Chateau De Paix

Vacation

2011-08-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

There are things I love about vacation.

1. Vacation Husband

2. Fabulous food.

3. Mountain sage

4. Movies, Movies, Movies

5. The dark sky stars

6. Peace

7. Time

8. Slow running tubs

9. staying up late and sleeping in

10. Yarn shops

11. Pace

12. Longing to return home to the ones I love

Peace

2011-08-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

I don't really blog anymore. Haven't for just over a year. I don't know why. Pressure I guess, feeling anxious about creating something that maybe shouldn't even be. I like peace, I need peace. I really need it. My house is named peace, because everyone should name their house of course, or is it coarse, I'm never really sure. I'm pretty sure it's course. My dog is named Amani, it means peace. I pray for peace, I fashion my life for it. Did I mention I need it? I've been sad lately. Can't put my finger on why. But sad is always lonely for peace. I just need to say one thing today. I think we should be more concerned with the state of our soul than the style of our hair. Seriously, do you really think it's your place to tell me how I should wear my hair? There goes the peace.

Oh happy day

2011-06-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

Great giveaway

http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris

2009-10-07T17:23:00.001-07:00

I don't blog here anymore. But I do come here everyday to check the blogs I like to read. I have them linked on my new site but they don't tell me WHEN they update so I always come back here. Since I do I thought I would place a new photo here just because I am tired of seeing my dog sleeping. come see me at aseemlylife.com

No blogging for me.

2009-08-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

I'm very sad today. My MAC is in the shop. Ten days before I get it back. No blogging for me.
Unless I find a way to update my blog via another computer. But I can't see how that will be possible.

MY NEW SITE, COME ON OVER AND VISIT

2009-08-11T17:54:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to remind you to come on over and visit me at my new site.

ASEEMLYLIFE.COM

No one really knows

2009-07-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

Today I'm posting on my new website. If you want to read it you can email me for the address. I'll be happy to give it to you. I will either see you there or I won't but I'm moving over to the new place. Take care.
Marty
martyenniss@gmail.com

5 Weeks

2009-06-23T22:58:00.000-07:00

Worship Day/Father's Day/Measuring Day/Great Day

2009-06-21T08:28:00.001-07:00

I can't recall the last time I was so excited about a day. Today I celebrate.
First I celebrate my church. I love going to church every Sunday Morning. I get there early and putter around doing little things to take care of what's been given. I pick off the dead leaves of the plants, spray for those nasty little gnats that make a home around them and water if they need it. I pick up lint and check the bathrooms for any needed touches. I love getting ready for the worship service. I love being there early enough to worship twice.
Then I am going to celebrate Father's Day. I will have four fathers at my house today. My own father, the father of my children, and the fathers of my grand children. How lucky am I. I'm going to give them all canned apricot jam from last season.
We also get to celebrate Measuring Day today. We will put the grand children up to the post and mark their growth. We will award the fastest grower just for fun. We will measure their running, water balloon tossing, swimming and holding their breath. Don't tell them if you see them but I have added a political category this year. I'm going to ask them who the President of the United States is. I know my four year old will know the answer. He's proud that he knows who "bakobama" is.
I will rush home after church to finish the snacks so my son can eat right away. I will swing by the farmers Market looking for freshly picked strawberries to go with the vanilla ice cream that we will churn when we get home. Can you still call it "churning ice cream" when you just plug it in? I remember hand cranking it with ice and salt and ice and salt. Now that's homemade ice cream.
It's gonna be a great day.
I just know it.

Sunday afternoon nap

2009-06-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

IS THIS THE LIFE OR WHAT?

Docking the tails of Cocker Spaniels

2009-06-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

I am expecting a litter of pups on July 19th. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm getting myself into. I've been present during the birthing of pups before. I bred Amani with a handsome fellow from El Shaddai cocker spaniels in Cherry Valley. She's agreed to teach me how to dock the tails (the breeder, not Amani), so that will be new for me. I've never cut off the tail of a dog before. Sounds horrible but I guess it's not as bad as cutting foreskin from our little baby boys. I was wondering why the practice was started and found through some reading that there were practical reasons to do so. The reasons varied depending on the breed. Some of the reasons were:
1. guard dogs, to prevent them from being grabbed by the tail
2. herding dogs, to prevent feces from building up in the fir.
3. hunting dogs, to prevent tails from getting tangled in the briar thorns and thistles
4. Terriers, it makes a stable handle to grab the dog and pull it back out of the burrow.

I"m sorry to make you think about cutting off tails but I think it's important to understand why we do things. Also, for those who believe it to be a horrible practice, it's necessary to know that in those countries where tail docking has been banned there has been a tremendous increase in the number of severe tail injuries requiring emergency docking when the dog is an adult. Tails are very hard to heal for two reasons. Anyone care to take a stab (no pun intended) as to why that is?

New Website

2009-05-31T06:49:00.000-07:00

I've been working on my new website. It's almost ready. I've been making changes, asking for input and changing it until it's better. It's never done, always seems to be something to change to make it better, easier, fun. Currently I am in Ohio for a wedding. It was a great day ending with a tornado. My first tornado. I'm coming home today and wanted to post before I left because I wanted the pictures of my shoes to go away.
I met some amazing people on this trip. Really interesting people. One has her first book coming out in November. I like meeting interesting people. It makes me want to be better.

5 favorite dinners

2009-05-23T17:36:00.001-07:00

Don't forget about submitting your five favorite dinners.

Economical
easy
kid friendly
Nutritionally well rounded

I think that's what people want now.
Should I offer a giveaway as an incentive to submit?

I have already mentioned that I am working on a new website and will offer a
"What's for Dinner" page
So I would love to have your help.

Bet you can't guess what the website name is?
By the way, it's already published I just haven't told anyone so I can work out the kinks.
Blessings

Some things never change, even after 39 years

2009-05-20T17:22:00.001-07:00

When I was a kid I could never find my shoes. "HEY MOM!!!!! WHERE ARE MY SHOES?"
"WHEREVER YOU TOOK THEM OFF LAST."
"CHECK UNDER THE KITCHEN TABLE."
Sure enough that is where they would be.
Funny thing, this morning I couldn't find my shoes. No use in asking Gary. I think he may not even see them any more.
I found them of all places in the trunk of my car.
Yeah, I don't really know why they were there. They just were.

I sorta chuckled today when I got home from work. I started to pick things up around the house and couldn't help but
see a pattern in my life.

Some things never change. Is it really that important anyway? Apparently not to me.
And Gary? well he does come home every night.

What's for dinner?

2009-05-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

I would bet that you have been asked this question countless times. Here is what I am asking of you.
I am asking you to send me 5 of your favorite dinner menus.
I told you before that I am working on my new website and I am including an area for dinner ideas.
I'm looking for generally healthy meals, simple, and cost effective for young families.
Can you help me?

You'll see mine on the new website.

As good as it's going to get

2009-05-16T20:10:00.001-07:00

I told you I would do my "best" or "as good as it gets" photo. I celebrated my 39th Anniversary today. We went to a new restaurant called The Public House. The website promised good things. I put on my new little skirt and my new little top and we drove down there. We walked up and there was outdoor dining, indoor or front deck. The front deck had a heavy mister going which would have had my hair straight in 20 min. I was having familiar feelings of an anniversary past. Many years ago we went away without our children and drove to myrtle beach, SC. I was all prepared for a lovely dinner out and was all dressed up in this nice black dress with a lovely accent scarf of yellow tied around my neck. We went to this special restaurant only to find that it was a country steak house with peanut shells on the floor and a waitress in jeans. I was very overdressed, very out of place and felt like a goofball. I was living out one of my childhood fears. So when we walked in and we were standing there realizing that we were once again in a hamburger, steak, beer joint my husband looked at me and said, "let's go somewhere else". We left and drove to a nice place with some soft Jazz and enjoyed a lovely dinner.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS

AS GOOD AS IT GETS

God can bless us however He chooses

2009-05-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my 39th wedding anniversary. We married on May 15th, 1970. It was a Friday evening at 7pm. It was hot that evening, just like last night. We looked at the clock at 3 minutes to 7 and while standing in a room of 250 people My husband announced to the two men we were speaking with, "in 3 minutes it will be 39 years ago that we walked down the isle." Congratulations, they said. Then one stopped and said let's pray. So right there in the midst of the commotion he prayed for us, for our marriage. He thanked God that our marriage had endured. He was sure that in those 39 years we had faced some difficult times, and he was right, but that we had endured. He prayed for the next 39 years, He blessed us, our marriage and our ministry. He is a kind and gentle man whom I had only met today. I thanked him when he was done and told him that at the end of the day when I thought about my favorite part of the day it would be about him. Not that he had prayed for us but something he had shared earlier in the day. It was a dream he shared with us. In this dream he had a conversation with his son. It was an intimate dream. A conversation, moments with the son he had lost to cancer. I was touched in a way that let me know the importance of that dream. Really, I think he spent those moments with his son. It reminded me of the morning I woke and told my husband "I spent the evening with my grandmother last night". I woke from having spent the evening with her, having conversation with her. When someone you love is gone that means something very deep. I recalled the story my mother told me about a similar conversation she had with her mother after she had passed. That conversation meant something profound to her.
Some people would scoff at this and insist it was only a dream. Not me, I believe God gave him another precious evening with his son. God blesses us however He chooses.

This one is for the taggers

2009-05-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Last week I was challenged to take photo of myself just as I was at that moment and post it. My picture was taken after a long day of work. I hadn't even removed my germ laden lab coat. (but there I was at my computer)
I am tagging you back. I want to see a picture of you at your best. Seriously, go in shower, put on whatever makeup you are accustomed to, fix your hair and put on something beautiful, (at least from the waist up)
Look like you would if that boyfriend you are falling in love with was on his way to pick you up. The one who will meet you at the door with flowers because he thinks you're lovely. The one who draws you a flower instead so it will never wilt. The one who will fore go the Colosseum in Rome to fly home and be with you. The one who who asked you to go steady with him after 10 days. The one who married you after 6 weeks. The one who has put up with all your shenanigans for 39 years and still loves you.

I cannot post my photo at this time. But I will be posting it on Saturday, early evening just before my husband/boyfriend takes me to dinner to celebrate that we have reached our 39th anniversary. Who will give a plug nickel now?

1. Jen
2. Beth
3. Sarah E
4. Lori M
5. Sue L

Words alone are different than meaning

2009-05-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

I removed my last blog. I didn't remove it because I didn't like it, I removed it because I didn't like the adsense that it brought. You see, when you have adsense on your blog google scans for words that match advertisers. I think they scan words not content. Because if they did they would not have placed the ad that they did. So anyway, since I didn't want to advertise their site I removed it.

I would however like to advertise, quilts, quilting sites, fabric, sewing, crafts, church, Free Methodist church, Christian organizations. Green, save the planet, Children, grandparents, Bed & Breakfasts, Lake Elsinore Businesses, Flour Fusion Bakery, Raviolis Italian restaurant, vintage buttons, marriage, watercolors, writing, Jodi Picoult, daughters, firefighters, just to name a few.

Making note of another change that is coming I am going to be changing the name of my blog.
Guess what it's going to be.

In my heart

2009-05-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

In my heart is a game my daughter and I play. When we want something that we can't have or give we pretend that it IS by saying
"In my heart..........." In my heart I'm with you, In my heart I'm giving you this......

Yesterday I invited someone else into our game.
My friend and her family left for Ethiopia yesterday.
I called her and told her about our game we call "in my heart"
I told her I was working all week and couldn't do what I wanted to do so..............

In my heart I am at home and you, Jurvaun and a few of your closest friends (which apparently I just declared myself to be)
are with you.
We are sitting outside on my veranda and we are talking, laughing and drinking iced tea.
We are talking about your trip to Ethiopia.
We are praying for you and your family.
We are praying for the connections that will be made.
We are praying for your children, that there will be a seed of connection planted in their hearts for Ethiopia.
In my heart we are praying for that place you will find that will be home to you.
In my heart I am reminding you of the covenant that God made with you.
The covenant that you will go as a family and come home as a family.
In my heart I am telling you that I love you and
I am proud of you.

Never say Never

2009-04-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by someone. Someone I love. She says that she never reads forwards. Never believes the sad sad stories that we are told in the circulating emails. She doesn't ever send them on to 5 of her friends so she will reap whatever is promised. However this one she did. Never say Never. thefamilyenniss.typepad.com
Only for Beth will I do this. I was to snap a photo as I was the moment I received it and post that picture and tag 5 more friends to do the same.
No, I say, No. This is wrong. But it's Beth. Why would you not do this for Beth? After all she will win big if you don't break the chain, I tell myself. How could you deny her the great prize? So here it is, this is exactly how I look as I walk into the house after seeing 5 patients from Vista, to Fallbrook to Murrieta and back to Fallbrook and the home to Lake Elsinore. I haven't even removed my lab coat.
Just as I am

I have titled this picture WHAT MY HUSBAND SEES
I don't have 5 friends to tag beth. Now what do I do? Does that mean I break the chain?

