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?

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Testing Your Home for an Unexpected Fall or Injury

 Recently I incurred an unexpected joint injury.  Although I had read numerous articles on preparing your home for retirement and old age, I had put off some of the changes, thinking that I had plenty of time. 

Generally, we don't plan to fall, get sick, or have an accident.   The situation we have created at home is what we are stuck with while limping or hobbling around, unable to put weight on one of our legs.  In my case, I was relieved  that I had stored my mom's walker in the closet in case of such an event. 

It enabled me to take the dogs out, (by sitting in it on the deck, like a wheelchair, and using their retractable leash,) I could put the ice bags in the pouch, get my dishes done, and prepare my coffee for the morning.

One thing I didn't anticipate was the level of pain.  I nearly passed out, and felt like I was going to vomit.  I laid on the floor with my legs elevated and practiced my yoga breathing.  The dogs sensed the intensity of the situation. The pranayama practice calmed me down, and then I took a Motrin.  "Take two," I heard my mom's voice say.  I did.  She always was big on "staying ahead of the pain."   The effect was immediate.  I was SO glad that I had a bottle in the medicine cabinet.  The over-the-counter variety works like a miracle on me.  I almost never take anything, even an aspirin.  In this case it brought me from agony to a level of comfort and the ability to ice the joint for hours.

The previous owner left several ice packs in the freezer, so they were ready to go and really helped to reduce the pain and swelling.  The golfball shape reminded me of having a lump on my head as a kid.  

If you were to get hurt suddenly, would you be able to get around and take care of yourself?  I am so glad that I saved my walker from my hip replacement surgery, and my crutches from when I broke my toe.  A visit to the emergency room would have been stressful, crowded, and probably would have taken hours.  It also would have been very expensive.  It pays to be prepared.  After one night, I was walking unassisted again, and off the pain medication.

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Merry Christmas!

 Happy Holidays to all of my blogging friends and readers.  I appreciate all of you.   I hope you had a wonderful time, however you spent it.  Last week, I was fortunate enough to see the touring company of "Ain't Too Proud" at The Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.  It was a fantastic experience.  The talent was superb. 

It was a show about the life and times of The Temptations.  Their songs and dances were so inspiring.  Sergio Trujillo did the choreography, which was fabulous.  He is such a master.  I feel like I am watching an extension of Fosse when I see his work.  It's brilliant.

Traffic was congested on the way there.  Fortunately, I had allowed plenty of extra time.  The show was well worth it.  I think there were more cars on the freeways because of the holidays.  The people sitting near me were friendly and social.  

I heard from many friends across the globe calling or writing to wish me a Merry Christmas.  It warmed my heart to see and hear each message.  The Internet is quite amazing.  We are able to keep in touch with so many people.  Did you hear from anyone special?

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Winter Chores Keep You in Shape

 

When you heat your home with wood, there are numerous trips to the woodpile that have to be made.     The logs need to dry out, you must plan for raging storms and dark nights, and you certainly don't want to run out of fuel.

It's important to clear the snow and ice off of your deck.  All of that water does damage if it's just sitting there for days.  The snow does melt it, but it will leave a mark on the side of your cabin if it's not removed.  I had a lot of discoloration on my home's exterior because the cabin had been sitting empty for two and a half years.  

It's invigorating to be out in the mountain air, shoveling snow.  You don't need to pay for a gym membership, and your muscles will feel it!  It also provides the trees with much needed water.  Clearing your deck means you are far less likely to slip, which is easy to do when it's icy and the temperatures are at or below freezing.

The more of these chores you can do yourself, the less expensive it will be.  If you get out and clear your driveway while it's still powder, the work is much lighter and easier.  I invested in winter tires this year, and I haven't needed to put on my chains.  I still keep them in my trunk, in case we experience extreme conditions.  It's important to start your car regularly, so that you don't wind up with a dead battery.  

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You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - (Original version)

The Grinch and the Garden

 

I found this set of Christmas characters from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas today.  Aren't they cute?  I adored that movie as a child, still do.   I have been singing the songs from it all afternoon.  What a brilliant piece of art it was, and so funny...

I have roses opening in December!  I think it's because I didn't prune back them for winter.  I'm hoping they will become huge.  We have had some nice rain, too.  The soil is rich and healthy, thanks to the straw mulch.  I love roses...they are the perfect flower to have in a cottage garden.  They make my heart sing.

