Shockingly High Gas and Electricity Bills in California

 I just received my electric bill for last month's usage.  It was $264.00!  Yikes!  I have been heating the cabin with wood, but leave two electric radiator style heaters  at 55 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing.  It gets so cold in the winter.  Some of our evenings we have dropped down into the teens.  I guess it's better than having a pipe burst.  I make sure to drain the water from the pipes and shut the water off when I am out of town. 

It used to be cheaper to bake from scratch, but now I am thinking it might be less expensive to buy cookies on sale.  I love the Scottish stem ginger biscuits that they sell at Stater Brothers.  I may still make a batch of lemon bars and bake several potatoes while the oven is in use.  The natural gas prices are causing me to rethink everything. 

This is why it is so important to have an emergency fund and to account for inflation during retirement.  Things really go up, and it only increases as we age.  My health insurance now costs nearly $700.00 per month.  It will continue to rise until I am eligible for Medicare at age 65.  When I first bought the cottage, it was $35.00 per month.  I was 33.  At that time I just had a catastrophic policy.

How were your utility bills this month?  Have you made any changes?  I am doing laundry in cold water, and have been drying everything out on the clothesline.  With all of the rain and flooding we experienced, I had to use the gas dryer several times.  It really adds up; the more we can save and conserve, the lower our bills will be.

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I Had the Mountain Cabin Stained

 I finally found an excellent crew of painters to stain my cabin.  They were worth the wait.  Many locals paint theirs, because paint lasts for years.  I just love the look of the natural wood, though.  You have to have it reapplied more often, but to me it's totally worth it.  

They pressure washed it, used some chemicals to bring out the beauty of the wood, and then applied a natural-colored stain.  It's beyond what I had imagined.  I had been worried about the winter snow causing damage, and now the house is prepared.

I took the bedside lamp in to Alice's Vintage Cottage in Wrightwood, where I bought this set.  The handle felt stripped.  She took it apart and fixed it for me.  Now it's working perfectly again.  These are hand painted, and I love them.  Those are my mom's lace curtains in the window.  I gathered them up with some of her other treasures after my dad died.  I think she would like this room...

My mom used to have antique lamps all over our home on Edinburgh Street.   I begged her for one, but at thirteen, she said I was too young.  She was afraid I would break it.  They change the whole mood of a room.  I love to put the night lights on when it gets dark.  It creates such an atmosphere. 

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Exhausted From Housework

 I have been pushing myself to do a better job cleaning my house lately.  Today I mopped the hard wood floors.  My home now looks very nice, but I am exhausted.  My body is aching from lugging the hose around to water the Jeffrey Pines and California Live Oaks.  I spotted my friend on her walk this morning and called out a hello to her.  "Your place looks great!" she encouraged me.  The trees really open up and shine after being watered.  They give off such a vibrant energy.  "It's so early," she added.  I have to start at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. in order to finish on time.  We are on intense watering restrictions.  I planted some Cosmos and a strawberry plant this afternoon.  The Hollyhocks are in bloom.  They are my favorites.

I think I will do some easy and gentle yoga before bed.  The house painter who was supposed to come and give me an estimate this afternoon didn't show up or call.  That was disappointing.  It really needs to be done.  Hopefully he just forgot and will get back in touch with me.   I tried to call him, but his mailbox was full.

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Mulched the Front Yard to Prevent Flooding

 We have had a significant amount of rain recently.  It is wonderful for the soil and plants, but I live in a flood zone.  If I don't apply straw mulch in my front yard and on my porch, I will end up with a soggy living room carpet.  

After arriving home, I noticed a small patch of wetness by my front door. It concerned me.  I placed towels on it and walked on them to absorb the moisture.  I had to do this several times.  I sprinkled baking soda on the affected area this morning and vacuumed it up eight hours later...I don't want any moldy or musty smells.  

There is always something that needs doing when you own a house.  The straw breaks down over the winter and really nourishes the soil.  It makes the tangerines burst with flavor, and the irises burst into colorful bloom.  

How was your Christmas?  Did you have fun?

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Had the 1950's Cooktop Fixed

 After our power outage up in the mountains, neither my cooktop nor oven was working.   Both are olive green General Electric appliances, from the 1950's.   I studied the reviews for appliance repair online, and   chose a five-star repairman.