CHURCH IS WHERE I LIVE

2009-04-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

When you live your life in a church it can make your heart ache. You get up one day and someone is gone. Never said good bye. Then you wonder. You can't help but wonder. Why would someone, who has been there with you suddenly disappear without so much as a good bye? I figure there are a lot of reasons people leave. Some come and say good bye and explain why. Sometimes that hurts too but at least you know. Sometimes people move away, sometimes they move on because it's right, it's sad when they go but it doesn't hurt. It hurts when you don't know.
Then I look around and see that I'm not alone, not everyone has left, really it's just a few. I had a 12 year old give me perspective today. We were selling tickets for a church event and only sold 12 tickets. She said to me "if only 12 people come, then we will minister to 12 people"
"Yes" I said "that is exactly what we will do."
That 12 year old understands and she reminded me.

When you live your life in a church you learn to let people go. You have to. No matter who goes there are always people who stay.
The ones who stay are why I still live in the church.

This is the church building where my heart lives.
I will not loose heart.

A morning garden tea.

2009-04-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

This will not be the last garden tea we serve at the Inn. I received a phone message last evening which went like this.

"Hi, Mamma, Umm, I wanted you to do one of those garden tea parties when I'm available,
I just wanted to call and say that cause I really wanted to go,
I love you and I miss you very much."
That was a message from my almost 6 year old granddaughter. Do you think I might be having another tea party?
You can count on it.

Three of my favorite women in the world came to my tea party. I think we had a great time.

We ate Zucchini fritatta warm from the oven, served with a fresh fruit medley topped with freshly picked strawberries.
For a sweet we enjoyed, freshly baked this morning, vanilla bean shortbread.
We enjoyed a bottomless carafe of orange spiced sun tea and music by Jack Johnson, conversation about injustice, rummage sales, responsibility, flamingos, stalking and revenge. Oh yes we did a quick google search for a particular person (for stalking purposes) which scared us a bit at how easy it was to find someone. Just the usual tea party conversation I suppose.

Mostly, the tea was for me. I got to spend the morning with three of my eight.
None of the bad stuff that can come with people, just fun, laughter and relaxing.

I almost forgot. Everyone went home with a lovely parting gift of their choice.
And I must mention, because of my gratitude that I also received a lovely parting gift from one of my guests.

Garden Tea Party Hosted By The Inn

2009-04-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

CHATEAU DE PAIX INN would like to invite you to a morning garden tea.
To be held on the morning of April 22 from 9am to 11am
A lovely tea will be served.
We hope to enjoy your presence.

The Innkeepers wife.

We are busy at the INN making all the goodies for tomorrows, Morning Garden Tea. The tea is brewing in the sun, the strawberries will be picked fresh from our garden and much more. Hope to see you all.
RSVP in the comment section.

Reminders

2009-04-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have days when I can't seem to remember much good about myself. Do you ever feel like that? Days when the fog rolls in so thick that it blurs my vision. I can't see where I'm going and feel I may have wasted my life. I begin to feel like no one likes me. Sometimes it's immobilizing when I believe it's true. I don't know if others ever feel like this. I do. That's why I have the envelope made of fabric. My daughter made it for me. It sits on my nightstand. In my envelope I hold the words that have been written to me from the people in my life that remind me. Apparently there are a few people who think I'm alright. I don't take the cards out and read them really. They just sit there. I see them sitting there and they remind me because I remember what they said. I just need to remember on those days when the fog rolls in.

Who reminds you?

Who fills your envelope?

I had the Best Birthday

2009-04-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

THINGS I LOVED ABOUT MY BIRTHDAY:
1.Breakfast with my dear friend at my favorite breakfast place:

Ramoshouse.com

2.A Movie with snacks with my girls:
We laughed out loud at this movie. There were some very funny parts. Touching parts, (or maybe I should say scenes).
There were some bad parts too so I can't recommend it.

3. Dying Easter eggs with my grandchildren. For those who are offended by the thought of easter eggs. Well all I can say is
we probably aren't close enough that you're reading this anyway.

4. The best, I mean the BEST Good Friday service of my life.

5. Meeting someone who shares my birthday for the first time in my life.

6. All the Happy Birthday wishes on facebook.

7. The birthday letter from my daughter in law which will go in THE ENVELOPE. (I'll tell you about that soon)

8. Receiving a vase of beautiful hand picked red roses from a friends own garden hand delivered by my God daughter E.

9. Opening a package from my baby sister which contained all her favorite things, super soft slipper socks, dental floss,
chap stick, and a scented candle.

10. Getting a card from really old sister saying happy birthday, I'll be on the road on your birthday. (then she called me
anyway.

11. Being given a lovely hand designed card from my daughter with a gift card from anthropologie. Only I don't get to keep it,
It's for me to give away on this blog. I have plans for that already. It's pretty cool when your daughter believes in you.

12. Because my husband had to work all day and all night on my birthday (good friday) my birthday happened again on
Monday. I got to do whatever I wanted all day.

13. Opening a package that sat in my house for 5 days without being opened until the 10th, A frame which says
"Best Friend" for my pooch.

14. Spent an hour in a great nursery, walking around and around, up and down the same isles again and again. Still he didn't
say a word, he even picked out a plant or two himself. I never heard him say once, "you about ready to go?". He just
walked and when I was ready, he brought out his ATM card.

15. We went to the Bakery on Main St. Flour Fusion and bought soup made by Bob and sandwiches wrapped to go. Then we
drove to the movies. We watched a great "end of the world" movie with an actor that shall remain nameless because I was
taught; If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. But if you like seeing the end of the world, the
effects were great.

16. Came home and planted all the plants my husband bought for me.

17. My choice for dinner. California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizza and a Bag of Salad from the grocery store.
which I'm going to go eat right now.

That was just a great birthday.

Embrace what you love

2009-04-10T05:42:00.000-07:00

An amazing day reflected in two photos.
The love, the embrace, the badge.
When it's over, embrace what you love.

Jackson, you're a good man.

P.S. For the money shot with the wife go to thefamilyenniss.typepad.com

Happy Birthday Giveaway, Winner

2009-04-07T21:35:00.000-07:00

Jurvaun Trier, Thank you for your sentiments regarding your dear husband. It is my pleasure to send you the gift card that you will be able to honor your husband.
It's interesting to me how difficult it is to choose a winner. Everyone mentioned deserves to be honored. Thank you for playing the game.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD APRIL 7TH

2009-04-06T17:56:00.000-07:00

TODAY IS MY FATHERS BIRTHDAY. IT'S NOT AN EASY THING, TO BUY A GIFT FOR A MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING HE NEEDS. WHEN YOU ENTER INTO YOUR GOLDEN YEARS YOU DON'T WANT TO ACCUMULATE MORE THINGS YOU ACTUALLY START THINKING ABOUT GIVING THINGS AWAY. STILL I WANT TO BUY A GIFT FOR MY DAD BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO FOR PEOPLE YOU LOVE. SO I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT HE LIKES TO DO. AND I SENT HIM A CARD WITH MONEY SPECIFIED FOR ONE USE. I TRIED TO BUY HIM A GIFT CARD, BUT WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE STORE IT WASN'T JUST CLOSED IT WAS GONE. I SENT MONEY, INSTEAD OF DRIVING TO THE NEXT TOWN OVER, TO THE NEXT NEAREST BASKIN & ROBBINS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD.

THE NEXT THING YOU DO FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE WHO HAS EVERYTHING IS TO GIVE THEM HONOR. THIS IS MY FATHER WITH THE B24 LIBERATOR THAT HE PILOTED IN THE WAR. THE VERY ONE WHO SAW HIM SAFELY THROUGH 32 SUCESSFULL MISSIONS. EVERY MISSION WAS SOBER AND NEVER WITH A HANGOVER. SO TODAY I GIVE HONOR TO MY DAD FOR THE WAY HE HAS LIVED HIS LIFE. BY WATCHING HIM I LEARNED TO WORK HARD AND TO WORK WITH INTEGRITY. MY DAD WORKED THE SAME JOB HIS ENTIRE CAREER. HE TAUGHT US TO BE STEADY. HE NEVER WAIVERED IN TAKING CARE OF HIS FAMILY. HE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO MY MOTHER FOR OVER 60 YEARS. TOGETHER THEY RAISED FOUR CHILDREN WHO ALL KNOW THE VALUE OF FAMILY AND THE VALUE OF HARD, STEADY WORK. I LEARNED TO RESPECT OTHERS, USE SELF CONTROL, VOTE, GO TO CHURCH, RESPECT MY MARRIAGE VOWS. MY DAD TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE THINGS OUT OF WOOD, TO BUILD A CRADLE FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND TO BUILD A FENCE LEVEL AND PLUMB.

THIS IS MY DAD AND HIS FLIGHT CREW. 32 SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS. TOGETHER THEY FOUGHT PROUD FOR OUR COUNTRY. THEY FOUGHT FOR THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY TODAY. UNTIL THE DAY I DIE (OR GO DEAF) I WILL THINK OF MY DAD WHEN I HEAR A JET GO OVERHEAD. A SOUND MY DAD TAUGHT ME TO LOVE. MY DAD GAVE ME AIR SHOWS AT MOFFETT FIELD, THE BLUE ANGELS, THE FOND SMELL OF SAWDUST AND WET CONCRETE, TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH, MIDNIGHT SNACKS, (hey that's your fault I like to eat late at night) A STABLE HOME (at least until the remote control was invented), A HOME WE CAN STILL COME HOME TO.
I LOVE YOU DAD
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
MARTY

WITH THAT SAID BECAUSE IT IS MY DADS BIRTHDAY I AM GOING TO HAVE A GIVEAWAY. IN MY DADS HONOR I AM GOING TO GIVE A BASKIN & ROBBINS GIFT CARD WORTH $10.00. I WOULD GIVE MORE BUT IT WOULDN'T SEEM RIGHT TO GIVE AWAY MORE THAN I GAVE MY DAD, AFTER ALL IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY.
TO WIN; YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND TELL ME WHO YOU WOULD HONOR TODAY BY GIVING THE GIFT CARD YOU WIN.
I WILL CHOOSE THE WINNER BASED ON WHAT YOU WRITE. SINCE FAMILY IS MY MAIN READERSHIP, FAMILY CAN WIN. I WILL BE FAIR AND CHOOSE THE ONE THAT MAKES MY HEART SING
. I WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER TONIGHT AT 9PM.

I LOVE SPRING AT THE INN

2009-04-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Mondays, the Innkeeper and I always go to the beach. This past Monday was no different, EXCEPT! this day he said
"Let's go to that nursery you love, the one in Fallbrook.
"You mean Myrtle Creek?"
"Yeah" my heart begins to jump.
"Why? Really? You mean instead of the beach?"
(I'm going to disneyland, I'm going to disneyland, is the mantra singing in my head"
"No, along with the beach."
"OK" I say calmly as I start to plot the places I will fill with flowers.

That means, I get to spend the day with this man, have lunch on the beach, actually at the beach. We don't pack a lunch we actually go and find a restaurant on the beach where we can first walk dodging waves. Then we dine at a window seat and watch the waves roll in and out, in and out. We being restored in this process.
That is what we do every Monday because the ocean is life giving to my husband.
But today we get to stop at Myrtle creek Nursery because it is spring at the Inn. We have been working hard to prepare the gardens for the season and that means flowers and pots and hanging baskets. The Southern Veranda at the Inn was taken over during the harsh winter months and we have cleared it, lizards and all. Now we need to restore what the winter took.
If I could I would turn every bare place into a garden. In the front of the Inn we have flower gardens, shade trees, rolling greens for the kids to roll and trees made simply for the wind to whisper through. In the back is our garden of produce. We tend to our small orchard of organic fruit trees and wait for the garden to give what it's promised.
Today, we get to go to Myrtle Creek because it is life giving to me.

WWW.mytlecreeknursery.com

Sometimes this nursery is the garden I walk in.
I imagine that big yellow pot at the Inn and exactly where it will go.

Now we are driving away.

No this is not our truck filled with flowers to plant. This is simply part of their marketing display to entice you to buy plants. As if to tease you and say "it's this easy, load up your truck, just like this one and drive on home with flowers just like these" No we are driving off without so much as a pack of seeds. What is wrong with this man? How can he walk through this disneyland of plants and trees and not find one thing he loves. I guess he is driving off with me.
I wonder if this is what it feels like when we walk through the marina, looking at all the sail boats and drive away without one?

TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

2009-03-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

I'VE BEEN THINKING ALOT ABOUT THIS PUP LATELY. I DON'T KNOW WHY I LOVE THIS DOG SO MUCH. I THINK MY DOGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME, EVEN WHEN I WAS YOUNG. I ALWAYS WANTED AN INDOOR DOG BUT WAS NEVER ALLOWED AND THEN I BECAME AN ADULT AND WELL, STILL WASN'T ALLOWED. I THINK IT WAS A GOOD DAY FOR ME WHEN THE INNKEEPER AGREED I SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A DOG IN THE HOUSE IF I WANTED TO. SO WITH OUR AGREEMENT IN PLACE, SHE WILL ALWAYS BE CLEAN AND SMELL GOOD, SHE MOVED IN TO THE INN.

