Pink cadillac...with crushed velvet seats

I am still reeling from the loss of my 15 1/2 year old cocker spaniel. I adopted Teaberry when I was still teaching 2nd grade. I was home from school with the misery and indignity of Shingles. I was lonesome, miserable and quite sad. I took myself out to the local shelters to search for my first ever furry friend. After about the third day of looking I found him. He had just been placed in the viewing area after having been residing in the medical area. Besides being neutered, he had been treated for Kennel Cough and infected ears as well as having a bath. As I walked around the viewing area he just stood inside the kennel looking out, not barking, just watching me and wagging his tail. As a cocker spaniel he was a very manageable size. He had shiny black fur with a white lightning bolt on his chest. He had been shaved so I thought he was a short haired breed. (I didn't know much) He luckily still had his full tail ... it had not been docked. I asked about adoption and was taken inside his kennel to meet him. He charmed me and I asked if I could go purchase some supplies before I took him because I had nothing. I was told NO that I they could only hold him for a short while. When I pointed out that the facility was closing soon they agreed to hold him until the following morning.

To be continued...

I am feeling very blessed. Despite the miserable temperatures today I remain comfortable in my lightly air conditioned home. As I get older I am less able to tolerate the heat. I lack energy and drive and thus do not accomplish chores I think I should be able to do. It's all I can do to survive.

On the other hand I am trying to think of things to motivate me with little success. Running on a deficiency of sleep is not helping. Trump, his agenda, his followers, and his henchmen have taken their toll. Feeling powerlessness and loss of the world as I knew it add to my sense of depression. I feel like I am fighting my way through pea-soup ...

I didn't mean to write about this

How about a quick listing today?
*It has been a "hoot" watching Victoria, the owl, in my owl box, as she nurtures and feeds her owlets. The owl box is kept filled with rodent carnage by Albert, a most enterprising and conscientious owl daddy. I think there may be only one egg still to hatch out of the batch of six. Due to their staggered laying times the babies are hatching on a staggered schedule. Thus they are all sizes. Victoria seems to do around the clock feeding. She must be exhausted!

*My postcard is written and stamped ready for 3.15.17, the Ides of Trump. I am daily appalled and horrified by what emanates from the White House.

*Spring has sprung here. Due to the recent rains everything is green and beautiful ... even the weeds.

* New circulating ball type fountain for my garden. So lovely and tranquil.

*Betty has come and gone. She stayed with Teaberry so that I could experience 3 days of Catalina. First visit.

*Added Signage Team to Water Conservation responsibilities. Clayton gave permission yesterday for pot purchase for parterre. My mother and I are purchasing a large fountain for succulent planting in the formal garden area.

*Haircut and color urgently needed!

*New neighbor in rental house with many cars. Usually 5 at a time but not always the same five. Not sure who is there. Pitfall of a large home next door is that hordes move in and feel free to park in front of my home.

*Daylight savings time already!?!

I couldn't NOT march. I had to do it. I've been needing an active way to express my feelings and DO SOMETHING. Although I have signed petitions, called justice dept. and senators I need to do more. The situation existing now in the US has been imposed upon us not requested by us. Daily the situation worsens and spreads. The burden feels heavier the space to move tighter. I am in a position of ease in my own life right now but others are not. My children are busily engaged in earning a living. I know that I am fortunate ... but I cannot rest easy while others suffer in so many ways. What happens here has a worldwide effect.

Thus, I attended the San Diego branch of the Women's March. Daughter Suzy, longtime friend Colleen and I boarded the trolley early in East county. We carried our home made signs, march sweatshirts, and rain gear (yes we have been undergoing a deluge). How can I describe what I saw and felt? Like minded people, People with a myriad of issues. Strong people. Old people on crutches. Children, babies even. Families, parents, grandparents. Friends. Strangers. (We never ran into anyone we knew even though all three of us had gaggles of friends and acquaintances going). Signs were everywhere (much creativity and even humor abounded.) People filled the high balconies of the parking garage nearby. We stood in the courtyard of the Civic Center. We could not hear the speeches over the crowd and the poor speaker system but we tried to listen anyway. Rain began pouring down upon us. Still we stood trapped in the center of this living organism of the Women's March. Later I was to learn that we were 40thousand strong. Finally we began to move, slowly. Then things came to a halt as people from surrounding streets melded into the stream of people. We followed as a sea of people saw an alternative way to empty the courtyard and join the slow moving stream. It was just about a mile of actual walking to reach the county building but we walked with one intent ... to be heard and seen. At the harbor people watched from the cruise ships at dock and waved and cheered. And the stream went on and on and on. It just felt to good to know that I am not alone in my box of fear and stress. There is strength in numbers. It's just a beginning but worldwide people are fired up and ready to go do more.