The burners immediately turned bright red after he switched on the breakers.  I had tried that, but didn't realize that there was fine print next to each side of each switch.  It has to say "On," and I had only noticed the ones on the right side.  

The oven is still cold.  It needs something simple from an electrician; only one side of it is working.  I was relieved that I didn't have to purchase a new stove or oven.  Both of mine are very small.  The cooktop measures just twenty-six inches.  Everything I researched online is so much bigger.  

He fixed the water dispenser on my Kenmore fridge while he was here.  He had a kit in his truck.  He said that Kenmores are actually Whirlpools.  Once again, I was so pleased to find that I don't need to replace the fridge, either.  Appliances from that era were made to last a lifetime.  

The whole fix was only $250.00!  Phew.  I am so thankful that the previous owners bought quality items and took such good care of them.  How are your appliances running?

Putting Things Away After a Remodel

 

The new  flooring is almost done, and it looks spectacular!  I am so happy that I chose the dark oak wood.  It looks very dramatic and impressive.  I am enjoying sweeping and using my new Swifter mop.  The owner gave me a cleaning kit, which was so sweet of him.  I used to be the queen of vacuuming.  

Yesterday afternoon I cleaned the end tables, the antique lamps, and carefully put everything away...it was like moving.  I replaced all the hand knit blankets and shawls.  I get very anxious and irritable when I have my stuff all over the place.  It felt so much better once everything was cleaned and put in its place.

Today I'll be making a trip to the dump to drop off the old throw rugs.  They look like they are about fifty years old.  The house feels so much better with less stuff.  I am going to donate the televisions and stereo system to the Salvation Army.  The seller left them here when she moved.  I use a lot of her stuff, but some of it I need to release to where it is needed.

The new ligt green carpeting feels incredibly squishy and soft.  I absolutely love it.  The old stuff was from the 1970's.  It's amazing how different a home feels with new carpets and floors.  I am excited to vacuum!  There is more work to be done, but it is very rewarding.   I can't wait to go swimming and kayaking again.  

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Replacing the Faucets and Hot Water Heater

 

Today I replaced the kitchen faucet and hot water heater.  I decided to buy a Bradford brand for the water heater, since they are the best quality, and last the longest.  I asked the plumber to choose a faucet that he thought would be well made, durable, and not need to be replaced quickly.  I would rather spend more money up front on excellent materials, than have to pay for another visit from a plumber, and all of the other expenses of replacing something that isn't well made.

The first thing I did was take a bath, then did a load of laundry.  The sun is hot, and it is drying the clothes and towels quickly on the line.  I stopped at a local fruit stand yesterday, and picked up some fresh blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.  They are so sweet and delicious.  My rhubarb is nearly ready to harvest.  I am slowly reaching my goal of having enough fruit from my trees to feed myself all year.  There are still blood oranges in the bins of my fridge.  The last harvest was huge!  They keep well, too.

The birds started to peck at the apricots on my tree before I got to them, so I stripped the tree, and placed the fruit carefully on the kitchen counter.  In just one day, the apricots had gotten soft and turned sweet.  They are such a delicious fruit, and grow so easily in California.  I love their flavor.

It's time to polish the furniture and clean my washing machine.  The older I get, the more I see that less clutter makes your life easier and happier.

Using Pine Needles To Start a Fire

 Recently when I was having my chimney swept, I talked to the man  about pine needles.  I had paid him extra to blow those that had collected off of my roof. "That's a good practice," he commented.  "I use them to start my fires; I don't even use newspaper," he added.

I decided to try the same thing in my own fireplace.  I had a large amount of dry pine needles stored in a plastic garbage can.  I used them under a handful under the kindling, and they worked beautifully.  They blazed right away.  

What do you use as fire starters?

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Stacking Firewood

 

I have been stacking firewood for the past couple of days.  We are expecting more snow.  The chains are strapped onto my car's tires, a fire is crackling in the fireplace, and Lula is fast asleep on the couch.  

Which do you prefer, gas heat or a roaring fire?  I'm finding that I enjoy a combination the two.  Quality firewood and delivery are getting very expensive.  I can keep my heater set at 55 degrees, and just warm up the room that I'm using.  It costs much less for me to heat the cabin with gas.  I do love the look and feel of a  fire, though.  I also like to have a stockpile of wood in case of an emergency or freezing situation like they recently experienced in Texas.

