Physical Labor is Good For You - Right?

So it has been a sunny, but chilly, weekend. So of course it is a good time to work outside!

We got the weed barrier spread on 2 sections of the backyard (only one huge section left, and a smaller section). And the oval part was a royal pain.

Today we bought and covered it all with bark. 1 cubic yard of bark does not seem like that much....until  you are filling wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow with it, dumping it and starting all over!

But it covered more than we expected!

Also dug out an old, ugly, neglected hibiscus. Need to dig out the unknown fruit tree that doesn't bear fruit - or many leaves either! Still having our ongoing argument about one of the trees that I WANT GONE! And hubby says no - so it is either that one goes (and I think I am allergic to it when it blooms in early summer) or the two palm trees that look like hell because they get no sun at all because of it).

Husband also put a temporary gate into the fencing around the largest part of the garden - to make it easier for us to work in - but we also want to put a couple of chairs under the oak tree(s) and be able to enjoy the shade. Oh, and if you are wondering why the fencing? The answer is one simple word: dogs!

The miner's lettuce and the sour grass is blooming - signs that spring is coming! And several of the succulents have beautiful blooms too!

Weekend Highs and Lows

So this weekend we drove down to Irvine to see 2 of our grandsons participate in the KAP7 Waterpolo Tournament.

Watching the weather forecast - gonna be sunny and in the 70's.....ok, now mid 60's and sunny....

Got down there Friday and the weather was lovely. Then listening to the news - what?? Rain??? There was no rain in the forecast!!! Do we have umbrellas? Nope, because we took the truck and they are in the car. Do we have ponchos? No.....luckily they have Walmarts down there....

Lets back up a bit. Hubby decided we would go down 101.
Remember, it has been a long time since we drove down there - now we usually hop Southwest and go.....So we went 101 just cruising along. Stopped at CRACKER BARREL!!!!!!!!!!! Have been looking forward to that ever since we knew we were going down. And it did not disappoint....until we found out they. did. not. have. the. carrot.cake. THE MAIN REASON WE STOPPED THERE!

And it went down hill from there....we were supposed to meet up with daughter/family at Disneyland to spend Friday afternoon/evening there. Well, we were still stopped in traffic when the closest we could figure is we MIGHT get to the parking lot by 5:30 PM - and they had been there since 4 PM.
Tired. Cranky. Needing to pee. We told them - enjoy yourself! We are just heading to the hotel. Which we finally got to closer to 6 PM.

So priorities - checked in - headed to room to pee - and then to the bar for the complimentary Manager's Happy Hour! 2 (mini sized) glasses of wine/beer, and a couple of bowls of snacks later, we got our things out of the car and went back to the room.....watched a little TV, and went to bed.

Saturday Luke wanted us to go to his favorite place for breakfast down there. They had had a late night so they slept in a bit. We drove over with them to this place called Stacks (http://stackspancakehouse.com/) and the line was literally out the door and across the patio seating. But he really really wanted to eat there. I think we were actually there a couple of hours, between standing in line, waiting for food, and eating. And it was alright. Not really worth the wait - and the meal Luke was so looking forward to? He didn't even really like it.....but we left and went to Walmart and got rain ponchos, umbrellas, and snacks cause their games didn't start until later in the afternoon. Way later.

Husband and daughter went to Jack's games (which they lost). SIL and I went to Lukes games, which they won. The first game was awesome. There was about an hour and a half between games so we went back to the hotel (yay - time to pee again! LOL) (and scarf down some snacks). The rest of the team all went out to dinner. We got back and just as the game started husband, daughter, and Jack showed up - they had gone to hotel first because by now it was COLD! The most beautiful full moon though! They were winning this game but ended up tied. So they had to participate in a shootout. That means the first team that has two goals in a row, wins. So 1 person from one team gets up and shoots; then a person from the other team; then back to the first team....you get the picture.  I think they went through their whole line up (they chose 4 players) twice - and on the 3d time through the other team won. These kids were tired.

On the way back to hotel they drove to Chik-Fil-A so we got a chicken sandwich, ate it about 9:45 and went to bed.....

Woke up to rain. And cold. And to find out that Jacks first game was at 2:40 and Luke's wasn't until somewhere around 5. The coach tried to get Luke's games changed because people were planning to leave - driving or with plane reservations. But they wouldn't change the times. So they told the coach Luke was not going to be there.

My biggest complaint - and daughter said this was new this year - they had the older boys playing in the mornings - and the younger ones in the afternoons and evenings. Now we all know teenaged boys like to sleep late, and they know how to chill with video games etc.....and younger boys don't really know how to chill....so this was just plain stupid. And it seemed like the SO CA teams got the best time slots while those who had a long long drive home, or flights to catch had the worst....

