Oh Baby We've Been Floored ~ October 13, 2014

The new flooring and kitchen remodel took us about two weeks. Mayhem and laughter were the watchwords of the adventure. We discovered things we hadn't seen in years, created a vision of how we'd like to resettle and in the process got a whole bunch of exercise moving boxes and furniture out of and back into the house. 

Our home of 26 years went from Holy Crap to Stunning. We moved the last of our stuff in today, consigned the potential rotating art and furniture collection to my shed and filled up the Honda with one more round of donations. It's hard to remember how it was.

And so it begins

The Hall of Shame and Bad Carpets

Old Kitchen

New Kitchen Floor

New Chef's Central for Rod

Old carpet and collections circa 2010

 

New living room incarnation

One of the bedrooms

The other bedroom

There was method to our re-floor madness.. Those ancient carpets were a playground for who knows what. Once I have my liver transplant I will be on immunosuppressants for life and my warrior's immune system will be compromised. The house will be a lot easier to clean and thus keep me healthy. Of course, the other plus is that we created a thing of beauty to enjoy for years.

Someone once told me life is short: eat dessert first, dance in the kitchen, be spontaneous, don't look back and damn the torpedoes full speed ahead. We live that mantra. If you're thinking about taking a leap of faith, just do it. 

A Can of Worms and Silver Linings ~ Sept 29 -30, 2014

Sept 29th ~ The new flooring project is underway. The crew started tearing out the old living room carpet and installing the Rustic Koa laminate. It is simply gorgeous. However, they got half way across the living room and discovered the proverbial can of worms at the base of the alcove wall. We've always thought our home started out as a cabin and this seems to support that premise. The living room, kitchen and bath are all on a perimeter foundation, the bedrooms are a cement slab. 

There was a floor furnace here at one time and when it was decommissioned (and left in place) the space where the grate had been was framed in and covered with plywood that extended to both sides of the wall. We're thinking the wall was added when the wall heater was installed. 

Oh Boy! So everything comes to a halt for the day until we can get the framing and plywood lowered to sub floor level. We made a lot of phone calls this afternoon and late evening we got a phone message that our friend Paul would be at the house at 8 am. We must be doing something right! 

Sept 30th ~ Paul to the rescue, done and done just as the installers arrived. The laminate installation continues today and Wednesday and the new vinyl for the kitchen gets installed Thursday. 

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Highlight ~ We found some provenance on the house when we moved everything out into my studio. Each closet has four large drawers. We've never pulled them all the way out before. One in my room held a surprise:

This house built by P.J. Anderson

February 1959 

Post Script ~ It seems that whenever you get into a major project the natural thing to do is look past your initial goal and move on to "as long as we're here, we might as well address this" mode. We embraced the notion with abandon. The stove is 25 years old and having issues, the refrigerator is 15 years old. So off to TeeVax, our favorite appliance store, on a recon mission. We find exactly what we want, get a great deal and they'll deliver and install both on Saturday. 

We've never had a "back splash" behind the stove and counter. A painted and textured surface is not easy to keep clean and it tends to fall into the overlooked category by choice. My chef is the best in the world, but he's a messy one. I won't even tell you what was behind and under the stove after 25 years, thought we were going to need a whip and a chair. 

I was over at my neighbor Carol's house and noticed she had a stainless steel back splash behind stove and adjacent counter. There go my wheels again. Call Simpson Sheet Metal, they came out to measure and will install ours next week.

Camping at Home ~ We grilled vegetables outdoors Monday and Tuesday, figured out how to hook up the TV and camped here: sleeping bags on the mattresses on the floor, a step back in time.  

Go Giants!

The Boys of Summer ~ August 7, 2013

Today we made our first trip to AT&T Park to see the Giants. The game wasn't until 7:15 but we took off from home around 2pm so we could amble down the back roads of Sonoma and Marin and pick up Hwy 101 near Corte Madera. There was traffic once we got on the freeway, but all in all it was pretty easy to get there and parking was right across the street.

 

We watch the games on TV all the time but nothing prepares you for actually being there: the view from the promenade, the sounds, the sun on your back, the food aromas wafting along the walkways. People get all keyed up in traffic and their everyday lives and worries. The minute they walk into the Willie Mays entrance at the stadium you see the weights drop away, scowls turn smiles, inward to outward, silence to chatter. Grown ups out of their boxes, children in their element.

 

We were way early so we checked out where our seats were located. Our friend at Jeff's 4X4 gave us two of his season tickets: awesome seats about 25 rows back and just to the right of home plate. Oh Baby!