BEFORE SHE WAS AMANI. SHE'S ABOUT 5 HOURS OLD, SHE'S THE ONE ON THE LEFT AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW IT YET BUT SHE WILL BE THE PICK OF THE LITTER.

HERE SHE IS ABOUT THREE WEEKS OLD AND IS NOW THE ONE ON THE RIGHT.

IRRESISTIBLE EVEN FOR THE INNKEEPER

THIS IS THE ONE NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE. THE INNKEEPER IN LOVE.

PUPPY MISCHIEF.

ON THE INNKEEPER'S LAP WHEN SHE WAS TINY. YOU WON'T SEE HER THERE NOW.

THIS WAS PRIOR TO THE TRAINING. BACK WHEN SHE WOULD BE UP ON THE COFFEE TABLE ALL WILLY NILLY. NOW SHE'S MUCH MORE DIGNIFIED.

AMANI WATCHING THE SUNSET FROM WHAT USED TO BE THE INNKEEPER'S CHAIR.
SORRY GARY, SHE'S JUST SO CUTE.

OH MY GOODNESS! SHE IS SO CUTE I CAN HARDLY STAND IT.

I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THIS PHOTO BEFORE BUT I NEEDED TO SHOW IT TO YOU AGAIN. IT SHOWS PERFECTLY WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH A LITTLE "UPBRINGING". SHE GREW FROM A HELPLESS PUPPY TO THIS BRILLIANT DOG WHO NOW RUNS AN ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD FROM THE MASTER SUITE. IT CAN ONLY BE A REFLECTION OF HER TRAINING. HOURS OF DEDICATED TRAINING.

I'M TRYING TO DECIDE IF I SHOULD BREED HER. I HAVE LOCATED A LOVELY STUD FOR HER. I'M JUST TRYING TO DECIDED WHAT TO DO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD DO?

Did I EVER MENTION?

2009-03-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

Did I ever mention that I was a model in my former life? I believe I was sixteen years of age.
My professional name was Marta due to a typo in the paper.
Marta was strolling in the garden in this shot. A very natural pose.
I clearly gave up a promising career when I chose instead to marry at eighteen.
I think I might like the length of my hair in this picture. I'm thinking of cutting my hair.
Maybe I could take this photo to my next appointment
I'm just concerned about giving up the option of an updo!
I wonder if I did cut my hair if I would look 16 again?
I need some help.
What do you think?

All Time Best Book Store

2009-03-20T22:06:00.000-07:00

You have now entered my favorite bookstore. Would like a tour? There are three separate rooms. You enter into the middle one and you have a gift shop of sorts to the left and a children's room to the right. The photos were taken with my iphone so the quality isn't great. I say this to contrast the amazing photos I take with my camera? I always feel a little odd when I'm in public snapping photos of people without their permission. Yes, there have been several such occasions. Like the time I saw this cute haircut while shopping in Macy's. I have shots of her trying on shoes, buy lingerie, and buying makeup.

This particular shot was very sneaky. I was trying to get a picture of the girl who works at the shop, I caught her reflection in the mirror. Maybe this is a little sick of me to do. I don't know it seems a bit odd. I didn't want to ask, "Hey, can I take your picture for my blog?" I don't even know her name. It's interesting though, I think about her when I'm at home. I wonder about her. I've been going to this bookstore for a number of years. She's always there. I could make up a name for her. It could be Braided Pigtail Girl, or Tattoo Girl, or My Boyfriends A Jerk Girl, or maybe Alice in Wonderland, or Wizard of Oz. I think her tattoos were interesting choices. Oh please tell me that black eye and bruise on the side of your face didn't come from the hand of the one you love. I've over heard a number of her conversations over the years and now I accidentally care about her. You realize that she has no idea and wouldn't know me or probably even recognize me if she were to see me on the street. I'm not sure if it's: "I want to be your friend" kind of thing or if it's "I want to be your mother" kind of thing.

These two shots are of the Childrens room. (The room to the right) Books and toys and even some baby cloths. Great selection of kids books. I like browsing in here hoping to find a unique surprise for the grandkids.

These last three photos are from the gift room ( the one to the left). They offer a large selection of journals. I love buying journals. My verb selection was correct. I love BUYING journals. I don't really journal much. To me they are for "To Do" lists and note taking in church. I think I'm going to journal when I buy it, in fact I keep buying them hoping I will finally buy the one that will inspire me to journal. But I don't. Funny, isn't it that I like blogging. I've wondered about what the difference is. I think keeping a journal seems private and there is so much pressure to keep it private. Planning when to finally burn them at the last minute before I meet my demise. If I don't they aren't going to be private anymore. So I figure nothings really private anymore.
They sell cards for occasions, cookbooks, kitchen stuff and gift wrap. Not the kind in cellophane, they are small pieces that drape over a rack. They are on display for our viewing pleasure. It's the kind you wrap a very special gift in. Then there is the corner dedicated to ribbons. Imagine an entire corner of your store just for ribbons. The kind you wrap around a very special gift wrapped in very special paper. Did I mention they sell jewelry there? I have a lovely necklace which my husband purchased from this store. i will let you imagine how it was wrapped when he gave it to me over lunch the next day while we lingered over lunch on the outdoor patio of Murphy's Grill.
If you want directions let me know.

A PLEASANT PACE A VERY PLEASANT PLACE

2009-03-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Here is Mountain Sage in Groveland. Most people don't end up in Groveland. It's at the top of Old Priest Grade just a mile or two past Big Oak Flat. I enjoy this place. I love how it smells of coffee and incense. I like what they promote, preservation of the environment, the beauty of nature, gardening, and a meeting place.

The Garden isn't much this time of year. Like I said before we were about a week early for all the daffodils. Groveland does this thing every year where they take an empty water bottle with the top cut off and nail it to any and every post throughout town. Each with a label bearing a name. When the daffodils are in full bloom they cut them and fill all the water bottles. It's a memorial for all those represented by the names on those bottles. Only in a small town.

This is Colton, he is the one who made my decaf soy mocha with half the chocolate. He's the one who works at mountain sage during the months that the forestry Department doesn't need him. His mom lives in Capistrano which just happens to be our Monday beach. Colton's best friend used to live in Lake Elsinore when he was a kid. Imagine that. He knows exactly where we live. You learn these things about the person who makes your coffee in a small town. At a place like Mountain Sage.

This is Bill. He sits on the stool, talking to anyone and everyone who comes in. He's been a miner, fence builder, loves the mountains, also had a friend 20 years ago from Lake Elsinore, has a girl and knows the best route for us to take to get home and didn't find one bit telling us how to avoid the LA traffic.
These are just a few reasons why we take a six hour drive several times a year.

RHYTHM

2009-03-18T23:23:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking about Rhythm this past week. I am in the mountains with the man I love. I will go walking every morning with him. There are hills, big hills in the mountains. Ones that make your heart beat really hard and take your breath away. My husband takes these hills so much better than I do. The first day we were here we put on our sweatshirts and gloves and took a walk. I’m great at the downhill but the uphill is a challenge for me. I feel compelled to keep up. I feel this need to appear as though, “this is no big deal for me either”. I hate this feeling. I don’t mind the cold. I can handle that my toes are numb, nearly frost bitten. I don’t mind the occasional car whooshing by bringing that delayed gush of frozen air on my already rosy cold face. What I don’t enjoy is that feeling of impending death that always comes on the up side. I am certain in the midst of the climb that I am going to die for lack of air. This constriction happens in my throat, I can’t get enough air, my heart is pounding in my ears, death is near, I know it is and when I die they will find that I had this hidden heart anomaly all along and it wasn’t that I wasn’t fit. Poor thing she had this heart condition. Then he’ll be sorry he forced me to keep pace with him. I am going to keep up if it kills me. This is what I am thinking. I am grateful for the evidence of life with every white breath of every exhale pleading with me to keep going, keep pace don’t show your weakness, you can keep up. Then we reach THE HILL. It’s the last big climb. I hate this hill on foot. He powers this hill. I will too. Heartbreak hill, that’s what I call it. I suppose it should be called Cardiac Death Hill or Respiratory Failure Hill. I just want to keep up. I don’t want to hold him back. We go single file on the road and I follow, close. I can’t hear anything but the pounding in my ears, I can’t get air, I hate this hill, this is stupid, I can’t do this. No talking, no air, can’t breathe, that’s it, it’s the altitude, why? Why? I can’t stand this, I can’t believe he’s making me do this. Then the top and it levels out. Tomorrow will be different.
Tomorrow is today and it is different. It’s different because I thought about rhythm.
When we reached Respiratory Failure Hill I said “I’ll see you at the top.” He picked up his pace, I minded my own, One, two, three, four, the gap widened, one, two, three, four, he’s 8 beats to my 4 every measure, all the way. I keep my rhythm, one, two, three, four, I walked to the click of the metronome keeping perfect time. My perfect time, one step, two step, three step, four step, I’m fine, I’m breathing, no fear of death. My rhythm. His rhythm. They are different. I started thinking about the rhythm of our marriage. We live together in beautiful harmony yet each with their own rhythm. I think about our life together and how many “Hills” I’ve powered up with this man. How many “hills” he’s powered up with me. I think there must be times when we each have picked up our rhythm or slowed to keep rhythm with the other. Respiratory failure Hill, I prefer my four steps for each measure, it works for me. His pace is pressing in hard. It works for him. I see his rapid white breath as I watch him crest the hill and he glances back to make sure I’m still alive. I’m happy to know that in ten rhythmic minutes we’ll be drinking coffee together at a very pleasant pace in a very pleasant place.

INSPIRATION

2009-03-18T22:08:00.001-07:00

We were at the cabin last week. Every time we're there we make a trip to Murphys. There is a winery that we always visit, not for the wine but for the inspiration. The grounds are beautiful. They have this outdoor amphitheater that is amazing. I always want to leave and go home, plant trees, bulbs, and schedule concerts on the grass.

Stage Left

This is the view in the middle.

Stage Right

Paths lined with trees, lined with barrels of bulbs, bulbs, bulbs. We were there probably a week early for the bulbs. Most were just starting to bloom. Next week will be amazing.

All these photos were taken with my iphone. I wish the pictures were clearer than they are so you could see amazing the flowers are. Anyway I'm off to the local nursery I have some trees to buy before the concert.

DOG OBEDIENCE TRAINING

2009-03-16T17:34:00.000-07:00

NO, STOP, DROP IT, WRONG, STAY, Amani has been to school, however she hasn't completely mastered
all the commands yet.

COME, SIT, DOWN, DROP IT, AMANI, I SAID NO, COME, BRING IT.
She gets BRING IT only if it's her KONG and I'm going to put a TREAT in it. Those words she gets.
at least she listens to them then.

REALLY? I CAN'T PLAY WITH THESE?

Imagine my surprise

2009-03-14T18:50:00.001-07:00

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AT FINDING SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY FRIEND AT 56 YEARS OF AGE.

I'M SURE WE WILL GROW OLD TOGETHER.

Scouting the area

2009-03-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

I find myself back in Calaveras County, The Motherlode. I am here under the guise of a working vacation but what I am really doing is scouting out this coming years Queen candidates. It helps to know the competition. I will be introducing my new talent this year and because the altitude is higher here I need to train here. So I have been riding horseback, naked, trying to hold the flag and sing at the same time. It's hard to be naked in 39 degrees. I had to switch the flag pole to plastic instead of metal, my hands kept freezing to the pole. At least I will save on the cost of a costume this year. Maybe I can put more money into a fancy hairdo, something with red, white a& blue ribbons flowing out of my hair. Anyway I trust my coach with all these dicisions.

CONTEST WINNER(S)

2009-03-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

I WAS SO OVERWHELMED BY THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSE FROM MY FANS THAT I HAVE HAD TO ADD TWO MORE GIFT CARDS.
NO ONE ACTUALLY GUESSED MY QUEEN OF THE MOTHER LODE TALENT BUT SO MANY SUGGESTIONS CAME IN THAT I NEEDED TO CONVEY MY GRATITUDE.
MY FUTURE PAGEANTS WILL SO FAR EXCEED THE PREVIOUS ONES THAT I FELT I HAD TO REWARD THOSE SUGGESTIONS THAT MY COACH AND I FELT SUITED ME SO WELL. IN FACT WE BELIEVE THEY WILL SUIT ME BETTER THAN THE:

WIDDLING. (not to be confused with whittling) THE JUDGES SEEMED TO REALLY ENJOY THE WIDDLING
IT'S NOT EASY WIDDLING A WHISTLE WHILE SQUARE DANCING.
BUT I WAS DINGED FOR GOING OVER MY TIME.
THE WINNERS ARE
JERVAUN WHO WON THE $10.00 GIFT CARD FOR HER MANY SUGGESTIONS
BETH & JEN EACH WILL BE RECIEVING A $5.00 GIFT CARD FOR THEIR UNDYING SUPPORT AND ALSO WONDERFUL SUGGESTIONS.
THANK YOU ALL.

