after the fire

It's been more than a year since the big block fire on Mission. We lost so
much including Cole Hardware and so now the long process of rebuilding
begins. Here from our local online blog, Bernalwood Journal:

A local artist came up with the design for The Cole Hardware fence: 2000 plastic pieces make up the lettering that reads from across the street, or passing by on the bus, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE.... You get to fill in the blank. Home? Cole Hardware? Whatever is special to you?

So many merchants and residents lost their businesses and homes. Where did they go? This really changed our community, and we hope they can come back. During the install, everyone who walked by had a story to tell about what they needed from Cole.

good morning, moon

purple works

I neglected to show you this photo of a very cool little house in our
nabe. It was obviously a December walk, not that people don't leave
wreaths and trees up for a l-o-n-g time and that's OK by me. Even
the mailbox on the bright white rail is purple.

brunch at the Hillside

My friends Joe and Pamela were nice enough to come to Bernal for a
get-together yesterday. We all love the French toast and bacon at the
Hillside Supper Club. A most delightful time, truth be told.

fences and neighbors

old

new

We have been having some much needed work done on the outside of our
home and one small project is this fence replacement between us and the
International House of Women next door. It's not a large fence, but we all
need our privacy. Perhaps I've mentioned that we've always been lucky
with neighbors. With attached homes it could be dicey, but everyone has
always been more than pleasant and we respect each others rights and
lifestyles. Only once, years ago, did we have a very active drug dealer,
but he didn't last too long and it was great fun when the police arrived.

lunch with Linda and Siri

For Linda's belated b.day lunch we met at the Bernal Star yesterday and
both enjoyed Eggs Florentine (Linda) and Benedict (me). We had relished
a rainy morning and because I'm such a late and grateful learner, Linda
showed me how to use Siri on my iPhone.(I always wondered what that
wavy line was for.) We had a delightful time and I'm so very glad that
we are friends. Thanks for driving to Bernal Heights, Linda.

just like the burbs

yellow bouncy house

festive green garbage can

Some neighbors up the hill organized a block party and potluck yesterday
and we made a brief appearance before we snuck out through some back
streets. There was music, no traffic (so they must have gotten a permit!),
about six grills with lots of food, wine, beer and some of the guests even
looked familiar to us. We smiled and I was reminded once again that one
of the things I love most about city life is the anonymity.

simple pleasures

 Husbando

 .Morning coffee in my John Deere mug

 .Chronny

 .World Series starts tonight

 .Fruit for breakfast

 .This morning's Blogmaid email

 .Almost 8 hours of sleep 

 .Walking the nabe later in the day

 .Putting away suitcase until next trip

 .Hot bubble bath last night 

After Husbando picked me up from BART he urged me to go

right to the Verizon store and get my phone back in U.S. order

and I reluctantly did so, even though I was in such a fog. But that 

was necessary and today of course I'm grateful that he pushed

me there, dropped me off and waited while I hung around in a stupor.

I have a new adventure coming up too. I will work Election

Day and that entails long hours, two training classes and

pretty good pay. This, like the SPCA, is part of my "let's give back

to the universe with thanks" campaign now that I am an old

woman who refuses to actually admit it.

And this morning my thoughts are with Dancing Jen who has to

work - you can do it!  

the eye of the shark

This is an unusual (and v. expensive) home on the utmost top of Folsom Street
here in Bernal. I love the two blue chairs on the  highest deck - what a view.
You probably can't see the shark teeth, but they represent the SF skyline.
From what I've read, the home owners gave the artist free range and I think
the result is spectacular and we've put this on our To Do List for out-of-town
visitors. At this point there are no homes behind this house, just Bernal Hill
and so far the 3,557 dogs (daily) love the scene.

good reasons

...to be nice to our neighors.