It's My Birthday

Blessings to All

Life Is Good

But, I am not coming out to play for a little while.

I'll be back. Not quite sure when that will be.  I need some time to catch up with things around my home and in my garden.

Also, my granddaughter is in need of my attention.

I hope everyone is having a Very Good Month and adjusting to the seasonal changes.

Looking For The Joy Around Me

Today is going so much better than I would have expected. Just a look in the garden has brought me joy that I would hate to miss because of other difficult factors facing me at this time. Just LOOK at this magnificent Autumn Clamatis. It really is breathtaking in its abundance of pure white beauty! That is one of the aspects of this plant that never disappoints. Even though I cut it back quite severe this past winter, it certainly has put on a beautiful show.  And, it is just getting started!

Remember this in May of this year?

It looks like this now.

I am so glad I went to church this morning even though it was a little difficult because "The Man" sits in the front because he sings in the choir. I came home renewed and strengthened.  And, I wish him well and God's blessings.

"You can't judge a book by its cover".

I hope you are having a Wonderful Sunday.  I am working at it and it is working!

What Is The Lesson I Am To Learn

Life has never been easy -  and probably isn't for most of us.  Why would I accept a life situation that can only create stress and disappointment?  This could possibly be a universal question for a lot of people in this world.  But, right now, it is my question to MYSELF. I had high hopes that this new relationship would be  a HEALTHY relationship!  I thought I was being cautious when this new chapter started in my life. But, it looks like I have only revisited some previous familiar issues that I thought I had learned lessons from.  But wait,  I  have learned a lot and because of that I am able to move forward with strength and balance that I have not always had in the past. The realization that there are some issues that just can not be resolved to an acceptable level is a difficult position to be in.  But, it looks like the time has come for me to wake up and and accept reality. During the past seven months I have had plenty of time to experience and assess the changes in my life as the result of having this man in my life. With the review of the pros and cons (written on paper) it is very clear to me what the best next step for me will be. I have been loving, patient, kind, supportive and understanding with this man.  But, there comes a time when "band aid therapy" is not the answer and the GORILLA is still sitting in the room.  And, the gorilla is as simple to see as this  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > 

I can not say anything - to any of you that have experienced alcoholisn in the people close to you -  that you don't already know. There is no point in giving specifics. The latest disturbing behavior from this man would not shock many of you.  But, I thought it was "way over the top".  I do not think very many families are totally void of addiction of one kind or another. My ex-husband was an alcoholic (died at age 47 of alcoholic toxicity) and my son is an alcoholic (not in recovery)!

I have strived and succeeded at living a fulfilling, happy and mentally healthy  life with joy and friends and I do not choose to live my life with alcoholism in my home and life. With the support of friends and some new friends I know I will be just fine.  The days ahead will be difficult but I will live one day at a time and with my glass "Half Full".  If you believe in prayer, I would appreciate your prayers.

I do not know how much I will be posting in the near future but I know I will continue to enjoy your blogs.  My hand/wrist continues to be a problem for me and I am scheduled for an EMG in the near future.

Blessings to All.

Girls Night Out

What a fun evening dinner we shared together tonight. I have the nicest friends and we try to get together as often as our busy schedules permit. I think it was last February that I hosted a get together at my little home.

Tonight we enjoyed good friendship at a beautiful home overlooking the golf course.  These are all women from my little church and we are as diverse in backgrounds as we can get. They are just a group of special women - busy women, interesting women. That is one of the things that I enjoy about our group and church.

I prepared dessert for the group. It is a recipe that I made many, many times in the 60's.  And, yes, I made it  "from scratch",  including graham cracker crust, custard and meringue. 

It is called Pineapple Delight. And, it was "melt in your mouth" goodness.

This is the recipe from an old 3 x 5 recipe card.

            Pineapple Delight

Crush 26 graham crackers

Mix with 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup melted butter.

Take out 1/2 cup of crumb mixture and reserve for topping.  Put the remainder of crumb mixture in the bottom of a greased (9 x 13 x 2) baking pan. 

Make custard in top of double boiler with the following:

     3 cups milk

     3/4 cup sugar

     3 large egg yolks (slightly beaten)

     5 Tbsps. cornstarch

     1/8 tsp. salt

     A small piece of butter

Cool a little and pour on top of crumb layer.

Spread over this, a layer of crushed pineapple, drained - large can

Make a meringue with the following:

     3 egg whites

     6 Tbsps. sugar

Spread over pineapple layer.  Sprinkle with the saved 1/2 cup crumb mixture.

Brown in 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.

Cool and refrigerate over night and serve.

Try it, You will like it!

I hope you are having a Great Weekend

In Pain And Tired Of It

I try very hard not to write about my "aches and pains".  We all have them, at least most of us. I say most of us because I kid you not, I do not think MSM ever has an arthritic pain!  For his age, he is amazing.  Many times I feel like I am the one that is ten years older. At this moment I am tempted to delete this post before I go any further.  But, maybe it will help me to write about it even though using the computer is one of the most painful physical activities. My shoulder hurts and my wrist and hand. The degree of discomfort is always based on the physical activity. I am not one to sit with "my hands in my lap" and this is starting to get me down.  It has been worsening during the past month.  I have a scheduled  medical appointment but can not get in to see the orthopedic doctor for another week! 

