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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Wonderful Walking

After a nights rest, I enjoyed a wonderful Expanded Continental Breakfast in the large Lobby Kitchen.  The food was very good and the selection was huge. I was surprised at how tired I was feeling . Even though I had a few cups of strong Pete's coffee with breakfast, when Lily and I went back to our room,  I fell sound asleep until 1 PM.  I was somewhat annoyed with myself but reminded myself that it was OK and I should listen to my body.


Since I still wasn't feeling very energetic I decided to go for a walk. Our room was within walking distance to everything in town even though we were on the outer region of the town. That meant that we could walk in the lovely residential area.  The weather was perfect and Lily thought she was in heaven!  We had a  wonderful walk for about three hours.


This is a lovely area by the parking lot. I did not take pictures of the beautiful gardens with the many sitting areas and I wish I had. But, it was a little challenging to take photos  with Lily always at my side even though she was very good.  We spent a quiet evening at the Inn. Even though I had some ideas of what I wanted to do during my vacation days, I decided to just go with the flow and enjoy my days with spontaneity.

~Mary~

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Traveling Day One




Have fruit basket and walking stick - - - - -  - will travel!

 

Carmel Country Inn.
A lovely sight with beautiful flowers.


Arrived about 5 PM and settled into my "queen studio".

 

A cozy little dwelling.


 

All the necessities, plus a little cream sherry and a whirlpool tub.




 Traveling is such hard work so Lily had to "take a lie down".

This was Day One and all was very well.

~Mary~

Monday, September 28, 2009

Country Road Produce

I knew that I would not be able to drive past every produce stand during my travels home through San Joaquin Valley. Summerwhite Nectarines, Fresh Corn, and a Half Flat of Strawberries came home with me.




The strawberries were gorgeous, also. I did not realize when I put the produce in the trunk of the car that it was going to get so very hot. I had the air conditioning on, but it was over 100 degrees outside.  So, the strawberries did a lot of rippening on the way home.  But, no fear, I was able to rescue about half of them from the ravages of total deteriation.



Out to the garage I went this morning to get my canning jars so I could make some Refrigerator Strawberry Jam.  I have heard about this  jam for years, but never made any until now.

Soo Easy---------and Soo Good------------------------!


I can imagine this jam as a topping on ice cream or even in a milkshake!  What little I sampled from the saucepan tasted very good.

I hope to go to Apple Hill for apples in a couple weeks. I am planning on making Apple Butter, which I truly love, especially on toast.

I really do feel reguvenated after my little time away.

Hope you are having a Wonderful Day.

~Mary~


Walk About



Just a little "walk about" in the garden after returning home from a fabulous mini vacation at Carmel County Inn.  


This Gerbera Daisy have been blooming for months and I love it.  And, it looks like it is still going strong.  I can see at least six more blossoms that are coming up. How nice!




And, what a bright spot of sunshine this Yellow Gerbera Daisy is giving.  The center is very very black and beautiful. As the flowers continues to open, the center also turns yellow.  I think it is stunning. I never noticed the prominent black center in the past.  I think that is because the black center shows when the stem is short. And as the stem gets longer and the flower grows, the center changes to yellow. It looks like the Red Daisy has a yellow center that turns red!



I looked and found a photo of the Yellow Daisy that I had taken earlier in the season when the plant was much smaller and I guess I just didn't notice the black center.  But then, look at the other flower that is just starting to open. The center looks yellow, doesn't it?  Or is the flower in the twilight of its life? Interesting and very very pretty!




And, this little Fairy Lily is so sweet tucked in between the white Sweet Alyssum. It is blooming in late summer to early fall just true to form.  What a good little trooper.




A very late comer to the party is this lovely soft yellow Daylily "Personal Appearance".  Such a delicate yellow color.




And before long, the new Gerbera Daisy will find it's place in the garden.  I am still excited about the beautiful pink color.




Hope you have a Fabulous Day.