Contest has closed

2009-03-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

Winners of the talent contest will be announced tomorrow.
Thank you for your participation.

The Joy of Running for Queen

2009-03-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

No one has guessed my Pageant talent as yet so I thought I would give you a picture of my poster. This was the poster that was placed all over town. I'm not sure why you have to actually advertise to become queen, maybe it takes more than beauty, class and talent. Apparently in Calaveras County you campaign for queen or maybe it's for the sponsors to advertise. I don't really know. I let my pageant manager handle all of those details.
JUST REMEMBER THE GIVEAWAY ENDS IN 48 HOURS. SO GET YOUR VOTES IN.(AM I CAMPAIGNING?)

ONLY TWO MORE DAYS TO CONTEST CLOSING

2009-03-05T06:01:00.001-08:00

I HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE RESPONSE TO THE BIG GIVEAWAY. THANKS YOU GUYS. KEEP YOUR SUBMISSIONS COMING. NO ONE HAS GUESSED MY TALENT IN THE MOTHER LODE PAGEANT TO DATE. SO ENTER AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE. IF NO ONE GUESSES MY ACTUAL TALENT I WILL CHOOSE THE MOST INSPIRING IDEA. WHO KNOWS YOU MAY SPARK AN IDEA BY YOUR ENTRY THAT I WILL USE IN MY NEXT PAGEANT. I HAVE ALREADY ORDERED THE FLAGS. I BEGIN TRAINING NEXT WEEK WHILE UP IN CALAVERAS COUNTY.

I PROMISED YOU PICTURES

2009-03-01T17:23:00.000-08:00

TO VIEW THE PROMISED PHOTOS PLEASE REVISIT MY PREVIOUS POST.

I THINK YOU WILL MOST DELIGHTED.

Confessions of a closet queen

2009-02-28T21:40:00.000-08:00

I WAS NEVER GOING TO ANNOUNCE THIS PUBLICLY BUT AFTER MY LAST MOMENT OF HONESTY I FELT SO GOOD. IT FELT GOOD TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHO I REALLY AM. WE ALL HIDE CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT OURSELVES BUT IT'S SO LIBERATING TO BE JUST PLAIN HONEST.

I'M NOT SURE YOU'RE READY TO KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, IT MAY SHATTER ANY NOTION YOU HAD ABOUT WHO I REALLY AM.
I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU A PICTURE THAT, WELL, QUITE FRANKLY MAY CHANGE MY LIFE. ONCE IT'S OUT THERE I FEAR MY PHONE WILL NOT STOP RINGING............

"WILL YOU WEAR OUR GOWN?"

"WILL YOU REP OUR PRODUCTS?"

"WILL YOU COME SPEAK AT OUR NEXT CLUB MEETING?"

"WILL YOU SIGN SOME PHOTOS FOR THE FAN CLUB?"

IT'S GOING TO CHANGE MY LIFE, I KNOW IT.

BUT, MY PUBLIC AWAITS.

I'LL POST THE PHOTO TOMORROW.

I PROMISED TO SHARE PHOTOS FROM MY SHOOT.
MANY OF YOU ARE UNAWARE THAT I WAS IN THE RUNNING FOR

QUEEN OF THE MOTHERLODE

CALAVERAS COUNTY, CA

YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT MY "TALENT" WAS FOR THE COMPETITION.

I THINK IT WOULD BE FUN TO SEE IF YOU CAN GUESS WHAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN.

SO I AM GOING TO HAVE MY FIRST GIVEAWAY.
THE FIRST PERSON TO CORRECTLY GUESS WHAT MY TALENT WAS IN THE COMPETITION WILL WIN

A $10.00 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD
THE CONTEST WILL CLOSE ON MARCH 7TH AT 7PM PACIFIC TIME.

HISTORICAL FACT:
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT MY STAGE NAME, YEARS AGO WAS "MARTA"

I THINK IT MIGHT BE FUN THE PULL OUT MY PORTFOLIO AND SHOW YOU SOME OF THE EARLIER PHOTOS FROM EARLY IN MY CAREER. I THINK IF YOU WERE TO SEE THOSE PHOTOS YOU WOULD IMMEDIATLY SEE HOW I WOULD JUST NATURALLY FALL INTO THE MOTHERLODE COMPETITION.

You know what I think is important?

2009-02-18T17:43:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile life piles up. It's a dangerous thing when you start looking online for a cruise. A cruise to escape. Not just a cruise but a transatlantic cruise. Then your husband joins you with seldom seen enthusiasm and you start dreaming and planning. Then you tell your cruise buddies and they put a stop to that nonsense and bring you back. We aren't booking, but it's bookmarked, I think that is OK. It's OK to bookmark the cruise but it's not OK to book the cruise. Anyway, I was saying how life piles up sometimes. Then I start thinking about life as a hermit. Is that bad? To want to be a hermit. I think everyone thinks about that from time to time. Today was my time. It doesn't take much sometimes, just an encounter, a split second really and your view of life can change from "lovin life" to "I just want to be a hermit". Maybe it's just me. Maybe nobody else ever feels like this. Today I just wanted to be living in the small mountain house hidden under a massive blanket of oaks right on the hairpin turn with the no trespassing sign marking the long windy driveway. I find myself wishing for that when things start happening. Conflict with a friend, hurt feelings, to little work, to much work, hurt feelings, (did I already say that?) neglect, hey what about me, don't I matter? I begin to spiral to the place where It's dangerous for me to go. I really shouldn't even look over the edge. I looked over the edge last week and it was daring of me, brave even, and a little great, and a little scary and when that happens you risk. You risk the peace of the little world you create to feel safe. It's like stepping out on a ledge with your arms raised to keep your balance? That's what it feels like. Standing on the ledge with your arms out for balance only keeps your arms busy and tired and unable to hold on. That is where I am today. Real or imagined I feel lonely and insignificant and a little scared. May I be that honest? I suppose I shouldn't be this honest even though it is my blog. Why, I can be the innkeeper of a B&B if I want. So here I am balancing, my arms getting tired, trying not to fall. I have to hold on, once I let go I will start that long, fast, scary slide to the bottom. If I let go there's really nothing to slow me down and when I hit, it's hard and it's dark. When you're down there you think you're the only one who has ever been there. That's because it's dark and lonely, you can't see. It's a long, lonely climb out. I can't even see the bottom of the spiral today but I know it's there and I hold on. I'm just feeling sorry for myself. I'm being reflective today because I shed a little light on the darkness that was once in my life. Which is a good thing. I think. Just for awhile I will isolate. Then the mail came.
Everything changed. In an instant. A 5X8 card changed everything. I have this lovely clutch in which I save my most meaningful cards. The cards that remind me I'm not a total looser. That's exactly where I'm going to keep the 5X8 card.
You know what I think is important? Perspective. That's what I keep in the clutch. Perspective.

THE INNKEEPER COMES HOME TODAY

2009-02-05T17:04:00.000-08:00

HIS FLIGHT ARRIVES AT 6:15 PM
NO WAIT IT NOW ARRIVES AT 21OO.
NO WAIT IT'S BACK TO 6:15
OH NO! GOTTA GO
HE'S HERE IN 45 MIN.
RIGHT NOW I'M THANKFUL FOR CUSTOMS.
HE WON'T GET THRU UNTIL ABOUT 7PM
NOW I WON'T BE LATE, AT LEAST BY MUCH.
YIPEE!!!!

Project Finished, My favorite one so far!

2009-02-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

I had the best morning yesterday. I was up early and down at my new favorite lumber yard. It was brisk and just barely dawn. I watched the light from the sun getting brighter behind the hills until the sun was up. Now, the day begins. I just love the early morning. I picked up a jigsaw and a new piece of redwood. Drove home and transferred the template to the wood and cut out the arches for the arbor. They turned out great. I love my new saw. Even more than my old jigsaw that I found in the garage while looking for the sander. The picture below shows the things I used to create the arch. I used the metal tin for the ends of the arch and the oval platter for the arch itself. the ruler to keep the arch width consistent.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

THIS IS SUE. SHE WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO COME HELP ME CARRY THE GRANITE ROCKS OUT OF THE ARBOR AREA AND OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY. SHE ALSO HELPED ME RAISE THE ARCHES TO THE TOP OF THE POSTS. I NEED TO SAY THAT NO ONE WAS
HURT DURING THE MAKING OF THIS ARBOR. ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES. THE BAR STOOL ON WHICH SHE IS STANDING MEETS ALL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AT THIS TIME THAT THE ARBOR IS LEVEL. THE FENCE HOWEVER IS NOT LEVEL. SO DON'T BE DECEIVED.

HERE IT IS!

WAIT FOR IT!!!!!

VOILA!!!!!!

VIEW FROM THE BACK YARD

VIEW FROM ACROSS THE STREET

Trouble in Paradise- 2 days left

2009-02-03T22:13:00.000-08:00

It's not all peaches and cream here at the Inn. I've been working on my arbor with some mishaps. First I am using a saw which cuts the wood OK but it doesn't allow me to actually visualize the line while sawing. This is a problem.
I finished cutting the first arch and had to change it a little but thought it turned out pretty well.
I clamped it to the post to get an idea of the height placement. Then without provocation it fell and broke about an eight inch piece clean off.
I got out the wood glue and my nifty new clamps and I'll wait and see if it's usable or if I will need to buy another piece of wood.
Either way I'm fine. It never hurts to have extra pieces of redwood laying around. You never know when you might want to use it and turn a bowl.
Next trip to Africa Maybe I'll buy a lathe and make bowls the whole time.

THE PROJECT

2009-02-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

IT WASN'T UNTIL YESTERDAY, SATURDAY, THAT I FINALLY GOT EXCITED AND MOTIVATED TO DO MY PROJECT. I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO DO A TRELLIS BUT I WAS UNDECIDED ABOUT THE DESIGN. SUDDENLY YESTERDAY MORNING IT CAME TO ME. I WENT TO DIXIELINE AND PICKED OUT THE WOOD. I DECIDED ON A REDWOOD WITH A ROUGH FINISH.

AFTER CHURCH TODAY I SET THE POSTS. IT WAS FAIRLY EASY BECAUSE THE HOLES WERE DUG YESTERDAY. I USED 10 FOOT POSTS WITH THE HOPE OF CREATING A VISUAL BARRIER FROM THE UPPER LEVEL APARTMENTS ACROSS THE STREET.

HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT I HAVE SET OUT MY TOOLS; PENCIL, QUILTERS RULER, SAW, MEASURING TAPE. MOST PEOPLE WOULD USE THEIR CARPENTERS SQUARE. I WOULD HAVE TOO BUT I COULDN'T FIND IT. THAT BUZZY!!
I CUT THE 8 FT. BOARD INTO 4FT AND BEGAN TO WORK ON MY TEMPLATE FOR THE ARCH.

INGENUITY; I DON'T HAVE A SAWHORSE SO I USED THE RAISED BET TO DO THE CUTTING. I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE WITH THE CUT. APPARENTLY MY BLADE WAS A SCOOCH SMALL SO IT DIDN'T CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THAT'S THE PRICE OF HAVING A SAW THAT IS SMALL AND MANAGEABLE FOR ME.

THIS THE TEMPLATE FOR THE ARCH. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS TO CUT IT WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF SOMEONE WHO MAY KNOW SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW. I'M A LITTLE UNSURE ABOUT THE DEGREE OF THE ARCH. MAYBE I WANT MORE ARCH OR LESS. I DON'T KNOW. SO I HAVE A CALL INTO MY LOCAL CONSULTANT, CURT PACE. HOPEFULLY I CAN HAVE HIM LOOK AT IT BEFORE I CUT AND FIND THAT I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T KNOW I SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED.

Saturday, Only 5 days left

2009-01-31T08:11:00.000-08:00

I've done almost nothing towards my project. I have spent time working and resting and cogitating about my trellis.
First things first.

MY TO DO LIST FOR TODAY

DONE Make a list of what to do today
DONE Finish planting the lemon tree
DONE dig up the snail vines on the veranda
ALMOST Finish removing the snail vine from the pergola
haul away the lizard vines (be brave Marty, Gary said he was gone)
DONE Move the rocks in the trellis area away
DONE transplant the plants from same area
DONE Go to the farmers market to buy organic produce (except for lettuce, I have that in my garden)
DONE Buy trellis posts, cement I NEED A TRUCK
DONE Dig the post holes
DONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON set the posts plumb using you handing leveling tool on your iphone.
DONE Pick up flowers for the church (before 2) EXCEPT I FORGOT TO BE THERE BY 130 AND FOUND ON MY PORCH!!!
DARN get a massage SHE NEVER CALLED ME BACK
IT CAN WAIT clean out the fridge
TALKED TO MY SWEET HUSBAND ON THE PHONE
DON'T HAVE TO, JEN GAVE ME SOME OF HERS Prepare supper
It is now 8:20 am
GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7:20 PM AND THAT'S WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED TODAY.
SOUPS ON, GOTTA GO.....

