Ernie

Fushia's on steps.  I take them for granted.
 No Cars - so much nicer!



I woke up at the crack of dawn and decided to take advantage of no cars parked in front of  our cabin.  Our cat, Ernie, decided to join me.   He could almost be mistaken for a bobcat considering that bobcats are frequent visitors here in the mountains.   We don't have a pedigree for Ernie, but he sure looks like a Maine Coon to us.    He's as steady as a rock.   The only cat not frazzled by visitors.   Everyone loves Ernie.

Nature is amazing.   For example, I have not planted one plant this year.  I have done nothing, yet my perennials didn't care and planted themselves.   I've decided that I really love columbines.

There are some really nice things about living so isolated.

Thomasville just came and took away my Benjamin sofa.  I bought this sofa last April and during a visit earlier last month I was playing with my Granddaughter, Mia, on the floor and just happened to look at Benjamin sofa and noticed that he was lopsided.   His  frame had broken!  I immediately went on-line and found out that there was a warranty for one year from the date he was delivered.   There was less than one month left on my warranty. Yikes!  So, I called the saleswoman who sold me Benjamin to tell her he was broken.  "What do you mean it's broken?"

blah, blah, blah.   The good news was that Thomasville sent out a repairman to check it out, fully expecting it to be repaired on site.  I was there when he revealed Benjamin's inside parts.

Benjamin was not assembled as carefully as he should have been and thus sustained a break.

An unfixable break.   He had to be rebuilt and so off he went today to an upholstery shop.  All I'm left with are his cushions.   I really liked Benjamin.   I sat on him everyday.  I already miss him.   The good news is that he is supposed to come back in a week, hopefully better than he was the first time.  Of course, the driver for Thomasville had to come in a big ole' truck and predictably hated  the drive to where I live. He told me that he hopes he doesn't have to come

back.  My house is not very typical for the area.   I bet now they understand why I was so concerned about how big their trucks are.   At least I was their last stop before the weekend.  I  bet at least one of the guys who came will be lifting a cerveza tonight while he tells a story about where he went today.

Get well, Benjamin.    (I just can't help myself.   My only son is named Benjamin, too!)

Bolero

Sometimes you knit a winner.   And this bolero I knit for my youngest daughter is one.  

I LEFT MY HEART

left to right: Helen, Mia, Mark & Ben

Yes, in San Francisco!  It may be late, but I've developed an absolute love for this city. Sometimes I think it's because it resembles architecturally and weather-wise the East Coast, where I mostly lived in my early childhood.   This fondness is helped, of course by the fact that three of my four children live there.   My oldest child, Ben, lives and works in the Sunset District of SF and my middle daughter, Helen, lives with her husband and daughter in the Castro District of SF.   My youngest daughter, Jane, actually lives in Mountain View (south of SF) with her boyfriend, James, but in my mind Mountain View is close enough to qualify.   

I Make as many trips to the Bay area as I can, either with or without my husband.   I would go there exclusively if it weren't for the fact that my oldest daughter, Anne, lives in San Diego. Living in Santa Barbara means that I'm in between the two most important cities in my life.

Did I mention that I have grandchildren to visit with whichever place I go?  No? Well, even though I love my children, I adore my grandchildren.   I have two wonderful grandsons, Jack and Hayden, who live in San Diego and one incredible granddaughter, Mia, who lives in San Francisco.   Mia will soon have a sister who is due in the latter part of June.   Obviously, I will be in San Francisco, too, searching for that heart of mine!