~Mary~

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Sunday Is The Day Of Rest

And, that is what I am going to try and do.  I went to church and now I am trying to decide what comes next. I am so blessed to have a church very nearby that "works for me". I never thought I would ever be a church member again in my life because of my experiences with religion when I was younger. But, I love my church!

This photo is of my entry hall and a beautiful Gerbera Daisy in the most vivid florecent pink color. I have never noticed this  color before. I had signed up to provide the alter flowers for church services today.  Since I stayed in Carmel a day longer than planned and arrived home quite late yesterday, I had to modify my plans about flowers.  So, after dark I drove back down the hill to the grocery store to look for flowers. I wasn't finding anything that pleased me until I spotted this precious plant. It was enjoyed by many at church and, now I will have it to enjoy and probably plant it in my garden.  It's a very nice thing.



I'm tired but their will be more tomorrow.

I hope you are having a beautiful Sunday.

~Mary~




Saturday, September 26, 2009

My 70th Birthday

                                      
I can hardly believe it!!!!!!!!!!



I took this photo of myself about three months ago. It has been a long time since I have used the timer on my camera. The whole process was amazingly easy and fast. I also used a tripod which certainly helps a lot. It was on a Sunday and I had just returned from church and I thought it would be a good time to take a photo. The day I took the photo would have been my 50th wedding anniversary if I had stayed married! More on that another time, maybe. I am one of those people that never seems to take a photo that I am happy with, but this time it was different!  I like it!  And, guess what? That is my natural color hair. I am  just starting to get a little grey. I can't take any credit, it's genetic!


I am thrilled to say that I am the happiest I have ever been in my entire life and I think the photo shows it. Considering the journey I have been on, I am so very grateful for this feeling of wholeness that I am finally experiencing at this time of my life.





Yep, it was 70 years ago today that I came into this world with a little partner, named John. Twins were not as common as they are today. This was long before fertility treatment was available. We had a brother four years old and another brother eight years old. So, my mother certainly had her hands full! Because my parents came to California driving a Model T Ford from Minnesota on their honeymoon (it took six weeks!) we did not have relatives to help during this labor intensive time period.





                                                              



                                                   Aren't we cute?


      
I remember my early childhood being happy. However, one BIG thing that was lacking is that I did not have any relatives close enough to spend time with. I never met my grandparents. I recall wanting to be a different ethnic background because some others were characteristic of having big families around. Those were the thoughts of a little girl, anyway. I also wanted a sister. What little girl didn't want a sister especially if she had three brothers!




Each one of us on this earth has a different background. And what we have is our own perceptions of what our experiences were. I had to go to parochial school and after fifth grade, I recall becoming very unhappy with the extremely strick parental controls and the isolation from main stream kids. Following high school graduation (during which time I took all the college-prep classes like latin, chemistry, as well as secretarial classes) I moved out of the family home and supported myself and became a Registered Nurse at age 19. That was a lot of very hard work. But, I guess that was just the prelude to what my life was going to be about. There have been many, many challenges of all sorts in my life.  I have a very strong work ethic and that probably has played a part in who I am today. I guess I am a true survivor in the real sense of the word. Nineteen was a very young age to be a Registered Nurse and have such a large amount of responsibility often including "life and death" matters. I have been told that I was a very good nurse but I think it would have been very beneficial to have more life experiences before having that type of responsibility_ _ _ _ _ _ To be continued.


I just returned home a short time ago from my vacation to Carmel. I had a fabulous time!  And, Lily was a real angel dog!  I even stayed a day longer than I had planned. There will be a lot about my trip  including photos in the days to come. 




This photo is of Lily having afternoon tea with me at Cypress Inn (owned by Doris Day). What a good dog she was!


I am soo very tired. It was a long drive home. But it is such a nice tired.

Hope you are having a good weekend!

~Mary~

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A Nice Day


When I return, I will have photos of my mini vacation. In the meantime - - - - 

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~Mary~


Monday, September 21, 2009

Start The Engines

I AM ON MY WAY!

