A question for Friday

 Any ideas about 

1. what is this a reproduction of? (or is it?)

2. why was it silver when I packed it away 6 years ago and now it's brass?

Not questions:

It used to sit atop the black plinth.

The basket behind it has clementines in it.

Cotton napkins are next to the basket.

The MITM is standing behind all of the above-listed items.

All of this is happening at the kitchen table.

I appreciate any advice/suggestions y'all might have.

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Together we will win!

 Be prepared, sweetpeas, to see this boycott list at the end of every post until TFG* and his gang of idiots are gone!

Thanks, Bob, for sharing this today!

*The Fat Git

So, I've been taking pictures, reading, and binge watching a bit of tv

 A few garden photos from the front garden. The last pic is the first rose to come inside! The MITM has planted basil in the two terra cotta pots near the walkway (after removing the two dead lavender plants shown) and English thyme in another pot that's not pictured. I need to post more photos of the new landscaping planting on the parkway.

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I have photos from our getaway weekend that I haven't downloaded yet, but here's my favorite.

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I just finished reading John Green's book, Everything Is Tuberculosis, and I seriously recommend it! 

My other non-literary recommendation is on Netflix. I watched the entire series last night, as in, it was daylight when I started and dark outside when it was finished!!

So if you can, find The Residence, pop some popcorn, and settle in for an entertaining evening of mystery, drama, and comedy! You can thank me later, sweetpeas!

xoxo

BTW, I didn't do a Happy Birthday post for The Doc! He's somewhere between 45 and 52... no, really, I know exactly how old he is! We did call to wish him a grand day with a surprise gift! 

First bud!

 A light rain has been falling on and off all morning. The MITM went out to bring the bins in, saw this first rosebud, and wanted to share it with all y'all! xoxo

We're back from the land of no internet connection!

 The MITM and I spent the weekend in Borrego Springs! We spent Friday touring the area and checking out Galleta Meadows Estate, the heavy-duty sculptures, created by Ricardo Breceda, weigh about 800 to 1,000 pounds each and were commissioned by the late millionaire Dennis Avery. Visitors are allowed to “trespass” to admire the open desert art museum. 

They are an incredible sight to see rising out of the desert floor. We didn't take pics of everything, but you can check out Galletta Meadows at your leisure!

These were some of the MITM's favorites:

My photos were more about the details on the Serpent and need to be downloaded from my camera, so I'll post them later. 

We were in the night sky area and had a chance to see a sky full of stars! The house was isolated so once the moon was visible, we could see everything from the windows without having to be out in the desert cold (ok, I mean I was inside) the MITM had no problem with the temperature! He was able to catch a great shot of the moon with our camera.

Saturday was our 56th wedding anniversary, so we spent the day tooling around the area and made it to Julian. The town is high enough that there was snow! Fortunately for us, roads had been plowed and most of the snow melted in the town and surrounding areas. Lots of history there and also a lot of tourists!

Today on our way home, we stopped in Santa Ysabel to visit Dudley's Bakery on the recommendation of our pal, Robbie! (THANK YOU!!!) It was absolutely delish and we were really happy we stopped. In fact, as I'm writing this I'm enjoying a slice of Raspberry Struedel and a cup of coffee! The croissants were as delicious as those I've had in Paris. Evidently, the pastry chef studied and worked in Paris and brought her skills with her!

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This was one of our best anniversary celebrations! Here's to many more, darlin!

Some of what I've been doing since last we spoke...

These are some random shots of what's growing in the garden today. It always surprises me how bleak the rose bushes look in the winter and how in a few weeks, we'll have gorgeous blooms again! The poppies just started blooming, but we've had big clumps of green leaves waiting patiently for their arrival.

I don't the name of the succulents that are blooming near the curb, but perhaps one of y'all might know from the close-up. (I know I could look it up, but...) There will be more photos as things are planted or blooming.

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We've been busy around here with home repair stuff and various spates of illness on my part, but I'm fine now. Everyone has been busy around here, but we've still had time to host a Valentine's Day party for the family. Unfortunately, I missed the whole thing because I was under the weather and slept the entire day into the night! 

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Dinner's ready and I'm hungry, so I'll see all y'all later! 

xoxo

I've been sick

 For the last couple of weeks, I've had a cough due to cold (if you get that movie reference, you are a star) and general fatigue, not to mention general brain fog. The political atmosphere has done absolutely nothing to elevate my spirit, so that's also contributed to my general malaise.

I don't know, sweetpeas. I feel as if we're at the beginning of the end of this "American experiment" and no one seems to know what to do next.

************

On a positive note, we helped friends who'd lost everything in the Altadena fire start over with extra household goods that were just sitting unused in our garage. Super Nana has donated her expertise in negotiating governmental legalize for fire survivors. The outpouring of support for folks has been a real positive and does remind me that there are truly more good people in this world than you'd surmise from the news. 

But is that enough?

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What's next?

I am almost afraid to ask.

January 23, 2025 or How many years has it been since January 20th?

I've been AWOL for a few days for a variety of reasons.

Some are political, but most have been because of an indeterminate malaise that caused me to take to my bed. The poor air quality didn't help, either. Anyway, last night new fires arose. We now have three named fires going (Sepulveda, Hughes, Laguna), in addition to the fires that haven't been completely contained. The LA Times has great coverage if you're interested.  We're on Day 4 of Red Flag warnings, so who knows when it will end.

The friends who lost their home have found a rental, so everyone is finding ways to help them set up/settle. The MITM's cousin finally contacted him and are safe. The Altadena fire came within 200 feet of her home but didn't touch her street. Her block was at the top of a ridge with only one way in or out! I can't imagine how she and her neighbors must have felt. Will I make it out? Or is this the end?

