My Morning

Eyes popped open at 6. Got up at 6:15.

It was raining and cloudy outside so instead of pulling on my swimming suit

(not that rain, wind or cold ever deterred me in the past),

I put on my sweet apron (the one I recently scored at an estate sales for 2 bucks)

went downstairs and started chopping, slicing, and cooking in the kitchen.

Women in our church sign up to take a pot of soup and a plate of cookies

each Wednesday to the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford.

Today was my turn.

So in the wee hours of the morning

I made Corn Chowder (from Barefoot Contessa)....

and Snickerdoodles (from Betty Crocker)....


Made some hot chocolate in my spiffy Bialetta (a Christmas present from Sophie)...

I then hopped in my car to deliver the eight Flower Carpet roses over to my parent's house that I had picked up the night before at Home Depot.

If you are ever in need of a good ground cover rose, this one is the best. It is easy to grow (not fussy), comes in hot pink, cherry red, white, apple blossom, and a new one, pale yellow, and the it blooms continuously.

I would have preferred to stay and chat with my folks, but needed to dash off to work.

What a whirlwind of a morning!

Earth Day

My 2010 Earth Day started early this morning by spending an hour in my backyard, pulling some weeds, tilling the soil, planting some anxious plants and enjoying the sunshine among my "friends" (birds having breakfast, plants with drops of moisture clinging to their leaves and flowers starting to burst forth).

It felt so good.

I reflected upon that first Earth Day in the spring forty years ago...

I was a sophmore in high school.

I distinctly remember that the door was closing on the permited use of DDT in controlling pests on crops.

I remember pollution was a big problem in the bay area.

And I remember thinking each of us must do our share in taking care of our planet.

You might wonder, how can I take better care of my little spot on earth?

Some suggestions can be found here and here (just added the 2nd one)

So, between today and tomorrow, this is how I plan to celebrate Earth Day:

plant my tomato plants

and rake the leaves in the front yard

and place them in the compost

and pull the copius amounts of weeds

and walk home from work

and stop by DeMartini to pick up some fruits/vegetables

and place them in my canvas bag

and have a meatless dinner

and fill the recycle bins (pick up is tomorrow)

and find an estate sale.

How will you hug/kiss/love our earth?

HAPPY

Elimination Update

Several months ago I swore off the consumption of soda--remember my pledge?

It looks like I was on the right track...check out this article here.

I admit I have fallen from the wagon at times.

Once, Adeline discovered an almost full liter bottle of Cherry Pepsi hidden in the furthest section of the refrigerator and proceeded to dump it out in the sink (to DZ's chagrin). I couldn't help it, Safeway had a special, 3 liters for a buck. I succumbed and purchased one.

DZ busted me after discovering a partially consumed can of Pepsi on the shelf in the refrigerator. I couldn't finish it..for I really don't like the taste of soda anymore. After taking a sip...I asked myself "Why even bother..this is horrible!" So, DZ finished it off.

I haven't dropped any lbs., but I think I've saved $, have healthier teeth, and feel better.

To those of you who continue to drink the stuff...just think of the 7 tsp. you are ingesting each time you down a 12 oz. can of soda.

To satisfy your thirst, DRINK WATER INSTEAD! Your kidneys will love you for it.

Latest Finds

Went to a very fun estate sale in Los Altos this past weekend. The woman was getting rid of the stuff from the family home she grew up in. We are similar in age, so many of the items for sale were from the 50's , 60's and 70's.

Just wanted to share some of my finds...

(Left the price tag on ... can you believe I got it for 1 buck!!)

Found this very cool, vintage water jug.

It is in perfect shape...all except for a missing lid.
I've been searching for a replacement lid on line..to no avail.
Lucky for me, my fellow thrifting sisters (G and M)

went to Urban Ore in Berkeley and tadaa..found a lid!

It isn't the original "chrome" lid, but it is a lid!
I can't wait for our next family gathering, or a picnic,

where I will serve some yummy lemonade or sparkling punch.

I really don't think Therma-Jug has ever been used!