Peace has returned to the Inn.

2009-01-29T20:35:00.000-08:00

I love tools, I love gadgets, I love hardware stores.
I went to Home Depot and picked out the highest hp shop vac I could find.
It's powerful. Powerful enough to suck up an alligator lizard.
It works great. It has a long heavy hose. I've cleared off the Southern Veranda and the surrounding fence.
I just want to say, I think the Inn is safe again.

I'M READY TO TALK NOW

2009-01-24T19:11:00.000-08:00

I WAS MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS WHILE I WAS PULLING THE OVER GROWTH OF THE VINE OFF THE FENCE AND PERGOLA, LOADING THE TANGLED VINES INTO THE TRASH CAN SMASHING IT DOWN WITH MY GLOVED HANDS TO FIT MORE OF THE DEBRIS INTO THE CAN AND STILL NOT HAVING ENOUGH ROOM TO FIT IT ALL.(is that a run-on) IN MY GARDENING GLEE I WAS PULLING THE EXCESS VINE DOWN TO THE GATE AND AWAY FROM THE FENCE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, JUST LIKE THAT, THE GLEE WAS GONE. THERE HE WAS SLITHERING ALONG THE BASE OF THE FENCE, THROWING HIS HEAD BACK,LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER AT ME, AS IF TO SAY, TO ME, THAT I HAD JUST ROBBED HIM OF HIS PEACE. THIS HUGE ALLIGATOR LIZARD HAD MOVED ONTO THE GROUNDS OF THE INN. ONE OF US HAS TO GO.

I STOPPED RIGHT THEN AND BEGAN TO IMAGINE THE HORROR OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. WHAT IF HE HAD BEEN ON THE TOP OF THE FENCE? IT COULD HAVE BEEN THROWN FROM THE FENCE AND FALLEN ONTO ME. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THE HORROR OF SUCH A THING. I LEFT THE PILE OF VINES AND LEAVES. I LEFT AND WENT TO THE MOVIES. I HAVE TO BELIEVE HE HAS GONE AND MOVED ON DOWN TO THE LAKE. I THINK I MAY HAVE SEEN HIM SLITHERING INTO THE WATER. I'M PRETTY SURE I DID.

I'M CERTAIN HE'S GONE NOW.
IT WAS DARK WHEN I RETURNED HOME.
I WAS ABLE TO WALK IN THE DARK TO THE HOUSE WITHOUT THE FEAR OF STEPPING ON HIM.
I'M SURE HE'S GONE, I JUST KNOW HE IS.
DOES ANYONE KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN COME CLEAR OUT THE REST OF THE VINES?
I FEEL A NEED TO HELP STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND PAY SOMEONE TO FINISH THE CLEAN UP.
ANYONE?

TRAUMA HAS BESET THE INN THREATENING THE PEACE WITHIN

2009-01-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

I AM CURRENTLY TRAUMATIZED AND CAN NOT YET SPEAK OF THE INCIDENT. I MUST TAKE LEAVE OF THE INN AND FIND MY SOLACE IN THE COOL DARKNESS OF THE THEATER. MAYBE THEN, AND ONLY THEN, WILL I BE ABLE TO SPEAK PUBLICLY OF THE INCIDENT WHICH FELL UPON ME WHILE THE INNKEEPER WAS AWAY.

Everything as usual

2009-01-23T07:38:00.001-08:00

Everything is the same when he's away.
Really, I don't do anything I wouldn't do if he was here.

Shh!!!! If anyone tells him the dog was in the bed, I'm in big trouble.

I have Many Ideas but not sure what I should do.

2009-01-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

WHEN THIS TRADITION OF DOING A PROJECT STARTED, MY KIDS WERE VERY SMALL. IT WASN'T ALWAYS A PROJECT BUT SOMETIMES JUST A PURCHASE. I CAN'T RECALL THEM ALL. HE HAS COME HOME TO A NEW PET DUCK, A STEREO, A SWIMMING POOL, NEW DOORS WHERE WINDOWS ONCE WERE. HOT TUBS, FLAT SCREEN TV.
I DO LOVE THE PROJECTS BUT I'M GETTING OLD AND DON'T HAVE THE STAMINA I ONCE DID.

MY CURRENT POSSIBILITIES?????

1. SELL MY HUSBANDS S2000?

2. BUY MY HUSBAND A BOAT?

3. FIX THE HOT TUB AND BUILD A DECK AROUND IT?

4. CLEAN OUT THE TERRIBLY OVERGROWN SOUTHERN VERANDA AT THE INN?

RETURNING IT TO IT'S PREVIOUS GLORY

5. I COULD PLANT A TREE
BUT WHAT KIND SHOULD IT BE?
AND WHERE WOULD IT GO?

6. I COULD REDECORATE THE MASTER SUITE
BUT I REMEMBERED THAT I DID THAT ON A PREVIOUS TRIP.
THEN BEFORE THE INNKEEPER RETURNED FROM HIS TRIP I RETURNED THE SUITE TO IT'S ORIGINAL STATE.
RETURNING THE SPREAD, THE PILLOWS, THE DRAPES.
MAYBE I HAVE TIME TO MAKE A QUILTED SPREAD FOR THE MASTER SUITE BED?

7. BUY A DISNEY PASS AND GO TO THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH?

8. BUILD AN ARBOR?

9. I could also buy the desk unit from Pottery Barn and finish my studio the way I have been dreaming.

10.I HAVE ALSO BE THINKING ABOUT TAKING PAINTING LESSONS. THERE IS THIS PICTURE THAT I LOVE AND HAVE WANTED TO PAINT IT FOR MY BEDROOM WALL. SO MAYBE I WILL START PAINTING THIS WEEK. SUDDENLY, I'LL BE AN ARTIST.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT.
MAYBE I'LL JUST GO TO THE CHURCH AND PLANT A STRAWBERRY PATCH

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!!!

2009-01-20T22:25:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY, MY SWEET HUSBAND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD BE MAKING ANOTHER TRIP TO AFRICA. HE SPOKE ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS PENDING TRIP. HE WILL BE FACING SOME DIFFICULT MEETINGS. HE ASKED PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR HIM AND TO PRAY FOR HIS WIFE, THAT'S ME, THE WIFE.
THE THING THAT MADE ME SMILE WAS AFTER CHURCH. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAME RIGHT TO ME ASKING
"WHAT'S YOUR PROJECT?"
I LOVE THAT YOU JUST KNOW WHEN THE INNKEEPER IS AWAY THE INNKEEPER'S WIFE BRINGS OUT THE TOOLS.
HUMMMM?????? WHAT WILL I DO AT THE INN THIS TRIP?

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS AT THE INN

2008-12-27T02:42:00.000-08:00

I PROMISED YOU THAT I WOULD NOT SHOW YOU PICTURES OF FOOD. BUT TONIGHT WE HAD BAR B QUE CHICKEN WITH WOODY'S
SAUCE. IT SMELLED JUST LIKE WE REMEMBERED. TASTED GREAT TOO. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT BECAUSE I WILL NOT SHOW YOU PICTURES OF IT. BUT I WILL SHOW YOU ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE EVENING. MY SWEET HUSBAND, PRETENDING HE DOESN'T REALLY LOVE MY DOG.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER

2008-12-27T01:55:00.000-08:00

OUR DAY STARTED WITH A CHURCH SERVICE. IT WAS BRIEF, ONLY AN HOUR. WE SANG CAROLS AND OUR PASTOR READ A STORY HE WROTE. IT WAS AN AMAZING STORY FROM A BYSTANDERS PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY. IT WAS SUCH A RELAXING, JOYOUS TIME TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE WE LOVE.
WE SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY WITH OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS. 6 ADULTS, 3 CHILDREN, A RAINY, WINDY DAY AND IT WAS GREAT. WE GAVE AND RECEIVED GIFTS FOR HOURS. REALLY IT TOOK US HOURS AS WE, ONE AT A TIME OPENED SPECIAL GIFTS.
CHRISTMAS IS A GREAT TIME TO EXPRESS THE DEEP LOVE WE HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. WE CRIED AND LAUGHED, ATE AND MADE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT DAY.

MY NEW CHRISTMAS QUILT. MY DAUGHTER MADE THIS AMAZING QUILT FOR THE INN. (REALLY FOR ME). IT'S REALLY AMAZING. IT WILL GRACE THE INN EVERY YEAR TO ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

EVERY YEAR OUR DAUGHTER IN LAW MAKES THIS AMAZING CALENDAR FOR THE FAMILY. THIS YEAR MARKS A NEW FOCUS. SHE HAS MAPPED OUT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR WHEN AND HOW SHE WILL BE PRAYING FOR THE FAMILY. WHAT AN AMAZING GIFT, A YEAR OF FOCUSED PRAYER AND A CALENDAR FOR US ALL TO FOLLOW SUIT.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO MAKE A PROMISE TO THOSE WHO FREQUENT THIS SITE. I WILL NOT BE BORING YOU WITH ANY MORE PICTURES OF THE FOOD I MAKE. I MAY INCLUDE PICTURES IF I DECIDE TO GIVE YOU A RECIPE BUT YOU WILL NOT SEE PICTURES OF CARROTS, GREEN BEANS OR BEETS. I PROMISE. THIS PICTURE HOWEVER IS IMPORTANT. THIS IS THE BAR B QUE SAUCE THAT I GREW UP WITH AND THEN MY CHILDREN AS WELL. IT'S THIS STRONG SPICY, PEPPERY SAUCE. IT'S A WONDERFUL SMELL OF CHILDHOOD. A FLAVOR ALL IT'S OWN. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE HAVE ALL MISSED IT. IMAGINE OUR SURPRISE WHEN OUR SON AND HIS WIFE HAD SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND US SOME. THEY GAVE US TWO JARS FOR CHRISTMAS. IMAGINE HOW SURPRISED OUR KIDS WERE WHEN THEY LEARNED THAT WE ALSO FOUND AND BOUGHT A CASE AS WELL. WE NOW HAVE ENOUGH SAUCE TO LAST US A GOOD YEAR. IF YOU WANT TO TRY THE SAUCE GIVE US A CALL AND INVITE YOURSELF TO DINNER. WE'LL FIX YOU SOME HOMEMADE BAR B QUED CHICKEN. IT'S JUST THE BEST.

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TO MANY MOVIES. ESPECIALLY WHEN GUESTS COME TO THE INN, THEY OFTEN WANT TO RELAX WITH A QUALITY FILM. WITH CHRISTMAS WE HAVE ADDED FOUR MORE FILMS TO THE LIBRARY FOR YOUR VIEWING ENJOYMENT.

Wrestle with a 400 pound pig and someone's going to loose.

2008-11-12T17:38:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite blogs is Pioneerwoman. She lives with a cattle rancher and it's very entertaining to hear about her life. However, I don't recall that I have ever heard her mention that SHE has ever wrestled with a pig. She doesn't have anything on this city girl. So I may have one up on her. It was really the most amazing day. It was Monday, our day off together. We almost always, without fail, head for the beach. The ocean revitalizes our life. We find a stretch to walk and we talk, smell and listen. The salty air and the smells just bring peace to our hearts. We find a place to eat fish and watch the waves. Every monday we say "we have the best life". It's true we do have the best life. But this past Monday I got to pick what we did. It wasn't really about who got to pick as much as it was about taking advantage of someone's offer to meet with me on Monday at 11:30. When you ask someone for help, you meet them when it's good for them. That happened to be on a Monday. All my beloved said when I told him was "in the middle of the day?" I asked him to join me along with the friend who was going to go with me as well. We had an appointment with a worm farmer. She drove. We circled around because I forgot the directions. We followed the directions to a T. We turned Left on Leland and found ourselves up a dirt road which actually was a driveway to the top of a hill where "Gus" with a beard to the base of his sternum,or the top of his Gut, depending on how you view things, came out with one of his four pit bulls. My beloved in the back seat being quiet beyond belief. Had my friend not been there we would have already been half way to the beach. Wrong turn? Can't find it? Let's go......
We turned around and went back down the hill and started up another. The GPS lead us to a gate which boasted about
6 No Trespassing signs.
My friend said, "should we open it?"
"yes" I replied.
"No!" He replied.
"The signs are there for a reason Marty, that many signs are there for a reason"
Meanwhile my friend is out of the car heading for the gate. "It's padlocked" she reports.
"Thank God" He said.
"We should just go" I said, "for the sake of my marriage, we should just go".
Another left turn and a mile down another dirt road we find a truck pulling a trailer on the side of the road. There was a sign on the back window of the truck about hormone free meat. "It's a clue, God is leading us" the farm we're looking for sells organic meat. We ask her if she's heard of Da-Le Ranch. "Yup, follow me, that's where I'm headed" She takes off and leaves us in her dust. We keep driving and she's no where to be seen. We see a big cross on top of a hill, "another sign, God's leading us in the wilderness, the cross is our cloud by day".
He's quiet. He's just quiet.
We finally turn left, again, on the "2nd) Leland. Apparently it's the other end of the "gated Leland", the No Trespassing Leland.
When we arrived at the Worm Farm the speedy truck that lead us by a dust cloud was backing up the trailer to load a 400 lb Pig, An organically fed, hormone free pig A pig with arthritis. A pig who did not want to get into a trailer headed for the slaughter house. Some city folk might think the journey ends at the slaughter house, but that's not so. There is the packing house where sausage is made. How many pig farmers, pastors, and nurses does it take to load a pig? Apparently it takes 5 adults, an electric prod, a paddle, five retired political posters telling the pig how to vote on Prop 2, and 3 hours. Did you know that a 400 lb pig can lift 1500 lbs with it's snout? (That might come up over Thanksgiving) It was the craziest, most unexpected 3 hours of my life. That Pig got MAD, he grabbed the paddle, shaking his snout, NO NO NO. He grabbed the water pipes tearing it at ground level, "quick go turn the water off". I never, in my wildest dreams ever thought I would wrestle with a pig. I don't want to mislead you in my description, we weren't actually rolling in the mud with the pig, that would have been crazy, we were just attempting to load a 400 pound angry pig into a trailer.
The pig's name was Pork Chop and he lost.
Sorry Pork Chop.
See you at breakfast.