Wearing layers of clothing, using the wool and alpaca throws, and closing off the rooms in use makes a huge difference.  It's at times like these that I'm happy that I have a smaller home.  My parents owned a large house that was gorgeous, yet drafty and cold.  My mother would turn on the furnace, and my father would shut it off. My mom bought an Irish fisherman's sweater for my grandmother to wear when she  came to visit from Los Angeles.  It made all the difference. 

Last Friday I had the chimney swept and fireplace cleaned.  They also replaced some of my motion sensor lights for me, and blew the pine needles off of the roof with their blower.  It's such a relief to have those tasks done.  I was surprised at how dirty and clogged up the grates had become.  

Are you warm enough?  What kind of heating do you use? 

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In the Mood to Mop the Floors

This afternoon I felt the urge to clean, so I followed that energy.  I  vacuumed the carpets, and mopped the floors.  I used hot water with my homemade liquid soap for the first coat, then followed it with  hot water mixed with white vinegar for the rinse.  The house feels clean.  The air feels different; it reminds me of my mom's house.  She was an exceptional housekeeper.  I am no where near at her level, but she cleaned for hours every day.  She would approve.  She loved this place.  She found her big house a burden as she got older.     

I dusted the furniture, as well.  The past couple of days I've been catching up on the laundry, and will deep clean the bathroom and kitchen tomorrow.  It is much easier to take care of a small home as you age.  I'm so glad that I opted for older furniture and appliances.  They are extremely well made.  The newer stuff falls apart so quickly.  I love what I have; it's sturdy and trustworthy.  My Kenmore washer and dryer are fifty years old, and they are still going strong.  My stove/oven is seventy years old, and it works perfectly.  It's a relief not to need to have repairmen in the house right now.  I don't want to take the risk, with Covid.

I'm going to do some yoga before bed.  It helps to have healthy routines during these times.  Our habits create our future.  I am so thankful that I stayed on a disciplined budget for all of these years.  It has made the pandemic much easier for me than it would have been when I was younger.  How are you faring?  

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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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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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Exhausted From the Protests and Violence

I meant to read all of my favorite blogs today and comment, but I am just too drained.  This week has been so intense.  After all of the fear and death spreading with Covid, seeing the brutality and craziness in the past seven days has sent many people over the edge.

A friend of mine posted a page of Mr. Floyd's last words.  It was heartbreaking to read.  He knew he was going to die.  I hope and pray that some good comes of all this pandemonium.  The damage and danger really alarms me.   I am especially concerned for the children.  Still, I have kept up my daily yoga, meditation and prayers, which keep me calm and bring me peace.  Daily bike rides with Lula and swimming in the mountain lake has been incredibly healing and relaxing, too. 

I spent most of today cleaning the cabin.  I used boiling hot water on a clean rag, paired with  my homemade liquid soap.  It worked really well.  It's safe, non toxic, inexpensive and easy.   I was impressed with the results.  Yesterday I volunteered at our co-op to help the cleanup crew.  They use a bleach solution, and I just can't be around those chemicals anymore.  For hours afterward my eyes were stinging, and my throat felt irritated.  I have cleaned with baking soda, Borax, and white vinegar for years.  The Borax is excellent on hard water stains.  It did wonders on my kitchen sink this morning.

Today I watched an interesting movie on a DVD called Downsizing.  It really amused me.  Matt Damon was excellent, and so likeable.  The story was timely, as it involved some people in a cult reacting to a pandemic type situation.  It reminded me of Waco, Texas, and David Koresh.  It was an entertaining way to spend part of the afternoon.  I also finished knitting my first sock for my friend in Minneapolis.  I just need to stitch together the toe.  I used electric blue yarn that I was given by a woman from Scotland that used to attend one of my knitting groups.

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Fall Flowers and Homegrown Fruit

Best Kept Secret is a fragrant rose that is a blushed pink and is  mildew resistant

Today I delivered several bags of homegrown pomegranates to my neighbors.  Everyone was so appreciative. It was fun to chat with people and catch up on their lives.  Riding the bike in the sunshine was such a pleasure.   I'm inspired to plant more fruit trees.  It's amazing how much fruit one standard tree can provide.  I'm so glad that I didn't give up on this tree during the drought.  The fruit was tiny and deformed for years.  This year, it's excellent.  The rain and extra water made all of the difference.   

