Terrible Tuesday - Slacking Off

Terrible. That is how I feel when I realized that I have not posted anything for a few days.  Slacking off might be too harsh but it might be the perfect work for it.  So to make up, I will just do some random thoughts and share a few photos that might make your day.  It has been a very busy week - that would be my excuse.  Did I mention that we have decided to find another volunteer place for me and my MIL.  We have been there for over two years but lately there's not much to do and it seems like a waste of precious gas for a few minutes of work.  Next week I will be searching for some other agency that are needing volunteers and find out what we can do.  As for golf, for the first time, I was able to get Jeff to golf without begging.  We played at Boulder Creek Golf Course with his friend and his son.  It was such a pretty and serene course.  We plan to go there again and maybe invite some of his other coworkers.  And now for my latest collection of photos that I took for sharing.

My newest and prettiest pot holders.

My latest breakfast plate.

Jeff's strawberry plant that sits on the outside window sill.

The first harvest.  Only one at a time.

Tootsie Tuesday - MIL's birthday

You are probably wondering who is Tootsie.  That is my MIL's nickname and today is her birthday.  It's not a special birthday but it's going to be a simple one, just the way she likes it.

I may have mentioned that she loves lady bugs.  In fact she has two other neighbors that she has been friends for many years that also loves lady bugs.  They meet every Thursday and they do something interesting each week.  If you had a chance to meet my MIL, you would remember that she has a great sense of humor and she is so much fun to be with.  You also would remember her for her baking skills.  Jeff would say that she makes the best chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cupcakes with her special frosting.  My friends back in Canada remembers her for that special Chinese Chews.  Although she is considered a senior, she is very much into current technology.  She is very interested in learning and is not afraid to try on new things.  Whether it is a new app on her phone or a new game or a new ringtone, she is up for downloading and trying it out.  But the one thing that she can't resist - anything that is ladybug.  So for her birthday, we got her something with lady bug but I can't show you the photo because she does check my blog every now and again.  

Jeff and my MIL at the Mushroom Festival in Morgan Hill.

Tootsie and me at the St. Patrick's dinner at her home.

  Happy Birthday Tootsie!  May you have many more happy birthdays to come.  Stay young at heart!

Surviving Sunday - Happy Easter to all

Happy Easter to all my family and friends and of course my blog readers.  This year we have decided not to do anything for Easter.  No dinner, no brunch, and no egg hunting.  It's like I'm on strike.  For the past three years, we have hosted the Easter dinners because there was a reason to.  We don't have any decorations and we did not even buy Easter treats.  Instead I'm just going to share with you the photos of my house plants that have survive through the years.  As you know I don't have a green thumb (as the saying goes) and most of the time, the plants just dies after a few weeks.  I'm very proud of these indoor plants.

60th birthday gift - 11 months old and doing very well.

Boxing day gift of 2011 - two and a half years and still growing.

I bought this last year from Big Lots - it was so small.  I have re potted and it's looking healthy.

Christmas plant of 2013 - my sister bought this and I am sure she's so proud of me for not killing it.

My new addition - An Easter gift from my friend Jean.

May you find some happiness this Easter at home with your family and friends.

Friendless Friday - Life is way too short

This photo was sent to me by my childhood friend Lani Geronimo Cornejo.  She is the one standing right behind me (the one holding the guitar).  I couldn't believe she kept this one all those years.  Yesterday I received a telephone call from her husband.  He said "Lani passed away this morning".  A pause and disbelief of what I just heard - she is the same age as me.  After 40 years or so, we were able to reconnect when we were on our way to our first cruise.  We flew to Burbank and she was at the airport waiting for us.  The next 24 hours was spent with Lani and her family   We reminisced and caught up with our life stories.  That was the last time I saw her. My apologies. I can't write anymore.  

Wondering Wednesday - What it would be like

Today while I was ironing a basketful of clothes, I was listening to a CD (that's right) that my daughter made for me some 10 years ago.  One of the songs was Luther Vandross - Dance with my father.  It's weird that all of a sudden I started wondering a lot of things.  The first one was what it would be like to dance with my son on his wedding day.  The closest I got was a slow dance at a school event.

I think we were dancing to a Boyz to Men song.  Maybe my daughter will correct me if she remembers this.

The next one was wondering if he would like the cheerios cereal (honey bee) commercial with Nelly.  I'm sure you know what it is.  Then I remembered some photos with something similar.

Different times of life but similar outfit for Trick or Treat.

The final one is about sports - golf - I wondered if he would take up golf and if would get a chance to do a round of golf if he visited me here.  This too would never happen.

This was taken at a golf course somewhere in Quebec - I was learning golf and my son was 11 years old.

It's really sad to wonder because I know the answer but I'm happy that I have so many great memories of him.  Almost six years has passed and there's not a day that I don't miss him.

Slippery Sunday - Comfy slippers

Do you wear special slippers for around the house?  When we were growing up we have what we called "chinelas" only to be worn as house slippers.  In Canada when you visit someone at their home, it was automatic, we take off our shoes or other footwear.  In the USA, it seems like people keep their shoes on unless of course you see shoes around the front door.  This past couple of days, I was shopping for some house slippers for my daughter and favorite SIL. Since it's just some type of footwear to be worn at home, it was not a requirement to have a designer kind.  Here's a collection of photos I took during the slipper shopping task.

Airport slippers, I slip this on after I take off my sandals or shoes

Guest slippers/flip flip - for our guests who forgot to bring house slippers.

