Leisurely Sunday

No flocks of birds to awaken me this morning. In fact no birds were to be seen at all today except for one very attractive hawk along the freeway as I drove into Arcata. I went out looking for an open Hair Salon. No luck. Sundays are not a good day to get a haircut. Perhaps I will just settle for trimming my bangs so that I can see.

I need to break down some cardboard and prepare it for recycling. Time to tidy up around here.

Awake at 2 a.m.

For several mornings now I've woken up around 2-3 a.m. Part of the problem is ankle pain, part restless dogs, part neighborhood noise. The neighbor just turned down her radio. I can't complain because I had my TV on until a few moments ago and I am sure that noise carries too.

Today the dogs will get bathed and treated professionally for the flea problem or whatever it is that has irritated their skin. Max is just raw and Hydrocortisone and Sulfadene are not working for him. I'm beginning to suspect it is something they came in contact with on the trip. I know that fleas were a problem at Willa's but they were 'protected' beforehand and should not have reacted this much from fleas. It seems more like a food allergy than anything else. I've started brushing Minnie and that seems to help her settle a bit. I will have to force the issue today and try to get as much fur off her as possible. She can always wear a sweater instead of a fur coat.

Missed the OLLI Open House since I was unable to volunteer. I will most likely enroll online for the classes.

Thursday and Today

Ran some errands, paid some bills and did a little shopping. Enough food for a few days.

Today I need to summarize my August expenses and plan for September. I'd like to sign up for a Photography class to be offered in Sept or Oct assuming I will be able to get around sufficiently.

Remainder of the Magical Road Trip Adventure

Left Willa at 7 a.m. Monday morning. Picked up Poop Bags Don saved for me and was on my way to Gig Harbor. Took 3 hours or so and then Patti O and I were on our way south. Sharing the driving we headed south on I-5 and stopped overnight at the Valley View Motel in Canyonville, Oregon. Great room, 2 queen beds, Fridge, Microwave and TV for $80 including the dog fee of $20. I will definitely keep this in mind for any trips north. Good area for dog walks and a picnic table overlooking the river.

Dinner from the cooler and then coffee on Tuesday before heading south to Klamath River rest stop for our brunch. Sharing the driving we arrived at Dairyville between 3 and 4 p.m. I took a cat nap while Patti fixed dinner then at 5 p.m. decided to head for home.

No hesitation. Harder on Min and Max than on me. After all 10-12 hours in the car wears the nerves thin. Happy to be home in our own bed surrounded by all that is known. The ascent of the staircase was a challenge especially since I tried to carry everything I needed upstairs in one trip. I descend the stairs by scooting down one step at a time. That is basically the only secure way I can do it.

The plan for the day is to eat light, rest up, make the dogs feel at home get the garden watered and make a plan for what I might be able to achieve without stressing out.

Breakfast and Socialization

Willa is a great hostess. Last night we had Susan over for drinks and this morning we all had eggs, bacon, sausage, blueberry torte and bread. Susan even brought coffee from Starbucks and we visited until around noon.

I am being a slug. Giving the foot a chance to heal before making the long trip home.

No plans for the day. Maybe another nap, maybe not. I took 30 minutes and cleaned the car and reorganized the coolers.

Weekend in Washington (original post August 12th 2009)

Had a great idea. Why not drive to Vancouver WA for a visit to old friends? Picked up Patti O in Dairyville and made it to Portland just in time for her to catch her train on to Tacoma. Willa prepared a lovely dinner and invited Susan and Garda to join us. Great food and conversation. Even suprised Don and made plans for breakfast.

Then this morning I took a face plant off the step down into the living room. Badly sprained my right ankle (from all indications). No longer sure I will make it to the Pool Party. As of this moment I am thinking I need to go to an Urgent Care Clinic for a diagnosis of the damage incurred.
450 miles from home and my driving foot is impaired.

Turns out that I broke the outer bone in my right foot. 6 years later it's still painful.

