Spring Slide Into Summer

Lest you think I dropped off the face of the earth, here in brief are some of the things that have been filling my days as spring slipped into summer.

My daughters' place in San Francisco is my home away from home and I've spent three weekends and various just-for-the-day visits there so far this year.  One weekend we walked out the front door and down a few blocks to a farmer's market to pick up delicious fruits and veggies.

We breakfasted at a cute little crepe cafe with such fabulous food there was a line to get in.  Decisions, decisions....

Another time we went to a One Republic Concert at Shoreline Amphitheater.  It was the perfect night!  Daylight surrounded us when we arrived, but turned to twilight and soon we were "Counting Stars" (One Republic fans will understand that one!).  Loved how the tent over the stage blended with the sky as dusk fell.

 

One Republic was great -- very talented musicians, and we noticed they seem to appeal to many age groups.

Then there was the Giants game at AT&T Park a couple of weeks ago!  

 We walked through the Willie Mays Gate

 

 and found our seats, up high but with a beautiful view of the bay...

 and the famous coke and glove made for a "giant."

We are enthusiastic Giants fans and were tickled to see 

legendary Stan Lee throw the first ball (below).  

We happened to be seated in a section across from a traveling group of 400 Mets fans who were soooo loud and quite honestly rather obnoxious throughout the game.  Could hardly hear ourselves think for the ruckus they raised.  The Giants trailed behind throughout the game and they were not going to let us forget it.  However, in the 9th inning, our boys passed up the Mets and won the game.  I confess, the victory was even sweeter given what we had to put up with throughout the game.

Besides the usual reading ,writing and speech "therapying," other things that have filled my time as spring slipped into summer included...

~Going hat shopping in Carmel with a friend at the Carmel Hat Shop (just click on the link and take a virtual visit), then wearing them to dine al fresco at Forge in the Forest 

~Speaking at a June Tea event and wearing my new hat!

~Spending time with friends and family

~Attending the photography club and becoming enthused about becoming a more skilled photographer!

~Enjoying fresh flowers that I've had the pleasure of receiving from various friends and occasions

~Savoring fresh fruits and salads, appreciating exercise routines, and lining up those tiresome but necessary dentist and doctor checkups

~Enjoying my doggies and my kitties.  Although unrelated, since Scarlet was a baby kitten when I brought her home she thought Violet was her mama. Violet rose to the occasion and has been very maternal toward her, snuggling and grooming her. You have to admit, they're adorable.

 

 Such are the days of our lives!

Antique Roses and White Hydrangeas

Saturday I joined friends for a special tea at the historic First Mayor's House.  Croissant sandwiches, lemon bars, and fresh fruit were arranged on sparkling crystal plates.  An assortment of interesting tea pots contained flavorful blends of tea.  But one of the things that really caught my eye were the luscious boquets of beautiful flowers on each table.  One of my friends enjoys flower arranging and she explained how she made the arrangements -- I was inspired!  She even gave me one of the small table decorations to take home and I have been enjoying it ever since.  It is a simple, but elegant, arrangement of antique roses and white hydrangeas with just the right amount of greenery in a basic mason jar.

Simple but elegant is just my style and I placed these on my family room table so I can enjoy them all evening long.  Aren't they pretty?   Whenever I have fresh flowers, Violet has to explore them.  I think she is pretending to be hiding in a jungle.

Even at day's end, they are charming. 

Encylopedia of Moi: C

Summer school is over, my traveling is complete, so maybe I can move along with my blog once again during these last blissful weeks of summer vacation!  My oh my -- up to letter C.  I believe mon "Encyclopedia of Moi" amies are on letter K so no keeping up with them now.  This encyclopedia will have to be completed in my own sweet time.  So let's move forward with the letter....

Calendars -- I've kept daily calendars since high school -- and by "kept" I mean in a drawer.  I can tell you where I was and what I was doing any day of any year for the past four decades.  Nerdy, I know.

California -- I love this state. We moved here from the midwest when I was in elementary school, so I'm not a native, but have spent most of my life here.  It has it all -- beaches, forests, mountains, deserts, quiet nature or exciting city life.  Quirks and all, I stand by California.