Car Clipart


My bags are packed. Lily has had a bath and smells and feels good. I have had a bath and smell and feel good!  The car is washed and clean and has gasoline.  So, it is time to start the engines.

It feels so good to be going away for a few days.  All of you be good while I am away.  OK.

~Mary~

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Fall Is In The Air




This picture certainly makes me think of Autumn/Fall. The picture is so very intricate and I wish I could see more of the detail. If you were to write a story about the photo, what would you write? To me it may depict the vivid imagination of a girl thinking of a past life she may have lived or a life she wished she was living.  Perhaps, it is Victorian times with all of the finery of the day, long dresses, parasols, proper etiquette and formality. What do you think the artist is trying to portray? If anyone has some information about this photo or your own  story about her, I would love to hear it. Let your imagination fly! The clip art is from Glitter-graphics.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Since the comment button is missing, please leave an email. Fun!

A couple more days and it will officially be FALL or AUTUMN  -  take your pick.  Take a look at  (http://everydaydelight09.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-have-often-wondered.html) to see why I say, "Take your pick".

Enjoy, enjoy and enjoy some more.

~Mary~

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Comments

It's been brought to my attention that my "Comments Button" is missing. Thank you, Sara.  I can not seem to fix it.  It is a Template problem, not a Settings problem. No time to work on it. But, emails are always welcome. Thanks.


Maybe, I will have to go back to a "Soup Cans and String " system ! ! !

Have a Happy Day.
~Mary~

Can You Believe It

When I brought the newly cut glass home and started to assemble the pictures of  "Pinky and Blue Boy" the glass was not the right size even though I took the backer cardboard as a guide for the glass cutter. Much to my annoyance the backer cardboard size is just a little smaller than the opening of the frame which means that the glass does not set behind the frame edge but falls to the front. What a disappointment. I was hoping to have this project finished. But on a good note, I really like how the frame painting and matting is turning out.
 
It will have to wait until I return from my vacation. Sorry for my horrible picture taking . The lighting was terrible and I was rushing!

Have a fabulous day.

~Mary~ 


Friday, September 18, 2009

Tudor And Baroque



The birth of another prayer shawl. The yarn colors are Tudor and Baroque. These shawls for those in need or celebration or transition are so easy to knit.  I have chosen to knit with straight knit stitch and no fancy stitches. That way I can pick it up at any time and just knit a row or two or more without trying to find my place in a pattern and taking the risk of having to rip back because of pattern error. I am letting the colors of the yarn be what ever pattern they evolve into.  Not giving it much thought. But, putting thoughts of love for the recipient into the process, whoever they may be. 



 It is nice to know that I am doing something for someone else. I guess one reason for that feeling would be all the many years in the service and giving profession of nursing.  They (whoever they are) say that there are "givers" and "takers" in life. Sometimes, I wish I had a little more of the "taker" in me. Through the years I think I have been able to bring more balance of those two traits into my life. Just trying to be a better  "LIBRA", I guess! 


When I write these posts, I never know what is going to show up on the computer screen!  At a later time after I have blogged for a longer time , I think I will try to do a little analysis of how blogging has brought changes into my life.  Because it does.

That's it for today, folks!  Take special care of yourself today and always. 

~Mary~

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I Have Often Wondered

What is the difference between Autumn and Fall?  If I had grown up in the "New England" part of America I may have known this without giving it much thought.


As you may know by now I am a very curious person and love the Internet, if for no other reason, than - to me it is a huge dictionary and/or encyclopedia of world thought and/or knowledge!  Like everything else in life, take what you want and leave the rest.


Using a search engine can be both fun and somewhat overwhelming.  When searching my question of  "What is the difference between Autumn and Fall",  I found the responses to be very amusing and informative.


This in particular caught my attention in its simplicity.


