Harvest tree

My sister's fabulous decorated harvest tree. What a masterpiece.

It appears that poor Doodles has fretted himself down to a skeleton.  Just kidding! But I sit on the sofa looking at this thing wondering if it could anatomically correct for a Dachshund? If so, what a strange creature with spine and ribs like a serpent. Spooky enough!
 

Thank you for your patience

McCarran Airport Las Vegas

What a miserable morning in Seattle yesterday, with drenching Pineapple Express rain. The day turned into the usual hurry up and wait flying experience. Checked in with time to spare (I thought) and then spent almost an hour weaving back and forth in the security line. 

No time for food or coffee and got to the gate just as it was boarding. For me, a little too close for comfort. Finally everyone was settled in their seats and just as we were scheduled to leave, the pilot announced a problem with the back door. The estimate was a hour delay.  

Of course a collective groan went up from the passengers. The maintenance crew arrived and the problem was indeed fixed within the hour. Finally ready, but then no ground crews were available, so another 30 minutes before we pushed off from the gate. 

So we sat on the ground for 2 hours before the 2 hour flight. No one likes this. You hear a lot about air rage incidents these days, mostly regarding masks, but it's nice to report the vast majority of people act in a civilized way the majority of the time. Like good children, the fight attendants thanked us for being "considerate and kind." Hey, whatever works.

What a beautiful afternoon in Las Vegas, like landing on another planet. Crystal blue skies and really the sweet spot of weather here, with cool nights and temperatures in the high 70's. 

I got a silent Uber driver to the house, a rare and pleasant experience. He was a fast but competent driver. Very happy to see Dad doing so well. The only one who isn't happy is Doodles, nose seriously out of joint with Marji gone. He makes it quite clear I am a poor second at best. 

Halloween weekend

 

 

Once upon a time, I'd bake and decorate dozens of sugar cookies for John to take to work-- pumpkins at Halloween, hearts for Valentines and of course, many Christmas cut-outs. No matter how many kinds I made, plain old iced sugar cookies were the perennial holiday favorites. 

Yea! My days as cookie supplier to the Boeing Company are past. However, I know a gentleman in Las Vegas who appreciates a sugar cookie, and that's where most of these are headed tomorrow. The rest stay with John, holding down the fort in rainy Seattle for a few days.  After a week of relentlessly bad weather, looking forward to some desert sunshine.  

Things are looking pretty spooky in Twisp. Nice job on those pumpkins. 

Oh, yes, big excitement. The girls brought the new hamster home yesterday from Wenatchee. The Prince looks pretty relaxed on the 100-mile drive home to his new palace.

Getting back

 

When my ukulele group played for the last time at the West Seattle Senior Center in early 2020, no one imagined the changes ahead. A few months, surely, and things would be back to normal.

In good news, the Senior Center is open again, proof of vaccination and masks required to enter. The place still feels like a shadow of its once vibrant self, but at least some of the old programs and classes are coming back, including the weekly ukulele sing-a-long. 

There were just a handful of us yesterday, seriously out of practice but giving the old songs our best. It was almost like going back to square one. When I first started going to The Ukes 6 years ago, the core group was about 10 people and over the years grew to about 40 players. Fun times we thought would go on forever.

Time will tell how the group evolves and rebuilds. If it does. Some folks will never be back. Pandemic aside, the difficulty of getting to West Seattle and the elimination of the free parking lots makes it much harder for people to attend.   

We met in the large dining room because the popular hot lunch program is still cancelled. So there was space to spread out and we dutifully wore our masks, except for 3 people (including our leader) who thought it was OK to wear them under their chins and pull them up if someone from the Center walked by. How annoying. Since we're basically guests at the Center, ignoring their rules was rude, to say the least. 

 

What's new?

 

"Lemon" the Hen

I usually get a reaction to vaccines, but this time my immune system said, "Meh, whatever. One more weird thing stuck in her arm. No reason to make a fuss."

The pharmacist was quick and skillful so I got lucky. Watching TV, it seems like just about anyone can give shots these days, but obviously some people are more practiced, like nurses. I'm getting to be a connoisseur on the subject, having had so many this year.

In the germy Safeway pharmacy room (ugh) I sat waiting my turn and thought about the little old A&P in Quakertown where we shopped for groceries once a week. You went to the drugstore for medicine, the five and dime for sundries, department store for clothes, hardware store for nails, etc. until the big box retailers changed everything.  