After I returned home I got a text from Jim. He said he didn't feel like going out that night and I could use our tickets to the Fabulous Thunderbirds concert. I called to check on him. He said that he didn't feel like going because I had participated in the march.
THE END

We live in a world that is much more dangerous than yesterday.

Just registered for the Susan G Komen 5K in Balboa Park. This will be my 5th year of participation. Motivated by hanging out with daughter Suzy and Jim (his wife had breast cancer). It will be up early due to November time change.

I worked with Clayton yesterday morning in The Garden figuring out the pathway and adjusting plant placement and more. He asked for my input/approval on all changes. I told him that ultimately it is his garden. He asked if I really felt that and I had to admit that since the design is mostly mine and since I have spent a multitude of hours there figuring things out, doing physical labor as well as making up a timeline of what needs to be done, when, & by whom I really do feel some ownership. I said it must be Our Garden.

TB is doing better. Since the vet took him off the medication that was making him so sick it has been much easier to get the other med down him. No "episodes" but I am hyper-aware that sometimes his legs are unsteady.

House is clean. Lillian came yesterday and my aim is to keep it fairly neat, tidy, & clean for at least a few days. As I look around I see so much that I need to do to improve my space: paint, carpet, flooring, new kitchen lighting, and of course new hardscape so I can complete the back yard.

The Garden Gala was very fun. I loved dressing up and having a real dance floor where we could try out our swing dancing and night club 2-step.

Jim is almost done with his 3 year project of remodeling his son's home. He is quite the renaissance man. It is amazing!

At night I hear an owl/owls in the back yard. They are looking for the owl box. Our aim is to get it up in it's new location this week.

Halloween is coming up. I toyed with the idea of turning out lights and ignoring it. It drives Teaberry crazy to have the doorbell ring and have weird strangers at the door. Ultimately I was horrified by this plan knowing how much I enjoyed Halloween as a kid.

That's all I've got.

* Family has come and gone. My mother turned 94 AND passed her driver's test. Several restaurants were visited. No birthday cake. Instead homemade peach cobbler and chocolate pie.

*I gave two formal garden presentations. One was at the garden docent meeting. Clayton's power point didn't work so I had only the design map for illustration. The other was a small group of docent trainees. The power point that Jim helped me with played beautifully. I don't enjoy public speaking but they both went well.

* I have been out of sorts. Backache, not going to gym, not so good test results. Eating too much chocolate. Must avoid cholesterol and sugar. What to do about osteoporosis? TRUMP! Heat is doing me in but so tired of air conditioning.

* Teaberry is having issues. A couple of new incidents of legs shaking and difficulty getting around. They only lasted a couple of minutes BUT something is wrong with my boy. Saw vet on Friday and have neurology appt. for next Monday. Anticipating $4000 MRI.

* Heard from Suzy as her tuition is due. Saw Michael but didn't really get to talk to him.

* Looking at old 8mm film to see if it should be converted.

* The owls are gone. No idea what happened. Neighbor complaints even though I went out of my way to appease (cookies, children's book, photo's for kids, offer to buy earplugs).

*Just sad.

That's it in a nutshell.

Last night the female (we think) owl was in the doorway of the owl box screeching for room service. Jim took the opportunity to capture her image using a flash this time. Isn't she beautiful?

Friday night a whole cadre of food trucks parked inside beautiful Balboa Park. We perused them all but settled on Thai food. I had pad see ew with Thai iced tea and Jim tried Drunken noodles with Iced coffee. It was my first food truck experience and it was a good one.

Yesterday, Sunday, I went to the art museum in Balboa Park to view the Quilts and Color exhibit. Gorgeous old quilts, mostly pre 1900, mostly from Pennsylvania (with the exception of a stunning Baltimore quilt). I find that my current favorites are the simple Amish ones, done with large pieces and dark but bold colors. The exhibit leaves next weekend so I was so glad to be able to make a second visit.

Today is housecleaning day (Lillian Day). My hard work of picking up and organizing is done and the rest is in her capable hands. So grateful to have her.

List form tonight.
* The owls are still here. Saw one of the parents flying last night with a huge wingspread. Still unable to capture a photo. Frustrating! We sat out on the patio after dark and listened to the babies screech. I actually like to hear it.
* Jim and his cadre of flying monkeys (Teaberry) assembled the new green metal gazebo today except for the roof. It looks surprisingly good. I worried about positioning it but I think it will be fine.
* Lazy hot day today. Low energy. More heat to come but slightly lower temps.
* School is in session and I am not. That is perfectly fine with me.
* Must clean a few drawers and cupboards this week.