"There is no difference in meaning between Fall and Autumn according to the dictionary. However, in common usage Fall usually refers to what is happening in nature. Basically, the leaves turn colors. Autumn is the name of the season. The Autumnal equinox occurs 22-23 September. The season continues until 21-22 December."

And, then there is this very interesting view point from a Canadian perspective.



"What is the difference between fall foliage and fall colours or colors? We are really looking at the perception and familiarity of terms when differentiating between Americans and Canadians. This is especially true when we look at the spelling of color. Another important distinction is the notion of the “Leaf Peeper”, a term describing the tourists that flock to the North East New England area of the U.S. during the fall foliage season. Peepers tend to get arrested in Canada.

The British (English) prefer Autumn, as do many descendents of the United Empire Loyalists. However, Canadians being somewhat different than either the Brits or Yanks know the real “New England” is really Upper Canada, and the Province of Ontario. The dense hardwood forests of Maples, Oaks, and Birch are abundant and display some of the best fall colors and foliage in North America. Many would say the best colours in the world are in Ontario during the autumn season."   OK now, If - - - - - - -  you are a "Leaf Peeper", - - - - - - please be very careful ! ! !


Moving on. Let's look at a quite comprehensive response to the question.


"Autumn (also known as fall in North American English) is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter, usually in late September (northern hemisphere) or late March (southern hemisphere) when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier.

The word autumn comes from the Old French word autompne (automne in modern French), and was later normalized to the original Latin word autumnus. There are rare examples of its use as early as the 12th century, but it became common by the 16th century.

Before the 16th century, harvest was the term usually used to refer to the season. However as more people gradually moved from working the land to living in towns (especially those who could read and write, the only people whose use of language we now know), the word harvest lost its reference to the time of year and came to refer only to the actual activity of reaping, and fall, as well as autumn, began to replace it as a reference to the season.

The alternative word fall is now mostly a North American English word for the season. It traces its origins to old Germanic languages. The exact derivation is unclear, the Old English fiæll or feallan and the Old Norse fall all being possible candidates. However, these words all have the meaning "to fall from a height" and are clearly derived either from a common root or from each other. The term came to denote the season in the 16th century, a contraction of Middle English expressions like "fall of the leaf" and "fall of the year".

During the 17th century, English immigration to the colonies in North America was at its peak, and the new settlers took their language with them. While the term fall gradually became obsolescent in Britain, it became the more common term in North America, where autumn is nonetheless preferred in scientific and often in literary contexts."


Next, let's look a tad bit more at Science.  Stay with me now.  Just a little more won't hurt !


"The Scientific Basis For Autumn - Why Leaves Fall
The process by which nutrients from the leaves are changed into other forms and drawn into the stems and roots is very efficient, and by it's end, the only remnants in the leaves will be cell walls and nutrient depleted protoplasm. At the base of the leaf petiole, where the leaf is attached to the stem, two types of cells are formed.

 Parenchyma cells, which are very soft, are formed on the leaf side, Suberized cells which are waxy and impermeable are formed on the tree side to act as a protective seal. Eventually, the vascular bundles, the veins of the leaf, are all that hold the leaf to the tree. The vascular bundles break, or are torn by the wind, and the leaf falls, leaving what is called a bundle scar, and a bud for next years growth."



THERE WILL NOT BE A TEST LATER.



If you are still with me, that's good and - - - Thank You.

I hope you have a fun day and that you learned something new.  I know, I did ! ! !




P.S.  How does this happen to me?  I was not going to post today.  Yes, you are right.  I have avoided doing things on the "to do list"!

~Mary~

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Getting Ready

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So many things to do. I need to go and pick up some maps even though I know the way.  It just makes it easier in case I take a wrong turn and need assistance getting back on track.