Did I ever mention that cute pup has grown into a dog?

2008-10-14T09:37:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure if Amani is guarding the jars of jam under the bed or if she's looking for something else she can chew.
Oh yes this one is a chewer.

SUMMER DAYS ARE GONE BUT THE BOUNTY CONTINUES

2008-10-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I imagine anyone cares, even a little bit, about the garden I planted this year. But then I thought to myself, of course they care. Anyone who comes to the Inn wants to know that the food they are being served comes fresh from the Garden, free of any pesticides. Who actually doesn't care about that?

I had to include this picture because it is the sum total of the TWO plantings of beans this season. I didn't get any beans from the first crop, apparently my roots fed a family of gophers. I planted a second crop late in the season and had one picking to serve two people for one meal. I grew the onions as well. I am guessing that critters don't care for onions because my onions are great, I love going out and picking them fresh. The beans however were tough and chewy. Next year will be better.

Zoe wears a couple of hats at the Inn. She not only works in the field, planting, weeding and picking she also does the canning of peaches and apricots. Her specialty is Apricot pineapple jam. It's her great grandmother's recipe handed down for generations. Now days you can only find this rare private vintage at the Inn. Though I suspect, but can't say for sure that there are still some great grandmas out there who are still passing down the art of "putting up" for the long cold winter that lays ahead.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT OUR CLIMATE IS THAT EVEN WHEN WINTER HITS, THE GARDEN CAN CONTINUE. WE DON'T GET THE SNOW THAT COMPLETELY DETERMINES WHEN THE GARDEN IS DONE FOR THE SEASON. PICTURED ABOVE ARE MY HARD WORKING RANCH HANDS, ZOE AND CALEB. THEY ARE COMING IN FROM THE FIELDS WITH THEIR BASKET FULL OF VEGES.

FLAMINGO'D

2008-10-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

WE WERE FLAMINGO'D LAST NIGHT. I BET MOST PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD THE HONOR OF BEING FLAMINGO'D. THIS MORNING AT THE INN WE AWOKE TO A LAWN FULL OF PINK FLAMINGOS, ALONG WITH A NOTE FROM THE INSTIGATOR. WATCH OUT, YOU COULD BE NEXT.

Gift shop at the Inn

2008-09-28T23:52:00.000-07:00

The gift shop at the Inn would like to announce our latest arrival. We would like you to meet UMI, our latest little lovable addition. We are having a hard time keeping her in stock. She is so lovable everyone who meets her wants to take her home.

INTERIM INNKEEPERS

2008-08-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR INTERIM INNKEEPERS.
"MEET SARAH & ADAM"
THE INN WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO SNAG THIS COUPLE AT SUCH A SHORT NOTICE.
THE ARE WELL KNOWN AND SOUGHT AFTER IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, INLAND VALLEY AREA.
IT WAS NICE LEAVING THE INN TO THE CARE OF SUCH A CAPABLE COUPLE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY THANK THEM FOR TENDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE INN.
"THANK-YOU SARAH & ADAM".

IT MATTERS

2008-08-20T13:42:00.001-07:00

I WASN'T SURE WHAT I SHOULD TITLE THIS ENTRY:
"GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT'
"GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES"
"SIZE DOESN'T MATTER"
"MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE WAITED A LITTLE LONGER"
"THERE'S A TIME TO SOW AND A TIME TO REAP, CLEARLY NOT TODAY!"
"FERTILIZER: IT'S IMPORTANT"
This is the first carrot from the INN's garden. There will be no carrot salad today. Maybe there will be grated carrot IN a salad but that will be all.
It's small but none the less exciting to me. I was in the garden by myself, yet when I pulled it out of the dark rich soil I exclaimed aloud, "I have a carrot". No one was there to hear my excitement. Doesn't matter that I have a two pound bag of organic carrots in the fridge. I grew THIS carrot from an heirloom seed. This might be a seed from a carrot my grandmother grew, or your grandmother for that matter. Certain things matter to me. It matters to me that this seed came from someone's garden. It mattered to them, they saved the seed so I could plant it. It matters to me that my carrot isn't the product of a factory where it was genetically engineered to be disease resistant. Maybe disease resistant food makes us NON-disease resistant. It matters to me that I can cook (or not cook for that matter) my carrot and serve it to my daughter and tell her "this won't make you sick".

I think I have my title: IT MATTERS

MEASURING DAY 2008

2008-08-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

CHATEAU DE PAIX INN RECENTLY HAD THE JOY OF HOSTING
THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF MEASURING DAY.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PICTURE OF THE DAY. THE SERIOUS ATHLETES ARE READY TO GO.

THE ALL IMPORTANT EVENT OF THE DAY.
HOW TALL ARE YOU?

SETTING FOOTPRINTS IN A CONCRETE SLAB ON A 104 DEGREE DAY WAS A CHALLENGE. HOW WET DOES IT NEED TO BE VS. HOW QUICKLY WILL IT SET UP. IT'S NOT THE BEST JOB EVER, IN FACT IT MAY BE THE WORST JOB EVER BUT THE KIDS WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER IT. THEY WILL REMEMBER THE FIRST ANNUAL MEASURING DAY OF THEIR LIVES ALWAYS. WHEN I'M SO OLD I FORGET, THEY WILL REMIND ME. WE WILL LAUGH.

LISTENING CAREFULLY TO THE INSTRUCTIONS.

HOW WELL CAN YOU TRACE AN OUTLINE?

HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU JUMP WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT?

HOW FAR CAN YOU TOSS A WATER BALLOON?

WATER BALLOON TOSS IN MID ACTION!!!

href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qq6TJZBfzjU/SJVi7gUL3II/AAAAAAAAAIY/aXTufP4smJo/s1600-h/DSC07293.JPG">
THE DAY ENDED WITH CAKE WHICH WAS REALLY MORE FOR ZOE'S BIRTHDAY THAN FOR MEASURING DAY.

BOTULISM SCARE!!!!!! BEET RECALL

2008-07-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

I HAVE REALLY BAD NEWS. AFTER CANNING MY HARVEST OF HOME-GROWN ORGANIC HEIRLOOM BEETS I BEGAN TO SHARE THE BOUNTY. I GAVE A COUPLE JARS TO FRIENDS. PEOPLE I REALLY CARE ABOUT. I TOOK A JAR TO THE LOCAL BAKERY AND GAVE MY FRIEND A JAR OF HER OWN. SHE LOVES PICKLED BEETS.
I HAD A SECOND HARVEST TO CAN BUT DIDN'T WANT TO PICKLE THEM SO I WENT ONLINE TO LEARN JUST HOW TO DO IT.
THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED.
THIS IS WHEN I LEARNED THAT I HAD POTENTIALLY POISONED MY FRIENDS.
BEETS, BEING A LOW ACID VEGETABLE REQUIRES THE PRESSURE CANNING PROCESS. I KEPT SEARCHING DIFFERENT SITES TO FIND JUST ONE THAT WOULD TELL ME "NO YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY IF YOU PICKLE THEM" I JUST WANTED ONE PERSON TO SAY IT WAS OK.
THEN I FOUND IT. I FOUND A "SEASONED CANNER" AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE THOUGHT. HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE OK WITH THE VINEGAR. THIS CAUSED ME SOME CONCERN. "THOUGHT" "SHOULD" MADE ME A LITTLE NERVOUS. I WANTED "ABSOLUTELY" IT'S OK. I WANTED TO HEAR "IT'S SO OK THAT I WILL FEED THEM TO MY GRANDKIDS" BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I GOT.
SO I PUT OUT THE RECALL. FORTUNATELY NO ONE HAD EATEN THEM. THEY "PROBABLY" WOULD HAVE BEEN OK, BUT REALLY, WHY WOULD I WANT TO RISK IT.
SO DOWN THE DISPOSAL THEY WENT.
MAYBE I SHOULD CALL IT "THE GREAT BEET FIASCO OF 2008"

SUMMER BRINGS THE HARVEST

2008-06-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

AT THE INN WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO CAN OUR OWN JAMS EVERY SUMMER. THIS PAST WEEK WE HARVESTED OUR CROP
OF ORGANIC HEIRLOOM BEETS. WE SPENT AN AFTERNOON THIS PAST WEEK "PUTTING UP" OUR PICKLED BEETS. YOU HAVEN'T LIVED UNTIL YOU'VE HAD A TASTE OF THE CHATEAU'S HOME GROWN PICKLED BEETS. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY WHEN THE APRICOTS COME IN. OUR TREE IS TO YOUNG TO BEAR FRUIT SO WE ARE HAVING OUR BLENHEIM APRICOTS BROUGHT IN FROM UP NORTH. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT FRUIT. ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF THEIR OWN JAR OF APRICOT JAM FROM THE CHATEAU.

Day 15 of 16 lonely sunsets

2008-06-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 16 DAYS ALREADY. WAIT, DID I SAY THAT WRONG? I THINK I MEANT TO SAY IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN MONTHS, HE'S BEEN GONE SO LONG. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE WRONG IMPRESSION BECAUSE I REALLY DO MISS MY HUSBAND WHEN HE'S GONE. HOWEVER, I DO LIKE THE "PROJECT TIME" AS WELL. THE PROJECTS KEEP ME BUSY, I DON'T FEEL SO LONELY AND I GET SOMETHING DONE AT THE INN THAT WOULDN'T GET DONE ANY OTHER TIME.
TODAY I BEGAN ADDING PATIO ACCOUTREMENTS. I WAS SCURRYING ABOUT TOWN TODAY LOOKING FOR CHAIRS AND AN UMBRELLA. I BOUGHT A MISTING SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE NECESSARY IN THE HEAT IF WE EVER PLAN ON SITTING OUT THERE. I HAVEN'T PUT IT IN YET. BUT HE'S NOT HOME FOR ANOTHER 18 HOURS. I WANT TO MOW THE LAWN FOR HIM (IT'S HIS JOB) IN THE EARLY HOURS WHILE IT'S STILL IN THE 70'S. I ALSO HAVE THE EXTRA BAGS OF ROCK AND PALLETS LOADED IN MY CAR AND HAVE TO RETURN THEM IN THE AM. I'M SO READY FOR HIM TO BE HOME. TOMORROW EVENING, IF YOU HAPPEN TO DRIVE BY THE INN, YOU JUST MIGHT SEE TWO PEOPLE SITTING ON THE WESTERN VERANDA HOLDING HANDS AND TALKING, SAYING:
"IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK WHERE YOU BELONG"
"IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HOME"
"DON'T GO AWAY FOR A WHILE, OK!'
"HOW WAS CHURCH ON SUNDAY?" "IT WAS AWESOME"
"NICE PROJECT MARTY" "THANKS"
"WHAT ELSE DID YOU DO?"
" SORRY BABE, I DIDN'T PUT IN A NEW HOT TUB"
" HEY BABE, BABE, HEY BABE, WAKE UP"

Final Inspection

2008-06-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

I am keeping the fence as is. I had a professional come and inspect the wall. He said it was safe the way it is. What about that!
I built a wall that seems to be satisfactory. How cool is that? Now I need to add the final touches, clean up, return the pallets and
furnish the patio. I have 4 days to complete my project.

DAY 4 OF 16 6:30AM PROJECT 1

2008-06-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY TWO ROWS WERE COMPLETED. I THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD SO FAR.

