Call of duty.
More to come soon…from the land of warm water, good friends, amazing food, and even better waves than I get all year.
All in one week.
Playa Gigante, day 1, 1st evening session, swell on its way!
What we love most: the humidty, really.
Live from Hangzhou (hung-joe)!
Departed my house in San Diego Saturday @ 9am.
Arrived in Hangzhou hotel, alongside West Lake, Sunday eve, 11:00pm.
It’s quite quaint here, a very clean, lush city. The sun comes up early, around 5am, and everyone gathers around the lake for exercise in the form if walking, biking, jogging, dancing, tai chi, you name it.
I made my way along the well-groomed trails by the lake’s edge, and here is what I saw: ducks in bags (for sale), azaleas, a chihuahua frantically running after its owner on a motorized bike, fisherman, an elderly man sitting on a bench with his iPad, lots of people gathered in groups stretching and/or performing some form of dance. There was a lot of music along the way, seems that every other person had a portable radio. Couples were dancing to the communal music and sharing the morning glories. Oddly enough, seems that clapping to the music is quite popular! A little bit of exercise is apparently good for the soul.
inspiration
What inspires us? I know it is different for everyone, and can even be more complex than just a simple image or thought. It depends on the day, the moment, whom you are with, the music…oh, the music.
Maybe it’s the music, maybe it’s the company, maybe the setting.
Either way, I’m feelin’ Texas.
“Yeah, everybody gotta get away sometime,
Forget about yourself for awhile…
Sometimes you’ve got to grab your world with your own two hands,
Set it spinning off on a course all your own,
Take yourself a big bag for your shoulder,
Find yourself some good times, bring them on back home…
Got no one to blame but your own damn self,
Ok, alright, heaven only know what gonna happen tonight,
Ok, alright, I’m ok, I’m alright…”
Well said, Pat Green.
Ok, it was the song. BUT, with the company of my husband, and the close memory of some special Texas friends whom visited recently, I am so proud to be from the big state.
The recent visit with friends was such a lovely one, hearing some Texas souls in a California world. Maybe it was the twang, the soft, sweet manners, the conversations of familiar places…yeah, it was the Texas.
Don’t get me wrong, I love CA, and our most beloved friends here. In fact, I truly cannot imagine our life anywhere but where we are now. TX just rings my heart. The way an old photo can make you smile.
Heading to China tomorrow. Unlike when I was a child, I am flying there, not digging. Maybe that’s why I am already missing home. One of several homes. But man, do I love the chance of experience. Worth more than words. Cannot wait to feel lost in China town!
lil’ packs
The clever fanny pack of the 80’s has rebirthed into something ‘hip’ and cool (well, at least I think so).
Selena first clued me in to Kucoon, an LA based clothing/accessory brand. She came over one afternoon wearing this extremely hip, AND functional belt. It seemed so fresh & new. Not only was the leather belt rather eye-catching with it’s aged look and great hardware, but it had a detachable mini purse. Of course, I quickly gave in and bought one a few weeks later.
This is when my fascination grew with the evolved fanny pack.
I became obsessed. Wanting to wear one while I ran, to the grocery store, at a bar, even to work. It’s so nice to not have a full blown purse wrapped around your shoulder and so easily lost or stolen if you mindlessly put it down for a few seconds. The fanny pack is effortless.
Here is the one from Kucoon:
And one I made for running/cycling:
The purple one became a little too stretched out after multiple uses. And, even though I loved the comfortable, wide band, it bounced a lot while in action. Hence, below is version 2. It’s more of a true fanny pack:
I am truly sold now! Reflective (zipper garage), waterproof (lined with waterproof fabric), stable, adjustable (easy clip with adjustors at the back). Fancy. But, don’t worry, I would only wear the orange one while sweating it out.
Of course, there are more fashionable types:
From LoveJulesLeather. How can you not ‘fanny pack’? (yes, it’s now a verb)
don’t give up
It’s been a good (rephrase…great) week.
*I successfully gained some ground on a small ‘battle’ at work. After feeling defeated for months, I rebounded to delightfully discover some energy in myself that had been hiding for some time. Things appear to be working in my favor.
*Also, I was able to squeeze in a few workouts. Always good for the soul.
*It rained quite a bit, so we were able to refresh the empty water cans.
*I dominated some weeds in the front yard.
*Made a few exercise ‘tees’. I don’t like basic old-school tight t-shirts anymore. When I am sweating I find I want to wear a shirt more like this:
…big and loose.
*And, drumroll…all sprouts have begun to sprout!
