December 19th: Getting into the Christmas Spirit Christmas

 I meant to share a couple fun birthday cards on my last blog. Better late than never. Wendy did another creative job with her Cricut machine. The trouble is the cards are so nice I don't know what to do with them other than save them. 

Rebecca, not to be outdone, sent this very entertaining card! 

She said she tried very hard to resist buying it, but in the end just couldn't pass it up. I think it's great!

Solitary Sea Anemone 
Anthopleura Sola

I must have been tired when I posted the last blog. In reviewing my last blog, I also remembered I posted pictures of anemones but I didn't provide the information about them. I had found a good site that gives some more information. Interesting little critters! California Tidal Pool Sea Anemones

California Sea Slug - About10 inches long

I went to the tidal pools because it was a very low tide. A young boy spotted this sea slug. It is about 10 inches long. Never saw one in the tidal pools before.

I was debating about whether or not to get a Christmas tree. After all, it's just me, nobody is visiting and Matt and Wendy would have a tree. Matt chimed in with his advice. Something like, "Of course you need a tree. Go to Home Depot and get a nice small potted tree and we'll plant it in the yard after Christmas." Sounded good to me. Turned out I had to get a cut fir tree because all the potted trees were pine trees. I'm allergic to pine trees but not fir trees. 

As I was growing up my twin brother and I had allergies which prevented our family from getting a live tree. We had no idea a fir tree would work. Also, I don't know if they were available back then. I will say, it was kind of fun to have one of the first aluminum Christmas trees and my Dad made the color wheel lighting/reflecting device.

Linda is 5 foot 4 inches tall. She said she
was staying away when I cut the twine.

I first discovered I could get a fir tree in 2001 at Sagamore Hills, Ohio when a friend told me my allergies would be fine. Finally, I could get a real tree. Our new home had a peaked ceiling. Perfect for a giant tree. I went all out. Linda seemed to think I was getting carried away, but she humored me. And, I know she thought it was great once it was up and decorated.

Turned out decorating the top of the tree was a challenge. I had a six foot step ladder but the tree was quite wide. I don't remember it being as precarious as it looks in this picture. I think it's just the angle?

Sagamore Hills tree

These pictures bring back a lot of fun memories. Of course I need my own tree this year. Matt was right. Can't let the coronavirus stop me from making new fun memories. 

So I found a very nice little 4 ft. fir tree. Perfect for my living room. I wasn't concerned about cutting the twine!

I was able to order some miniature retro glass ornaments from Pottery Barn and pick them up curbside. Plus, I had found a unique, old, glass snowman garland at a thrift shop with Wendy. I've never seen anything like it. Very fun!

Glass snowman garland

Matt and Wendy had some extra lights so I was all set. I'm enjoying my cute little tree. Maybe Linda was right, perhaps I was getting carried away with my giant trees? Nah, I don't think so!

Belleview Ave Christmas Tree 2020

The surfers have been loving this late Fall weather. Last Saturday the conditions were great for surfing at Swami's, the premier surfing spot around san Diego. It was fun watching the surfers. On a great day

like that the really good surfers come out in droves. The best surf is just off the point so it is not a huge area. There are so many surfers in the water, it's amazing they can surf without banging into each other. There is "Surfing etiquette" for who gets to stay on a wave if several try to catch the same wave. Newbies are not welcome in this crowded area. Not a place for beginners!

Termite tenting

As I keep saying, I never know what I'll see when walking. The other day I walked down the street toward the ocean where there are very nice homes overlooking the ocean. One was completely covered with colorful canvas. This house is much larger than the photo can show because of the hill. 

Back of the house and garage

The front appears to have three stories and the back is one story. This tenting is used to fumigate and remove termite infestations. Just hauling in that much canvas has to be very costly! The house next door to this house was torn down, (See Sept 8th blog) Although a very nice home at one time, it was in a serious state of neglected upkeep. I suspect the termites were in that house and then needed a place to go. Only guessing but I'd be nervous if I owned the house on the other side!

I'm still riding my bike to the San Elijo Lagoon and walking the trails. After some significant conservation efforts, all the trails are now open. The County has done a very nice job with the park. In an earlier blog I posted a picture with hundreds of little colored flags marking the types of native plants that were planted after some major regrading along the river. 

San Elijo Lagoon
Restoration August 2020

The picture on the left was taken the beginning of October. The plants
are doing very well even though there has been no rain. The picture on the right was taken a week ago, so the plants have done well over the last two months. Very nice to see.

San Elijo Currently

Great white heron

Merganser Ducks

There is an increasing number of birds in the lagoon. Today I saw a Great White Heron, some Snowy egrets, some Merganser ducks, a Coot, an Osprey, seagulls, some yellow finches and even a Canadian Goose. 

Snowy Egrets

The lagoon encompasses a very large area and the trails leave plenty of open space for the birds. Nice for the birds, but hard to get good pictures without a really good camera.

Yucca 4 months ago

Yucca plant starting to blossom

For the last 4 months I've been watching a yucca plant with a very tall blossom stalk. It is finally starting to open. I'll continue to take pictures as it evolves. The stalk is well over 10 feet tall. You can see a spot at the top where it is starting to open.

As I was walking, I saw this subtle California style political statement on the window of an old Volkswagon Van. I guess I'm easily entertained!

First round penguin choices

Wendy and I are still making shirts. It's fun and something to do. I decided I needed a penguin shirt. First I checked out all the penguin options. The design part is critical. I selected some of these from which to choose. Then I found the ones I wanted! 

The shirt turned out great. A surprise was when I was wearing the t-shirt and walked into my bathroom at night. I hadn't turned the light on yet and when I looked in the mirror two sets of eyes were staring at me. I didn't realize the eyes and bellies of the penguins were glow in the dark. Pretty fun!

Looking forward to Christmas. We decided to make turkey again brined in buttermilk. It was so good at Thanksgiving we decided to do it again. We'll Facetime again with Rebecca. Have a great Christmas everyone!