Great lunch at BKs Brewhouse (whoever thought up that name?) and then we got to watch Jack's team win. FOR THER FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!!!!! And after watching his team play a couple of games, I have to say, this was the first time I saw them actually play like a team.

And yes it rained - and drizzled - and poured - and rained throughout the game. So after talking it over with the parents - explaining that if things went well, the 2d game might - MIGHT - be around 6 PM , the coach scratched the 2d game.

Daughter and family left from there to drive home. We headed back to the hotel. Hubby too wet and cold to want to even go to Downtown Disney like he planned - and we were both still too full from lunch to even think about going to Knott's Berry Farm for chicken dinner.....so after 3 (mini sized) glasses of wine/beer and some snacks we got to go back to the room and watch - my favorite! NOT! - the Academy Awards.

Got up Monday and had breakfast - finished packing and left. Beautiful clear, sunny, and warm day!
And this time we went home on I5 - cut over to 101 at Paso Robles - got to eat at the wonderful Cowgirl Café (http://stackspancakehouse.com/) and we were home just after 3:30 PM.

The side of the Highway 46 was lined with these piles of tumbleweeds, which they were coming along and burning

So my funny story is I took 3 knitting projects with me. One was a pair of socks that I just needed to finish the toe and graft said toe on the 2d of the pair....which I did before we even got out of the county and I am so glad......got back to the room that cold and wet Sunday afternoon and immediately put them on! The other project was another prayer shawl for www.alicesembrace.org - I thought I had a lot more to go on that one.....finished it about the time we hit the traffic in LA area. Luckily, I am still working on the 3d project - I would have really been miserable if I had finished them all!

I cannot believe that people actually live and drive in the mess that is considered LA area. The traffic in the Bay Area is bad - but usually just during rush hours. And only in certain areas. Down there, it feels as though it is a 100 mile radius of parked cars on the freeways (probably only 50 mile radius) and it goes on and on and on and on. And people do that every freaking day of the week....twice a day. How??????? WHY?????????????

Foggy Day

Supposed to be a warm day today but I don't think that is happening.
Very very foggy out - to the point you can feel and see the mist!

Got our errands done - gas at Safeway - more pellets from Lowe's....mailed a book to a friend. Finally took something back to Pet Smart.

And although we probably really should go to the gym I really don't want to go outside again! LOL

Oh yes - and we found Toms coarse chili ground meat for his chili Sunday. Went to the big Hispanic grocery store - Santa Fe - and they had hardly anyone that (supposedly) spoke English. But apparently could not grind the meat for us.

So then we went to the smaller one a few blocks away - and the had a grinder - able to grind it - spoke English! - and we got the meat!

So in addition to commercials - the best part of the day will be the traditional chili!

So, I am in Grad School - again! This time a knitting Grad school. There is this great shop that is now in (well, has been for a few years) called https://www.theloopyewe.com/. They started out with a virtual summer camp - and then progressed into Loopy Academy - and now we are in Grad School.

This is the 2d semester. The first semester I made socks - 2 pair for me, and a pair for hubby. This semester I am making sweaters. I have a cardigan on the needles for me - yay! it really will get done and will be the 3d adult sweater I have ever finished! - and I took a break and made a child summer/spring (isn't the color perfect for spring!!) sweater in this yummy soft light yarn called Bamboo Pop. Next up I need to order my yarn for sweater #3 which will be a unisex child's pullover.

Not a pretty day for photographs but the light was good to show the true color of this yarn!

Thoughts - On My Soap Box Again

We belong to DVC (Disney Vacation Club). Have since a fateful moment in 1998 while at WDW. When I thought husband had really gone nutso. And let me just say this, I have come to appreciate the decision he made that day!

Anyway, one of the many trips we take is to Aulani, on Oahu in Hawaii. And so I have joined a couple of FB pages.

Now when you belong to DVC the places you stay are not like typical hotel rooms, they are suites, or mini apartments! (I could literally move in and live in the Grand Villas at the Boardwalk in WDW).

Because of that they have nice kitchens (except for the studios). Which is great because there really is limited affordable eating at Aulani or the immediate surrounding area.

So we have learned when we leave the airport, we get lunch, and then hit the grocery store. One time we went to Costco and that was the time we went with both daughters, a SIL, and 5 grandkids. Otherwise we just go to Safeway.

And we plan our meals/shopping before hand, knowing we are still going to eat out some.