I planted this Bougainvillea along the driveway

 

 

 I was thrilled to see that the Bougainvillea has finally flowered.  I love the color; I was actually afraid that it was dead.  Still, I continued to water and mulch it, and it is finally looking healthy and happy.  This plant is drought tolerant, and doesn't need a lot of care. I am hoping it will get huge.  I plan to put lots of it around the cottage.  I think it will look beautiful and am pleased that it will be able to stand the hot summers that we get in Canyon Country.  I hope it gets stronger and larger.  

I got some hand laundry done while I was home.  I knit the socks and hat.  The cashmere sweater I bought on sale twenty years ago.  It's still so warm and soft.  I can usually find these on clearance at T.J. Maxx in January or February.  This one was $25.00.  It washes up to beautifully.  What have you been doing around your home?

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Vintage Cabin Furnishings

I love the front door.  It is pure quality.  The letter box is very sweet, too.

I took some photos up at the cabin to share with you.  The seller left the place completely furnished.  It is amazing!  Anything you need is there.  It is so comfortable and cozy.  I felt as snug as a bug in a rug, as we used to say.

Here is the kitchen.  It takes me back in time.  The stove is petite and electric.  It reminds me of my mom's  when I was a child.  

The oven is spotless.  The lady who took care of this house and her family  for twenty years was an impeccable housekeeper.  The cabinets are just lovely, too.  Everything is in excellent condition, and so well made.  The original owner built it.  He was from Germany.  What a talented man!  I love the ceiling beams.

The kitchen is small but  efficient.  It has a gorgeous view of the mountains and pine trees.  It's like a painting.

The bedrooms are just big enough to fit a bed, and small chair, and a dresser.  They remind me of children's rooms.  In those days, bedrooms were built to be just big enough for sleeping.  There is also a tiny loft with a hand carved ladder.  I'm sure the boys in the family loved sleeping up there.

Do you have a small or large house?  Do you use all of the space, or find that you gravitate toward one favorite area?   Lula likes to hang out upstairs. Sometimes I hear her tripping.  It's a lot of extra sounds with four legs.

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Escrow Closed Today

At 5:45 p.m. today I received the call that escrow had closed on the cabin.  Phew!  It was a long roller coaster ride of emotions.  There were some unexpected challenges, but I held my focus.  I kept imagining swinging on the swing on the deck, and walking Lula through the neighborhood.

I met with the seller and her son over the weekend.  She went through the home and showed me all of the little details.  She also explained the history of the cabin to me.  It was built by a man from Germany.  You can tell.  The craftsmanship is just incredible.  There are so many fine details.  It is really a labor of love.

I am excited to be able to walk to town.  That will save gas, be good for the environment, and also keep me in shape.  It's a beautiful area for bike riding, too.  Once the weather is cold, it will be too icy.  I can still bike at the pink cottage year round, though.

I found a train station with a park and ride, as well.  So I could leave the car halfway.  I love using public transportation.  We have a great system where I live.  It makes me feel better to take the train, the bus, or to ride my bicycle.

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Overpriced Homes

my little cottage

Yesterday I went with a realtor to look at four houses in Ojai. I found them on Zillow, and asked her if I could see them. Boy, was it a shock. Things have really changed. I am so thankful that I bought my house when I did, in a down market. It sure was eye opening to see what people are paying to live up in that area  now.  The prices are astronomical.

One thing that I didn't expect was for some of the  homes to have such dark interiors.  I had this vision of how they were going to be inside, and it  was completely wrong.  I expected jewels, but they were decorated with a lot of black. Mine has windows everywhere, and the sunlight streams in all day. This used to be a beach house. In the homes that I toured  some of the bedrooms felt like it was  the middle of the night at 1:00 in the afternoon. It was an odd sensation. I didn't like it, and wanted to leave.

There was one blue cottage that I really loved. It had a colorful garden, a modest vintage pool, and lovely fruit trees and berry bushes.  It was a very well cared for, but much too big for me. It had four bedrooms upstairs, and a pool house.  I loved the fragrant pink jasmine and the ranunculus in bloom in the front flower bed. 