I'll try and make the rounds in Blogville today.

xoxo

Saturday and things are still burning

 It's smoky around here and not the good kind! 

Right now the news is 24/7 coverage about the fires. More friends have had to evacuate their homes in the Encino area and now it seems to be moving towards the Valley. The MITM has had the news on constantly since this all began and it's wearing on me. I finally checked my emails and responded to you know who you are with gratitude for their concern. This is one time that I'm glad not to have a working phone and that the MITM has had to field all the calls!

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm whining because I'm not. We're safe, we've been able to assist friends who've lost everything. 

There's just so much happening around us and it's all out of our control.

Stay safe wherever you are, sweetpeas!

Thursday, a day after the inferno

 Dear Friends,

Thank you all for the concern y'all have expressed in comments left over the last couple of days. 

Our Krewe is safe. Sadly, some friends in Altadena lost their homes to the fire, but they were able to evacuate safely. Super nana's friends living in the Palisades lost their homes, but are safe now. Friends also had to evacuate in the Hollywood Hills and surrounds, but they still have homes to return to. The devastation is monumental and will be years before rebuilding can be completed.

I can't even begin to explain what it's been like watching all of this on TV knowing that it was all happening within 20 miles of our home.

I can't even...

UPDATE here in LA

 Thanks for all your kind words and concern.

I just wanted to update y'all on what's happening around us. Stateside folks will be watching what's going on here on national news, but I have no idea how this is being reported outside of our borders. The Hollywood Hills are burning now and the fire is within a mile of Hollywood Blvd. The evacuation area is large and is economically mixed and highly residential.

All of LA County is under a boil water order because the demand for water to fight the fires is high and has decreased water pressure. Earlier today the County issued a request to limit the use of water. 

A friend in Maine has been using Google Maps to track the fires. I know the streets that are the borders of the evac area, so we're very aware of where it is and its proximity to us. 

We're safe. 

Watching the fires attack streets, places, and areas where you know friends live is frightening! We're keeping in touch with family and so far everyone is sitting tight and watching the news.

It's dark now, the winds are not as bad as yesterday, but who knows what the rest of the night will bring.

We're OK!

 We're safe, Ms Scarlet!

Right now 3 major fires are going in LA County. 

Pacific Palisades, Altadena/Pasadena, and Sylmar. These areas form a sort of semi-circle around what's called the LA Basin. The fires are fueled by all the dry vegetation on hillsides. The number of acres is in the thousands. The fires are being reported in newspapers, online, and shots on television. The major problem is the force of the wind gusts. 

We've heard from a few friends who've had to evacuate from affected areas, but they're safe and that's what is important.

Right now, all of So. California is waiting for the sun to come up and  the winds to die down.

January 6th, 2025

 Today my level of anxiety is rising.

I knew today would begin our so-called "peaceful transfer of power" presided over by Vice-President Harris. The difference has been portrayed in photos from January 6th four years ago, and the same locations today by Senator Andy Kim. (Photos available on twitter/X) I don't think I'll ever get over the fact that those images that we witnessed in real-time were not enough to dissuade anyone from supporting TFG* especially those Republicans who denounced him immediately after the Chamber had been secured and the certification of Joe Biden as President completed.

I'm trying to stay focused on maintaining my own mental health amidst the potential political and societal unrest to come, but it isn't easy. Since November, I've carried my passport with me even though I know the possibility of losing it could make obtaining a new one even harder. Even writing about this gives me pause...

Maybe the old saying is really true,

Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

*The Fat Git courtesy of Ms. Scarlet

Happy New Year!

 May 2025 bring us 

a

little peace.

May 2025 bring us

a

little comfort.

May 2025 bring us

a

little relief.

But most of all,

May 2025 bring us

the impeachment of TFG

and

the restoration of

civility, honesty, integrity,

and

the fucking absence of MAGA

morons and all TFG's grifters.

All the best to all y'all all around the world!

I love all y'all!

xoxo

New Years Eve and also...

 My Birthday!

Today we'll celebrate quietly

because

somehow reaching the age I've reached

just seems

to say

HOW THE FUCK DID I GET SO DAMN OLD???

The Day After

I'm trying out all these fonts 

I just found I could add to the list!

I'm going to drive y'all crazy 

For a few days

And for that, I apologize 

Profusely!

I mean, it's not like I got any presents to play with

Yesterday, but I did get

some lovely handmade lotion, soap, and lip balm.

We had a lovely dinner with Cap't Chaos, BKC, Stretch, The Kid and her guy (who needs a blog name), The Doc and The Dancing Lady, super nana and BGM, Stretch's mom & dad, and her sister, Miss M and her guy, Mr J! 

Just a quiet family gathering.

Today*

 Whatever you do, 

however you celebrate,

today 

I wish you

all the joy and happiness

this season

can bring!

and for the rest of us, Happy Wednesday!

*Updated because I found I could add more fonts to the menu!

Friday the 13th

 What horrors await us today?

The realization that only 43 days are left in the Biden-Harris administration.

Isn't that enough?

Other than that bit of unwanted information,

I got nuttin, sweetpeas.

Take whatever joy you can while we still can!

What if...

 Rhetorical question follows:

What would happen if the House brought forth 

Articles of Impeachment 

on its first working day 

based 

on 

the 

evidence 

in 

Jack Smith's report?

A girl  can dream, ok?

Friday

 For my US pals, Happy Black Friday!

For all the rest of y'all, Happy Friday!

Let us go into the weekend with a smile 

and a lot of liquor!