Life On The Central Coast

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."    ~Native American Proverb As I was working in my garden this morning I was thinking that exact thought. What kind of world AM I leaving to my kids and grandkids? A world full of debt? (nearly 17,000,000,000,000!) A too strong Government that is only getting stronger as it feeds off removing freedom after freedom? "Super Farms" that use GMO seeds, super fertilizers,pesticides and yet whose end product isn't as nutritional as something grown without all that? Pesticides that actually KILL the biggest pollinators, bees! A medical Dr./ insurance/ pharmacy trio that works to make sure you never REALLY get well? (Remember the days when you actually got OVER something? When Drs. FIXED what was wrong with you?) There's poverty, racism, injustice, overcrowding, polluted lakes, oceans, streams and groundwater from agricultural run off and trash being dumped into it .... well, the li...

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Thanksgiving is only a week away. People all around the United States will be celebrating with a bountiful table filled with roast turkey or a vegetarian substitute with all the trimmings. We in America are really blessed when it comes to food. Most of us have never experienced starvation or empty cupboards. When I was little, I did hear stories of that from my Mom though who lived through the Depression as a young girl. There is a really sweet woman over on YouTube, Clara , who features Depression Cooking along with stories of what it was like to live during that time. Check her out! But for my entire life, my cupboards, refrigerator, pantry shelves and freezer have been full. Sometimes too full. We not only have food, a substance to fill our hungry stomachs, but we can have what we want to eat, when we want to eat it, pretty much fresh the entire year round! Fancy restaurants take ...

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Meister Eckhart 1260-1328 Christian Writer and Theologian You may have noticed... I've skipped just a few days. Well, really more than just a few. But I have a good reason..... A brand new Grand-daughter has made her way into our lives! Meet Audrey Elizabeth! Born: November 11, 2010 Weight: 7 lbs. She is such a little GIRL!! The spittin' image of her older brother, Anthony, just more pink... and girlie.... and feminine. I think I've been walking around in a cloud of happiness for the last week as I did for all my grandsons. And I'm SO THANKFUL for them all!! Here's a shout out to all the other Grandparents out there!! Don't we have alot to be Thankful for?? I'd love it if you share a link to pictures of YOUR grandkids on YOUR blog!

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Meister Eckhart 1260-1328 Christian Writer and Theologian Technology. Think how many things have been created or upgraded in just the last 25 years. It's absolutely amazing! In the 1990's, we got our first cell phone. Compared to the cell phones of today... IT WAS HUGE! And it pretty much installed in the car, for use in the car not out running around like we do today. We had cassette tape players and DVD players that have almost been replaced by something 1/3 of the size that can hold even MORE information, music, books, etc. Computers have gone from taking up an entire ROOM to desktop versions, laptops and not the notebook size. All I can say is... it's really exciting. I can't wait to see where technology is going next. As my husband and I age, we think it's pretty important to "keep up", technologically speaking. And affordable, these items are not all...

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Meister Eckhart 1260-1328 Christian Writer and Theologian This morning when I wet to pick up my Sunday paper outside, it was all wet from the coastal fog. So quiet, just the birds making noise. Everything was covered in little diamond drops. It was magical. I sat out front in my rocking chair and it was so peaceful. I don't know how other people do it. I have to have some moments of total silence to think. Too many days can go by with noise, hustle bustle, things to be done, appointments, duties and errands. Before you know it, the time right after waking up in the morning and the time right before bed are the only times in the day left to myself. Mornings like today help remind me how Thankful I am for QUIET SOLITUDE . And that I need to make more time to rest, meditate and give thanks.

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Meister Eckhart 1260-1328 Christian Writer and Theologian It is said that when you find the perfect work, it isn't work at all. Some people know what they want to "be" from the time they are children. Others decide somewhere along the way. Some jobs require years and years of formal education and some less. Some find a need a fill it creating entire business empires from simple ideas. When I was young and thinking what I'd like to do for the rest of my life, it was simple... I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to stay home with my kids and teach them, attend PTA meetings, volunteer at their schools, cook, sew and be a supportive partner for my husband. When I was in High School, I took all the Home Ec classes offered, babysat for friends of my parents and also took secretarial courses "just in case" plan A didn't work out. AND... I was lucky enough to have a ...

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Meister Eckhart 1260-1328 Christian Writer and Theologian Yesterday I went for a walk on the Beach. The sun was shining, the breeze was cool and it made me feel so relaxed. We take in information about the world around us everyday, without even thinking much about it, through our senses. Today I am Thankful to be able to S ee, Hear, Taste, Feel and Smell all that is around me! Since this is Thanksgiving month, just imagine that feast without senses. The table is set in finery, flowers, a fruit bowl, candles. We gather around with family and friends, laughing and talking, exchanging a hug or handshake, "feeling the love". Then we sit down and in comes the food.... the turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing... all the tantalizing smells of what we are about to eat. Ummmm, and the taste! Then the blessing comes, heartfelt, quiet... we listen and are fille...

