Easy breezy sort of day

It's raining and not quite 80 degrees and so it is an easy breezy kind of day.
Other than a 2 mi walk this morning when it was still in the 60's I have not been pushing myself today.
Just doing what needs to be done at a slower pace than I was working on Saturday.
And about the time I needed to go outside and water the plants it started raining, thus I can enjoy the flowers being watered for me.
It makes for a lazier sort of day, as it has not rained in almost 3 weeks.
I wish it would stay this way for several days.
Helps break the heat, and makes me feel like getting chores and tasks done inside that I can easily put off.

I better get organized

This is my daughter's apartment entryway in San Francisco.
I just realized Patrick is going to be with her this weekend for the 4th of July weekend.
Last year we had just purchased the house we now live in but held a very impromtu 4th of July party here on our front yard.
I better get organized and start thinking about Friday's holiday if I am having a party this year.
Our house sits on a hill looking East toward the Massanutten range. The town we live in has fireworks and because of the location of our house, we can look from left to right and not only see the town fireworks but many other little fireworks that small companies or families put off after dark.
So our front yard is a perfect place to sit and enjoy the evening and the views.
Somehow with all that has happened this week I had put off planning anything or calling friends.
Looks like I better get started.

Isn't this decadent

No I didn't rent this.
When we were stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge headed to Sonoma for wine tastings in our little rented car this very pink beast drove by us and parked ahead. My daughter snapped this and we laughed and laughed. What a way to go sightseeing.

And I am resting today

This is a beautiful old church in Sonoma CA taken a few weeks ago when we were visiting CA.

And since Sunday is a day of rest I am certainly resting today.
I am tired and aching and today will be family day and of course starting with my 2 mile walk, then reading the Washington Post and coffee and more coffee.

Other than that I don't plan to do much more than read, relax and of course a nap.
No outside planting digging or weeding.
Thankfully it rained last evening and that helps out some of the things I moved around in the flower beds. I know I know I shouldn't be doing that in this heat, but it's the way I've always gardened: when the desire or mood hits for another plant, or to move it to a better location.
I hope this finds all of you have a wonderful Sunday.

Lots to do

Yesterday was a day of getting things done.
I think that is because I feel under a time crunch.
My husband is a handyman of sorts when it comes to small scale construction, plumbing, repairs, or outside cutting trees and and anything needs to be done he can do it better than hiring someone.
Knowing he won't be around for a few months we've both kicked our 'to do' list into gear.
Unfortunately I am the one with the ideas but he does the work. Good for me, not so much for him.

We were in the process of getting quotes for getting windows replaced. We found some really good ones, with really high prices, and some mediocre ones with an ok price.
But I've talked about the wind where we live and we feel it is better to go with vinyl clad wood than with just all vinyl. I don't really want squeaky windows.

Plus I'd much rather not have to put in replacement windows. Much more fun to put the money where it seems more visible than for energy reasons, but it has to be done.
So we need to get more people in here and finish the estimates.

We also finished pulling this horrible awful ugly outdoor carpet that one previous owner had glued on all the outdoor concrete patios and there are four of them.
Entrances or patios that is.
That job is now complete, but what lies underneath isn't smooth nor is it pretty.
So we decided we will most likely put slate on all of the concrete surfaces, or another kind of tile that would hold up to cold weather. Or paint the concrete. Not sure on that yet.

Then because the whole west side of the house is sliding patio doors or picture windows(built in 1968) for those of you who don't know what picture windows are.. and they are big, the house gets very hot in the summer.
So I have a neighbor/builder/designer coming next week to draw a plan and give me and estimate for an open back porch to match our front open porch.

Then there are the much smaller things.
Like painting rooms, and working on storage in the basement.Refinishing a couple of pieces of furniture, painting some furniture.
Continuing my outside landscaping.
Putting up birdhouses and outside decorations that have been packed away for far too long.

Anyway I got off track here.
Did the usual household work and laundry, cleaning outside porches, and small amounts of weeding.
Then off to dinner at a Vietnamese Restaurant we like.
Toda we have a lot more to do outside so we are beginning early and hopefully
will feel we are checking our list of to do's as we go.
And having a bit of fun.

Orchids, travel and adapting

Orchids were our flower of choice in Singapore. We grew them on our balcony, we bought them at the grocery store for our vase on our dining room table, we gave them as gifts. They abounded.
For the past 5 months we were anticipating a short term work related move back to Singapore, where once again orchids would proliferate around us.
Unfortunately that is not going to happen now.
Several weeks ago we learned the project we would be moving for wasn't going to happen.
Within the same week, however, we learned my husband has been assigned to another project, this time in south central India.
This is considered a business trip not a relocation, thus the spouse is not included in this trip.
That would be me.
So in a few weeks my husband will be departing for the new work assignment for a 4-5 month period.
This brings me to my point of adapting.
Hmmm...let me think about that for awhile.Adapting and adjusting take time and for each person it can be a different method to switch our mindset.
So that is what I am in the middle of.. switching my thinking and trying to figure out how to make this work for me.
Maybe it's time to remodel our kitchen, or put on our back porch,
or maybe I need to think about coming out of semi-retirement and get back to work.
I will keep you posted.