A BUBBLE OFF

2008-06-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

I TRIED HARD TO GET THE BUBBLE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. IT'S VERY CLOSE, CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I FIGURE NO ONE WILL EVER NOTICE THAT IT'S A LITTLE OFF. THERE IS A SLOPE IN THE YARD SO IF ANYONE COMES OVER AND SAYS
"HEY NICE WALL BUT HAVE YOU NOTICED IT'S NOT EXACTLY LEVEL"
I WILL JUST EXPLAIN THAT IT'S AN ILLUSION DUE TO THE SLOPE OF THE YARD AND HOW WITH THE BACK DROP OF THE SLOPING FENCE IT ONLY APPEARS THAT IT'S NOT LEVEL.

NEW TOOLS

2008-06-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

I HAVE A NEW TOOL. I SUPPOSE IT'S CALLED A CAULKING GUN.
I WAS SO EXCITED TO TRY IT. IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO ADD NEW TOOLS TO MY COLLECTION.
WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN I ACTUALLY USED IT.

THE FIASCO

2008-06-18T19:48:00.000-07:00

I'M CALLING THIS THE GLUE FIASCO WHICH LED TO MY NOT HAVING GLOVES TO CARRY THE BRICKS. I'VE NEVER USED THIS TYPE OF GLUE WITH THE GUN. FOR YOUR FUTURE REFERENCE YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW THAT ONCE YOU CUT THE TIP, PUNCTURE THE TUBE, AND INITIATE THE GUN, THE GLUE BEGINS TO SPILL OUT WHICH CREATED MY GLUE FIASCO. I DID TRY TO USE THE GLUE ON SOME OF THE STONES. JUST DIDN'T WORK.

ALMOST DONE

2008-06-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

I'M ON THE LAST ROW. I'M A LITTLE DISAPOINTED THAT IT'S NOT TURNING OUT LIKE A PROFESSIONAL DID IT.
IT'S HARD LIFTING THE STONES. IT'S HARD TRYING TO MATCH THE HOLES, IT'S USELESS TO USE THE GLUE.
BUT IT'S LOOKING GOOD ENOUGH, I THINK IT'S JUST A NICE ADDITION TO THE CHATEAU.
NOTICE THE SHADOW IN THE PICTURE,
I STARTED AT 6:30 THIS MORNING TO AVOID DIRECT SUN. I FILLED A LARGE GLASS WITH ICE AND WATER AND DECIDED
WHEN THE ICE MELTED, THAT WOULD BE MY ALARM TO STOP. I PROBABLY WOULD BE MELTING TOO.

NO TITLE YET

2008-06-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

IT'S MY WALL. I BUILT IT. IT LOOKS EXACTLY AS I IMAGINED IT, EVEN BETTER. IF YOU DRIVE BY YOU WOULD SEE IT AND THINK THE SAME THING.
"WOW" YOU WOULD SAY, "THAT IS A MAGNIFICENT STONE WALL".
I MIGHT REPLY "YES, YOUR RIGHT, IT IS A FABULOUS STONE WALL".
OR IF I'M FEELING HUMBLE I MIGHT SAY "AWE SHUCKS, IT WAS NOTHING, IT'S JUST A STONE WALL".
BUT MY TRUE RESPONSE WOULD BE, "THANKS BUT I'M GOING TO HIRE SOMEONE NOW TO COME IN AND FIX IT.
IF I HAD TO GET A CITY PERMIT ( I HOPE I DIDN'T NEED ONE) IT WOULD NEVER PASS INSPECTION.
IT'S NOT PERFECTLY LEVEL. I DON'T LIKE THAT.
THE RADIUS WAS HARD TO WORK WITH,
THE END DOESN'T LINE UP, EVEN THOUGH I COULD HIDE THAT WITH A FLOWER POT, BUT I WOULD KNOW.
I DIDN'T USE ONE YELLOW "HOLDER THING", REALLY, HOW WILL IT STAY UP.
I WANT MY GRAND KIDS TO SCALE IT, JUMP FROM IT. SIT ON IT. HURDLE IT,
(OK MAYBE NOT HURDLE IT, I WAS JUST THINKING OF CAPTAIN)
IT MUST BE SAFE. WHEN THEY CLIMB ON IT AND HEAR ME SAY "BE CAREFUL"
I WANT IT TO BE BECAUSE I SIMPLY WANT THEM TO BE CAREFUL, NOT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THE WALL WILL FALL ON THEM.
I WILL AT LEAST CALL A PROFESSIONAL IN TO EXAMINE IT. I WILL SHOW HIM THE BOX OF YELLOW LEFTOVERS,
THE YELLOW STICKS THAT TIE IT ALL TOGETHER. THE STONES AREN'T EVEN GLUED.
I WON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT MY HANDS AND HOW THEY FEEL AFTER CARRYING ALL THOSE STONES WITHOUT GLOVES.
YOU MAY ASK, "WHY DIDN'T YOU WEAR GLOVES MARTY?" TO WHICH I WOULD REPLY "THE GLUE FIASCO, REMEMBER THE GLUE FIASCO, DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE ME SAY IT AGAIN?"
IT IS THE BEST THAT I AM ABLE TO DO.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO SETTLE. I WANT IT RIGHT.
I HAVEN'T TITLED THIS ENTRY, I'M THINKING ABOUT IT.
SOME IDEAS I'VE HAD ARE:
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
IT'S WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS
I GAVE IT THE OLD COLLEGE TRY

ACTS OF KINDNESS AT 106 DEGREES

2008-06-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

I ACCEPTED HELP FROM MY NEIGHBOR TODAY. I THINK IT WAS AN ACT OF KINDNESS THAT I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE DONE.
IT WAS 106 DEGREES TODAY. THAT'S HOT. HE HELPED ME CARRY THE BRICKS OR MAYBE I HELPED HIM. HE HELPED ME SET THEM AND FIGURE THE PATTERN. THERE ARE TWO ROWS SET. I'LL SNAP A PHOTO IN THE MORNING.

WHO ACTUALLY READS THE DIRECTIONS? MY DAD WOULD

2008-06-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT DIRECTIONS.
DIRECTIONS THAT I HAD NO IDEA WERE IN THE STACK OF BRICKS.
REALLY, HOW HARD CAN IT BE STACKING BRICKS? IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT WE'VE BEEN STACKING BLOCKS SINCE
KINDERGARTEN.
CAN IT REALLY BE THAT DIFFERENT?
WHY READ WHEN YOU HAVE JASON?
DID I TELL YOU ABOUT JASON? HE SOLD ME THE BRICKS. I'VE CALLED HIM TWICE TODAY TO ASK QUESTIONS.
LET IT BE SAID THAT RCPBLOCK.COM HAS VERY GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

HERE'S THE "THING"

2008-06-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

THE THING. THERE'S ALWAYS "THE THING". I WAS WORKING WITH THE BRICKS THIS MORNING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE LAYOUT I WANTED OR ACTUALLY NEEDED TO USE. I HAVE A RADIUS FOR WHICH I HAVE TO COMPENSATE. DID I MENTION THAT THE BRICKS ARE HEAVY? I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED THAT, ONLY THAT IT'S ABOVE A 100 DEGREES. SO I LAID THE BRICKS ON THE PATIO TO TEST THE PATTERN. PERFECT! BY NOW, ("I" HAS BECOME "WE")WE BEGAN TO MOVE THE BRICKS DOWN INTO THE GRAVEL PIT, WAIT, WHAT'S WRONG? OH! "THE THING" I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER THAN ALGEBRA. GEOMETRY WOULD HAVE TAUGHT ME THAT THE RADIUS CHANGES WHEN YOU ADD 10 INCHES TO IT. AT LEAST I THINK THAT IS GEOMETRY. OK! DAD, YOU'RE RIGHT I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE. A STITCH IN TIMES SAVES NINE, MEASURE TWICE CUT ONCE, NONE OF THESE QUIPS SEEMED TO APPLY TO BRICK. HOWEVER, I AM A SMART LITTLE LADY, DON'T QUESTION THAT. AFTER ALL I TOLD YOU THAT "I"
BECAME "WE". IT'S GOOD TO HAVE KIND NEIGHBORS. SO IF ANY OF YOU DROVE BY MY HOUSE THIS MORNING AND SAW ME WORKING ON A WALL WITH A MAN WITH NO SHIRT DON'T BE ALARMED. HE WAS EITHER GOING TO GO TO PALM SPRINGS AND WORK FOR HIS PASTOR OR STAY HERE AND HELP ME. WOW! I BEAT OUT THE PASTOR. THAT'S A FIRST.

WHO'S IDEA WAS IT TO BUILD A WALL?

2008-06-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ALL THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL YOUR TOOLS READY BEFORE YOU START YOUR JOB.
I HAVE CAREFULLY PLACED MY CELL PHONE WITHIN REACH SHOULD A CALL FROM AFRICA COME IN OR FOR THE RETURN CALL FROM MY MASSAGE THERAPIST. I HAVE ALSO SET OUT MY LEVEL SO THAT I CAN PROPERLY SET THE FIRST ROW. EVERYONE SAID HOW IMPORTANT THE FIRST ROW IS. THEY HAVE TO BE LEVEL SIDE TO SIDE AND FRONT TO BACK. I HAVE ALSO PROVIDED A NICE LARGE GLASS OF ICED WATER SO THAT I CAN KEEP HYDRATED IN THE SWELTERING HEAT AT 7:30AM.
AS I MOVED THE BAGS OF ROCKS TO FILL IN FOR THE FOUNDATION I REALIZED I HAD FORGOTTEN ONE VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL.
I DIDN'T HIRE A DAY LABORER. I HAD A GUY WALK BY YESTERDAY AND ASK IF HE COULD HELP, HE SAID HE HADN'T WORKED IN TWO WEEKS. I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW THAT I SHOULD HAVE HELPED TO STIMULATE HIS ECONOMY. AFTER ALL I SHOULD DO WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP MY FELLOW MAN.

THE WALL HAS BEGUN DAY 2 OF 16 BUT WHO'S COUNTING?

2008-06-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

NOW YOU CAN BEGIN TO SEE WHERE THE WALL IS GOING TO GO. YOU CAN EVEN BEGIN TO FEEL THE DIFFERENCE CAN'T YOU. OK PROBABLY NOT YET. WHEN I WENT TO PICK OUT THE STONE THIS MORNING I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED BY THE PRICE. SO ALL MY PREVIOUS COGITATING WAS TO NO AVAIL. THE WALL I WENT WITH IS GOING TO BE EASIER TO BUILD AND I REALLY LIKE IT. I'VE SEEN IT VARIOUS PLACES AND ALWAYS COMMENT ON HOW NICE IT LOOKS. MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE TO GET IT LEVEL. LEVEL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THE SHADOW BEING CAST ON THE PATIO FROM THE MID-DAY BLAZING HOT SUN. THERE IS ALWAYS WORK TO BE DONE AT THE INN. ACTUALLY I COULD ONLY STAND THE HEAT FOR ABOUT 10 MIN. THEN HAD TO GO INSIDE. I'LL BE OUT THERE EARLY IN THE MORNING BEFORE IT GETS TO HOT.

2008-06-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

I'M NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT MY HUSBAND CAN BE REPLACED BY ANYONE. HOWEVER SOMEONE HAS TAKEN OVER HIS SPOT. VERY CUTE I WOULD SAY. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT GARY DOESN'T CHEW EVERYTHING TO BITS. IT'S JUST COMFORTING TO HAVE A GUARD DOG AT THE INN DURING THE LONG, LONELY, DARK NIGHTS

When the Inn Keeper is away the Inn keepers wife will play

2008-06-15T23:47:00.000-07:00

The Innkeeper has left the country. Don't misunderstand, I will miss him, actually I cried a bit when he walked from the car toward the British Airways terminal. I was a little surprised by that. I was so busy thinking and planning my projects that I hadn't really thought about how much I will miss him. But then that's the purpose of the projects. It makes the time go by faster.
So it's day one of a 16 day trip to Africa. I have 16 days to complete my list of projects which range from the mundane to the, "I've never done this before". I have completed two things on my list already. To be honest I did them before he actually left. I kept thinking about my big project and wanted to get the mundane out of the way. So now I will hit the ground running.
Tomorrow, Monday I will begin building a stone wall. No, I have never built a stone wall before but I have been cogitating on the design for months in the very way my father taught me to when planning a project. I consulted professionals to make sure I wasn't missing something critical which would result in the wall crumbling. I really wanted to have water flowing out of the end spilling into a flower pot. But that design would have taken at least 18 days so there will be no fountain.

I'm starting with a picture of the empty, uninviting, boring area where I plan to build the wall. It looks quite dreary, don't you think. Wish me luck and cool weather.

