First bud!

 A light rain has been falling on and off all morning. The MITM went out to bring the bins in, saw this first rosebud, and wanted to share it with all y'all! xoxo

We're back from the land of no internet connection!

 The MITM and I spent the weekend in Borrego Springs! We spent Friday touring the area and checking out Galleta Meadows Estate, the heavy-duty sculptures, created by Ricardo Breceda, weigh about 800 to 1,000 pounds each and were commissioned by the late millionaire Dennis Avery. Visitors are allowed to “trespass” to admire the open desert art museum. 

They are an incredible sight to see rising out of the desert floor. We didn't take pics of everything, but you can check out Galletta Meadows at your leisure!

These were some of the MITM's favorites:

My photos were more about the details on the Serpent and need to be downloaded from my camera, so I'll post them later. 

We were in the night sky area and had a chance to see a sky full of stars! The house was isolated so once the moon was visible, we could see everything from the windows without having to be out in the desert cold (ok, I mean I was inside) the MITM had no problem with the temperature! He was able to catch a great shot of the moon with our camera.

Saturday was our 56th wedding anniversary, so we spent the day tooling around the area and made it to Julian. The town is high enough that there was snow! Fortunately for us, roads had been plowed and most of the snow melted in the town and surrounding areas. Lots of history there and also a lot of tourists!

Today on our way home, we stopped in Santa Ysabel to visit Dudley's Bakery on the recommendation of our pal, Robbie! (THANK YOU!!!) It was absolutely delish and we were really happy we stopped. In fact, as I'm writing this I'm enjoying a slice of Raspberry Struedel and a cup of coffee! The croissants were as delicious as those I've had in Paris. Evidently, the pastry chef studied and worked in Paris and brought her skills with her!

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This was one of our best anniversary celebrations! Here's to many more, darlin!

Some of what I've been doing since last we spoke...

These are some random shots of what's growing in the garden today. It always surprises me how bleak the rose bushes look in the winter and how in a few weeks, we'll have gorgeous blooms again! The poppies just started blooming, but we've had big clumps of green leaves waiting patiently for their arrival.

I don't the name of the succulents that are blooming near the curb, but perhaps one of y'all might know from the close-up. (I know I could look it up, but...) There will be more photos as things are planted or blooming.

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We've been busy around here with home repair stuff and various spates of illness on my part, but I'm fine now. Everyone has been busy around here, but we've still had time to host a Valentine's Day party for the family. Unfortunately, I missed the whole thing because I was under the weather and slept the entire day into the night! 

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Dinner's ready and I'm hungry, so I'll see all y'all later! 

xoxo

I've been sick

 For the last couple of weeks, I've had a cough due to cold (if you get that movie reference, you are a star) and general fatigue, not to mention general brain fog. The political atmosphere has done absolutely nothing to elevate my spirit, so that's also contributed to my general malaise.

I don't know, sweetpeas. I feel as if we're at the beginning of the end of this "American experiment" and no one seems to know what to do next.

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On a positive note, we helped friends who'd lost everything in the Altadena fire start over with extra household goods that were just sitting unused in our garage. Super Nana has donated her expertise in negotiating governmental legalize for fire survivors. The outpouring of support for folks has been a real positive and does remind me that there are truly more good people in this world than you'd surmise from the news. 

But is that enough?

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What's next?

I am almost afraid to ask.

January 23, 2025 or How many years has it been since January 20th?

I've been AWOL for a few days for a variety of reasons.

Some are political, but most have been because of an indeterminate malaise that caused me to take to my bed. The poor air quality didn't help, either. Anyway, last night new fires arose. We now have three named fires going (Sepulveda, Hughes, Laguna), in addition to the fires that haven't been completely contained. The LA Times has great coverage if you're interested.  We're on Day 4 of Red Flag warnings, so who knows when it will end.

The friends who lost their home have found a rental, so everyone is finding ways to help them set up/settle. The MITM's cousin finally contacted him and are safe. The Altadena fire came within 200 feet of her home but didn't touch her street. Her block was at the top of a ridge with only one way in or out! I can't imagine how she and her neighbors must have felt. Will I make it out? Or is this the end?

I'll try and make the rounds in Blogville today.

xoxo

Saturday and things are still burning

 It's smoky around here and not the good kind! 

Right now the news is 24/7 coverage about the fires. More friends have had to evacuate their homes in the Encino area and now it seems to be moving towards the Valley. The MITM has had the news on constantly since this all began and it's wearing on me. I finally checked my emails and responded to you know who you are with gratitude for their concern. This is one time that I'm glad not to have a working phone and that the MITM has had to field all the calls!

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm whining because I'm not. We're safe, we've been able to assist friends who've lost everything. 

There's just so much happening around us and it's all out of our control.

Stay safe wherever you are, sweetpeas!

Thursday, a day after the inferno

 Dear Friends,

Thank you all for the concern y'all have expressed in comments left over the last couple of days. 

Our Krewe is safe. Sadly, some friends in Altadena lost their homes to the fire, but they were able to evacuate safely. Super nana's friends living in the Palisades lost their homes, but are safe now. Friends also had to evacuate in the Hollywood Hills and surrounds, but they still have homes to return to. The devastation is monumental and will be years before rebuilding can be completed.

I can't even begin to explain what it's been like watching all of this on TV knowing that it was all happening within 20 miles of our home.

I can't even...