Just An Ordinary Day in Paradise

I'm of the mind that one shouldn't really complain a lot on a blog. Folks don't really want to hear all about negative stuff. However, I have just had it with Bright House network. Since January, when I decided to go digital, I have had problems with my televisions. The digital boxes have been a pain, having to be re-programmed anytime the power goes off or the tv gets unplugged. I've had to use two different remotes, which is annoying, and this week, when I disconnected the digital box in the living room, the television in the bedroom turned off.

This story could get very long and monotonous. However, cutting to the chase, I had both digital boxes removed. I really don't care that my picture is a little grainy--we can't see that well anyway. The entire world is a little grainy if you ask me. I don't care that I can't get OWN network anymore. I thought I could not live without Oprah but the truth is, I will be just fine, thank you very much.

We made a conscious decision to take the television out of the living room in order to create an area that encourages conversation. We have removed the television cabinet, rearranged the furniture, and are very excited about the way the room looks. We feel a certain sense of freedom no longer having to worry about our digital cable boxes and when they will decide not to work. We are back to only one remote that we understand.

It's been an extremely busy week. We have rearranged the house, made arrangements to have the house painted the week after Thanksgiving, are having new hardware installed on two exterior doors, and are re-thinking our landscaping to make it less labor intensive. We have ordered an additional rug for the living room area and are waiting to have some furniture picked up to consign at a store downtown. Good thing we went on a long trip because we don't know how to relax here at home. On the bright side though, we took the bicycles to the shop today for a tune-up and new tires. Look out! There will soon be two old women on the loose on mountain bikes somewhere in Ocala.

Early Rising

I have always been an early riser. I don't know how one becomes such but I just cannot sleep late. It may be because my mother never let me sleep past seven on weekends or maybe because my body rhythm is wired like that. And so I sit here in the early morn, before light has broken across the sky, catching up on the happenings that occurred while I was sleeping.

My friend Elizabeth wrote a blog about her morning routines and rituals and how they have comforted her no matter where she has lived. I find that I, too, am comforted by my morning rituals and routines as I'm sure we all are. When I was still working, I would allow myself extra time in the morning to take a walk in the garden. When my children were still small and in school, I would wake up at least thirty minutes earlier than anyone in the house. I would make coffee, get myself a cup, and sit by the front window and watch the sun come up. It was "my" time and I treasured it.

I like walking through the house when no one else is awake. I love the smell of coffee as is brews in the pot. I wait for the first sound of the birds as they make their way to the feeders each morning. And I walk in the garden.

Sometimes, I sit on the back steps and just watch everything come to life. Sometimes, I read. But always, always, I take it slowly. I don't like to be hurried in the morning. For me, it is the best time of day.

Some Favorite Places Along the Way

The Basque Market in Boise, Idaho. A place that took us back in time to the Basque settlers that came to Idaho. My family is from northern Spain so the food from the market and history in the museum were wonderful for me.
The olive grove and vineyard in Hopland, California. A beautiful place with awesome wine and olive oil.
The vineyards along the way in wine country.
The Farmer's Market in Portland, Oregon.
The Pacific Ocean seen while driving along the Pacific Highway.

Home

We are home and happy to be back in our little digs. I always say that one of the wonderful things about going away is coming back. It always gives me an appreciation of my home and space and, while modest, seeming luxurious after living for two months in our little trailer. Even Cocoa loves being back in her place. When she realized we were home, she ran to the back door and ran circles around and around in her backyard pen. She is back in her favorite chair and remembers all of the routines that result in treats.

We spent yesterday unpacking all of the food from the trailer. Today, we will probably unpack the laundry and bedding.

The Honda has a dead battery even though we had a friend come and start it two or three times per week. However, the birds were taken care of and the lawn is cut and trimmed so everything looks beautiful. It's hard to believe that while we were driving our eight thousand miles, the weeks were making their way toward Thanksgiving. The holidays are upon us, aren't they? It's really easy to be separated from reality on a long trip. It will take me a few days to ease back in to the routine of "now".

In the meantime, I will be out in the garden with my coffee, talking to the birds and the plants. Later, I will begin the weeding......a mindless task that gives me "think" time. Right now, the sun is coming up, the dog is asleep in her chair, and I'm making my second trip to the coffee pot. It's good to be home.

Our Favorite Emergency Campground

For those of you who are not campers, you may not know that WalMart allows campers to spend one night in their parking lot at no charge. It is not the fact that there is no charge that is important to campers like us. What is important is that sometimes there are no acceptable campgrounds in towns we are passing through. Or we get to a campground and it doesn't feel safe.

That is what happened to us in Salina, Kansas, our fourth day out for this trip. We checked in to a campground that then began to feel very iffy to us. We felt very weird and I have a rule that if I don't feel comfortable walking the dog at night in a campground, it is not the place for us. So in Salina, Kansas, we left the campground and stayed the night at WalMart.


Tonight we had a similar experience. We had planned on a particular campground in Mississippi but when we arrived, there was no way we would stay there. So we sought out the nearest WalMart, spent some money on groceries, and tucked in next to a very large motor home with the same idea. In the morning, we will go back into the store to the McDonald's and have breakfast. Then it's on the road back into Florida to see my daughter and grandchildren.

Whatever you may think of WalMart, we can tell you that the store parking lot is a sight for sore eyes after a long day on the road. Thanks Sam Walton.

Since High School

Since high school, I have loved tiaras. I don't know why. Maybe because I have always wanted to be royalty. I wore a tiara to my junior high school prom and I wore a tiara to my high school prom.

My bridal veil was held in place by a pearl encrusted tiara.

My avatar on Etsy is a tiara.

While in Portland, Oregon, Janet and I visited a fabric and notion store that was over an acre and a half in size. The fabrics were wonderful and the notions were endless. However, when I discovered the tiara department, I was in heaven. There were cases and cases of different styles of tiaras and I could not resist drooling over each and every one.

Finally Some Photos

We are finally at a campground whose internet connection works with my picture transfer software. Just a couple of photos for now.

This was taken in one of the wine caves in the wine country in California. We happened upon this vineyard in Hopland, CA. Not in Sonoma; not in Napa. But in a beautiful section of road as we explored this area.



The same vineyard also had olive trees on the property so we did wine tasting and olive oil tasting.





Driving along the Pacific highway, we stopped at Patrick's Point, a recommendation from my friend, Nancy. Although it was a rainy day, it was gorgeous.