I'm feeling amazingly well and bouncing back

Well, this morning has come and gone. The colonoscopy was a cinch. I even recovered from the twilight sedation with no problems. I was alert within five minutes and the dizziness of the anesthesia was gone in an hour. I was able to eat a lunch of clam chowder within an hour after the procedure and really feel fine. I had been a bit anxious about this because Don's recovery three months ago took so much longer and seemed a lot more uncomfortable. In reality, the worst part of the entire procedure (for me) was drinking that too sweet, tartish, lemony flavored gunk.

That all being said, I want to also say that I have strenuously resisted this procedure for ten years. Finally, at 61 and a year away from retirement, I decided I needed to get serious about personal health care. Having this procedure done was the smartest thing I could have done. Dr. Canale found one polyp that he got rid of. Everything else looked fine. They routinely send polyps out for biopsies so I'll hear back about that in another week and get the word then on when I need to do this again - hopefully not for ten more years.

If any of you out there are resisting this procedure, I encourage you to stop resisting and do it, especially if you are over 50 years of age. Colon cancer is a silent killer. By the time you realize that something is wrong, it's pretty much too late. So please, PLEASE, at least give it some serious thought and talk to your doctor about it.

Time Out

I've been mentally preparing for a medical procedure that will be done tomorrow and my mind just has not been much on posting. I even passed on posting photo meme's this week, which for me, should be the easiest thing in the world. But tomorrow is the day and I'm down to the wire and prepping for the next 24 hours. I probably won't feel like looking in again until sometime Saturday so I'm just going to pretend I'm taking a long weekend at the beach and then get on with what must be done. See you in a while.

New Thoughts on a Dream

Two years ago I was half way through my retirement countdown. Now I'm one year away and my thoughts from 2 years ago are changing yet again.

When Q moved to Oregon, we found ourselves visiting there on a pretty regular basis. Vacation times used to be plans for new experiences. Now they are about taking the opportunity to see our child who though now in the same time zone is still very far away.

Not knowing the direction of Kris' life, I started thinking in terms of where I thought we (don and I) might like to settle. In a perfect world, I would like to be halfway between my two beloved children - close enough to be there when needed but out of their hair too.

Q is settled and though life has served up a harsh challenge, I'm secure that life will work out for him. Krista still lives with us but she is independent and simply chooses to stay close to home. She and Chad will marry someday and it is that plus retirement a year away that has become a sticking point for me.

Dreams by Xemagulu

Time is flying. Time is marching on. I feel young but realistically, I'm not. There was a time when moving, literally pulling up stakes and relocating might have made sense but like most things in my life, change came late.

I married at 30.

I owned my first house at 40.

I had my children at 32 and 37.

Planning and saving for retirement started late and when the plan seemed to be working, the recession hit - HARD. Any successful plan for the future needs a couple basic essential - money and time. When these things change the whole idea of one's future can change.

Our visits to Oregon led us to believe that that was the place for us. It was my Holy Grail for our future. But now a sort of reality has crept in.

I'm 61.
Don is 65.

Krista is still single.

Money and time - two big sticking points, indeed. major changes get harder as we age but more importantly, there is no way I want to be several hours away from Kris when she finally get down to the wedding planning. We want to be there for every exciting moment. She wants us there for every dress try on, every cake tasting, every floral discussion, every food choice, every EVERY. There are no time lines for this since there is no official engagement yet. I really can't do anything yet except STICK.

In August 2010, my projected retirement month, I will be crowding in a 63. Don will be approaching 68. The idea of moving, near or far, is starting to lose its appeal. The idea of being near the coast or actually finding a place around Mt. Angel, OR is rapidly fading away. The physical challenge alone is more than I want Don to take on.

Mt. Angel Abbey

Questions we ask ourselves as we age are so different from the questions of our youth. The dream now isn't how and when to get there but how to fit a dream into the remaining time we have. In our/my dream, who and what is important? Who do I not want to leave behind? And believe me, major relocations DO mean leaving people behind.

Who is important to me?
1. Seeing Barb and Jeff a couple times a year is important.
2. Toni is far enough away. I would hate to be even farther.
3. Elaine - the friend of my maturity
4. Krista - distance is not an option. She may choose it but I cannot.

Location. Location. Location. Living in the valley has always felt like an unnatural environment to me but this is where life has placed me. Age and time are teaching me that it may be time to embrace my place and make my dreams a part of my place, not necessarily THE place.