Stadium food is not health food, it's a day off from being good kids. It was hard to decide, but we settled on garlic fries, a brisket sandwich and a coke. Brown rice and salads for the rest of the week to recover our dignity.

Time for a few laps around the Promenade to check out the vendors and the view during batting practice. We have a Kaiser iPhone app called Everybody Walk that lets us track time and mileage with a map. Two laps around the promenade was a little under a mile. We were leaning on the railing looking down to where the ferry parks and checking out boats and kayakers. All of a sudden we hear the crack of a bat and someone yells "heads up".

A fly ball arced over our heads and plopped in the water about 15 ft. from the pier. A kayaker was stroking hard to get to it, but a man on the pier cast a small, weighted dip net out beyond the ball and gathered it in. My understanding is that he's there all the time, but the fans never get tired of the competition.

Before we left home we'd been briefed about dressing for night ball, what you could bring in and where to park. Right nice to have someone blaze the proverbial trail for you. We brought water and snacks, cushions and extra shirts. Plenty warm for evening fog and a breeze.

We've heard Kruk and Kuip talk about the seagulls during broadcasts but never really understood their comments until we experienced ritual. Unfortunately the Giants lost their grip in the 8th. A number of fans left and we started seeing seagulls circling the park and perching on the roof line like ornaments. In the 9th more fans left and the number of seagulls doubled. When the game was over we walked up the stairs to the landing and looked back. We were astounded to see hundreds of gulls on the field and in the bleachers. It appears they are the first wave of the cleanup crew. Humans are a messy bunch and sea gulls are opportunists ~ a match made in heaven!

 

Parking $30

Got have Hats $64

Food $35

Gift of Admission ~ Priceless

 

Thank you Jeff and Kathy for the tickets, the tutorial, and a grand adventure. 



A Day at the Beach ~ May 1, 2013

We realized Tuesday evening that Wednesday was a free day: no doctor appointments, no promises to keep. It's going to be hot in Sonoma County so  we're thinking a day trip to Santa Cruz fits the bill. It will be cool on the coast and Rod wants more road hours learning the secrets of Ruby the Explorer so there you go!

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in ~ Robert Orben

We left home about 9:30am. As soon as we're off the Golden Gate Bridge we turn right and head south through the Presidio. We got into Santa Cruz about noon and decided to check out the Boardwalk. I'd never been there and it'd been decades since Rod's last trip. We parked nearby, had a great lunch El Hermoso Mar and then toddled across the street for a walkabout.

Boardwalk Architecture

 

We didn't know it until we got there, but May 1st is opening day for the summer season. Fortunately for us the park was only partially open due to ongoing repairs and construction. It was great to be able to look around without crowds.  

 

The Coaster to Nowhere ~ still working on this puppy

 

We next walked out to the end of the pier. Families with strollers, itinerant musicians and rafts of seals floating in the sun brought smiles and conversations with strangers.

 

 

There are a number of restaurants and retail shops on the pier, but this one caught our attention. All the five basic food groups, eh? We bought a half pound of dark chocolates: including molasses squares, mixed nuts, and salted caramels.



Oh Baby!

 

 The view at the end of the pier

We started back north about 3:30, but not wanting to get into San Francisco for the commute hour, we decide on a stop at Ana Nuevo State Park. We did a little exploring, but want to take some of the longer trails next time we're in the neighborhood. It's gorgeous and uncrowded midweek.

View from the Pond looking West

 

The Pond

The reserve is home to herons, mallards, kingbirds, pelicans, egrets, black phoebes and yellowthroats to name a few. Ana Nuevo's plants and wildlife depend on this valuable freshwater environment to thrive. In conjunction with adjacent and nearby public lands, the unit permits the protection of important regional ecological corridors.

Cultural resources include the remnants of a prehistoric Native American village site and a number of structures from the 19th century Cascade Ranch which included a creamery. The cow barn was built from remnants of an old pier salvaged after a storm, the timbers are pretty impressive.

The Creamery

Back on the road, the next up was Bob's Produce just south of Pacifica. We'd seen it on the way south. We brought home artichokes, tomatoes, pasilla peppers, melon, squash and a flat of the biggest strawberries I'd ever seen (the kind you see dipped in dark chocolate).

The drive home from San Francisco was smooth and sane. Got back in time to tune in the Giants game and watch them once again pull the fat out of the fire. A great day and an excellent adventure.

Just a Thought Series ~ Jan 1, 1981

The winter nesting continues as I scout the house drawer by drawer. A couple of days ago I found a few faded pages torn from a journal. I think my love of blue highways may have started with this trip to Colorado.