In the 1950's, the thought of a grocery store employee giving shots to customers would have been stranger than science fiction. Only doctors gave shots, or we lined up in the hall for the school nurse. 

Some cute pictures Amanda sent from Twisp this weekend, where the weather was much nicer than here.

Tom and Nova's two-weekend construction project. Believe it or not, this is a new hamster home. The lucky rodent will come from a pet store in Wenatchee, a 200 mile round trip from Twisp.

In other news, the bomb cyclone brushed past Puget Sound and then headed up to the west coast of Vancouver Island where fortunately hardly anyone lives. Seattle dodged a bullet, although outlying areas were hit hard. Down in California, too much of a good thing, in this case rain, but that's the weather story-- feast or famine.

Leaves, leaves, leaves

 

The Pacific Northwest "bomb cyclone" got quite a bit of press this week. The powerful storm bypassed Western Washington and stayed well out to sea. However, there is a potential for another one on Sunday and Monday. 

The jet stream is super charged, which I think means moving much faster than usual. It's very unusual to have two bomb cyclones in one month, let alone one week.  Hopefully it tracks north or we'll have a damaging wind storm in Seattle.

The leaves seem to be coming down all at once this year.  It's sad seeing the trees bare and the soggy mess on the sidewalks, but for a few days it's like walking on a gold carpet. I felt a twinge of guilt for not raking maple leaves across the street, then I thought, naw.

Today is National Nut Day. Eat some or maybe just do something nutty.  Have a good weekend.

Ready or not

 

The monotonous Seattle forecast for the next week and beyond, as the Pacific storms start to hit the Northwest. This is a La Nina year, which points to a cold and wet winter.  Oh, boy. 

October is always the month when we shift from dry summer to wet winter. It still comes as somewhat of a shock, especially when you start hearing that phrase "holidays are just around the corner." Already?

Not much in the way of news. The next week is dotted with routine appointments. And a flu shot tomorrow. Of course, now that we got our Pfizer booster, they're saying that mixing Covid vaccines gives a stronger immune response. Nope, I'm not lining up for a fourth. At some point, enough is enough. Everything in life comes with some risk and we have to get on with it. Or not.

Enough gloomy talk. A week from today I fly to Las Vegas to spend several days with Dad and Doodles while Marji visits her daughter and family in Oregon. Other than the flying part, I'm looking forward to that.

And there is always good food and wine to brighten the dark stormy nights. Yesterday pork roast cooked all afternoon in the oven with onion and garlic.  

 

Applesauce from our tree. It's amazing how a few dollars worth of plain food can make the house smell like heaven on earth.

 

Home sweet (other) home

 

A couple of nice surprises upon getting home yesterday.  The last blooms on the apricot rose and a new interesting foodie book in the mail sent from my brother-in-law. Thanks!

We took the northern route over the North Cascades Highway.  As John says, there are no fast or easy drives between Twisp and Seattle. Take your pick.

The mountains were pretty on the eastern side, although it clouded up when we crested Washington Pass. Then the highway winds along through small towns until you eventually reach the junction of I-5 and join the rat race south to Seattle.  Highway 20 is one of the iconic scenic drives in America. Been there, done that.

We got off the freeway (a caravan hassle) looking for any fast food place to use the restroom and order inside. They all had long snaking lines for take-out but the lobbies were locked.  Perhaps because of staffing shortages, but I suspect these places are also raking in the money without having to maintain an indoor dining space. 

Anyway, we eventually stopped at a dirty gas station. The world feels broken. Thank goodness for the cooler. And for comfort food in the freezer when we got home. 

But it was a nice weekend and we're safely back. You can't ask for more than that. The weather was fall perfection.  Here's a few pictures.

The maple trees in Amanda and Tom's front yard.

A strenuous hike up the mountain at the property. 

The view of Twisp and the Methow Valley from high above.  And last but not least, family.

Fall in the air

 

Fall is in the air, along with a tinge of winter just around the corner. The turkey and deer families are almost grown up. Last night at dusk, we watched the deer herd frolicking on the lawn. We counted at least 10.

They were all jiggly with fat laid down for the winter. I sat watching on the deck and they paid no attention at all. The does eventually went on their way, but one of the little bucks, full of himself, stayed behind and tested out his tiny antlers with the big daddy, who was being pretty indulgent with the teenager. For now. I watched them gently sparring, what a magical sight.

I told John why turn on the the Nature Channel, when it's right outside the window? We've had beautiful weather, just a little rain at night. The trees are just perfection and we're thinking of taking the North Cascades Highway route home tomorrow. 