So, the dream now simply reads - To Be Continued.

hippocampus

hippocampus, originally uploaded by boliyou.

My friend, Erika, has this fabulous sea dragon posted at her Flickr site. I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this photo. It brings back one of my strongest childhood memories of riding the merry-go-round at Balboa Park in San Diego. If I could not get on their GREEN sea dragon, than I would not ride until I could. The last time I was on that dragon was almost 30 years go. I was in my early 30's by that time and I STILL refused to ride until I was able to get on my beloved Green sea dragon. Don! I want to go to San Diego!!

Socks and a List

I just finished crocheting my first pair of socks this evening. There is so much wrong with this pair that it is laughable, but, I'm thrilled with the results nonetheless. After two years of crocheting, I finally worked up the nerve to try socks. It's really exciting to have finished the pair and realized that I understood all the directions. The results may not have been the best but the learning curve was massively successful.





Once in a while, I like to go back and look at my list of things I want to do and then discover that I have actually done more than I thought I had. I haven't updated my list for about a year so here it is - updated.

Make books of poetry – In Progress
Paint photos - Have done a few
Finish my kitchen – Made progress but now stalled again
Read more (if that's even possible - I read so much now)
Crochet – finished my first pair of socks
Bead a scarf - 2008
Do more scarf beading
Visit with friends - Have made a solid new friend
Visit with God more - have gotten better with this
Learn to correctly read a recipe and MAKE it right - YES. And enjoying it.
Walk - sadly, not much - MOVE YOUR FANNY, ANNIE
Felt wool and make a purse - 2008
Make yo yo's - I have started a runner project
Take pictures - got a new camera
Explore close to home - Hornitos x 3
Go to San Juan Bautista
Build a backyard aviary
Get my lady stuff health checks - May 09
Get a colonoscopy and gastroscopy - July 09
Travel the Northern Coast - 2008
Visited Mendocino - 2008
Saw Point Arena Light station - 2008
Garden - Have tomatoes this year. Amazing and delicious.
Make a fairy room from a book
Make paperdolls
Go to Oregon this summer - Got there and saw Jone and Marilyn
Go to Placerville - see Barb and Tammy - Got there
Go to San Diego and ride my green sea dragon at Balboa Park

Perhaps the biggest thing on my mind is the realization that I may have to rethink how I envision my and Don's future. I'm working on this now and will have it posted sometime this week. For me, it is an important piece of writing because it involves letting go of a dream and rethinking how I can experience it.

Happy Times

I saw this on StupidVideos.com and it was so infectiously happy and joyous that I had to share it here. With a start like this, surely this young couple will dance through the ups and downs of life with verve and elan. Enjoy!


New Wedding Dance

Be sure to turn my playlist sound off then kick back and enjoy the show.

Happy Weekend to all,
Annie

Sepia Scenes #40

When Giants Walked the Earth

When Giants Walked the Earth, originally uploaded by AnnieElf.

For more Sepia Scenes, go to http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com.

In Prayer

Mellow Yellow Monday and Ruby Tuesday

I think this photo gives new meaning to the term Double-header. I was looking around for a Mellow Yellow contribution this morning and ran across this older photo in my archives.

It turns out to be the perfect two-fer and I now have Monday AND Tuesday covered. Donchaluvit when a plan comes together??? LOL

Child's Play and My Play

Something we have a lot of around campus is river rock. It is used extensively in landscaping where shrubs, grass, and other greenery are not used. The rocks give these areas a clean, finished look and they are an endless source of creative inspiration for young and old alike. I've posted stacked rocks here before and, in fact, discovered who it was amongst our students building the Andy Goldworthy inspirations. Of course, that was the day the batteries in my camera died and now it's summer and I haven't seen him around lately.

During the summer, the campus hosts many school age activities. We have our Summer Music at Stanislaus and athletics has their various sporting events. This past week a creative writing daycamp was held on campus and several school age youngsters participated. It did not take long for one youngster to discover the potential of the rocks and find his own inspiration. I was lucky enough to see him when he first started stacking rocks. No picture of course but I immediately got the idea that this would continue throughout the week and indeed it did.

First day. An extended family of rocks.

Second day. Rock cross and leaf.

Third day. Extended rock cross and leaves.

Fourth and final day. A medicine wheel of rocks.



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Today is another free Friday for me. I was out the door at 9:30 to pick up Elaine for coffee. Her car is on the fritz and friends are helping her out until the darn thing gets fixed. We stopped at Starbucks and then headed up to Modesto so she could take care of some business. Since we were so close to Borders, we went there next.

