home and happy about that

 Smooth (long) drive home yesterday and early to bed last night. Today I'm busy doing laundry and giving the girl cat some meaningful attention. No tv up in Ashland but I was still able to follow the idiot tRump and his band of criminals, however now I am back in front of the news. Sheeeeesh, such times we live in.

a new, used chair

 Annabelle, my almost perfect cat, has managed to shred a chair here so I had Taskrabbit remove it and I have been shopping for another one. I tried Salvation Army, Community Thrift and then finally found the perfect little gem at Reperch where I had not been before. It's HUGE  (top photo) ~ a big warehouse kind of store filled with everything imaginable. They helped me stuff the chair into my aged Toyota, and yes, I am delighted with my new/used acquisition. So far the cat does not like it. Good.

east is east/west is west

 ...but getting home is the BEST. Annabelle and I snuggled all last night and she forgave me for leaving her for so long. Thanks again to the Blogmaid for picking me up at the airport and to Heidi and Jen with 2 dogs for providing me with food and flowers. I will have a down day with lots of naps and I get back to you with another travel blog tomorrow. The washing machine will get a work out for sure.

the pleasures of home

 This week was a fine balance of busy and relaxing in my cozy home. Beautiful clear Fall weather and time to walk every day. Fireplace mornings and a (sometimes) devoted cat. Yes, I do remember to count my blessings...

this old house

 I really dislike home repair stuff but the small shower leak became a torrential stream and the plumbers came to try to fix it yesterday. They assured me that new houses have plumbing problems too as they fussed and fiddled and had to order specially made parts which will arrive in about two weeks. The drip is better and I can shower and everything will somehow work again.

my very nice life

 This is a lovely quiet week for me. Mornings by the fire and then a walk and latte in the neighborhood when the rain stops for an hour or so. Catching up with friends far and near and of course worrying about the health and happiness of people I love. Gratitude galore.

with a stop in Williams

So happy to be home after a long day of car sitting and a late (not great) lunch in Williams at the over-rated and over-priced Granzella's yesterday. My cat and I were happy to be reunited and I have a busy errand day today. We had a lovely time in Ashland and are planning next year's trip already. That is how it should be.

this old house looks new

 Behold! The painters have finished. They were terrific and I am thrilled with my little home. Yesterday was Hermit Day and mostly I re-invaded my own space and put things back where  I think they should go. Annabelle is relieved too and we are both purring here on Mullen Ave.

this old house

 The painters are perfectionists. That is the good and bad news. It has been a month of ladders, ropes, noise, dirt, machines, phone calls, may-I-use-the-bathroom? and you all know the drill. The worst is over, meaning the back part of the house with the wood rot and what's-this? Look here, Mary Ann! I think another week. Of course this is costing more than what we originally paid for the house back in the 70's, but that's OK. Necessary. Whoosh.

back to what passes for normal

 Sam and Luke left early for the airport and I mostly did laundry and put everything back in place yesterday. They were easy and considerate guests and it was great getting to know them better. The house painters return today so here we go again...

the work continues

 These painters are detailed and thorough and so hard working. They arrive at 8am and leave after 6pm ~ non-stop. The back of the house is wood (bad wood) and the front is stucco and that won't take as long. Annabelle is finally curious after hiding during all the noisy sanding and prep work. We both want our quiet home back, but this is necessary. Sigh.

Day #1 of BFD project

 This house was last painted in 2008, and the winds/rain caused some damage this winter. Aldo and his two helpers began the prep work yesterday and I will be under siege for a month or maybe two. It is necessary and I'm happy with my choice of workers ~ they painted/repaired the house next door and I feel very comfortable with them. And as a bonus they weeded my garden yesterday ~ yayyy and thanks.

and all is right with the world

 Cat (not shown), coffee in new Sav'h mug), fireplace, good night's sleep in my own bed after a lovely shower and everything getting back into order today. Lot of laundry and tasks and the wonderful afterglow of a delightful and very successful vacation week in beautiful Sav'h. Filled with gratitude and ready for my exercise class at 9am ~ much needed after long, smooth airplane day. 💖

back to my little life

 You know the feeling: my bed, my sister coffee mug, my pesky cat.  Mail to go through and laundry to do and the routines resume, but with just an extra bit of appreciation. Home. Such a sweet word. 

two views = stark reality

 The top photo is from my breakfast spot at the Bard's Inn in Ashland. Then we have the giant water and sewer project on Mullen Avenue ~ the tube thingies are parked right in front of my house. Noise and dirt will end in November. I try to accept these things that we can not change.

ultra clean and organized

 The three young women took charge of Chez Stein for six hours yesterday. Man, what a wonderful difference. They even made sense of the rat's nest charging station here in the back porch. Nothing missed their diligence: stove, refrigerator, medicine cabinet, under furniture, ceiling cobwebs, etc. I am one happy woman today. Never underestimate hard working women. 

window repair and history

Mr. Singh installed a screen yesterday in the bathroom, depriving Annabelle of any more fun bird-in-the-house experiences. We bought these windows way back when love was new and we were high on home ownership and life. People still gasp when they see these the first time and of course we took them for granted after about three months. Somehow we discovered the artist at the Renaissance Faire back in the seventies, remember those events out in the woods? Dress up, drink up and spend money on stained glass windows for the too tiny only bathroom in Bernal Heights. Regrets? No sireeeeee. 

down the drain(s)

I am still cleaning and tossing the treasures in Bill's office. One such
gem was an old newspaper clipping of How to Clean Drains using
baking soda and white vinegar followed by hot water. So every single
month, with the blessing of Husbando, I become Ms. Handyperson.
Once again I apologized to Himself for wailing "Why the Hell do we
have so much white vinegar?" after I began the clean-up, clean-out
process two years ago. OK, I get it.

all systems GO

TV works, computer works and house is VERY clean in preparation
for daughter, Nancy, and grand daughter, Ceci, who are visiting
today and tomorrow. They have been up in Placerville where CC
lives and where it is hot. Here in SF that is not the case.

ginkgo garnish

ours

theirs

This is the first year I had to sweep up the beautiful bright yellow ginkgo
leaves from our tree. The neighbor down the block did not follow suit. The
shock of these trees against a grey winter sky is glorious.