The kale came up first, within about 7 days. Then, the cucumber (bottom right), sprouted itself and has since surpassed the others. I was rightfully worried about the little tomatoes. I was beginning to think these were going to defeat me and hibernate, not allowing me to harvest the sweet treats. I told myself it didn’t hurt to just let the cups sit with dirt in them for a while. Maybe I’d try again, making more cups. After about 13 days, even the tomatoes popped up for air! As of Thursday, all are showing good signs of life.
During germination, one of the cups began to open-up and collapse on me. I guess I was not careful enough with the water drops. So, I wrapped a raphia tie around the base to hold the paper together. It seemed to hold.
I found that it was best to keep the garden cups outside during the day to get light, or at least in front of a window, then bring them in at night. Can’t wait to make some yummy appetizers for neighbors and friends.
*Lastly, the girls seem to be adjusting nicely. A Saturday toast: to Melba and Marion.
High on their roost after only 2 weeks with us.
short night? early morning?
I rarely have those nights where you just cannot drift away. I always felt pretty lucky that I could sleep well. Not so, in this past rotation of the earth.
I found myself staring out the window, trying to determine if the leaves were moving, or not. Was the dim light from the moon or the light of a nearby building? Am I ever going to sleep tonight? Am I doing the right things at work? Am I approaching my obstacles with good intentions?
Either way, I sat up and finally drifted… to the computer. I found:
…Chukka’s from MrsPhicks. They just look soooo comfy, and they are HANDMADE! It’s my dream to make a pair of shoes one day.
…a closer look into a lovely person’s life, Diane, someone very close to me (literally, within 30 feet of me at work), but I hardly even know her. Now I want to know more.
…and another fine lady, images above via her amazing blog/life. What a talented gal! An inspiring person whom I have known for a while, but not really ‘known’. Aimee, of Captured by Aimee.
…and a yoga pose I am inspired to become healthy enough to try (and I don’t even practice yoga!). Passed along from Diane, above.
Glad I got outta bed.
garden cupcakes
Economical & plantable seed starters:
Make your own:
Take the newspaper flyer on your doorstep and place in a cake pan with 1/2” water. Leave the paper submerged in water for a few seconds (enough to fully wet the paper, but not too long that it rips apart). Taking one sheet at a time, fold in half so you have 2 layers of paper and line a large cupcake mold. Use a pint glass to fully compress the paper down into the mold:
Clip the edges with scissors, leaving about 1/4” above the rim:
Fill each cup with soil and a few seeds of your choice, to ensure successful growth.
Sprinkle a little water on each to moisten the seeds.
After a day or two in the sun the ‘cups’ will dry out and you can remove them from the pan. They will hold their shape until ready to plant (cup and all).
Be careful to gently sprinkle water only on the soil. Avoid watering the cup or it will loosen its shape.
spring in your step?
With Spring now officially among us, today is anything but that. Where’s our sunshine? After a week in ‘Russia’ (not really, we just refer to a hasty attitiude, or reacting hurriedly to everything…as if we are from ‘Rush-a’), we just expect a little sun to go with our Saturday morning coffee.
Below are a few quotes/textual inspirations (is textual a word?) I collected to make you smile, even if there is no sunshine:
Slogan via Quality Peoples.
Slogan via Quality Peoples.
Slogan via Quality Peoples.
Why not? Hopefully we will sail there.
I love that someone took the effort to post this on a bulletin board.
where’s the beef?
Who wants fresh beef? I am finding it harder to trust the Von’s down the corner. Not only are the lines ridiculously long and the clientele is gritty, but don’t you expect to buy fresh-everything at the grocery? Sometimes it seems as though going out to eat is more fresh than the store.
I have been obsessed with wanting to buy a cow. No, not to come live with us. I want to purchase the meat from a reputable farm, know where it comes from and how it was raised, then feel good about cooking it at home.
Big Bluff Ranch supplies such a service. The holdup: I just don’t know what I would do with 150 lbs of beef. That would be about right, split between 3 couples over a year. But, we would need to get a freezer to hold the goods. We don’t have room on our small San Diego plot of land.
Either way, I really like the website and the idea of buying my own cow…knowing it was living in a place like this.
miracle oil
My hairdresser at The Lab turned me on to this amazing hair product a few months ago…
Although this is not normally the kind of thing I post about, I love it so much that I felt compelled to share.
It’s Moroccan Oil. It has saved my hair from some serious dry rot, as I was finding the longer my blonde mane grew it also became more and more unmanageable. I apply a small amount (mostly to the ends) when my hair is wet. It lasts for days and maintains a very natural, healthy look which tames frizz. Hopefully, they will someday develop a version for my thirsty skin.