Hotel slippers - the kind that is free when you stay in a nice room

These are for my favorite SIL - each one has a different type of sole

This one is for my daughter - soft and fluffy and has those special dots for traction

Stunning Saturday - Spring Flowers

It's hard not to stop and smell the roses.  Last week I noticed all the roses are in bloom in our neighborhood.  Across the street from our house, this lady has a big rose bush in three shades of yellow.  The house about three doors down has three different colors (red, orange and yellow).  When I was over at my friend Jean's house, I couldn't help but take photos of her front yard flowers.  As for our garden, it seems that it has stopped blooming and actually has started to get dry.  Not really sure if it did not like the two hot days last week.  The first two weeks after we planted them was great that we got a few compliments from our neighbors.  Anyway, please enjoy the photos and think spring and maybe even summer.

 

 

Fast Friday - It's a little too fast for my liking

It's Friday already and it seems like the days this week just went by a little too fast for my liking.  Is it because I pack my schedule that I don't have time to do my blog?  Is it because I like being outdoors when the weather is truly awesome.  While getting ready for poker night that we are hosting tonight, I just realized that I have not posted for a few days.  Do I feel bad?  Of course, I do.  I know there are some of my readers that look forward to see what I have been up to.  Let me just share some recent photos I have taken of things that I like and I have done.

I made from scratch, crepes with strawberries and dulce de leche sauce.

I have been craving for oysters and I had two dozens at Hawgs. 

This one is for my daughter - the latest flavor of M&M - birthday cake.

 

Mundane Monday - But not complaining

When your schedule each and every week are starting to be the same, it could be mundane.  But I cannot complain, right.  It could be worst, if I was not retired and still working, then it would be even more mundane.  Wake up early, come home late and not having any fun.  I like to be organize and make sure that I have my week planned.  This way I know exactly when I will have some free day or hours to do something else spontaneous.  Some weeks are so packed but I don't mind as long as it's all the stuff that I love to do.  If I wanted to take a break from whatever it is, all I need is to block that day as my ME day.  Are there days in your week that is mundane?  Do you try and schedule a ME day each week?  Here's a photo that makes a day not so mundane.

Splendid Saturday - My day with Jeff

One day a week is what I have left to spend time with Jeff.  Although I see him in the morning before work and again in the evening after work, Saturday is our only day together.  I try very hard not to accept any invite for anything for this day.  But as you know if you have a home and you work, weekends, specifically Saturday is the only day to catch up on chores.  When the weather is nice, we try to spend it outdoors doing yard work which includes weeding (not my favorite).  Most of the times, I ended being indoors doing house chores and he's mostly outside doing his to do list.  In the winter is not much of that as we try to do other fun things even if its only shopping for things for the house.  During Spring and Summer we always try to get a game of tennis before we do our chores.  We look forward to this day because it's the only day we spend the whole day together.  When he retires, I am sure it will be different because we will be able to do a lot of things together.  Right now with my busy schedule during the week, Saturday is just the perfect day.  Just last week when he had a chance to peak at my calendar on my phone, he noticed how busy it was.  He said that you wouldn't think I was retired if you saw my schedule. 

This is one of the flowers that Jeff planted - Asiatic Lily

The lone strawberry trying to produce one fruit - we thought this one was dead.

Truthful Thursday - No Tiger

For those of you who are golfers and a fan of TW, you know that this means a lot during the upcoming Masters Tournament.  We all know that if Tiger is not playing in a tournament, the excitement goes down.  I am not saying that the others are not great players, but lets face it, it is different specially for those of us who are just watching the four day tournament at home.  As for me, it does not matter what tournament is on, if Tiger is not playing, I'm not watching.  Don't get me wrong, I do like some of the upcoming young players as well as the old time favorites, but truthfully, the excitement goes very high when Tiger is playing even if he is not at the top of the leader board.  Now that it's confirmed that he is not playing, I have to find other players that I can cheer for.  Here's my ten fav list in no particular order.

•  Adam Scott
• Rickie Fowler
• Trevor Immelman
• Jason Day
• Bubba Watson
• Fred Couples
• Brendt Sneadeker
• Ryan Moore
• Graema McDowell
• Jordan Speith

I hope that your back gets better real soon and good luck to your next tournament

Wiki Wednesday - El Camino Bell

A few years ago Jeff and I had to change plans from going on a cruise to doing a road trip.  I have my flights booked to come to San Jose and a few days before they cancelled our cruise due to some recent medical alert from the Mexican Authorities.  Anyway, we decided to do a road trip from here all the way to Las Vegas but taking it easy since we had two weeks.  We visited Sedona, Arizona and some other places in California along the way.  There was also an interesting park called Antelope Canyons.  During the trip I noticed this particular post with a bell on it and it seems old.  Jeff told me it was the El Camino Bell.  I can't remember all the details but here's what I remember.  Of course you can check it yourself on Wikipedia to get the whole story behind it.  

•  it is located on the historic roads of California all the way from San Diego to San Francisco
• it connects the different 24 missions
• it's distinctive bells along the route to mark the historic route

One morning on my way to meet my friend for breakfast, I noticed this historic land mark.  It's funny that I have passed this road many times but never paid attention to the bell.  I guess I was at the stop light and still day dreaming when I looked to my right and there it was.

The El Camino Bell directly behind the traffic light.  Monterrey Road aka State 82 in San Jose