knitting these brightly colored socks with Noro Silk Garden sock yarn.  They don't match because of the way Mr. Noro dyes the wool.  It was so much fun to knit with; I loved watching the vibrant shades unfold on my tiny knitting needles.

We received a welcome break from the rain and snow, and it has been wonderful.  The dogs and I have enjoyed riding the bike in the sunshine.  California looks beautiful and vibrant again.  The hills are so green, after all that rain.  

Today I did laundry and had my roots touched up with henna.  In order to cover grey hair with the paste, you need to leave it on for at least four hours.  I leave mine on for eight.  It's amazing how well the color lasts.  I love that there are no chemicals or dyes.

I picked up the white rabbit shawlette and fox fur that I bought at our local mountain vintage shop.  I had taken them to a furrier in Beverly Hills for mending, conditioning and cleaning.  They now look brand new.  I wouldn't kill an animal for a fur coat, but I hated to see these sitting on a hanger, unused.   What a waste.  They are so warm and soft.  I will keep them forever and take excellent care of them.

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A Frightened Squirrel

 

 This little squirrel came up to me after last week's first atmospheric river. She looked right into my eyes, stood up on her hind legs, and chattered away, obviously very upset.  It was as if she was explaining to me that her burrow had become flooded, her stored acorns had washed away, and she wanted to convey how dangerous it had been.  She used her paws a lot, and seemed traumatized.

The Native Americans teach that squirrels warn others of impending danger.  They are admired for their stockpiling skills.  Many of these creatures are swept away during floods.  How frightening it must have been for her with those huge gusts of wind.  The force would have been terrifying.  I panicked, just taking the dogs out to go potty.  She acted like she knew me, as if I were part of her family.

Her snowy white stomach is so beautiful, and her tail is warm and bushy.  I'm sure it brings her comfort when she's sleeping.  The past couple of days she has been religiously gathering more acorns.  I am glad that I have been focusing on taking care of the oaks and pines.  Squirrels eat the pine nuts inside pinecones for protein.  

Fox and the Child

Frightening Floods in California

 

As many of you probably know, we have been experiencing severe flooding in California.  The rain has been constant.  Fortunately, I had contacted our county flood control a few weeks before the first intense storm.  I let them know that the water had seeped under my front door, and that my carpet was soaking wet.  

They sent out five bulldozers and removed an enormous amount of dirt, and then paved it over and built up the area in front of my cottage.  It took several days of work.  Thankfully, after their efforts, the water flowed down to the waterway that leads it into the wash behind our homes.

The winds have been extreme; in some places over 100 miles per hour.  Never before have I been so thankful for my stockpile.  It is not safe to drive in this weather.  The last thing you want to have to do is head out to the store for a loaf of bread or carton of milk.  The most common way people die in floods is being trapped in their cars.  The water can rise so quickly.

This morning I made a batch of chicken and vegetable enchiladas, broiled three marinated Tri-Tip steaks, and baked  six  russet potatoes.  If the power goes out, tasty and nutritious meals are ready.  Some of the residents here have said that their gas bills have quadrupled.  Switching to the fireplace insert and having the electric radiator heaters as an option has definitely saved me money.  I keep my gas water heater on low.

The challenge now is to keep the firewood dry.  My wood pile is soaked.  (Even though I covered it carefully with a tarp.)  But, I had spent hours stacking wood near the door, and bringing it in early to dry by the fire.  That wood was sheltered from the rain and snow.  So far so good...

How are you faring in this wet weather?  I hope you are safe and dry.

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Back Home From Santa Barbara

 

On Tuesday, I drove up the 126 to Santa Barbara, California.  I had purchased a ticket to see the Aretha Franklin Broadway show, RESPECT.  It was playing for two nights at The Granada Theater, on State Street. 

I felt a bit nervous about driving there.  The weather had been stormy, and we were expecting more rain on Wednesday.  Tuesday ended up being lovely.  I rode a rented bike from Wheel Fun Rentals along the scenic beach bike path for half of the day.  The views of the ocean, clouds, and mountains were spectacular!

I stayed at The Santa Barbara Inn, right on the water.  It was very clean and spacious, and they make a terrific pot of coffee, (which is free in the lobby each morning.)  I had lunch out on the patio, and my waitress, Renee, was very sweet and kind.  

I ordered the baby back ribs, and they were fantastic.  So was the bread, which was homemade, with olive oil and pesto.  I took the leftovers with me to my room.  For dinner, I enjoyed the Mercato salad and the flavorful lemon tart.  Both were divine.  My waitress that evening was a tall blonde, who helped me figure out directions to get to the theater.  She was surprised I didn't have a Smartphone with GPS.  Thanks to her, I got there easily and quickly.  She was so warm and helpful.

The show was a smash; I danced in the back row of the balcony for the entire second act.  It was like a concert.  I was so impressed with the cast, the choreography, and the music.  What a difficult and painful life Aretha Franklin had.  No wonder her voice and spirit reflected so much depth.  

I drove home early Wednesday morning.  Fortunately, I picked up the canines before the rain began to pound down from the sky.  It poured last night, but the dogs and I were safe at home, snug and warm.   I am so glad that the roof was replaced before it gave me any problems.  

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Tangerine Harvest

 

This afternoon I stripped the Algerian Tangerine tree of all of its fruit.  I wanted to leave the beautiful citrus on the tree; they looked so pretty!  (Everyone was commenting on them.)  But, my neighbor let me know that she saw a squirrel with one in his mouth while she was on her walk.  She recognized the orange color.  Once the animals start helping themselves to your fruit, it can disappear very quickly.

The recent rain helped them to swell with water.  We've been in a drought here in California, so the storms we've had have really helped those of us who are fruit growers.  I am hopeful for a plentiful harvest of rhubarb and apricots in the spring.

Growing your own food is an incredibly rewarding experience.  It takes time to build up the soil, but once you have worms, they do the work for you.  My soil used to be red clay.  I plan to feed the fruit trees some homemade compost before the next storm.  

How is your garden doing?  What have you been harvesting?

Thank you for your comments.  They add so much talent and energy to the blog.  Please reply in English.  Those with links will not be published.  If you enjoy the posts here, please share them.  Comments may take a few days to appear; they are moderated.