I like the Borders in Modesto because it is much bigger than the one here in town. We have a sort of Baby Borders. My objective was to find the current issue of Rosebud, a literary quarterly I sometimes like to pick up. I can usually find it at the Modesto store. I actually did find the current issue and while waiting for E to find her objective, I sat down in the cafe and perused the issue.

This time around, I wasn't impressed. From the cover to the last page, it just did not strike the right notes for me. Writing, poetry, art, is so taste driven that there is no point in subscribing when you don't know from month to month if there is anything that will appeal. The quality was as high as ever; it just wasn't my thing this time around.

So - no Rosebud - BUT - I did come away with three books, all outside on the clearance rack, one of which had been on my Good Reads list. After a trip to Michael's to pick up another needle punch kit and a storage box for my punch tools and projects, I headed home. Below are pictures of some of my treasures.

The books are "The Quilter's Kitchen", "How Starbucks Saved My Life", and a collection of short stories entitled "Jesus Out to Sea". All in all, it has been a lovely day. I'm going to take myself to my couch now, stretch out and read a good book.

Victoria players host royal tea at home

Victoria players host royal tea at home

My friend, Sarah, sent me the article above and I just had to laugh. I have something in common with the Emperor of Japan. Back in Spring 1998 I had the pleasure of accompanying the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra when they went on tour to Vancouver B.C. and Victoria on Vancouver Island. My friend, Sarah, is a long-time friend of Gary Karr, who at the time of his retirement, was the top concert bassist in the world. He lives in Victoria and one dayI got a private tour of his home.

To say that his home is extraordinary would be an understatement. It, certainly and without a doubt, is the most fabulous home I've ever been in. From its modest street entrance, one walks into a 4 level home that literally flows down a hillside overlooking the water. Words just cannot describe the peace and tranquillity of the spaces found there.

So, Emperor Akahito and Lady Empress, knowing what I know about that incredible home, I'm guessing you enjoyed your time there as much as I did.

Sepia Scenes #39 - Down in the Valley

Down in the Valley, originally uploaded by AnnieElf.

There's a road I like to travel
I find it twice a year
Cares and worries all unravel
Hearts undress and peace is near

The Tulip Award

Erika at Endomental tagged me for this fun little nine question meme. Question ten is me randomly selecting six people to forward this to whom I think might actually continue this.



1. YOUR NICKNAME - Sometimes I'm called AnnieElf

2. YOU ARE - quick thinking when sometimes I need to be cautious

3. YOUR MOST SPECIAL PERSON - Anyone who is friend and family

4. YOUR FAVORITE SONG - The Weeping Song sung by Nick Cave

5. YOUR FAVORITE FOOD/DISH - Spaghetti with meatballs

6. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU STRESS - WORK. Can't wait to retire

7. YOUR FAVOURITE COLOR - changes with my mood but mainly tuscan colors and aqua/pinks.

8. THINGS THAT YOU MUST HAVE IN YOUR BAG - lipstick, plastic, cell phone, camera

9. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED - crying is something to be seriously avoided. I don't remember

10. SIX RANDOMLY SELECTED FRIENDS - Pam at Textilosophy, Mary at Beadfluff, Annie at Bimbimbie, Julie at Celtic Lady, Jeanne at Marmelade Gypsy, and Deb at Piacere.

Ruby Tuesday

Remember this Sepia Scenes truck from a couple weeks ago? Well, he has a companion parked right to him that I cropped out of the photo. The older truck is an International. I'm not sure about the more recent pick up but it is an early 1970s vintage (I think) and it may be an International as well. Anyhoooo -

Fix me! Fix me!

I was playing with the younger sibling truck and noticed that at one time it was no doubt a vibrant red. As you can, it is now what I would call Faded Glory Red, so, I gave it a little boost to imagine it as it might be once this one too is reinvented and resurrected by Mark after his retirement. His son's (all very grown up men) will be vying for the right to drive one of these toys when they are all fixed up. I'm guessing that Quanah, the son-in-law, will feel too cool for school when he gets a chance too, to drive the older one sometime as well.

Men and their toys. Too funny.

For more Ruby Tuesday, click HERE

Mellow Yellow Monday

Monday is one of those emotional days. Unlike some days of the month, this one comes like clockwork once a week. The weekends are never long enough and then when you have three day weekends in the summer, as I do, that extra day is just enough to make me want to seriously distance myself from Monday.