Goodbyes are difficult

No tears, but a knot within

I feel like I'm holding my breath

Watching you, watching me

As I drive away

Colorado Rocky Mountain Splendor

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As I head into the sunset
It hits me
My journal is blank and open to new chapters

The possibilities bring a smile

Hell Yes!

I am my own best educator

I need only to look inside and ask

What are you thinking?

Tell me how you feel?

The Power Within
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It's so much better

To experience reality

Than to live with the undefined fantasy

of perhaps

On the road again

God it's good to be traveling

It always puts things in perspective

A post script to this journal entry ~ Five months later I met the love of my life at the Fort Ross Volunteer Fire Department Picnic in Cazadero, CA and we continue to travel blue highways 31 years later.

Tombstone Road Trip ~ Off with a Bang ~ Nov 3, 2012

The first stop on our road trip to Tombstone, AZ was the annual BABE (Bay Area Bead Extravaganza) show in Oakland. I wasn't going to go this year, but decided to at the last minute since we had to drive right by there on Hwy 580 to get to Interstate 5 (read Justification Shuffle). We had reservations at a hotel in Bakersfield for our first night out, so we had plenty of time to get there before dark ~ or so we thought.

Just north of Novato, we hear a loud bang that shook car. WTF? There were no objects in sight and it didn't seem to affect drivability so we continued to Oakland for lunch and a little bead therapy. I found this amazing borosilicate glass bead set, by Colorado artist Harold Cooney. I was so drawn to the colors, Rod just pulled out the cash and said do it. He's fun to shop with.

When we left the Marriott with the windows down we started hearing some grinding and rasping. We're about to take off on a 2,200 mile road trip so our friend Common Sense says "Okay it's time to take the Jeep home". Once there Rod grabbed the rear driver side wheel and pushed and pulled, nothing, but on the right side it clanked and had about an inch of play. Considering the axles were just replaced I didn't know what to think except that going to the bead show was a good move ~ justified.

I wasn't going to bother my mechanic until we returned so we just did a Hail Mary and threw everything in the Honda CRV. Because my Jeep is a big loud V-8 our neighbor heard us come home and wondered what was up. Andrea is always amazed that this kind of adversity never seems to phase us. Our take is that "it is what it is and there's no sense in getting upset." My only concern was getting to Bakersfield after dark, she looked at me and smiled "but that's the best way to see it" and sent us on our way.

No way we were to face Oakland again so we took Hwy 37 and went out through Martinez to 680 to 580 to I5. I can see why our friends like I5 when headed south. It's wide open country, with far fewer idiots than most freeways closer to civilization. When we stopped for a late lunch, we found out that Kern County produces 76% of the state's oil and is 3rd in all counties in US in agricultural production. Who knew? We made to Bakersfield in good time: great room, comfy bed and a freshly made to order breakfast at the hotel in the morning. Deep breath, we're on vacation.

Sunday Morning Along Hwy 58

Sunday morning we made a left off of I5 and head east on Hwy 58, to I40 and Laughlin, NV. We'll spend a couple of days there to try and locate my grandfather's gold mine near Lake Mojave.

Emandal Farm Day 2 ~ Sept 29, 2012

We awaken in our little down filled nest at Ohana Cabin about dawn. It's quite chilly since we'd left the windows open all night, but flannel jammies and sheepskin boots are at the ready for the short walk down to the outhouse (some cabins have plumbing but the outhouses and showers are quite delightful). Reminds me of camping when I was a kid.  

Breakfast isn't until 9am so once the sun is up we decide on a walk up to the lake. Up really means up ~ we haven't been to the gym in a couple of months and are huffing and puffing like a couple of old war horses, but our reward is this pretty little lake. Rumor has it there are some good sized bass hiding among the reeds. We walk down the road a bit and come to a place that overlooks the entire valley below. The view is absolutely stunning. There's a giant gong up there made from an old acetylene tank. We heard it a couple of times during our stay so my guess is that the hardy of heart let the world know they'd made it.  

Breakfast is buffet style: eggs, bacon, homemade biscuits (to die for), Tam's jams, fresh fruit, and oatmeal with all the accouterments. We gather at the plank tables in the great room for coffee, conversation and a hearty meal. To settle our meal it's time for a walk through the gardens and down along the Eel before it gets too hot.

I was fascinated by this wonderful compass created from old machine parts from around the farm.

The river is only a short distance down the hill from the compound. It's calm and just sort of meanders this time of year, but there are some great little swimming holes and small rapids you can hear from certain spots along the trail.