There was also a tiny home built in the 1920's on half of an acre. The location was amazing. It had an odd layout, though, and  felt very cramped. The floor seemed uneven, and the ceilings were extremely low. There was an odd sleeping porch adjacent to the kitchen. The bathroom was tiny, and it didn't have a tub. I have to have a bathtub! Dancers love to soak.

I was also shocked at how some of the yards looked. I couldn't imagine spending several hundred thousand dollars on a home when there were yards next door with junk piled high in the front yards. Some of the places looked like the owners didn't water their yards. There were dead branches, weeds, and leaves everywhere. It really makes a place feel depressing when there is a lot of debris and dead matter on the ground.

When I got home, I felt so grateful and appreciative of my house and yard. For some reason, it feels so much bigger than the homes that I saw. I think it might be because I live alone, and  it has less clutter. I also have had the trees trimmed, and have been busy  feeding the plants and  pulling the weeds.

Every time I go to look at houses, I realize that I love what I have far more than anything.  It makes me aware that the small details and love that we give to our homes make all of the difference. There is nothing like "a woman's touch."   Doing all of the daily housework  gives our home an energy of being cared for, and cherished. The fresh air and sunshine brighten it up, too. Do you love your home? 

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Mending the Curtains Until the New Ones Arrive

I am spending all day today mending my living room  balloon curtains. I bought them at Target twenty years ago. They are starting to shred. They have been really wonderful, though. I wish I could find the same ones, but I don't see much in our local Target's  Shabby Chic line anymore. Instead, I ordered a hand made balloon shade from a seller on Etsy. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me. I had trouble lifting it with the cords. The fabric was very heavy, and it was lined. When I put it up, it made my living room very dark. Mail order can be tricky.  It is beautifully made, though, and the seller was very kind and talented.  I will find a use for it. I love toile.

I searched online for lightweight curtains and exactly what I wanted at JC Penny. I was eligible for free shipping, and they were 50% off! I snatched up seven of them in pink right away. They are the balloon style that I love, and look sheer and breezy. I will save the fancy shade to use in my bedroom if I ever want to block out the light from the street lamp. I really like having the sunlight streaming in through the windows. We get sunshine year round here in California, and I enjoy the view from my windows of the garden, the alpacas, and the  towering pine trees. Bringing the outdoors in makes me feel happy. (especially in such a small cottage.)

In the meantime, I have been sewing up all of holes and rips in my curtains. I found a couple of vintage print pieces of fabric to hang in the bathroom and kitchen for now. They are simple, but they work. At least it gives me some privacy. I may sew these into simple shades and leave them.  I love the delicate prints on the fabric. I found them at a thrift shop, twenty years ago. The tiny flowers are so sweet. The vintage details really make a difference in an older home.  What do you have on your windows?

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Mom's Beautiful Bathroom

One thing that my mother did very well was to remodel rooms to still fit the period of the house. This is the master bathroom. I love the shade of green that  she chose, and the tile and wallpaper. It still fits into the style of homes from that time.  That little room in back used to be connected with a window, and we would have to climb through it. She always thought that it would make a good nursery.

I love this tub and the decor. My mother could even make grab bars look elegant. I love the towels, the candles, and the seashells. The faucet handles are a nice touch, too.

My father always referred to this room as The Solarium. He said it would be a good place for a sick person to recover. I always found that amusing. There used to be a bed in there. The shutters let in the light nicely. I think it would make a sweet knitting or sewing room, don't you?

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My Mom:An Extraordinary Homemaker

My mom and I share the same birthday. She died three years ago. She had an amazing gift for the home, and I wanted to share some photos with you. They show her remarkable talent and attention to detail. She was such an artist. She just knew in her mind when shopping how things would look in a room. I just love these old antiques.

I grew up in an old house, and so did my parents. I love the charm and character of older homes, and the styles of those times. When traveling, I prefer the boutique hotels to those that are new and modern.  My mother understood the art of placement. She kept everything so clean and orderly. I never saw our house get messy or dirty, ever. We were taught from a young age to put things away and to have respect for our things. It was expected.

My mother believed that you shouldn't change the windows and doors of older homes. She felt that once people started remodeling, the houses lost the touches and details that made them special. She had a real eye for decor.  She understood the spirit of a house. She could have been a set designer. She told me that she would have done well in real estate. I think so, too.

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