Well, people are posting about leftover food when they are leaving to go home. And nicely, they are putting the items up for others to grab.

but MY GOD people - did you think ALL you were going to do in Hawaii is sit in your room and eat?????

First  of all, I get it. It is usually only the 2 of us. But - no matter where we are going - I always throw sandwich sized and gallon sized zip lock bags in my suitcase. They come in handy for so many things - and that means you don't have to buy them when you are on vacation!

If we have an opened box of cereal? Pop it into a zip lock bag - cereal doesn't weigh much and doesn't take much room (don't need to take THAT many clothes people - the rooms have washers and dryers!). Speaking of which - pack a couple of packets of travel laundry soap and pop a couple of dryer sheets into a zip lock bag - now you don't have to buy the HUGE sizes of both that I see people leaving behind!

And there is a cafeteria style place there - out in front of it are all the condiments you should need - help yourself!

Now the hints we have is, except for one dinner at Ama Ama (because the setting is so nice, and yes the food is good) we typically eat a large meal out at lunch time - and we bring the leftovers back with us - and the last dinner there is usually a whopping big salad with everything left in the refrigerator!

And I have even hard boiled the leftover eggs and brought them with us to the airport and on the plane!

Because I have a husband who definitely gets hangry - we never travel without snacks. And I plan enough for plane there and back - and while we are there - so we don't get suckered into buying loads of snacks while there (except for caramacs…..gotta have my caramacs), And you know you are going to give in to some snacks while at Aulani anyway....

But really - the amount of food I see up for grabs could probably feed the whole staff of Aulani (just a very light exaggeration). But I want to know why I have never been there when people have left snorkel supplies, and water toys up for grabs.....

Rainy Days and ....Thursdays...

Thought it was going to rain and be windy through the night. Then it turned out to be coming this morning. Well, woke up to this....and no rain or wind!!

But then husband left for day #2 of orientation for volunteer work. And I started watching a new (to me) show on Netflix called YOU. Determined to get to a certain point in my sweater.....the next thing I know, hours after the photo was taken, the house was being shaken by wind, the dogs were staring at me big eyed, and then the down pours started!

Eventually I remembered the bedroom window was open - it is always open - and the wind was blowing the rain against that side of the house....

About noon time I turned off the 3d or 4th episode, put my knitting down, and decided I better get dressed.

The wind has died down a little but it is still pouring outside.

We have some ponds forming in the backyard. Luckily our soil is a good mix of sand so they will drain away once the rains stop. Here are our waterfalls and ponds!

Husband said something about going to the gym this afternoon.....not sure I want to swim there!

Thrifty Day

Hubby played golf today, so I decided to go and check out some new (to me) thrift stores down at the mouth of Carmel Valley.

One had a LOT of paintings, photographs etc. And several lamps - wish we had looked there before we bought the one for the dining room! Not really, I like the one we put up, but they had some nice ones. Only bought a frame there - it was marked $3 but I paid $2.41 for it! Yay!

This particular thrift store actually has 3 sites, but I did not go to all 3 of them.

Then I went to the SPCA one. That is a very nice thrift store, and where I did most of my spending!
I got the softest, prettiest, grey sweater - brand new! All the tags still on it! For $10. 2 books. A little stocking stuffer for hubby for Christmas this year. A kitchen mitt....AND....a Vera Bradley duffle bag in very very good condition! Brand new they are about $100 - 120; if this one has been used at all, it would surprise me. And I got it for $25.

Finally got back to my favorite one here in town. Was not impressed today. Could not find a single thing that interested me. Oh well, saved me money and besides, that is just how it goes.

Lunch Date!

Not only do I love these lunch dates - and the scenery - but I just love the idea that we can spontaneously do them. We don't have to plan ahead because I might be sleeping because I worked last night....or need to nap because I work tonight....or have all these errands and things to do because it is a day off from work. We can just , well, do them! And I love that freedom!!!

A sandwich from Troia's Market to split; a small bag of chips to split; Sicilian olives, and something to drink....heaven!

Drove up to Moss Landing this morning to get some veggies, but also to hand over a pitcher I sold. And then hit Bed Bath & Beyond on the way home; finally got the finials for the curtain rods (but not the ones I really wanted cause I needed 2 sets and they only had 1). Also ended up with a couple of little Christmas gifts, and some Christmas hand towels!

Then I was getting something ready for someone to come by tomorrow to pick up and pay for :

And as I was moving them for a bag, I broke one of the tea cups! Didnt shatter - broke right in 1/2. Makes me so sad because they are such a cute set! So I sent off the message to the buyer.....