 

We found out from Tam that they're going to remove the last of two old vineyards sometime in the near future. She knows Rod makes walking sticks and canes and told him to stop at the vineyard on the way out get a few samples. I have a feeling we'll be returning to Emandal with the truck for some prime raw materials.

Late morning we head out and stop at Buster's Burgers and Brews on Main Street in Willits for lunch. Great food and we got to watch the last quarter of the 49er game against the hapless Jets. I remember when Don Meredith used to sing "Turn Out the Lights, the Party's Over" and that sure would have been appropriate here!

Once home Rod and the kids next door, Maya and Evan, made fresh lemonade and we sat on the porch with their mom Carol and shared tales. She'd just got back from a trip with her girlfriends.

So here's a toast to adventures down long dusty roads, surprises around every corner and finding common ground. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvJYzPO1tA8

Congratulations ~ You're Our Big Winner ~ August 3, 2012

When I'm out in my studio I always have the radio tuned into 95.9 the KRUSH. One day early last week, listening to the Blues with Bowker, I heard him say something about Blue Wing Blues Festival and be the 5th caller to qualify. On a whim I counted to five and dialed. Lo and behold I'm caller number 5 and in the running for a mystery package, since I hadn't heard all of the lead in.

I came home from my errands run on Thursday morning (2nd) and there's message from the KRUSH "Congratulations, you're our big winner, call in for details". What we won was BBQ dinner and concert tickets for the Blue Wing Blues Festival opening night and overnight accommodations. A spur of the moment adventure is our favorite kind, so we pack Friday morning and head out around noon. First stop is lunch at Cousteau Bakery in Healdsburg. 

Our destination is the historic Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake. It's just our kind of place: small with a colorful history. Despite occupying a prominent position on the main street of town, the hotel property had, for over 40 years, been vacant and uncared for prior to its purchase by Lynne and Bernie Butcher in 2003. With the contributions of local craftsmen they undertook a 2 year restoration, upgrade and expansion. For more about the hotel, it's history and upcoming events go to http://www.tallmanhotel.com ~ it's definitely worth a visit.

Our room is one of the upstairs garden rooms with a porch that looks over the shaded venue between the main hotel and the Blue Wing Saloon. Rooms are decorated in period style and very comfortable.

The bands set up on the porch of the hotel and seating (for about 100) is arranged in the shaded courtyard between hotel and saloon. Music starts about 5:45pm and is over by 10pm. We can still party hardy, but not as late as we used to, so this is a great idea. 

Twice as Good 2XG (http://www.twiceasgood.org) opened the show with the blues and had everyone rocking in their seats. About half way through the set, the BBQ fare was laid out and guests got up in sections to serve themselves. Most of us were dancing as we worked our way through the line.

By the time the Zydeco Flames (http://zydecoflames.com) were half way through their set most of the crowd was on their feet dancing. The old knees got a workout, but weren't complaining, dancing is good for the soul and good medicine.

The "Winners" with our host Bernie Butcher

The acoustics and performances were nothing short of amazing. This is a great small venue, along the lines of Sebastopol's Studio E, Rancho Nicasio or Petaluma's Mystic Theater. The final event of the Blue Wing Blues Festival is Labor Day, September 3rd. Might want to put it on your calendar.

After breakfast on Saturday we headed out to Fort Bragg on Hwy 20 for lunch at the North Coast Brewery and headed down the coast for home. It's a beautiful drive and about 30 degrees cooler than Upper Lake. Checked a small flea market on the way out of town and found some treasures. Once home: dinner, a hot tub and early to bed. Sunday we made Gravenstein apple sauce and watched some of the Olympics. A weekend well spent.

A special shout out to the KRUSH and to Diane and George Rawls (Allora Da Car) who donated the tickets that made our weekend.

Stair Master to the Sky ~ May 31, 2012

After breakfast we asked the park host for a suggestion on a good place to explore that's only a short drive, especially after yesterday's 200 mile jaunt. He told us to just turn right out of the park driveway and head for the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. It's about 25 miles north on a gravel road. Though we're camped in Idaho, somewhere along the way we cross into the Centennial Valley and Lakeview, Montana.  The drive is spectacular and we see only a couple of other cars on the road the entire journey ~ our kind of place!

