36:365:2012


Today was spent traveling to... and around... Lucerne, CA... and (specifically) Clear Lake.
This was a place our friend wanted to go... and it was gorgeous.
Is there anything more needing to be said?






35:365:2012



Today was spent wandering around Chico, CA a bit.
We got up (sorta) early... and went to the local Farmer's Market there. Much bigger than the one I've gone too in ABQ... but still managable to see in a morning without rushing at all.  We enjoyed fresh coffee... samples of bread... olives... salsas... Naan bread with all kinds of spreads. We saw tons of fresh veggies... handmade stuff... rocks and crystals... AND enjoyed lots of live music.

Later... we got all our friend's stuff packed into the Jeep... and visited with some friends/ family of hers that live in the area. Supper was a wonderful selection from a local restaurant.

We also went shipping in a local thrift store... and got some really cool stuff :)

All in all.... a very relaxing day.



34:365:2012


Well, after a wonderful dinner of Asian fusion food... and sleeping very comfortably in this ritzy place... we woke to a pleasant morning. This place is on quite a gorgeous plot of land... and it is full of little nooks and crannies.... hidden gardens with tropical plants... and these lovely palm-fern type trees that I instantly fell in love with.
They are called:  Hāpu'u ferns.... and they are awesome.

After walking around for a short while... we made our way to Manhattan Beach. We had seen a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode featuring the North End Cafe there... and I really wanted to check it out. It was very cool... and the coffee and beignets were to die for. Seriously. I hadn't had one since we went to New Orleans back in 1991.
Anyway. The cafe is just a short walk to the ocean.... so how could we help but be drawn there?!



After a couple hours in heaven.... we got back on the road and traveled thru farm/ wine/ orange growing country to Chico, CA... where our friend was living. Oh... and did I mention that a few of the almond groves were blooming>!

the Stats:
food: $60
gas: $60
lodging in Chico: $80


33:365:2011


It's been a crazy day.

We woke up to snow.... that very quickly became a heavy snowstorm... (temp as low as 24 degrees)
To mist and fog...


To blinding, sunny skies... cacti...(temp around 60 degrees)



---winding roads thru desert terrain... and the Mojave...


...followed by 2 1/2 frantic hours of being lost in LA (during rush hour)... making our way to a Starbuck's to get directions on the internet...  FINALLY getting to a hotel that accepts pets... paying an outrageous fee... (but having a great room)... ordering dinner... and (hopefully)... having a peaceful night...



The Stats:
$100 on gas
$80 on food ($50 was Thai food delivered to our room... plus snacks, water and coffee on the road)
$26O for the room ($100 is a pet fee... non-refundable)
miles traveled: around 480... plus getting lost... >>sigh<<

32:365:2012


and so... we are on the road again.

As of lunchtime, we left ABQ... and are on our way to California.
The weather has been wonderful... starting out in the mid 50s in ABQ... and tonight as we rest in Williams, AZ... it is about 32 degrees out.
We stopped when we wanted to... visiting a couple kitchy "tourist" type areas... passing thru *or around* lots of Native land... and seeing lots of trains. .. which you know I love.

The stats:
$60 on gas
$65 on the hotel room (which is really nice and clean)
$50 on food and water
$30 on some fabulous rocks and such from the Petrified Forest
miles traveled... around 375



31:365:2012


Well... Roxanne (the jeep)... has been Jiffy Lube serviced... and washed... and is ready to go.
I will pack a quick bag in the am... and the daughter is going to pack hers.

We are heading out to California.
We are taking (of course) the cameras... and our beloved Sabrina... so it will be a sort of "girls only" road trip to see the ocean. Along the way... we are picking up a friend... and her stuff... to move back to New Mexico... hence, the main reason for the trip... but it is also about seeing art... traveling... dipping our toes in the ocean... and seeing what we can.

You wanna come along?



28/29:365:2012


This is a photo I took almost exactly a year ago today. Sometimes it's fun to go back thru and look at photos... and play with them... and I don't think I've posted this one yet.

Today was pretty craptastic. It started off with wanting to make myself a cup of coffee... and feeling unwelcome in my own home. I really want to move. I am reminded of the phrase... "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... "...  or some such...  and I feel as if it might as well be ten thousand steps... I just may never get there.... and then... I think that surely I can handle a single step in that direction.... and yet... some days are hard.... especially when it feels as if the universe is conspiring against you.
In reality... I am sure it isn't.... sometimes it just feels hopeless.

And so I look again at this photo. Desolate... yes. Which is the way I'm feeling a bit today. And yet... I have to believe that there is some pink... some rosy glow... some hope... to that horizon...

27:365:2012



It's been a rough week, and I can honestly say that I am glad it has come to a close.
 I am looking forward to the weekend... and plan on getting lots of sleep.
This past week.... I have had 3 friends/ contacts pass away...  BAJ was out of town all week... had computer problems...
the oven quit working.... you know the drill.
Seemed like things were conspiring against me.
And last night... I had a near catastrophe where I almost lost all the photos on my blog.
 Fortunately... I was able to fix things.... it just took awhile.

On the plus side... the moon is quite stunning out there... my lovely Sabrina is happy to nap with me... and I was able to fix the toilet when it decided to combust.
I hope this note finds you all well ... and happy... and warm.

About the photo for today: This is a bouquet of sunflowers in my living room. I have never been horribly fond of the color yellow... but I am trying to warm up to it... and these lovely flowers are a good place to start.
I wanted to do a photo for this week's theme in the 52 weeks FlickR group I am in... and the theme is "details".... so I thought taking a photo of one of the sunflowers just might do the trick.

21/22:365:2012


So...  I have all this bruising on my lower back from the episode the other day where I was having TIA symptoms.... and my jaw hurts from an angry tooth.... and now I have a headache. Life is funny sometimes.

On the other hand.... I have done 5 or 6 loads of laundry in the new Amana set...
and they work like a dream...
And... I have been making some jewelry stuff... which is fun...
And I have been writing a HAIKU every day so far this year... and I'm thinking of putting them in a book.

It all balances out.


20:365:2012



I did laundry... and the daughter made these wonderful banana muffins and some coffee.
What a great way to start the day...



19:365:2012


As of yesterday..... my laptop is fixed. Which is wonderful.

As of today... we have a sparkly new washer and dryer.
We decided to "rent to own" a set from Aaron's Rental... and so far, so good.
They are a nice set of appliances... delivered free... and with an affordable payment plan.

Who knows what will happen tomorrow :)





I am hoping that this is a "sign" of good things happening here... and now.

18:365:2012


--- life is fragile ---

- a friend passed away yesterday after much pain and suffering... reminding me of all sorts of things.
my dad.... my sister....my friend Sally...  all sorts of caring, wonderful people who have graced my life, and passed on.
- and today... as if to bring home the point of taking care of my body... and enjoying life....
I was having TIA type symptoms (while I was out and about running errands)...
which I think is just a way the Universe is trying to tell me to slow down and relax a bit more.
.duly noted.

17:365:2012


Today was a day for ...
--burger's from Wendy's (yum)
-- visiting with the granddaughter
--watching a movie (Indian Summer)
--unloading a few things on Freecycle.org
--listing some handmade stuff in my Etsy store
--editing photos... chillin'... and drinking hot tea.

Hope you all are doing well.

16:365:2012


Today was a day to enjoy some of the sunshine outside...
took a short walk... went on a dinner date with BAJ....
we even went to Barnes and Noble to read some magazines... it was good.



14/15:365:2012


I'm just gonna try to take it easy this weekend.. .and try to get my sleep schedule back on track if I can.
But for today... I am enjoying time with my granddaughter... and the rest of the family.