The Mamas and the Papas were right - Monday Monday, can't trust that day. So if you have to have a Monday in your life, what better color to celebrate it that bright, cheerful, buttery, creamy yellow?

The watercolor effect above was used to counter the unexpected blur I ended up with when I took this picture of a painting. I also discovered that this particular effect pulled out my reflection that had been lost in the background of the photo. Can you see me? I love the merry colors of the gasoline pumps and there is plenty of yellow to be seen.

*~*~*~*

There just isn't any better way to exemplify yellow than a bowl filled with lemons, don't you think?
*~*~*~*

I love the butter cream yellow of this alter. I have found yet another old Catholic church to share with you. This old church in Coloma was originally built in 1856. The last service was held here in 1925. The state park system has preserved this church along with many of the historic building of Sutter's Mill and the California goldrush.

I've bounced back and something for Mosaic Monday

What an awful slump yesterday was. Today I plan to enjoy working on my projects, get some groceries, and introduce you to some critter friends I was lucky enough to get photos of.

This cheeky little squirrel was at the main steps of the Portland Rose Garden. He knows where to get a fast meal. He's so fat and tame. I hope the garden doesn't have any feral cats. This not so little guy would be toast.

*****************************
When we visited Coloma over the July 4th weekend, we saw this beautiful mule deer as we were leaving. I am still slightly amazed at how many pictures I got and how close she allowed me to get.

My dear friend, Biene, has deer in her yard all the time and even though they can be pesky, well, Biene, this one is for YOU.

p.s. visit Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House for other mosaic photos

Empty

Krista is gone until tomorrow, off to a wedding

and spending her last little bit of time with Chad before he returns to Arizona.

Don left this morning for Oregon and two weeks there with Q and Erin to help with household repairs on Jennifer's house.

For those of you not familiar with the story, the short version is Jennifer marrying George (Erin's brother) in September 07. Tragically, by the Wednesday after Thanksgiving that same year, George died when his cancer was rediscovered right after he and Jen returned from their honeymoon.

Quanah and Erin moved into their house to watch over things and Jen returned to her family home.

Now, almost two years later, all the various projects and rehabbing George had planned and/or started, were still in the same state they were left in. When I was up there a few weeks ago, I got the idea that Don, working with Quanah, could probably get a lot of work done if he went up there for a couple of weeks. And this morning that is exactly what he did.

This morning Don was out the door at 7:30 a.m. I'm sure he lunched in our favorite Rooster's Inn in Medford and now he is no doubt passed Roseburg and heading towards Eugene. I'm guessing that he will hit Beaverton around 5:30 p.m. So, with Kris leaving this morning with no plans to return home before tomorrow morning sometimes, I find myself in the peculiar position of feeling very, very alone. The feeling disturbs me - a LOT.

The feeling of being cut off from my loved ones is not something I am used to. Yes, I have been physically alone many times in my life, but this feeling I've been left with today is not a pleasant one. I wonder why that is; what is different?

I grew up very used to my father's comings and goings. He was in the Navy for 20 years and was often overseas. Then for 15 years he worked for the Dept. of Corrections and was out on fires with prison crews summer through fall. We barely saw him for months on end.

Don was full time National Guard and was regularly gone one weekend a month and deployed two weeks a year. For six of the last 8 years of active duty, he lived on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay and would be gone the entire week, only returning home on weekends. So, as you can see, I am used to being alone.

But this morning was different. During the times he was gone in the past, there were kids in school and after school activities. My parents were both still living and nearby. I was never alone and generally busy as heck. But now, the kids are gone, more or less. My time is my own and I'm at loose ends. Even the phone call to connect with Quanah has not worked today. I've called twice and no answer.

It's only 2:14 in the afternoon of the first day for heaven's sake. I'm hit with this so unexpectedly, that I'm at a loss for what to do. I have projects to work on, a BBQ planned with Elaine later this afternoon, just the two of us. I'm listening to some light classical music which is soothing but I find I'm dreading a long evening and night. I hope I sleep and manage tomorrow better.

Pink Saturday at the Portland Rose Garden

Thank you Beverly from How Sweet The Sound for making Pink Saturday possible for all of us. Please be sure to check Beverly's blog for the list of participants this week.

As many of you know, I've been posting the gorgeous roses of the Portland Rose Garden all week. I saved the pinks for Pink Saturday. So, without further delay

PRETTY IN PINK AT THE PORTLAND ROSE GARDEN

Green Tea Lemonade, MY WAY

Lately I've been enjoying Starbucks' Green Tea Lemonade. Did you know that a Grande has 453 calories??!!! So I decided to delete the sugar and substitute one packet of Splenda. After crunching the nutrition number, I discovered that saved me a whopping 116 calories. My Grande refresher now clocks in at 337 calories.

