OK, so, we have a frozen 5 pound block of NATIONAL CONEY ISLAND chili still in our frig from Art Luz (he brought 2 in March).
Now, I could try to cut it into smaller blocks with a large knife warmed up under hot water, possibly lose a finger, OR....
Rick could cut it on his band saw!
It was quick!
Or so he thought!
He spent another half hour cleaning the saw and shop floor!!! What a mess!!
Later when I walked Goldie through, she immediately stopped, spun around, and started sniffing all over that area of the garage floor! She doesn't miss a thing!
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Meanwhile, we have been keeping VERY busy around the house this past month even without visitors. We put in a sidewalk along one side of the house to match the back yard patio. It's the same Santa Fe adobe/light orange color and has the same sea shell/seahorse stamps in it. Now I don't trip on the flagstone and rocks. (At least not there!)
And we keep planting planting planting!
Ronee and Bob dug up some Birds of Paradise and we got about 9 clumps out of it. They also gave us 4 cuttings from dwarf banana trees. Our neighbor across the street took out some Mexican fan palms that were growing wild along the curb and gave me 4 the same week, so I had to plant those right away too.
Birds of Paradise:
At the same time I had purchased about two dozen flowers and shrubs from Home Depot/Lowes and had THOSE to get in the ground! Oh, and I had several wheelbarrows full of cactus pieces (OUCH!) from a nearby lot. I am starting a cactus garden on the "south 20" part of our lot where there is no water. (I suffered with hundreds of tiny tiny invisible pickers in my skin, all over, for weeks!)
Part of my cactus "garden":
whew.
And, NOTHING is easy! Our "soil" is either decomposed granite (which means we can't even get a shovel into it -- we use a pick like the old gold miners!) or, it's granite AND on a steep hillside which needs to be cleared of weeds and/or dead shrubs first! My legs sure get a workout trying to balance on the hillsides!
The lot is coming along though!
Rick spent a week in the garage. Now that would sound awful to some, punishment even, but his has an ocean view! Actually, with the door shut, he busied himself for days moving cabinets and tools, and, "stuff", and cutting holes all over the walls and ceiling!!! It was a very hot week and much of the time he was crawling around the attic above the garage.
You'll have to ask HIM exactly what he was doing, but, basically he was "pulling wire" and putting in electrical plugs and such. Now, we have a lot less extension cords hanging around, and more switches on the wall.
In the afternoons we do relax:
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We've also been on a few little exploration day trips the last few weeks. Carolyn joined us for a day to check out the Big Bear Mt recreation/ski area, and then 2 weeks later we went to Newport Beach. Our neighbors, Eric & Susanne, have a interior design store there ("A Little Bit of Denmark") which we visited after lunch downtown along the coast.
Big Bear (two hours away. go skiing, come back and put your shorts on!)
Newport Beach:
I also went to their other store the week before which is in San Clemente. It's a cute coastal town too. My friend, Ruth, from last year's cruise, met me. She lives just north in San Juan Capistrano.
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Then this week we had Carolyn and a few neighbors over for 4th of July Independence Day BBQ. Besides Eric and Susanne, other neighbors Wayne and Gunde, who live just down the hill and next to us, came too. They are retired, like to garden a lot, and we see them quite a bit.Later in the evening Wayne & Gunde had some friends and neighbors over for drinks and desserts and we watched the Vista fireworks from their back yard. It's a wonderful view! My cousins Bob and Candy DeMaggio joined us too.
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Today Rick and I took a little drive to Carlsbad to a mini-Italian fest. Who do we bump into? Bob and Uncle Tony DeMaggio! duh. I should have expected to see them there! (He's the uncle who just turned 95!)
We bought an Italian wall hanging (that's it hanging up):
I have also bumped into Candy twice in a week: once at the grocery store, and another time at the Saturday Vista Farmers' Market! She and I also went to a 2 hour class about the "Dead Sea Scrolls" which are on display this year in San Diego.-------------------------We see Julian now and then.... he's enjoying the job at Intuit, and the good life in La Jolla with the other interns! They have regular BBQs (he even called me asking how to make ribs: said they turned out great!)--------------------------Tomorrow I am volunteering at the Carlsbad Triathlon. I did it last year... kinda' like I wish I could do for one my niece Amber would be in. This will have to do for now!
Pic from the Triathlon awards:
Tomorrow evening Wayne, Gunde, Rick and I are going to the Vista "Moonlight Theater" for an outdoor presentation of "Annie Get Your Gun". I LOVE those songs... it reminds me of singing in Girls Glee Club, 9th grade, South Lake High School, with Nan, Denise, Janie,.... who else??? If YOU were in it leave a note below! (Update: "Moonlight Theater" is a charming outdoor venue... kind of a "mini" Pine Knob for you Michigan folks. We only live 2 miles away, and take the back road out. Quick & Easy! The musical was first class! We'll do that again!)Well, in the time I typed this I am sure dozens of weeds have popped up! Actually, Rick is getting most of them under control. But, I do need to get back outside to plant a few more things..... maybe next time I'll tell you about the rattlesnake Goldie found in our front yard.
07/07/07
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