2008-06-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

I HAVE A TRADITION. YEARS AGO MY HUSBAND TOOK A LONG TRIP TO ISRAEL. I WAS VERY YOUNG WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. WHILE HE WAS GONE I MADE SEVERAL PURCHASES. THIS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANY BIG DEAL NOW BUT 30 YEARS AGO YOU DIDN'T MAKE LARGE EXPENDITURES WITHOUT TALKING TO YOUR HUSBAND. SO,AS IT TURNS OUT THIS WAS THE FIRST OF MANY SUCH EVENTS THOUGH OVER THE YEARS IT HAS CHANGED FROM BUYING SOMETHING TO DOING PROJECTS AROUND THE HOUSE. MY HUSBAND LEAVES TOWN AND I DO SOMETHING I WOULDN'T DO IF HE WAS AT HOME. I THINK I DO THIS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. THE FIRST BEING DISTRACTION. IF I HAVE A PROJECT IT KEEPS ME BUSY AND THE TIME PASSES MORE QUICKLY. THE OTHER REASON IS BECAUSE IF HE'S HOME I HAVE TO ASK PERMISSION. ASKING PERMISSION FROM MY HUSBAND TO KNOCK OUT A WALL AND PUT IN FRENCH DOORS OR HAVING A HALF DOZEN TREES REMOVED OR HAVING A HOT TUB INSTALLED WOULD MOST LIKELY NEVER HAPPEN IF I ASKED FIRST. IT'S SORTA BECOME SOMETHING FUN FOR US NOW. HE KEEPS TRYING TO GUESS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WHILE HE'S GONE. THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE TIME THAT MY PROJECT WAS A COMPLETE FIASCO. WE HAD JUST MOVED INTO OUR FIRST, BRAND NEW HOME. I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO PAINT THE BATHROOM TO MIMIC ONE I HAD SEEN. I CHOSE A LOVELY BLACK FOR THE CEILING AND A SUBTLE, CALMING, ROYAL BLUE FOR THE WALLS. I DID THE CEILING FIRST, WHICH LOOKED HORRIBLE. DID I MENTION THAT THE PAINT WAS OIL BASED? I FIGURED THE BLUE WALLS WOULD TONE DOWN THE BLACK SO I PUSHED ON TO FINISH THE PROJECT. IT WAS MORE THAN HORRIBLE. IT LOOKED LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEADS HANGING IN THE DOOR AND MAYBE A ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE WITH SOME ZIGZAG PAPERS. WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME I TOLD HIM I HAD DEFILED THE HOUSE. WE LAUGHED ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HORRIBLE MESS TO FIX. DE-GLOSS ER, JUST SO YOU KNOW DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. IT TOOK A PRIMER COAT AND TWO MORE TO COVER THE SMELLY, SHINNY, OIL BASED PAINT. SO I HAVE LEARNED TO USE CAUTION WHEN CHOOSING PAINT AND ALWAYS ASK MY DAUGHTERS OPINION ON COLORS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT HAVING A PET DUCK IS MESSY AND NOISY. NO MORE SURPRISE PETS EITHER.
I BRING ALL THIS UP BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS PLANNING YET ANOTHER TRIP. I HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS IN MIND. I THINK IT'S BEST TO WAIT UNTIL LATER TO REVEAL THE NEW PROJECT(S). I'LL MAKE SURE TO HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF WHAT EVER I DECIDE TO DO.

Gardens at the Chateau de paix Inn

2008-05-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

PICTURED BELOW ARE THE RAMBLING GROUNDS IN FRONT OF THE INN. IT'S ONLY A SHORT WALK TO THE LAKE WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY THE SOUNDS OF THE WATER LAPPING AT THE SHORES EDGE AND DELIGHT IN THE COOLNESS OF THE EVENING AS THE SUN SETS BEHIND THE MOUNTAINS.

Pictured below is the latest picture of the Southern Veranda at the Chateau. The vine happily growing over the pergola is a Wisteria. I was given an off shoot a number of years ago and tried to grow it into a tree but wasn't successful. It obviously is very happy where it is. In the foreground you see a breath of heaven. Our grandkids call it the jungle. It's a little overgrown but we like it this way. When our guests are sitting on the veranda it feels like a private outdoor room with the growth creating privacy from the street.

38 Years of marriage

2008-05-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

I PLANTED A STRAWBERRY PATCH ESPECIALLY FOR MY GRANDKIDS. THEY LOVE STRAWBERRIES. THEY WANTED TO COME OVER AND PICK SOME BERRIES, (OR MAYBE IT WAS ME, I WANTED THEM TO COME OVER AND PICK BERRIES). THERE WEREN'T VERY MANY TO PICK YET SO A HURRIED HOME AND TOOK THE BOWL OF STRAWBERRIES FROM MY ICEBOX AND PLACED THEM IN MY STRAWBERRY PLANTS JUST SO THEY COULD HAVE THE FUN OF PICKING THEM. (OR WAS IT MY FUN OF WATCHING THEM?) NONE OF THEM NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE BERRIES WERE WARM AND SOME WERE COLD. THEY WERE JUST EXCITED TO EAT STRAWBERRIES.

I WANTED YOU TO SEE A COUPLE REASONS WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT WE STILL CELEBRATE OUR MARRIAGE TOGETHER.

Today, May 15,2008 is our 38th wedding anniversary. This morning I told him I would marry him again.
We agreed that we would go ahead and try for another 38 years. That will take us into our 90's.

We often feel so grateful that we are married. We weren't always glad about that. We hit a rough patch for about 7 years.
How thankful we are today that we pressed on and made it through that time.
We are together and loving it. Together, living in our own B&B
Just goes to show you that you can make your dreams come true.

The Cabin

2008-04-01T10:34:00.001-07:00

OK, these aren't pictures of the Cabin but they are pictures of a place I love to go when I am at the cabin. I have learned to build a stone wall here, enjoyed music, learned about herbs for cooking and herbs for medicinal purposes. It feels like a throw back to my growing up year. It smells of incense, sells coffee, smoothies, muffins, organic and vegetarian burritos and fruit juices and plants, trees and books on nature, clothing, hats and photos of amazing places. I remember what it was like to be a hippie in the 60's when I'm here. On a good day I even smell someone wearing patchouli. I can't wear it myself. Every time I put some on I immediately wanted to wash it off. But I love it on others. Is that a joint I smell? No, must just be smell by association. I just like being here in this place. It reminds of the things I really like. Simple, natural, honest. It is what it is. Coffee brewing, fiddle music, people relaxing, talking. The other day there were two little boys here rolling on the floor with the shop dog. They were laughing and rolling having the best time ever. One had blue paint on his face. The mother said "I'm sorry, I'm just letting my boys go wild" the shop girl said
"don't you dare turn them off". I loved that, don't you dare turn them off. I just loved that.
I'm going to remember that for my kids and my grand kids. Maybe even for myself.
Well, my diet coke is done and I better go. (no I didn't buy the diet coke here at Mountain Sage, I imported it from the cafe down the road) I'm surprised they let me bring it in.
Well, gotta go, I'm going to go roll on the floor with the shop dog.
"Hey!! where's the blue paint.

Family Member of the Month

2008-02-10T16:59:00.001-08:00

THIS IS OUR AMAZING DAUGHTER IN LAW. SHE IS OUR FAMILY MEMBER OF THE MONTH. IT'S DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO WORDS HOW MUCH SHE MEANS TO US. SHE HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH TO OUR FAMILY. HER NAME IS BETH. SHE IS MARRIED TO OUR SON (IN CASE YOU WERE NOT SURE WHAT A DAUGHTER IN LAW WAS), BEST FRIENDS WITH OUR DAUGHTER, MOTHER TO OUR GRANDSON, CAPTAIN. SHE IS: KIND, REALLY KIND, FAIR, A FRIEND AMONG FRIENDS, A NURSE, A MUSIC THERAPIST, SHE DOES THIS AMAZING BALANCING ACT(NOT ON A ROPE BUT IN LIFE), QUILTS, SINGS, REALLY SINGS, WRITES, AND DOES IT WELL, AND BY THAT I MEAN SHE NOT ONLY IS ABLE TO CONSTRUCT A SENTENCE BUT SHE HAS AN INSIGHT INTO LIFE AND IS ABLE TO PUT IT INTO THE MOST AMAZING COLLECTION OF WORDS THAT MAKE US THINK AND SEE. WE LOVE HER MORE THAN WE CAN REALLY SAY. IT'S REALLY NOT EVEN POSSIBLE TO PUT INTO WORDS HOW MUCH WE LOVE HER.

WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY?

2008-01-28T06:04:00.001-08:00

I'M ATTENDING A RETREAT FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THEY ASKED US THE QUESTION, "WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY?" It's funny what you think to say when you're put on the spot. I said "my puppy" It's true my puppy does bring me joy. She makes me smile, I miss her, I love her, she's just darling. But, and there's a big but here, if the real things that bring me joy were not true in my life, the puppy wouldn't matter that much. (Sorry Amani)

I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET "AMANI" SHE IS THE LATEST ADDITION TO OUR FAMILY AT THE INN. SHE IS IN CHARGE OF HOSPITALITY AND WILL BE THE FIRST TO GREET EVERY VISITOR TO THE INN. AMANI MEANS PEACE. OUR INN IS ALL ABOUT PEACE. THE PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING. THAT'S WHAT BRINGS ME JOY, KNOWING THAT PEACE.

I CAN HARDLY STAND THE JOY THEY BRING TO MY LIFE. I'M ABOUT TO BURST.

HOW COULD YOU NOT BE JOYFUL ABOUT BEING TO TEA WITH 5 AWESOME GIRLS FROM CHURCH. ONE IS MY GOD DAUGHTER, WHO IN FACT SHARES MY NAME, MARTHA. HER NAME IS EVANGELINE MARTHA, (THE WOMAN WHO BRINGS GOOD NEWS). THIS PICTURE IS JOY X6.

MY CHURCH BRINGS ME JOY. I WAS GOING TO SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF OUR NEW BUILDING WHERE OUR CHURCH MEETS, BUT THAT'S JUST A BUILDING. THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE WE WORSHIP WITH. THEY BRING ME JOY.

AS A MOM DOSEN'T IT BRING YOU JOY TO SEE YOUR CHILDREN MARRIED AND HAPPY IN THEIR FAMILY? THIS FAMILY BRINGS ME JOY.

THIS IS JOY TO ME. SEEING MY SON CREATE MOMENTS WITH HIS BOY. DON'T YOU WONDER WHAT THEY'RE BOTH TALKING ABOUT?

MY DAUGHTER BRINGS ME JOY. THIS PICTURES OF HER BLESSED MY HEART. YOU CAN SEE WHAT BRINGS HER JOY BY THE LOOK ON HER FACE AS SHE SHARES A MOMENT WITH HER BABY GIRL.

THIS MAN BRINGS ME JOY. HE HAS THE MOST TENDER HEART, HE CARES FOR ME, HE PROTECTS ME, HE HONORS ME, HE'S FAITHFUL TO ME. HE'S A "FATHER" TO MY CHILDREN. I AM A BLESSED WOMAN.

MY SON PREACHING! THAT'S JOY TO ME

Southern Veranda

2008-01-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

Relaxing on the veranda in the afternoon is a common practice. The smell of jasmine in the spring and the rare bloom of Wisteria from a not so generous vine. Whether you're enjoying a glass of wine or the Inn's signature blend of tea you will enjoy the quietness of the nearly private veranda.

Views from the Inn

2008-01-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

THIS IS OUR BELOVED "CHATEAU DE PAIX" MY LOOSE TRANSLATION IS "HOUSE OF PEACE" LITERALLY IS MEANS CASTLE OF PEACE. IT'S NOT REALLY A CASTLE. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED TO NAME MY HOUSE AND SINCE I LOVE ALL THINGS FRENCH AND I LIKE THE WAY IT SOUNDS I CHOSE CHATEAU DE PAIX. SEVERAL YEARS AGO MY HUSBAND AND I WENT ON A THREE MONTH SABBATICAL AT WHICH TIME WE REALIZED THAT ANYONE COULD RELAX AND BE AT PEACE IN A BED & BREAKFAST. SO WHAT WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT WHEN WE RETURNED HOME? WE DECIDED TO TURN OUR HOME INTO OUR OWN BED & BREAKFAST. WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SLOWLY ACHIEVING. WE LOVE BEING AT THE INN. YOU WILL TOO. PEACE IS WHAT YOU'LL FIND. PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

Sunset, candle light, dinner, music, beloved, together, peace,
content, rested, restore, goodnight...........
Every night at the INN

Treasures of the Inn

2008-01-13T17:47:00.000-08:00

Summers at the Inn find Martha & Zoe putting up Farm Fresh Peaches, Apricots and Apricot Jam. Guests return every year just to have a taste of their fresh jam on a warm piece of freshly baked bread.

The Innkeepers

2008-01-09T18:23:00.001-08:00

This was a picture taken at our Annual Christmas "Dessert Night" at our church. We were going to use this picture to send out a Christmas card but never got around to it. So I decided to add it here. Isn't Gary the best looking InnKeeper you've ever seen? I think so.