In my previous life (before becoming a "country mouse") I spent a lot of time enjoying the Monterey coast either for pleasure (which was often) or for work. During that time I was working as a Disability/Catastrophic Case Manager Nurse traveling and providing service to thirteen counties.  It included a lot of travel but also an oportunity to see and sometimes enjoy nice little restaurants and a variety of shops. As long as I met my required work criteria I could take the time to enjoy.  Sometimes, it meant getting home later and completing paperwork (there was a lot of it) at home, but it was worth it.  Thirteen counties included a lot of interesting locations, ie. Sausalito, Benecia, Pacific Grove, Danville, Mill Valley, San Francisco, Berkeley and Carmel Valley to name a few.


The pretty picture below depicts what I hope to be doing soon. Quietly sitting and reading with my doggie by my side. There is nothing like getting away and being totally removed from all the reminders of things that have to be done around the home. I am very excited about the place where I will be staying in Carmel.  It is "pet friendly" and has excellent reviews. Besides all that good stuff, it is in close walking distance to shops, restaurants and The Ocean.


 
I have been feeling quite good, but I hope to return rejuvenated and eager to do some of the things that I seem to be letting slide.  You know what I mean?  There are always those things that don't yell at you the loudest and get overlooked.

Have a Fabulous Day.

~Mary~

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Ate The Whole Thing

And, boy, oh! boy, was it ever good. The morning just felt right for turning the oven on and preparing one of my favorite breakfast (or lunch, or dinner) dishes - Dutch Baby Pancakes.

 

They are so easy to make.


Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.


Whisk together until smooth:
     1/2 cup milk
     1/2 cup all-purpose flour
     1/4 cup sugar
     2 large eggs, at room temperature


Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a 10 inch cast iron skillet. After butter is melted and hot add the egg mixture. Bake until it is nicely puffed and golden. Serve immediately before it loses its puff.


Add just a little powdered sugar and lemon, and you will be all set for some yummy, yum.



On occasion, in the past, for a few friends, I have made them in 5-inch cast iron skillets.  That way each guest has their very own fresh pretty puffy pancake from the oven and everyone can be served at the same time.


Have fun today.


~Mary~





Monday, September 14, 2009

What Are You Reading

What a lovely rainy morning, especially if you have time to step into the wonderful world of reading a book.




I hope to be doing that soon.  It seems like the days are zooming by and I very seldom have time to sit and enjoy a book. However, I recently bought a book to take on my  upcoming vacation. The book is "South of Broad" by Pat Conroy.




Pat Conroy is the author of eight previous books: The Boo, The Water is Wide, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides, Beach Music, My Losing Season, and The Pat Conroy Cookbook: Recipes of My Life. He lives in Fripp Island, South Carolina.

My interest in his book started when I saw him on TV during an interview. Living in the West all of my life, I do not know very much about the South so I thought it would be a good book for me.

Maybe, if I didn't spend so much time at the computer I would have time to start some book reading!  I still have some things I want to learn about blogging. So far, I have managed on my own. 

I hope you enjoy the change of seasons.

~Mary~

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Summer Is Coming to a Close

And, the garden is looking different.  There are still a few flowers blooming but there is a definite change. The Sweet Autumn Clematis is so heavy with blooms in some areas that it looks totally white. I like the intricacy of the flowers and the lacey look.

The red roses are always a favorite of mine.  I can see this rose outside my window today. It has a wonderful fragrance. The rose bush was here when I moved to this house  so, I do not know the name.
The Sweet Alyssum (Carpet of Snow) is still in full bloom as a ground cover in the White Garden.
And this is a plant that is native to this area.  It is called California Fuchsia and can be very invasive but  I like the way it weaves itself in and out of the rock.


Hope you are having a good weekend.


~Mary~

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Some Additional Special Photos

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Mother's Day 2012

Mother's Day 2012

Happy Family (2014)

Happy Family (2014)
Grandma Pride

Valentine's Day 2013

Valentine's Day 2013

High School (1957) Friends Of Mine On The Left Live In New York and We Met In Canada In 2011

High School (1957) Friends Of Mine On The Left Live In New York and We Met In Canada In 2011

Bud Mietz

Bud Mietz
1928 - 2014