I have been working on my Part Two of our vacation post and my pain is preventing me from completing the work with the photos.  So, it will have to wait.  I am not sure how much posting I will be doing until I am able to get some relief with a cortisone injection or whatever.

Thanks for letting me vent.  I guess we all need to do it once in a while! 

I hope you are having a Very Good Day.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MAYBE!

Oregon Vacation - Part One

I thought I would write a little about our nice vacation and also post some of the photos.  I hope you enjoy.

The first night of our vacation we stayed in Ashland, Oregon known for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  Bard's Inn provided us with a very nice Jacuzzi Suite with a great view and within walking distance of the Downtown Plaza. Ashland Creek was very close to our suite and had a lovely little park, about a quarter-acre, named Bluebird Park. After walking through the plaza and stopping in at a few shops, we enjoyed dinner of fish and chips (for him) and Fillet Mignon (for me) at an upstairs British pub named The Black Sheep that overlooked the Plaza. The food was very good and we enjoyed everything about the casual environment after a full day of traveling. The next morning after a very nice breakfast at the Inn, we walked in the plaza some more before heading north to Crater Lake.

Crater Lake is five miles wide and ringed by cliffs almost 2,000 feet high, and the lake rests in the shattered remnants of a volcano called Mount Mazama, which erupted and collapsed into itself  7,700 years ago. It filled with rain and melted snow.  At 1,943 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the deepest in the world.

Later eruptions formed Wizard Island and other volcanic features, now hidden under the lake. The island  is a cinder cone rising 760 feet above the lake's surface.

This was truly an unforgettable sight. The water is sapphire-blue and they say the water is so pure and so clear it absorbs every ray of the sun, reflecting only the deepest blue hues of the spectrum back to the surface.

and then north west to Steamboat Inn. 

We traveled along the Umpqua River until we arrived at Steamboat Inn which has a rich history of fishing for steel head trout and salmon. As you can see the cabin had a nice deck just above the beautiful river. The sound of the river was very relaxing.  Since my brief visit to the Inn in 1989, many changes have been made including the addition of a very fancy library for wine tasting and appetizers prior to dinner.  One of the changes that I was disappointed in was the dinner.  In the past it was featured as a "Fisherman's Dinner" with everyone around a long table, like a family style dinner. Yes, the long sugar pine table was used as well as several smaller tables for a guest number of thirty-one. The food was disappointing, mainly because it seemed as though they were trying to be current with the flavors of the present times - and they fell short. But, none the less we enjoyed our stay with the cabin accommodations and The River.

Then we were on our way to the Coast to visit and stay a night in Florence. -  -  - More in the next post.

I hope you are having a Fabulous Day.

WONDERFUL - WONDERFUL

Our vacation - trip to Oregon was WONDERFUL.  We truly had a grand time. We filled our days with lots of activities, but not too many so we would not be exhausted all of the time.

This photo was taken from our private balcony where we were staying at Pier Point Inn overlooking the Siuslaw River in Florence, Oregon.  It was really beautiful, especially at night with all the bright lights on the bridge and across the waterfront.

The Siuslaw River Bridge was impressive.

This beautiful waterfall greeted us at the entrance to our lodging.

The accommodations throughout our trip were wonderful. But this king suite was exceptionally lovely with the magnificent view of the river from anywhere in the room.

And, we had a fabulous Seafood Cioppino dinner at Bridgewater Restaurant on Bay Street.

Perhaps, I can post more about our trip in later posts when I have a chance to look at all of the photos.

Hope you are having a Great Weekend.

Here We Go

It won't be long and we will be on our way.  The dogs have been dropped off at their respective dog-sitters. Our bags are packed and the vehicle is ready. And, before the day is over we expect to see this highway sign - - - - - - - -

And, by the third day we expect to see some of these sights - - - - - - - - -

I will have my laptop with me. So, perhaps I will have a post or two and maybe a photo or two for you during the next few days.

I hope all of you have a Good Week.

Bittersweet Day

One more Social Event before leaving town.  I am preparing a good old standby recipe for Bean Salad to take to the picnic. It doesn't get much easier. And, easy is what I need at this time.

For the second year the picnic is being held at a beautiful lake north of here. The church service will be held outdoors with lots of good worship and music followed with more music, fun and food. 

Last year was the first time I attended the annual picnic and I went alone.  It will be so nice to attend as a couple. However, the day will be bittersweet for me this year. After the picnic the pastor that has been with us for the past three years will be leaving with his wife to return to the area that they lived prior to coming to serve our church. They are returning to "the city" where they are more comfortable. Employment opportunities for his wife have been dismal in this area. She has secured an excellent position in the school where she previously taught. 

We will miss him terribly. One of the reasons for our sadness is that he is the person that My Special Man contacted (after first asking me) to guide and assist us in our difficulties following our trip to Germany. "There are many people who come and go in our lives. A few touch us in ways that change us forever, making us better from knowing them." And, He certainly fits in that category for us.