Caravan

 

We're driving over to the house this weekend and taking both cars for the last time this winter.  My Avalon doesn't do snow. Or I should say, I don't do snow in my Avalon.

I've been watching the weather because October can be a dicey month, when sudden storms catch people off guard in the mountains. But things look good today and the snow level is still above the passes.  Just rain, which can be annoying enough on the freeway.

We don't have as much to take as usual, maybe I'm finally running out of extra things to haul over there. Certainly this old place has a bit more elbow room, which is nice.  Hey. The secret to simplifying your life: scatter your stuff around in two different places. They should give me a PBS special!

Have a good weekend.

Bulbs

 

A box of new tulip bulbs arrived this week from Holland. John mail-ordered them months ago from the Breck's catalog when we were stuck at home. I call it the flower porn catalog. It has pages of lurid air-brushed photos gardeners can't resist!  Ha. 

They arrived at the perfect time. The soil is finally moist and I planted them in loose clumps, trying to avoid digging up old bulbs. And it makes a better display than scattering them around. They were chubby, healthy-looking bulbs but time will tell.

Planting bulbs in the fall is an act of faith. There they sit underground, mysteriously sprouting and growing roots and if we're lucky, a beautiful surprise in the spring as reward. Some people have problems with squirrels digging up bulbs. Our squirrels are little devils, but they don't have a taste for bulbs. Occasionally they will dig one up just to look at it.

Mr. Nguyen came yesterday and gave me an estimate for the laundry list of fall garden chores, including 2 cubic yards of compost delivered.

I suggested letting the hedge add some height to block the view of the new house. He said, "No, no, no, you let that go high and it soon cost you much money!"  Sigh.  Well, what doesn't cost "much money" in Seattle? 

But he's right. Leyland Cypress, left to its own devices, can turn into a dreadful monster on a city lot. When I planted it, I thought that would be someone else's problem someday. Here I am. 

Anyway, regarding those windows looming over our backyard. Mr. Nguyen sensibly said, "Maybe they not look in."  

My gardener philosopher. Why sweat the stuff you can't do anything about?

On the stump

 

That's a picture of our beautiful daughter and her friend at work. The super nursing twins. A big shout out to all the medical professionals who haven't left their jobs from exhaustion and burn-out. Who could blame them?

We don't hear much about our "healthcare heroes" anymore. I suppose that comes from the collective desire to put the pandemic behind us. 

Guess what. It's the start of another winter, and these nurses are still bundling up and giving Covid tests to sick people in the cold parking lot of a remote clinic. And day after day, trying to convince people to get vaccinated for their own health, their loved ones, and the community. 

I don't usually stump on the blog, but how tragic that a global health crisis became so divisive in our country, especially at the one time we should be pulling together.  

Each person who goes to the trouble and takes the slight risk of getting vaccinated makes it safer for those who don't. Just like childhood immunizations. Thank you. And those same people who "don't trust the science" expect the best and most innovative medical science has to offer when they get sick.  Enough said.  

I try not to be angry or bitter, there's too much of that in the world, but it's impossible not to feel frustrated when your beloved daughter and her coworkers still have boots on the ground. For two long years.

Frost on the pumpkin

 

The gorgeous Red Oak Heritage Tree in Hiawatha Park is changing colors again. Wait. Didn't I just walk by this the other day? No, that was last October. 

"It doesn't matter when or how pandemics dwindle, they change people’s sense of time." From an article in the New York Times today, about how Covid will be an era, not a crisis that fades away.  We'll be dealing with many of the ramifications for decades-- health, social, economic.

On that happy note, on to safer subjects like the weather. This is the coldest start to October since 1981.  

 

My neglected potted yucca by the garage decided to bloom for the first time. Neglect is a good thing apparently, because they only bloom when they're happy.  And unlike the Century Plant, they don't give up the ghost afterwards. It would probably appreciate a bigger pot, but you would need a full suit of armor to wrestle it out of there. 

Mr. Nguyen is coming tomorrow to give me an estimate for compost and fall pruning. The heck with it, I think we'll grow a couple more feet on the Leyland Cypress to block the view of these windows.

  

This and that

 

A nice surprise finding so many tomatoes on the vine when we got back from California. Now that was a crop for the record books. Not long ago, it was hard to grow large tomato varieties in Seattle without a greenhouse. Our summers were too cool and cloudy. What's next? Watermelons?