Here are some more fun treasures:

And for 10 cents each, I purchased several flower frogs
(to add to my collection),
a green vase/bowl and two boxes of Plastite, in their original boxes.
I am really not quite sure how to use the stuff
but the boxes looked so neat I just HAD to pick them up.
A new spot has already been selected to display these items
out in the garden shed.

Have you ever seen anything like this?

For 10 cents, a very unique type of flower arranger
with an instruction booklet, in its original box.
I can't wait to try it out!

Purchased many more small treasures
but will post some on a future post
after I take before/after pictures.

Toodles (I haven't said that in about thirty-five years!)

Sock Widows

These baskets are filled with sock widows.

The top one is for sport socks (white)

The bottom basket is for dress socks (dark)

It seems like every time I remove laundry from the dryer, I have at least one sock missing.

I swear, two matching socks go into the washing machine, but somewhere between placing the clothes IN the washing machine and pulling the clothes OUT from the dryer, at least one sock (of a pair) is MIA

You'd think both socks could disappear at the same time.

Oh no...not that simple.

I can put two pairs of socks (different styles) in and can lose one sock from each style...not two socks from the same...so now I have two widows. How frustrating is that?

Here are some proposed solutions to my dilemma:

1. Throw all the widows away (oh that sounds so sad) and buy a dozen pairs of socks...all of one kind, that way, if one goes missing, I can at least match up the widow with another of the same kind. (This is the most expensive proposition for I have spent a lot of $$ on socks...I am always hoping the matching sock will show up ..and occasionally it does)

2. Place all socks in a mesh bag and throw that in the machine. (Do the socks get clean enough this way? Wouldn't it take longer for the socks to dry?).

3. Pin the socks together.. if one goes missing, both socks go to sock heaven (this seems like the best solution to me)

In the meantime, until I purchase a packet of pins, I will continue to go to the gym or on my hikes with mismatched socks.

I hope no one notices..

Sneek a Peak Week 14: White Tulips

I just have to show off the tulips in my front yard

"Maureen"...my favorite

Because their white heads stand up so strong

In spite of being hammered by the rain and

Battered by the wind

(Maybe Maureen can be a metaphor for life?!?)

I am greeted with this sight
Whenever I open my front door or pull into the driveway

What a treat indeed

And a huge smile is plastered across my face

How could you be sad or angry or anything but filled with joy

When one gazes upon this?

Feed the Birds

I love waking to the sound of birds chirping early in the morning.

This morning as I left to go to the gym, the birds were all up, yacking away.

Have you wondered what they talk about?

Maybe they tell each other where they plan to travel for the day.

Maybe they tell each other the best yards for food.

A cool bird feeder Martha picked up for me, you guessed it... at an estate sale.

Maybe they tell each other where the tallest trees grow or the best pyracantha bushes, you know the ones that make the birds drunk, where the birds get disorientated and fly into windows.

Maybe they tell each other the yards to avoid..the ones with dogs and cats.

Maybe they tell each other the best place for a bath.

Purchased over 25 years ago at an estate in San Jose.

I can hear it all now, in bird language: "Hey, fly over on over to the Z's yard. There are bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths. Watch out, though, they have a big fat black cat! He is so fat, he has a hard time getting off the ground and up in a tree, so you are pretty safe."

This morning I loaded up my bird feeders with seeds...
and filled the baths with fresh water...

and now I wait for the birds to come to visit.

They are all welcome.... unless they are crows.

Crows, you are not welcome. I do not like you. You remind me of the Alfred Hitchcock movie, "The Birds". You are loud and annoying.

Ask my sister Martha about crows...she has several resident crows that perch in the trees surrounding her yard. They follow her wherever she goes ..when she is in the front, they are there..when she goes in the back, they follow her. I kid you not. Sometimes they dive bomb her. They sit outside her bedroom window and caw...I really think they know it annoys her. They steal lunches from the school yard nearby and bring them to the bird bath, dip the sandwiches in the water, and then leave the garbage. Crows...you have very bad manners and can all go away!

So for now, I sit by my bird baths, feeders and houses and wait for the birds to come for a visit...all except for the crows.