Tropical Storm Survivor

Ok so, I’m glad to be in the other side of THIS event!  The first tropical storm to hit here in 84 years happened last night.  Lots of rain and a few hours of big wind after supper but, luckily, it wasn’t that bad.  Frankly last winter’s storms were worse.  But they closed all public places, cancelled 250 flights and even delayed the start of school here by a day.  Luckily it hit land in Baja California before it hit here, so apparently that knocked some of the force out of it,  Felt a bit uneasy as I took Pete and Solveig to LAX on Friday to catch their flight to Norway, so it was just me  and the 2.5 million dollar house here to weather the storm!  Anyway, all is now well.  Back to “Bob Days” tomorrow! 🤞🏼👍🏼

 

3,232.8 Km To My Happy Place

On Wednesday, I arrived back in San Diego for another glorious, extended stay.  This time I’m housesitting for 2 weeks while Pete and Solveig go to Norway for their 25th anniversary.  Luckily I was able to add a “bonus” week because their place was unbooked, so I came a week earlier than originally planned.   After a bit of a delay leaving, which shortened my weekend with Lee, I set off last Sunday.  Stopped in Fort Macleod, Idaho Falls, Idaho and Hurricane, Utah (where I stayed in a really nice casita!). So I have settled back into my routine here already and I am really looking forward to the next 7 weeks.  I have plans of pottery, painting, pool, ocean walks, audiobooks, good coffee, movies, a Padres game, yoga and who knows what all good things else!  I can’t even describe how much better I feel when I’m here.   Life is good again.

A Watercolor Week With Willie Wong

 Wow!  My brain is full.  I thoroughly enjoyed my week of watercolor lessons with Willie Wong at Red Deer College last week.   What an impressive facility and program !  I will definitely go back again.  Learned some new techniques, produced 6 new pieces, met some nice people and stayed at a pretty good Air B and B.  Rounded off the week with a visit with Wayne, Janaya and boys in Airdrie and then two days at the South Country Fair in Fort Macleod with a bunch of Holfeld’s.  A hot, hippy, fun time was had by all!  It was a nice little holiday and change of pace.   

Missed this at the Silent Auction by $5! 🥴

5 Years

 2023

As I mark my 5 year since retirement date today, I admit to feeling a little older, not really wiser, a little achier, and still trying to find my groove.   Albeit better than it was, I haven’t really settled into the groove like I thought I would.  I am learning to fill my days but there are still times when I wonder how productive I am being.  I am awaiting a second aspiration on Tuesday on the seroma on my back, which I hope will remove it completely. 🤞🏼. I’m looking forward to going back to San Diego in mid-August until October.   I paint, I walk and listen to audiobooks.  I really enjoyed tutoring.  The  summer days are long and warm and beautiful lately.  Thankfully the smoke from the country being in fire haven’t been too bad around here lately.  Life is good.  I am lucky.  I have much to be grateful for.  I continue to reframe my thinking about finding fulfillment at this phase of my life.  

When A Pie Isn’t Just A Pie

On Saturday, it was 17 years since Mom passed away.

When we culled the house last weekend, we found a pie in the deep freeze- the last one my mom ever made.  

It was made with years of practice, crafted with care and filled with love.  She trimmed off and cut away the things that weren’t necessary and focused on the things that brought out the best in it’s contents, gave it room and time to become the best that it could be, and then left it to cool and let all the things she did and gave to it settle and become it’s own unique and special entity.  Then she served it proudly and humbly.

Like I said, sometimes a pie isn’t just a pie.

Thanks Mom.  You are loved and missed.  ❤️❤️🥲❤️❤️

   

Change Is Good..Right?

Today marks my last day in my childhood home.  Brenda is selling our house and moving to the units, so I have spent this Easter helping her move.  Tonight will be the last time I sleep here in the house I grew up in.  So many good memories here.  So grateful to have had such an anchoring place to call home.   But, time moves along and changes become necessary.  This is a good move for sis.   I hope she can sell it to someone who can be as happy here as we were.

So, to mark the occasion, we had a drink of rye and Chinese food for supper.

Thanks again for everything, Mom and Dad! 🥹

Remembering Inspirational Artistic Spaces

I mean, come on!