That number, though, was still way too high so I determined that if I got a Tall Green Tea Lemonade, that would be 350 calories less 88 calories of sugar replaced by Splenda. Grand total for that would be 262 calories. OK. Definitely more manageable.

I really like Green Tea Lemonade so I thought from now on I would get a Tall with Splenda thereby cheerfully cutting my preferred Grande size down to a Tall and saving even more calories.

THEN LAST NIGHT I GOT TO THINKING

After discovering the hard truth of Starbucks' Green Tea Lemonade, I determined that there HAD to be an easier way to have my tea and drink it too. So - I went looking for Plan B, something that I excel at, by the way. Here is what I ended up with.

Take Crystle Light lemonade - sugar free. Make as directions indicate.

Brew two - four Green Tea bags in 2-4 Cups of water. Brew to taste.

Combine.

Chill

Taste

If it is not sweet enough, add Splenda, one packet at a time.

I now have the pleasure of Green Tea Lemonade, sugar free and at next to no cost. Be my guest and enjoy with my compliments.

Sepia Scenes - Sutter's Mill in Coloma, CA

Sutter's Mill in Coloma, CA, originally uploaded by AnnieElf.

This is the approximate site of the discovery of gold in California in 1848. One year later, the rush to California gold fields was on as the 49'er flooded in. One year later, in 1850, California became a state.

For more Sepia Scenes visit
http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com/2009/07/sepia-scenes-38.html

When I Am Old . . .

Purple Roses at the Portland Rose Garden

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me,

And I shall spend my pension

on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals,

and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired,

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells,

And run my stick along the public railings,

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people's gardens,

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat,

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go,

Or only bread and pickle for a week,

And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats

and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,

And pay our rent and not swear in the street,

And set a good example for the children.

We will have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?

So people who know me

are not too shocked and surprised,

When suddenly I am old

and start to wear purple!

Jenny Joseph

Ruby Tuesday

Red Roses at the Portland Rose Garden, originally uploaded by AnnieElf.

The red roses at the Portland Rose Garden are unbeatable. In fact, all the roses there are sublime. Honestly, that seems to be my new favorite adjective but I can't help it. I better hit the thesaurus before I get sick of myself using that word.

Be sure to visit http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/ for other wonderful examples of painting our world red.

Blue Monday and Window Views

Windows at Placerville Lighthouse, originally uploaded by AnnieElf.

These beautiful stained glass pieces hang in individual windows at a shop named The Lighthouse in Placerville, CA. I just discovered Blue Monday and had to join up with this first offereing.

Be sure to visit Smiling Sally for more Blue Monday posts.

Not too many people saw these windows so I thought I would double-dip this week and share these at Window Views.

Mellow Yellow in the Portland Rose Garden

Mellow Yellow in the Portland Rose Garden, originally uploaded by AnnieElf.

The afternoon at the Portland Rose Garden was an unbelievable assualt on the senses. The color were spectacular, the fragrances sublime.

In honor of Mellow Yellow Monday, here is a mosaic of the wondrous variety of the yellow rose. More posts of pinks, reds, purples and mixed coming up next.

Tammy's looking good!!

Here's a quickie post as I upload my latest batch of traveling pictures. More posts still to come of Portland adventure but we've been up in Placerville since Wednesday evening visiting with long time family friends, Barb and Jeff (far right and far left). We saw Tammy and Dave on July 4th for a July 4th parade. Tammy and Dave, for those of you who don't know, are center and center right. I'm sandwiched between Barb and Don (Mr. Black Hat).

Doesn't Tammy look cute? I also got to meet her eye operated computer, Laura. What an amazing piece of technology. When Tammy eventually finds it too hard to use her hands, she will have Laura all set up for working the computer and continuing her blogging and writing with the use of this eye directed computer. Cool.

I'm off now to do a lot of uploading and do some serious catching up of outgoing posts (mine) and incoming posts(yours).

I'm Gone AGAIN

I'm gone again

Shuffled up the highway road again,

Seeing friends and lazing round again

Hair lettin' down again

I'm gettin' down again.

I'll be back on Sunday and then that is IT for my summer. Sob!!!

More Oregon reports next week and a few from here in Placerville/Diamond Springs. Happy 4th everyone.