A Canyon Cottage

6 Years Ago

canyon cottage — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:44:31 +0000

I can hardly believe it’s been six years since we lost Natalie.

Though she only was with us for 21 short years, Natalie experienced a lifetime of fun and experiences. She lived in Lake Tahoe and learned to ski, she made several trips to the east coast to visit family, Natalie spent 4 weeks in Costa Rica living participating in a program to build a school in a small village. Natalie, went away to college at Cal State Monterey Bay , she fell in love, and lived independently after her transplant. She loved Pablo Neruda poetry, gummie bears, her dog Roscoe, and her favorite saying was “It’s all about the love”.

January 16, 1985 - February 1, 2006

Back to the grind

canyon cottage — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:21:33 +0000

I was off for 11 days over the holidays, it was nice. Sleeping in, cooking, not doing a whole lot, having lunches with friends and a little shopping. But this past week it was back to the grind, 10 hour days, I did Yoga 2 nights. Friday was busy too. Saturday I felt like I had run a marathon (and I have run one back in the day) I was exhausted. So I slept in, ate breakfast at lunch time, took a nap then did my weekly marketing and came home and got ready to go out for D’s mom 94th (yes) birthday dinner.

Food was excellent at the little Italian place we went to in Orange County. It was a bit of a drive, but closer to her and his brother. I had lobster ravioli, I think it was the best I have ever had. Today I am going to try and get a bit more motivated. I think I will go and finish clearing my garden plot at the community garden. I need to pull out the remains of my pumpkin and eggplant. The bell peppers are still giving fruit so I will leave them. They are being collected for the food bank.

Tomorrow is the start of another week.

Resolutions

canyon cottage — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:53:57 +0000

I meant to write this post on the 1st, but things got busy and then I went back to work, and then, well here I am.

My yoga teacher said instead of beating yourself up about all the resolutions you didn’t do for 2011, is to look at what you did accomplish. So I will at some point. The biggest thing I wanted to do was lose 30 pounds, and I didn’t, and it’s hard not to beat myself up about that.

This year:

Not to go to lunch more than once during the week.

Not to buy anthing I don’t really need.

Move more, yoga, walking, etc.

Wear your pedometer so you know if you are moving more!

Lose 30 pounds.

Finish my second year of Yoga Teacher Training.

Start teaching 2 yoga classes a month.

Sounds doable right?

250 Hours

canyon cottage — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:06:55 +0000

Things I have done:

1. Completed my 250 hour Yoga Teacher Training certification.

Things I have not done:

1. Christmas cards.

2. Christmas shopping.

3. Christmas Tree.

And it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Yoga

canyon cottage — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:18:16 +0000

I met with my study buddy D today. We always meet at Peet’s coffee now, we used to meet for lunch but since we are both trying to cut back we go for coffee. Its nice we sit outside, today in the sun since it was chilly. Sometimes we get a lot accomplished, sometime we just chat. Today we did both.

I am so thankful that the power finally came back on after 2 days. It really makes a difference having heat, lights, and a stove to cook on. Now I know why the pioneers went to bed so early!

Power

canyon cottage — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:08:42 +0000

My power came back on last night at about 11 pm. I was lucky, I only lost a fridge full of food and a small tree. Many lost cars, homes, and beautiful large trees. Much of my town Sierra Madre is still without power, for some reason the little canyon section I am in had its power restored.

Its amazing how much we count on technology. I had my laptop charged, my mifi and my phone and a big lantern and I was all set. Web, Facebook, blogs, I was able to conduct business as usual. Oh and don’t forget the glass of wine and sleeping dog.

portrait of a power outage

Foothill blvd Arcadia from the drivers seat

Sierra Madre, street completely blocked

Pasadena

A mighty wind!

canyon cottage — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:20:22 +0000

Last night an epic windstorm hit my town. Actually much of Pasadena and the surrounding areas. I have no power tonight and trees have fallen down everywhere in town. At least 20 structures were damaged in my little town and 42 were red tagged in Pasadena with 200 more to inspect. So many beautiful trees were toppled over, and I lost my little crepe myrtle in the back yard that was finally coming into its own. Tonight is supposed to be worse but so far the wind is quiet. Radio news says it may hit the San Fernando Valley tonight.

I went to Costco at lunch and bought 2 great lanterns and about 30 batteries. The lamps are great, my laptop is charged and so is my mifi so I actually have internet! I just hope the power comes on by tomorrow. One night is fine but more than that will get old quick, not to mention losing a whole fridge full of food.

Tomorrow

canyon cottage — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:12:11 +0000

Is December. Where has this year gone?

29

canyon cottage — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:15:15 +0000

Tired today. I stayed up too late, didn’t get home until 8 since I went to th 6 yoga class. I need to be going to bed before 10:30. I will be happy to go home tonight make minute steaks and some veggies for dinner and have a glass of wine and veg out. J is having a rough patch. I hope he will talk to me about it tonight.

Monday

canyon cottage — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:36:35 +0000

Well its the end of the month and I almost succeeded in posting daily for NaPoBloMo. So although I didn’t succeed, in my own way I really did as I have posted more this month than I have for a very long time. I think I will try to keep it up. It’s not that hard to just check in and post a picture or write a few words, thoughts or muse about what I did or ate that day.

I am back to the office after having last week off. It was nice, I slept in until 8 every day, I walked the dog, shopped and cooked and ate of course. I can hardly belive the holidays are here. I am totally not ready. I just feel like this holiday has been commercialized so much I hardly even want to think about buying things for people.

Plus C hasn’t made any attempt to contact me since Thanksgiving when she called sick. I wanted her to come for leftovers on the weekend. I am sure something better came up.