The charming little church that we attend is almost across the street from where I live. It was founded in 1868.  But, of course it has been enlarged and updated through the years. It is such a nice church and the people are great.

You see, this church is the first church I have been a member of in my adult life. Six years ago, I decided to become a member after attending occasionally through the years that I have lived here. This little church is where I met My Special Man. It so happens that we each moved to this area about 18 years ago after living in the San Francisco Bay area for many years. His wife passed away two years ago following a long illness with Alzheimer's Disease. And, it seems as though I had been single forever - but not quite.  We did not know each other prior to the beginning of this year, other than the fact that I knew he had been singing in the choir for years.

It is time for me to get out the door and be ready to drive to the lake.

I hope you are having a Wonderful Weekend.

P.S. The Lake, Service and Day was wonderful!

Such Indulgence

Last nights dinner  -  down town  -  ended with sinful indulgence of a Brownie Sunday  (Belgian chocolate, hot fudge, vanilla bean ice cream and whipped heavy cream).  But, since we shared it, maybe it wasn't so bad!  Who am I trying to kid, anyway?
 
It is so nice living so close to main street in our little historic town that we can walk to dinner. I never dreamed that I could possibly have a special someone at this stage of my life to walk to town with, especially on a regular basis.

Yesterday was another busy day for me.  Since we are leaving Monday on our trip to Oregon,  I have a lot of last minute things to take care of in the garden. You never know, the weather could get warmer/hotter like what would be our seasonal norm which could get into the 100's.  I do not have automatic watering throughout the garden.  So, I have been setting up hoses with timers for different sections so that I do not have to have someone come every day to water.  It is something that I have wanted to do for quite some time because it would save me a lot of time on a daily basis.

Also, I had a few plants in pots from the nursery that really, really needed to be planted in the ground. I was able to get that accomplished also.  And, of course, there is the general garden, patio and garden paths that I like to have in order before leaving town. The garden is still looking quite lovely and I hope yours does to - especially, if you are a gardener and do the garden work.  It's garden work only when you don't want to do it or don't have time!

I hope you have a Very Sweet Day.

A Little White Goodness In The Garden

I am so happy that the White Dahlia named White Alva has started to open before I leave town next week.  I have been watching them daily to see if they will show some of their beauty. As you can see, they are just starting and they will open much wider. 

The White Dawn Climbing Rose on the fence is still continuing to bloom on a less profuse manner than earlier in the summer.

And, the White Mission Bells are also putting on a show.

 

That's about it for today. Sorry for the terrible photography. I've been kinda busy getting ready for our trip.

I hope you have a Wonderful Day.

I Love Planning Road Trips

It won't be long before we will be jumping in the vehicle and heading north for five days of vacation. Road travel will be very comfortable for my back (I have a bad one!) and nice for us both because we will be driving a SRX Crossover! It is not a car, not a SUV, but a crossover which offers the best of both worlds. It is made by Cadillac and it is the 2006 model. I had NO idea what a Crossover was before meeting MSM.

We plan to stay in Ashland, OR the first night. After kicking around the area we will head up to Roseburg and then east for about 38 miles on Highway 138 along the North Umpqua River to the area called Steamboat. I visited the  Steamboat Inn in 1989 when I took a road trip alone with my little Yorkshire Terrier Puppy , Pixie and  my Tabby Kitten, Puff to visit my oldest brother in Portland. I do not recall exactly how I heard about Steamboat Inn but I do know that I bought this great history/cookbook in the store at the Inn.

I loved the Inn and the surrounding area with the river and gardens. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be returning to Steamboat and spending a night in one of their cabins and also attending their Fisherman's Dinner where the guests gather around a long sugar pine table which was hewn from large logs in the 1930's.

The North Umpqua River has been fished by fly anglers for more than half a century. Perhaps, the most famous fisherman to fish these waters  is Zane Grey, who started fishing for salmon and steel head trout in the late 1920's.  Many fishing camps were set up along the banks of the river. The whole area is rich with history about fly fishing.

This visit will be of special interest to my MSM because he has enjoyed active membership in the local Fly Fisher's Club for years. He had never heard of Steamboat Inn but some of his fishing buddies have.

I have always been an adventurous person wanting to know what is around the next bend and over the next hill. So, in the past, I often found myself in some interesting locations when taking a little road trip to the California Coast wineries or wherever I could go for a few days.

Following our visit to Steamboat, we will drive to the Oregon coast and travel north stopping when the mood hits us. No special plans have been made about how far or where to find lodging.  It will be simply spontaneous travel for a couple days until we return home via Redding where we will visit the Sundial Bridge Turtle Bay Exploration park.  From what little I know about the bridge and surrounding area it is a sight not to be missed.

We expect this little trip to be VERY enjoyable since we have resolved many issues that rose their ugly heads during our trip to Germany. Our relationship and love for one another is stronger than ever! And, we feel so blessed to have one another in our lives. 

I hope you have a day filled with LOVE.