Off to a promising start

Yellow Bellied Marmot  ~ Roadside Patrol

 Short pause for lunch

Just before we get to the Refuge we came upon what appears to be ghost town, like a movie set right out of an old Western. We find out it's the home base for the Center for Earth Concerns, headed by lifelong naturalists and philanthropists Melody and John Taft. The organization works around the world, dedicated to enhancing and expanding education for the protection of wildlife. You can find out more about their vision and work at http://www.earthconcerns.org/

The historical buildings, which date back to the early settlers, are being restored and recreated. Also in development is a museum to showcase the history of the Centennial Valley. The facility hosts environmental researchers, artists, students and volunteers to study and fulfill common goals. "The heart of the Center is held by the people who continually dream a vision into being - the founders, directors, staff and volunteers who welcome and care for all who are fortunate enough to visit this oasis for the soul".

Our next stop is the small Visitor's Center at the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge where we find more information on the area and local wildlife. We ask about the fire lookout tower on the property and find it's been retired for some time. We're delighted when the host hands us the keys and lets us to climb up and take a look. You want to talk Stairmaster ~ this was much more fun than the one at the gym and the view from the top was amazing!

Late afternoon we head back to camp to relax and fix some dinner. Starting to feel the thigh and calf muscles from our climb! Tomorrow we start the journey home and will hatch our game plan as we go.

Tales of the City ~ April 22, 2012

We went down to San Francisco this weekend to meet up with some out of town friends and do some exploring. It was 90 at home in Sonoma County and a pleasant 75 around the bay, one of those magical, windless spring days you don't often see.

We checked into our hotel on Lombard about 4pm and walked down to the Marina to meet with our friends for dinner at Pompei's Grotto on Jefferson St. The food was fabulous. I was looking at some vintage photos on the hallway wall and was thrilled to see one of California Street after the 1906 earthquake that had been taken by my great grand uncle, RJ Waters. Some places like this delightful little restaurant never change, but the world around it does.

The flip side was that there were about 10 low riders (fabulously creative beasts from the 50's and 60's in pristine shape) parked on the street out front. At least four of them had the bass on their space age stereo systems cranked up to 11 (ala Spinal Tap) and the windows were rattling. Several herds of Harley's came through in full dress with dragster volume pipes. All fun to watch, but a bit of a damper on ambiance and conversation for some. We just took it in as part of the free entertainment.

After dinner we walked back on a path that takes you around to the back of the small park at Ft. Mason and saw some stunning views of the Golden Gate and Marin Headlands at dusk.

Sepia tones of a great view of the Golden Gate

However, the next thing that came into view was the aftermath of Earth Day in the park at Ft. Mason. The place had been wall to wall people in the late afternoon when we first walked by. By dusk all that was left was the garbage, tons of it everywhere. San Francisco is at the top of the green cities list, but apparently some of the citizens haven't gotten the message. A sad commentary.

Earth Day Aftermath at Ft. Mason

After a fair night's sleep (we live on a dead end lane in the country so it is a stark and loud contrast being on main street USA) we walked down to Chestnut Street to meet up for breakfast at the Squat and Gobble, a spur of the moment choice that turned out to be an excellent decision. Walking back on Chestnut we noticed a fire truck parked in the middle of Pierce St. A cadre of firemen abandon ship and walk in our direction. We laughed and Carol facetiously said they must be on their way to Starbucks for coffee. Imagine our surprise when that's exactly where they were headed.

Next stop the Exploratorium ~ a place that makes you realize you're always a kid ~ all touch, visual, sound, mind, play, science and make it. I grew up in Mill Valley, just across the Golden Gate Bridge, I'm 67 years old and this was my first trip. Holy Hands On Fun Bat Girl! Put it on your bucket list. They will be closing down next January and moving to their new location on Pier 15 and re-open in April. I don't think it will be as convenient (free parking now at Crissy Field) and the amazing Palace of Fine Arts no longer be next door. So I'd go before the new year.

Favorite I: Icy Bodies ~ thin shavings of dry ice are injected onto the surface of a shallow pool of water where they careen around like comets. 

Tiny jets of gas shoot out from the individual ice fragments causing them to spin and tumble as they drift about. Side-lighting brings out the detailed structure of the out-gassing jets, much like our solar system.

Favorite II: The Living Bacteria Exhibit ~ colors to delight the artisan in all of us.

This was an amazing adventure to say the least ~ we took a stroll through the Palace of Fine Arts and then called it a day and headed back to the north country. Cereal and bananas for dinner and early to bed, brain dead from all the sensory input. Next adventure will be to the Legion of Honor for the Cult of Beauty: the Victorian Avant Garde 1860-1900 (through June 17th) and the San Francisco Zoo. 

Martha, Carol, Rod and Me