Summertime and the living is easy

Ahh...it's summertime and before the heat hits 95 or is it 100 today I need to go outside and water. In April and May we couldn't mow our lawn fast enough.
Now it's been several weeks and I see one of my hydrangea's isn't faring too well either.
I either water morning or evening, as the midday sun seems to soak up all of the water and moisture I've put down.
I remember from years back that about this time when it becomes dry and all that seems to grow is weeds, and the fun of planting and seeing new green growth outside is gone, that mid-July I ask myself why I like to garden.
It's those weeds, those crazy weeds that get to me.
So in an effort to get ahead of the weeds that are trying to take over , I am heading out shortly.
Then back inside to finish a project I started of refinishing a heart-pine cupboard which I am going to use as shelving in a guest room. The house we bought doesn't have a linen closet,and has poor storage in the bathrooms, so this will be my linen cupboard.
Anyway what kinds of things do you do to enjoy your hot summer days besides staying inside in the AC?
It is a grand and beautiful time of year.

I want this gazebo

I want this gazebo and these rose bushes.
Inspiration gained from either sightseeing, web surfing or book reading can cause a big case of the 'I want this.'
But that is the fun of researching, reading, looking, dreaming.
I know a gazebo isn't real practical but oh how I love them.
But mine would have to be screened in.. the gnats and mosquitos are crazy here. I don't think that would change the look.

Life in SF

Here is Megan driving the Scion we rented when we visited her several wks ago in SF.
We'd always wondered how they would ride and it was a pleasant car to have driving through the Golden Gate Bridge and up to Sonoma and wondering through wine country.
I'm thinking of her a lot these days as she is starting a two year intensive program for her masters in nursing and just this wk starting her third week. It will be strenous as it is a 24 month program with no breaks.
Hopefully a long weekend or two so I can slip out there again to visit her in the midst of studying.
Here's to you Megan!

Dog days of summer

Dog days of summer says it about all for around our house.
Enjoying the heat, working out in the yard and garden, fixing our garden umbrella and teak dining sets. More work outside that is routine and mundane but still part of upkeep and care of patio and garden space.
Hanging out with friends and family; entertaining and grilling and picnicking at friends' houses.
Meeting up with friends for meals,cooking, baking, and grocery shopping.
Just thinking and planning about our upcoming family camping weekend in July and generally enjoying the hot summer days.
And spending time with Bailey indoors relaxing, reading good books, playing pool and ping pong and watching movies.
Summertime and all is good.

Lunch with an 'old' friend

There really is nothing like meeting up with friends who we've known for a long time.
Today I had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant,with an 'old' friend, someone I've known since 1976, and then not having lived in this community for 19 years, I'd only kept up with her sporadically.
We had such a great time, remembering the 70's and 80's and eating too much good food and laughing and just talking.
It is fun to reconnect with someone who I've always liked and respected and we vowed to stay in touch and do this more often.
It refreshed my spirit and I can't wait to see her again.

Flooding in Iowa City

Just a note about Iowa City.
I grew up in Iowa and lived near Iowa City all of the 50s and until I went to college in 1968. My oldest and dearest friend lives smack dab in IC and near and in all of the horrible flooding. Just a hello to you Ginny as you and your family and friends and everyone copes with the terrible devastation and flooding there in beautiful Iowa City and nearby Cedar Rapids.
Sending our good wishes your way

Hiking on Skyline Drive

When Megan was here from San Francisco several weeks ago we were able to drive to Skyline Drive, and eat breakfast at Big Meadows. Patrick was our tour guide as he is the resident outdoorsman and loves his hiking, rock climbing and other adventure sports. He picked a short hike on the N end of Skyline Dr. After our hike, on a fairly clear but hot day, we were able to picnic before heading back to the interstate and back home.
Have any of you out there either driven on Skyline Drive or hiked there? A unique experience and I have been reading a lot lately about President Roosevelt's funding and the CCC camps which enabled the Skyline to be built,starting in April 1933. It is a unique history and an intersesting place to travel/visit.

Sunrise

I am certainly enjoying the long June days: early sunrises, late sunsets.
This was my morning sunrise today. Summer solstice is soon upon us which means that slowly the daylight hours will be come shorter.
So I am going to savour this last week of early sunrises and late sunsets, by not only walking in the morning early, but in the evening too.
I realize how easy it is to become complacent so I want to make an effort starting this week to get outside early and enjoy the weather and the views and walk just a few more steps each day.
That is to counter all the picnics and socializing that have been going on in our part of the world.
Hope you are enjoying these hazy days of soon to be summer as I am.

Happy Father's Day

A Happy Father's day to my dad who is the best and to my husband who is the best father to our two kids.
A lazy hot Sunday with a brunch this noon to celebrate the day.
A day for eating and relaxing and reading and enjoying time off from working and doing.
Just being.