The Algerian Tangerine tree is loaded with fruit.  Each year it gets bigger and stronger.  Eventually it will be three times this size.  In the early days, many of the homes in Southern California had fruit trees in the front yards.  Green lawns then came into fashion, but that has changed, with the drought.  There are a lot of squirming earthworms in this soil,  When I first bought the house, the front yard was hard, red clay and tangled bermuda grass.   It is rewarding to see the growth and improvement.  The tangerines are a bit small, but they taste delicious.  We are expecting rain, so that will help them to become bigger and jucier.

How is your garden right now?  Are you growing any food?

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Enjoying Your Cabin in the Winter

 

The weather has been a little warmer this week, and we have been feeling cozy and warm by the fire.  I love this time of year.  The daylight ends so quickly.  It's amazing.  Our cabin was designed perfectly for this weather.  I close off the main area and it stays comfortable and holds the heat well.  

The dogs konk out in front of the fire, snoozing on the couch.  I found that sweet little oak rocking chair at Alice's Vintage Cottage.  She has the prettiest things.  It's a cozy spot to sit and watch the sunrise each morning.  That vintage marble slab happened to fit perfectly on the coffee table.  What luck.

Last week I had the beach to myself when I went kayaking,  It was a gorgeous day; I saw a few sea lions relaxing on the dock.  There were two pelicans with their sweet babies in the water.  It was thrilling to watch them soar, dive, and fish. 

 I thought there would still be tourists in LA from Thanksgiving, but it was very quiet.  

I do love where I live.  How are things at your place right now?  

Choices That Will Make Your Retirement Easier

 

Learning to cook and bake from scratch will save you heaps of money.  It is also very enjoyable.  You're spending your time in a positive way, and your home or apartment will smell divine.  The quality leftover food can be enjoyed for days.  By making what you eat yourself, you avoid chemicals, unhealthy ingredients that you can't pronounce, and you don't waste packaging.  I transferred this apple cranberry crisp into a pyrex dish with a lid to keep it fresh.  

Choosing to live in an area with a low cost of living will also help you to keep your expenses low.  You may have to drive further to get to the grocery store, but you can stock up on your staples, and plan ahead with a grocery list for what you need.  Up in the mountains, we are used to keeping a stockpile of food in anticipation of power outages, snowstorms, or busy roads due to out-of-town visitors who want to ski, hike and snowboard.

Staying in shape through hiking, carrying firewood, walking your dog and bicycling will make your health expenses lower or even nonexistent.  Most of us will encounter some health challenges as we age, but being physically active and spending time outdoors can make a huge difference.  The longer you are strong and fit, the better your retirement will be.

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Beautiful Snow and Inexpensive Home Cooked Meals

 

The three Blue Spruce trees that my tree trimmers helped me plant and doing very well.  I think that this one looks lovely flocked with fresh snow.  I may decorate it for Christmas.  It will be exciting to watch them grow and mature. 

I had my firewood delivered for the year.  I will be spending several hours this week stacking it.  There are constant chores that need doing when you live in the mountains.  I used to just flip a switch on for heat.   Now, I keep the fire going day and all night.  I love the feeling of a cabin that is heated with wood.  The furniture and bathroom fixtures all absorb the heat.  It feels totally different than other methods of warming a home.  It reminds me of how people used to live.

The other day I made a batch of dumplings.  I cooked them on top of my chicken soup.  My mom made them once when I was little, and we loved them.  She never made them again, in spite of my begging.  She didn't do much baking.  Instead, she usually put potatoes in the oven to bake with our meat or a casserole.  With four kids, she had her hands full.  I took over the baking at a young age, which helped her.  She enjoyed the pies and cakes.  

  Dumplings are economical and they really absorb the flavor of the broth or stew.  I froze half of the dough to use next week.  They are a great way to stretch the grocery budget.   I also picked up some meat on sale at Stater Brothers.  The skirt steak I bought was delicious.  I marinated it as I described in my last post for several hours, and then broiled it. I am a convert to marinade!   It only took four minutes on the first side, and three minutes on the second.  It was fantastic with a baked potato and salad.  I used the leftover bones this morning to make a vegetable bone broth.  I've been enjoying that all day, and will finish it this evening.

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