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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Holland, Clogs, and Windmills

 

One of my favorite stops on our cruise was a tour of a place where they still make and sell wooden clogs.  The tour leader explained that some of the Dutch still wear them for gardening.  They are hard and strong, apparently very sturdy in the mud. I remember as a little girl my aunt bringing me a pair after her trip to The Netherlands.  I loved them.

These were some of the antique clogs on display.  I was so impressed.

They also sold wooden tulips as a decoration.  They look so pretty in a vase, on the dining table.  One of the ladies on our cruise set them with her guests at dinner, as a centerpiece. 

It was a special and quaint day trip.  I love taking the excursions when I travel.  All you have to do is show up and get on the bus.  Everything is organized for you.  

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Small Cottages in Norway

 

I was so impressed with the simplicity of Norway.  The small, sweet, neat and clean homes had lovely gardens.  

The curtains in the windows and potted flowers make the entrance to this cottage look so welcoming.

Of course, being nestled among these waterfalls makes for spectacular sound effects.  The negative ions in that area are so powerful.  It was a very healing setting. 

After a glorious hike, we headed back to our home, The Norwegian Prima.

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Traveling in EuropeTo Celebrate Turning Sixty

 

Our London tour group enjoyed a delicious lunch upstairs, at The White Lion.  I chose the most flavorful meat pie.  It tasted oh so British, with a divine buttery crust and brown gravy.  

The bathroom was just gorgeous.  I loved the hand painted sinks, carved framed mirrors and attention to detail.

Look at that wallpaper!  The tiles and doors were so pretty, too.  That was my first time eating in a pub.  What fun!  I would say we started at the top.  

I have more photos to show you, but am having issues uploading them, so until next time…

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I Love London

 

While visiting London last month, I took a three day tour pre cruise with some of my fellow passengers.  

We all stayed at The Raddison Bleu Hotel.  The tour bus picked us up each morning and took us to various locations.

I met with my  friends to celebrate our birthdays.  They have the most gorgeous flat in London!  I took the bus there from my hotel, and really enjoyed the scenery.  The view and dinner that we shared were both spectacular.  Osky made the delectable lamb, garlic rice, and beans, and Richard baked us our scrumptious from scratch carrot cake.  I ate every bite.  It was so much fun to see them.

We had spectacular weather!  I was expecting rain, but the sun was shining, and we never needed an umbrella.

My sweet friend Sara from our MGM days met me for dinner the night I arrived. She is so reliable and dependable.  We had a fantastic conversation, as we always do.  We met backstage over forty years ago.

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Footage From The Bridge Fire in Wrightwood, California

 The Washington Post did this excellent story on The Bridge Fire in Wrightwood, California.  This shows the magnitude of the blaze.  Those are the hiking trails where I take my dogs.  

Seeing the Damage from The Bridge Fire in Wrightwood

 

This morning I took a drive up Highway 2, to see the damage on the west side of town.  The road was closed  off for weeks.  Seeing those mountains was devastating.  I was shocked at how barren the land looked.  Once filled with trees, birds, and wildlife, it now reminds me of a graveyard.  It was sad to see the beautiful homes and wide spance that had burned.  What used to be green, lush, and healthy is now filled with dry skeletons of trees, or just nothing.  Ground zero.

This is a mailbox in Iceland.  They are a land of knitters.

The timing of being in Europe during the fire and evacuation was divine.  I was able to visit a beautiful part of the world and get together with old friends.  It was eerie to read the updates on my iPad and study the progression of the blaze on my cameras.  Since being back home, I have been watering my oaks and pines, raking up more pine needles that blew around during the fire, and taking loads of trimmings to the local dump.  The birds seem happy and relieved when they arrive and rest in the greenery.  I’m sure they are in shock, too.

The one thing I learned from this wildfire is to be as organized and on top of chores as possible.  It helps to look at your cabin from a fire fighter’s point of view.  The more we care for our homes and gardens, the easier it is for them.  I am continuing to create more defensible space.  The deck and balcony are swept each day.  An evacuation can happen immediately.  You may not have any warnings or time to pack.  Many of the locals expected more notifications.  Fire is not logical.  It can move like a freight train, especially now.