Another June Day

Another window/shutter picture to enjoy from my picture collection.

It's going to be another hot June day and as soon as I am done inside, I am heading out to do what must be done when one attempts to garden sucessfully. That would be weeding. Our backyard is really a sloping hill, that has existing ground covers of several varieties.This slopes down to another yard which overlooks beautiful mountain ranges, with a farm in the foreground. However the sloping part of the backyard is multi-leveled and can't be mowed. So that means every few weeks a consorted effort to get out there and pull weeds by hand, from between the blue rug junipers.
The only way to do this is with a large recycling bag in hand and try to enjoy it before the sun gets too hot.
That will be followed by more fun aspects of gardening, with potting some herbs, some coleus, and watering the plants I've already planted as these hot 90+ days, with no rain now for over 10 days, make for some very dry plants.
Then it will be some resting and book reading this afternoon, and then off to a family picnic this evening to welcome the first great grandchild on my side of the family.
Happy June day to everyone.

My Lavender

Last year after our S of France trip and seeing this and many more fields of lavender I decided to plant a row of lavender along our stone wall along our entrance driveway. I planted it in October, it took root, and it is now in full bloom.
No it doesn't look like this beautiful field of lavender in the picture, but hey this isn't France this is Virginia!
It's another hot hazy day in the valley here and I have my windows open with the breeze blowing so I can hear the cows mooing and birds chirping and the dogs barking.
Something about being all locked into my air conditioned house and not hearing summer outside just doesn't feel right.
But when the temp hits close to 90 this afternoon I will close the windows, put my freshly baked cookies in the glass cookie jar and turn on the AC!
Its another beautiful summer day.

Oh and I suppose anyone who's read any of my other entries has figured out lavender is my perennial/herb of choice!So this is sure to not be me last entry on lavender.

Looking out...looking in

Just a pretty picture of one of hundreds of window pictures I seem to take!

That is me these days...looking out and looking in!

Haven't written much this week as I am feeling immobilized and so I will just say hello and I will be back soon.
Don't feel too organized these days.

My Park

A year ago this time we were living in Tokyo and I called this'my park.'
Well it wasn't but it was not even five minutes from our apartment. But it was where I went everyday to watch the fishermen, or the school children throw pebbles into the water. It's where I took a book or my cappacino to sit and watch the locals around me on their way home from work school or the grocery.
It became my park, it became my home away from home and I miss it.
I miss city living. I miss the local coffee shops, and the expatriate friends I made there, I miss the International grocery store and bookshop. I miss the sights and sounds of another culture.

Changes

For the past few months we thought we'd be going back overseas for 7-12 months for my husband's job.
As of Friday we were told that is off so now we have to refocus and organize our minds and adjust to a new way of thinking.
I'd stopped buying groceries to stock my pantry and freezer. I'd not bought any annuals to plant outside, just perennials. And my front porch and back porch look mighty empty.
I'd even started organizing things for leaving the house empty for that long.
The only arrangment I hadn't made was to make plans for my dog.
Now I need to shift my thinking.
It will take me a few days...or weeks!

Life goes on for all of us in varying ways, doesn't it?
Changes in our housing or living situations,planning our retirement, homes and finances, saying goodbye to those we love, waiting, holding on and wondering why.
I think about change a lot, and accepting, and adjusting and holding those close to us we care about.
Fostering communication, and caring and love.
Adjusting to what comes our way, and trying to adapt.
Enjoying each day what brings us pleasure.

Summer is certainly here

Well we haven't had the official first day of summer, but summer is certainly here, based on the heat wave we are having in Virginia.
Thursday was the first day of the ac on and it feels wonderful.
After going outside this morning to water plants, and wash cars, and wash the front porch I am happy to come inside and cool off.
I am going to read blogs and finish a book I started Thursday, fold laundry, and maybe cook something cool and light on this hot summer day.

Get to going

Well after 8 days of fun and travel and relaxing and shopping and playing games and cooking and hiking and driving and picnics and dinners and movie it is hard to get myself going today.
After taking Megan back to Dulles in that horrible storm that hit DC area around 3:15p.m. and then spending almost 3 more hours getting back home yesterday afternoon, I can say I basically am taking the day off today.

I have laundry and lawn mowing and house cleaning, and grocery shopping and cooking and flower bed weeding and numerous other household chores to do.
But what I have been doing is listening to music and finishing a book I started before Megan arrived 8 days ago.
But since I only see her twice a year I figured to end out my vacation with her today by taking a slow day here at home.
And it is to be 90+ so on the air conditioner will go for the first time this year.
I can do my work some other day.

Crazy Busy

It's been a crazy busy wonderful week with our daughter home.
I take her back to Dulles tomorrow to fly to SF.
Dinners, a quick trip to PA, shopping, movies, pedicures, playing dominos, Cosmos,hiking on Skyline drive,family picnics, sewing, and hanging out.
So I will be back soon.