Adventure on the Horizon

On Thursday I head to Red Bluff to stay overnight with Patti O. Then Friday we will head for Vancouver, WA. I will visit Willa and Patti will take the train to Tacoma to see her family (daughter, sons, grandchildren). This will give me time with friends and I'll go to Autumn Chase' Annual Pool Party. On the way home we'll visit Patti's sis at Pacific City. If things work out the way I plan Patti can come here and stay as long as she wants then I will take her home to Red Bluff and hopefully visit Cousin Chris. It's all doable for minimum bucks and sure sounds like fun to me.

A Blank Tablet (As They Say)

A new day...and it is mine to define.

I've totally confused the wild birds by moving the bird seed and saucer to the backyard. I'm wondering how long it will take for them to locate it. In the meantime I will toss some seed into the container plants so that they can flock near the front door.

The 'plan' if there is one, is to get the remaining boxes in the hallway/dining room moved upstairs or wherever. I need some organization of sorts to calm my internal voices.

As I Thought About The Problem At Hand

I came to the conclusion that the least I could do would be to move the boxes from the living room to whatever space they belong in (bedroom, kitchen, long term storage). If I have no present (or anticipated future) use for whatever is in the boxes they will have to go live elsewhere.

A community yard sale is planned for next weekend. I can probably be ready by then to share the wealth with anyone who saunters over and expresses any interest in what I have. So, with that in mind. Boxes of things to get rid of can be set aside for the yard sale. Boxes of things to definitely keep will go to their appropriate location. Storage solutions will then be developed for the things that choose to stay.

This actually sounds a bit simplistic. I hope I can make it all work as I imagine.

3 1/2 Months in Arcata

Still living in a CARDBOARD JUNGLE.

The inability to decide what to keep and where to keep it is crippling. Each day I look at the unpacked boxes and freeze. I should be busy organizing my living space but so far I've been unable to come to grips with it. Wouldn't it be nice to have access to what I deem important enough to pay for moving it?

What's needed in my life is some discipline and motivation. Now how do I go about achieving that?

Another Night of Active Dreams

Some of the same people in my consciousness as I awoke this morning. People long gone and out of my mind for awhile. Wonder just what the trigger is.

I'm starting the day with no particular plans. The sun is out and to the East it looks bright and beautiful. To the west that Marine Layer or low fog is hanging on the beach. After I am showered and cleaned up a bit I might consider an adventure of some sort.

Max woke up with a limp this morning. He resists all attempts at an examination. I will look his feet and paws over good and if it persists we'll need to go to a local vet. It looks as if it might have been a thorn in one of his toes. There are blackberry bushes in the backyard where he has been digging at the earth.

Ordered the wallpaper for the dining room and kitchen. Fortunately I have enough leftover to cover the Slider wall and can start on that tomorrow. Unfortunately the rest is on backorder until the end of the month. I can live with that.

Contemplative Mode

Mode or Mood? I woke up early after dreaming of friends long gone. Sometimes I wonder just where those dreams come from. I spent some time cleaning up the kitchen: dishes, polish the sink, sweep the floors, hang a calendar, check the laundry status. Time to do another load of wash.

I'm slowly easing myself into my day. Next big task is to move boxes upstairs to the sewing room and to vacuum the entire house. I might be ready for some electrical switch replacement. Takes forever to get me to do something when I haven't a clue as to what I am doing. I'll brag about whatever gets done later.

I believe I might have settled on just what I would like to do with the front yard. I need to jot my current ideas down and do a cost estimate before I get going with it.

Placed an internet order for Hearthstone Multi to get that Kitchen and Dining Room papered as planned. I have some leftover so will start around the slider and get that door finished out.

So Far Nothing to Speak Of

Looks as if another bright sunset might be developing and instinct tells me I am a fool not to go find a spot for photos. We don't get all that many days here as beautiful as this.

So far I've spent a quiet day. Harvested beets and picked an oversize zucchini that could feed me the entire week. Cooked an excellent Chili Verde for tonight's dinner.