I have an app called Watch Duty that alerts me to all the fires near me.  It is so helpful.  Leaving early that morning made it much easier because I could take my time packing, take care of the dogs, drain my indoor pipes, light up the house, and drive with without being surrounded by smoke or traffic.

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Settling Back Into Cabin Life After the Fire in Wrightwood, California

 

The above photo was taken in blue Iceland.  The nature there is stark and memorable.  The homes are small, simple and uniform.   It gets very cold!  People live very simply and are happy with what they have.  

Speaking of cold, I finished my Nicole Shawl!  It is very warm and cozy.  It will be a lovely wrap to wear in Wrightwood during our cold winters.  It kept me comfortable as a lap blanket on my flight home, too.  I can’t wait to show my knitting teacher and the ladies who helped me on Ravelry.

Norway gives off a fairytale like quality.  The mists made it feel dreamy.  I love that little house on the edge, by the water.  The views from my balcony were breathtaking.

Cruising through the fjords was a spectacular experience!  It was so clear and bright.  We were very fortunate with the weather.  I would love to do this cruise again someday.  It was far more than I had expected, on every level.

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Update on Fire in Wrightwood, CA

 

Hello Everyone, I am back from my break.  We were evacuated during a terrifying wildfire in early September in Wrightwood, CA.    I had packed up that morning and left with the dogs.  Later that afternoon, I noticed the live cameras at Mountain High looked very smoky.  The air was thick, grey, and dense.  A few minutes later, a woman posted an horrifying video of the mountainside burning like an inferno.  I felt sick with dread.

I messaged a couple of my close neighbors.  One posted video of her family leaving town to stay with in laws.  Most ended up staying in hotels.   The sky was orange and there was just one road open leading out of town, a two lane highway, Highway 2.  I expected pandemonium, but watched my screen as the cars on her videotape exiting slowly and carefully.  There had been many meetings discussing what to do if this ever happened, and now it was happening.  An arsonist was reported and caught.

I had booked a trip from London to Norway and Iceland for the following day.  My friends and neighbors assumed I would cancel it, but I didn’t.  The dogs were safe up at dog camp, and  I couldn’t stop a forest fire.  I received notifications on my iPad all night long  at my hotel in London.  The hiking trails and areas where we picnic and enjoy nature were all burning.  I saw a fire truck and a fireman parked in front of my land on my cameras.  The lights were flashing through the middle of the night.  I saw embers floating around my yard, and caught my breath.  A firefighter was walking through my rose garden and they were calling more fire trucks to the intersection where I live.

I was amazed at how many firefighters and trucks were put on the scene.  Their plan of action was extremely well organized and executed.  Thirty structures did burn.  This is a town of five thousand.  I haven’t really been able to see the damage, because Big Pines Highway and part of Highway 2 is closed.  They stopped the fire very close to my home, on both sides.  All of the preparation guidelines for disasters that are taught by local agencies are so important.  I had renewed my home insurance early, just in case.  We have returned home and I am working on clean up, raking, and trimming back lilac branches.  Everything needed a good watering, and some of the tiny pink roses were still in bloom.

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Taking a Break

 

I am taking a short break.  I will start posting again in a few weeks.  This is a darling cottage in Wrightwood, California that used to belong to a Disney animator.  It is so special.

The roses that I planted in my woodland garden are doing beautifully.  I fed them some liquid fertilizer and top dressed the soil with planting mix.

The deck has been stained and is ready for winter.  I have a lot of chores to do in preparation.  I placed my firewood order for eucalyptus and mixed wood, and had the chimney cleaned.

This is a video of a new bear that was walking up the hillside just steps from my cabin.  This one has a more angular face.  The wildlife is literally right at our doorstep.  What a magnificent animal!  

Blogger did not post the video.  It won’t let me delete the space.  I’ll try again when I have more time.  How are you doing?

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