Clematis in February, Surfer Statue, Zoom Friends, Encouraging My Friend

 

This Clematis surprised me with its early blooms the first week of February. The flowers are about 2 inches across and have a light sweet fragrance, and this variety is Apple Blossom. They are a vine and keep their leaves. I planted it in summer of 2017 and it bloomed in February 2018, reaching the top of my six foot tall fence in those six months.

 The surfer statue across the street from my favorite coffee shop. I was at the coffee shop twice this week meeting a  different friend each time. One of them describes herself as a shut in because of her fear of covid, and she rarely leaves her house. So we had a great chat, sitting outside in the sun. It was a big step for her to venture out, and I think this encourages her to get out more. I invited her to meet our two mutual friends for lunch in a restaurant in March where there is outdoor seating and she put it on her calendar. Baby steps.

The front of the church where the coffee shop is; I like the clean architectural detail and line in my photo. This week we had our Zoom meeting, three of us have been friends for about 20 years; we met at work and are now all retired. We chat on Zoom twice a month and spend an hour catching up and meet in person quite often for lunch, next scheduled lunch is for my birthday. How is your February going?

Books that can add Cheer and My Three New Orchids for Christmas

I have been a bit stressed since all the rain, floods, roads collapsing, and staying close to home since Christmas in my county so I am relying on my book friends for good cheer. The first book I am rereading and is "The Code of the Woosters" by P.G. Wodehouse. It features the wonderful Jeeves and Wooster and their madcap adventures. I think there is humor on every page, for example Bertie Wooster describes his friend as "All right up to the neck, but from there on pure concrete." So many adventures around a sterling silver cow creamer. Will marriages go ahead, will people end up arrested? Mary commented that the audio book versions of Wodehouse books are wonderful, I would like to try one some day.

The second book I am also rereading, "Miss Buncle Married" by D.E. Stevenson. If you haven't read "Miss Buncle's Book" read that one first, it is very humorous. Miss Buncle needs money and writes a novel which is published and which gets her into big trouble in the English village where she lives.

The third book "14,000 Things to be Happy About" by Barbara Ann Kipfer has a title that is self explanatory. She developed her list over a 50 year period and this is an updated version.

Her tips are each just a few words or a sentence. "A cake baking." "Pet portraits." "Clutch purses." "Dulcimer music" and "Green Goddess salad dressing" are a sampling.

 

The next book I am reading (yes, I am currently reading several books) is "The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen: 83 1/4 Years Old" by apparently Hendrik Groen himself. After some research I learned that the actual author is a Dutch writer, Peter de Smet, 61 when this book was published six years ago.This is fun, Hendrik lives in an old folks home in Amsterdam and is grumpy and active and finds friends to go out and have adventures with. There are two or three more books in this series.

 

Just for fun and a glimpse of beauty, I show you my new orchids that my younger son bought me for Christmas, one purple, one white and one yellow. Orchids are a favorite with me, so pretty and easy care. The main thing is finding the right light for them, they like an east facing window so they don't get sun burned. They don't tolerate intense direct sunlight, especially afternoon sun.

Have you found any lighthearted books to read that you can recommend in a comment?

Storms where I live in rain battered California

 

I've been sending this photo to friends and relatives all over the USA, since our California rain storms are very destructive and in the national news. The photo shows the street that runs along the ocean, or what is left of the street. Half of the street has collapsed due to violent wave action.

This is about six streets over from my house. Closer to home, thus far is OK. Two blocks from my house where Bounce and I walk every day, the street along the ocean is undamaged thus far. I have several friends who live in the mountains outside of town and they are stuck in their houses due to road closures. Mudslides and fallen trees are closing roads and they periodically lose power. The rains are a blessing and yet now we are hoping they will stop soon and let the water soak in or run off. 

There was no rain in my town on Sunday January 8 and I dared to drive to church Sunday and attend the small group gathering of 25 friends. My spirits were very lifted to be in fellowship with such good people. I did not attend the larger church service since I am mostly avoiding indoor gatherings. Especially since I live alone, I need to see people! Be well and safe friends.

The above was posted Jan. 11, and today, Jan. 18 I am happy to see the sunshine and no rain. Hurray.

2023 and I am mentoring a new Christian

 Happy 2023 Friends.

What a ride of ups and downs and in betweens these past few years have been. I hope 2023 will be filled with blessings and an increase in our freedoms worldwide. I am praying for big things because there is no prayer that is too big for our God.

I like to do new things and hope it keeps me young(ish). In November I began mentoring a lady who is 72 and a new Christian and member of our church. We are both learning so much and having fun at the same time. 

 

I bought a book "The New Believer's Friend Handbook" for me and for her "The New Believer's Handbook". This book has 8 lessons for 8 weeks and we both love it. We meet at my house and I serve a light lunch, food for the body and food for the soul.

Below is a photo that makes me smile. I do love lions, they remind me of the noble Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia.

Christmas 2022, Mr. Bounce wearing his Santa hat and Treats for delivery drivers

 

Bounce in a pensive mood this week, wearing his Santa hat.

Below is our nativity set we have had for 40 years. This is the way I arranged it in 2021.

Above is water and snack chips I put out at my front door for the delivery drivers who work so hard. I am impressed that last year they did not take the sweet treats or soda, just the water, unsweetened teas and chips I put out. So this year I skipped the sweet treats. They are a healthy bunch of drivers.

Above is the new arrangement of my nativity scene in 2022, each year is a bit different.

Christmas is a happy and holy day to celebrate God sending us his son in the form of a new born baby. All those who believe in him have his gift of eternal life. We don't deserve it, none are perfect. What a life saving gift. He is the light of the world. My sons and I will attend the Christmas Eve service at church Dec. 24 at 4 p.m., a lovely time to worship. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.

Funny yard sign I saw and red Autumn leaves in December

 In these preChristmas days let me share some photos of pretty red leaves. It seems autumn leaves have arrived here in coastal California in December.

The above photos were all taken in our church parking lot in December.

Here is a sign I thought was humorous in a dark way. See if you think it is funny too, or can you guess why I thought it funny or ironic. I saw this whilst walking Bounce. The sign says "Please keep your dog off our LAWN."

 

I thought the sign was ironic because I do not see a lawn and there is not one blade of grass growing there. It is all dirt and weeds. Keep your dog off of our yard or Keep your dog off of our dirt might be more accurate. That would show the home owners have a sense of humor to laugh at themselves. Well, that's me and my sometimes dark sense of humor. And yes, I did keep Bounce off of their dirt.

The Ocean and Spectacular Clouds Near My Home and My Hubby and I

 I have had my terragarden blog since 2007 and that is a lot of posts. 873 is what Blogger tells me. What in the world is new to post about? Here are some photos of the ocean taken near my home. 

 The above photo shows the beginnings of sunset. There is a new annoyingly huge home built right on the point which is much taller than nearby homes and seems out of place to me. Can you see it?

Above is a happy moment with my husband Will on vacation in Palm Springs, California in 2004. Time just zips right along, doesn't it. We had Thai food at Thai Smile restaurant. I have a favorite Thai restaurant near my house. I enjoy silver noodles, Pad Thai and all their curries there and their delicious coconut soup.

Spectacular clouds over the ocean in photos I took a couple days ago. Can you see the small blue dot in the second photo? Is that perhaps the moon rising? The dot appears in 3 photos I took, in a different location in each photo so I don't think it is my iPhone camera. Possibly a UFO, well, possibly not. I am going with the moon rising unless any of you have a better idea.