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Meister Eckhart 1260-1328 Christian Writer and Theologian Today, I am Thankful for my HOME . Everyday I consider myself one of the lucky ones. Since I've been married, I've lived in apartments, duplexes and rental homes. By far, home ownership is THE BEST! Back in 1995, we started looking for our current home. Each of us made a request that we put on a larger list. The kids each wanted their own bedroom. My youngest daughter had to have a tree out front to climb. For my husband it was a garage (and economical price tag!) and for me it was a large backyard and a peak of the ocean. We must have looked at 10 places... all either too small or too expensive. Then, after having another offer fall through, our Realtor showed us this house that was JUST put on the market, as is, a foreclosure. We made an offer THAT DAY... my Valentine's gift of 1995! It was accepted and we moved in...

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Meister Eckhart 1260-1328 Christian Writer and Theologian Election Day! Bet you can guess what I'm Thankful for today... that's right, to live in a "Free" Country and have the ability to vote. Did you know, that in California, women have only had the right to vote for 99 years? That's right. Next year will be the 100 year anniversary. I'm a registered voter and try to vote in every election. Now that I vote by absentee ballot, it is easier then ever to make my vote count. You know, the things that I vote for do not always win, and those I vote for are not always the winners either, but it is still better than living where there is no choice. At least I get to sit down and read through the voting material and make an educated choice for the person, party, measures that I think would be of a benefit to our nation. So I'm thankful for the ability to vote, for...

"If The Only Prayer You Say In Your Entire Life Is - 'Thank You' - That Is Enough" Meister Eckhart 1260-1328 Christian Writer and Theologian November is the PERFECT month to have Thankfulness as a focus. The seasons are changing and as always, the holidays are piling one on top of another, hardly allowing us to stop for anything much less giving thanks. Every day this month, I'm going to share with you, those things in my life that I am thankful for. Today, I am Thankful for my Life ; My parents, upbringing, my teachers, religious education, childhood friends, all those who touched my life as a small child and helped make me who I am today. I always tell my children that if you look back, you are pretty much the same person you were as a child only older and maybe a bit less innocent. That cutie in the stroller was me. Yes, I had on my teether as a crown... a princess even then! And I'm with my older sister, Lana. She is almost 5 years older than me. Lucky me,...

You all know that I've been PLANNING for a closet remodel. Planning... it's good but it's not action. Action gets things DONE! Well, right now my husband is working a planned outage at his plant and is working so many hours he has not time left over for my projects. That's where the magic happens. Just when I thought it wasn't going to happen, at least not anytime soon, I get this call from my son-in-law, Mike V. , saying he can work it into his schedule!! He came over on Monday to take out all the old stuff and he's coming back tomorrow and the next day to finish the project! Tonight we buy supplies. I'm pinching myself in disbelief that it is actually happening. It's one thing to see it on paper and totally another to be able to actually have it complete. I hope to be able to paint the closet before putting everything back in so it will look and smell fresh and new. So I created a slideshow, a bit boring if you see it for what it is... but empty is goo...

Last night I had a real treat.... a visit with my childhood friend, Earlene. We met in 6th grade in Winslow, AZ and were friends until my parents moved to Barstow, CA during Easter vacation, 1971. Our friendship spanned those critical years between childhood and early adolescence. Those special years where all of a sudden, boys started to look pretty good, we went to our first school dance and learned how to rotate through classes in Winslow Jr. High School. I haven't seen Earlene since I left back in 1971, that would be 39 years ago!! You can imagine.... we had a LOT of catching up to do. So let me back up a bit... as I was growing up, I always imagined myself married to a handsome cowboy, riding horses, gardening and living out in the country, WAY out in the country. My parents were "city folk", but I always saw myself differently. Earlene's family was the closest thing to that I knew back in Winslow. Her mom was a stay at home mom that cooked, had "pets" ...

Facing yet another wash day it got me thinking..... I wonder what the history of the washing machine is? Are you ready ladies........ and gents?? Ancient people cleaned their clothes by pounding them on rocks or rubbing them with abrasive sands; and washing the dirt away in local streams. This sounds cold, wet and back is hurting just watching the manual labor. As crappy as this sounds, there are plenty of people still doing laundry this way! Look, in that bunch of women is a MAN and I think I see a boy helping too! You could simulate soap by using the roots of the Soapwort plant usually found growing around streams and rivers. The earliest washing "machine" was the scrub board invented in 1797. Don't you LOVE the word machine here? I mean.... the PEOPLE were basically the machine, the board was the tool! Hand operated washing machines.... Water could be drawn, brought in and put in a basin or kettle, warmed (??), and then wishy-washy, wishy-washy and all the clothes were...