 

So I was poking around down in my basement pantry yesterday, still stocked up from pandemic shopping sprees, and found everything to make dark chocolate pecan date turtles. Oh happy day.

The best low-guilt treat, especially with those luscious soft jumbo dates we bought at the Windmill Market.  I found that recipe in a magazine a couple of years ago and I'm sure I've blogged about it before. Old people tend to repeat themselves. The healthy dates take the place of caramel. 

Well, good little soldiers, we lined up to get our third Covid shots yesterday at Walgreens. My arm is almost as sore as it was after the pneumonia shot. Other than that I'm just tired, and hopefully that's the end of it.  Not something I look forward to doing every six months.

Happy birthday, Maya

 

Nine candles on the cake yesterday!

Back to jeans and jackets

 

 

Our flight to Seattle yesterday wasn't until 3:15, so we had time to visit Sunnylands, the former Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage. The home, completed in 1966, is the epitome of desert elegance, where the rich, famous and powerful rubbed elbows for decades. 

Seven presidents, British royalty and countless celebrities visited. Frank Sinatra married Barbara here. Everyone played golf on the private course. The indoor tour requires $50 advance reservations, but you can stroll around the gardens for free.

 

 

I never saw such a manicured desert landscape, with acres of plants lined up like obedient soldiers. I suspect Mrs. Annenberg ran a tight ship! We had a nice salad at the outside cafe and watched a gardener fussing around with the sprinkler system.

 

After that, a 15 minute drive to a very different world from the Annenburgs-- Windmill Market in Desert Hot Springs. The folks are friendly and the date shakes the best in the valley. We bought more jumbo soft medjools and stuffed them in my packed suitcase. John, the date connoisseur, said they are the best ever.  Dates here are good year round, but these might be a fresh crop.

Of course it isn't winter yet, but sure feels like it after that soothing warmth in the morning and evening, when you can sit outside drinking coffee or wine in your bathing suit or pj's. 

The furnace is running and running this morning. But what a nice trip and we're looking forward to going back again next March, reservations already made.

Midweek pleasures

 

The best thing about retirement is you don't have to plan trips around weekends and holidays.  Midweek is quiet here, especially in the shoulder season, and it's easier to stay at our favorite place. Even so, I have to reserve months in advance.  

No wonder, it's a little slice of heaven here. Yesterday morning I drifted around the pool listening to the birds and thinking I died and went there.  We have the place pretty much to ourselves.

We have an upstairs villa this time, like an apartment with a full kitchen and living room.

And at night from the balcony, a magical view of the grounds and mountains. It's hard to believe we're right in town. Zoning prohibits high rise construction in this historic area of Palm Springs. 

The Living Desert Gardens was a disappointment yesterday. There were several big construction projects on the grounds, so it was noisy and walkways were blocked. They are in the process of converting it from the quiet botanical garden we remembered to a world class zoo, with big amphitheaters and flashier exhibits. 

The older exhibits were looking a bit tired so perhaps this was due. Things must eventually change. It was midday and the animals smarter than humans were hiding so we didn't see much. We walked around for a while and ate some $12 hamburgers. By then it was getting pretty hot. 

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the Moorten Botanical Garden, as we always do. Quaint and peaceful, it never seems to change and one of our favorite places in Palm Springs.

Well, the sun is up and the pool is calling me.  Our last full day in paradise. Back to Seattle tomorrow, where the weather looks typical October.

The Indian Canyons

The ancestral home of the Agua Caliente tribe of Cahuilla Indians, The Indian Canyons are only a 10 minute drive from downtown Palm Springs. A lush oasis in the hot desert, with miles of hiking trails through the palm canyons. We walked the Andreas Creek loop trail yesterday morning. 

 

Now back in Palm Springs at our favorite inn. We've stayed in several different rooms here. This one is on the second floor with a private balcony and a view of the mountains. Nice.

The lap of luxury after holing up at the motel in Desert Hot Springs. We're in the historic tennis club district of Palm Springs and you can easily walk a few blocks to wonderful food and shopping. 

I'd like to visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert today, since we haven't been there for years and the weather is so perfect. October is a very nice time, right before the start of the busy high season.

I know. It's obnoxious sharing endless pictures of your restaurant food, but wow-- lobster tacos and something called crispy cauliflower bites.  Delicious. On a slow Monday, we had the outdoor restaurant balcony almost to ourselves.

And last but not least, the mandatory date shake earlier in the day.