Amber and Kale are all moved out and cleaning now to get their townhouse ready to rent. I will miss them and their pit bull. I love friendly neighbors.

Plan and Execution

I'd like to see myself get a few more boxes unpacked and organized today. I can see the hallway opening up to a welcoming space. Gave several great boxes to Amber for her move into town.

If possible a day trip which includes some dog walking might be in order.

Saturday Night

As I saw the light developing I decided to head out for Little River and see what kind of sunset pics I could get. I settled for parking along the access road and shooting across the sand and beach into the orange globe as it settled in for the night.

I stuck with it as the light ebbed and got this shot as well.

There is certainly an advantage to having rock silhouettes or other interesting detail in the foreground.
After the sun was gone I got this beach front view looking toward Trinidad.

Misadventure

It was an absolutely beautiful day as I stopped for this shot at Cape Mendocino.

Yesterday I thought I'd try a trip to California's 'Lost Coast'. Without adequate research I headed off to Ferndale then West to Petrolia. Here I drove from Cape Mendocino aways south along incredibly desolate black sand beaches. No pullouts to speak of and definitely NO recreation points. I was a bit disappointed as I had intended to spend the day there.

As I drove through Petrolia I stopped for some fresh blackberries along the road and took pics of the Catholic Church on a rise above Mattole Road.

Glanced at the historic Mattole School and the historic Mattole Grange as I passed by and noted the unmarked right turn onto Lighthouse Road. I drove on, tired and hungry and uninterested by now in further exploration.

It was a LONG drive back through Honeydew to 101. I noted the Briceland Rd. turnoff and wondered where it might lead but my quest was getting tiresome and I kept driving on through the Redwoods and some excellent giant trees. Once I was back on 101 I took a sidetrip on Avenue of the Giants and stopped at Redcrest for a late lunch. The Eternal Tree Cafe didn't offer much in the way of healthful options. I ordered the Grilled Ham and Cheese with fries. It messed up my blood sugar and did not sit well with me.

Finally home by 5 p.m. I more or less skipped dinner, opting instead for some Cottage Cheese around 7 p.m.

Will I go back???

Probably and possibly, but most likely it will be to Shelter Cove at the south end of the 'lost coast' and inland through Briceland. There are plenty of beaches nearby to explore first.

New Shower Head

With the new shower head installed I decided a luxurious shower testing all the settings should be the order of the day. It turned out to be a wonderful sunny day after 12 p.m. Unfortunately I had committed to staying home. I will consult a weather report in the morning and if it looks good I might just indulge myself in an adventure of my own choosing. The Lost Coast is calling.

As the day waned and a sunset became obvious I drove the dogs to Moonstone Beach and took several pics.

Fixed a great zucchini frittata for my dinner last night.

Missed the actual setting of the sun but captured this sky at sunset. I saw the sunset developing but at that time of day I rarely have the motivation to load up the camera and dogs and go somewhere for a great shot. I didn't want to miss this fiery cloud action though so I wandered to the back of the Laurel Tree Day Care Center and composed a shot through the blackberry bushes.

Walking on the Hammond Trail

Yesterday I loaded up the dogs and drove over to the Hammond Trail access at the Mad River Bridge. We crossed the bridge then followed the dirt road along the river. Separated by a berm and thick bushes we didn't see much but I had a chance to get some pictures and the dogs were panting from their walk. I need to make this a regular thing for all 3 of us.

We watched as a farmer gathered up his hay.


And the lady scarecrow guarded a Mustard field across the street.


I chased a Bumble Bee from Thistle to Thistle.

It was a nice break from the

dog naps while I play on the computer

sort of day we normally lead.

Victorian Ferndale

Toward late afternoon the sun was out and the errands were run so I took the dogs for a walk along the Eel River in Fortuna.


I stopped in Ferndale and got some pictures 1st.

This is the Gingerbread Mansion. You will find it on the local postcards. By the time I got there the sun was beneath a layer of overcast and the light was not all it could be.