Cats -- When I was a little girl we had a cat that fit into my Chatty Cathy doll's clothes perfectly.  Poor kitty.  There have been cats in my life ever since.  Seems in our family, a house isn't a home without a cat hanging around.  Last fall my house became catless when Ash moved out with her orange tabby.  So I visited the local animal shelter, intending to adopt one adult cat, but the shelter volunteer told me about their two-for-one special and helped me fall in love with an adorable kitten (I'm partial to Siamese cats, can you tell?).  Scarlet was an itty bitty baby who thinks 2-year-old Violet is her mama (she's not, even though they look alike).  Violet has good naturedly taken this maternal role in stride and allows Scarlet to cuddle with her, they groom one another and play together.  Scarlet has grown since her homecoming picture below -- she is lively and spirited and plays with the dogs fearlessly. 

Here is glamorous Violet.  Silly girl -- I set my tote bag and suitcase on my window seat when I returned home from Florida a couple days ago and Violet couldn't wait to make herself at home in the bag!

Cocoa -- It's a bit odd but my sisters and I are not coffee drinkers -- instead we grew up with a warm cup of cocoa in the morning.  Even now, all these years later, whenever we stay at one another's home we offer each other a cup of cocoa in the morning.

Creativity -- Where would we be without creativity?  It's been a touchstone throughout my life.  This word embraces inventions, art, music, progress, problem solving, decorating, educating -- so many avenues.  Everyone has the ability to be creative, and what is so cool is that it can take so many different forms!  My friends and family engage in so many admirable pursuits:  one daughter writes books, another writes songs, one creates tunes on the piano, another takes amazing photos.  Some of my friends make beautiful quilts, some have enviable gardens, one takes oil painting lessons in her retirement.

My sister Chris makes beautiful scrapbooks, my sister Linda has a home filled with antiques and personal momentoes that exude charm!  I write poetry, create family journals and albums of our life stories and photos, create themes and materials for my speech and language therapy, and am always exploring other creative outlets.  Creativity feeds our spirits, allows us to experience a taste of success, and provides joy in knowing it is our own work and inspiration that brought the idea to fruition.  What do you do to honor your creativity?

 Join in and create your own Encyclopedia of Moi.  Link to:
http://shannonsswell.blogspot.com/2011/02/encyclopedia-of-moi-volume-d.html

Missing Cookie

We lost our beloved cat Cookie in January. She was actually my daughter's cat and we had her since she was a newly-weaned kitten -- 13 years. Cookie was mischievous, very social and playful. We miss her greeting when we walk in the door, her cuddling up on our laps, and her sly looks at us when she got into trouble and "didn't want to hear about it". She'd been in and out of the vet office mid January, getting IV fluids and tests run. After spending a couple nights at the animal hospital, our vet suggested we bring her home for the weekend and see if her familiar environment would help her perk up. She seemed happy to be home, but became lethargic again very quickly. We knew it was time to say goodbye.

Cookie, like all of our pets, was a part of our family and it was so hard to let go. I'm so glad that we were able to spend the years we did with her.

The Seven Dwarfs Live in Our House

Awhile back my daughters decided to give the seven of us residing in our house nicknames borrowed from the Seven Dwarfs in the fairy tale Snow White. Here we go....

Happy - this is the nickname of our Maltese mix dog Frosty. Frosty is ALWAYS happy, loves everyone, wags his tail constantly. What a great disposition! Frosty was rescued from the SPCA after his original owner died and there was no one to take him in.

Bashful - this is the nickname of our black spaniel mix dog Chaucer. Chaucer is sweet and calm, rarely barks, holds back in a shy manner. He was also rescued from the SPCA who found him wandering the streets, and he is an absolute love.

Doc - this applies to Lys's cat Cookie. Cookie is a long haired black cat who rules the roost. We swear she understands English and everything we say, and sits smugly in judgement of the inferior humans around her. She is mischevious and clever, and quite social -- always joining in where we are.
Grumpy - this applies to Ash's orange cat Serena. Serena started out serene -- quiet and reserved. But she has become a one-person cat and when Ash isn't around, neither is Serena. She bellows when someone approaches her, but will make up to some -- on her terms. You would never guess that Serena and Cookie are from the same litter.

Dopey - Ash's nickname as she likes to be silly and goofy.

Sleepy - Lys's nickname as she seems to need her sleep to be at the top of her game.

Sneezy - Yes, this is me, fitting as I have a tendency to sneeze not once, but about 10 times in a row.