November 29th: Where did November go?

Kelp piles on Swami's beach

 

Now that Fall is here, the ocean takes on a different level. I guess it has to do with the sun being lower on the horizon. As I showed in an earlier blog, a lot of sand gets sucked off the beaches, leaving a lot of little round rocks. In addition, when the winds and tides are just right, a lot of kelp piles up on the beach just past the point at Swami's. The current comes down from the north, hits the point, the water wraps around the point and dumps floating kelp, that has broken loose, onto the beach. There are some pretty big piles of kelp. The kelp, once on shore, is an important food source for birds, insects, invertebrates. and other animals.

Kelp air bladders

Kelp air bladder
 perfect for popping

There are a lot of scattered kelp air bladders on the beach. When the kelp is rooted to the ocean floor, the air bladders keep the kelp floating to the surface under the water. When the air bladders wash up on the beach, it's fun to pop them by stepping on them. It's kind of like popping bubble wrap. I don't know why it's fun to step on them and hear them pop, it just is!

I found a wonderful site that talks about the kelp and the animals that benefit from it. There are great pictures and information about each animal and algae. When snorkeling at La Jolla I wished I'd had an underwater camera. Turns out I didn't need one. I had seen many bright orange California state marine fish, the Garibaldi, kelp bass, green sea anemones, sea lions, harbor seals, bat stars and various crabs. All are pictured at this site. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Display  It was fun to see the pictures and read about what I saw when snorkeling.

It also seems like there are more birds. I love watching the small sanderlings. They run in and out with the waves. They are really fun to watch. They are usually kind of skittish but I was able to get a couple videos.

Turkey ready for baking

Matt found an interesting turkey recipe on the New York Times site. He showed it to me and I was very interested. It first involved "spatchcocking" a turkey. Never heard the term, but the video showed you just cut the back bone out so the turkey can lay flat on a baking dish. Then you brine the turkey in salt and buttermilk for 48 hours. Then bake it.

We decided to try a test bird. The same chef has a chicken recipe using the same process. It was two weeks before Thanksgiving so it wasn't like we'd preempt Thanksgiving. We made the chicken and it was excellent! 

We had planned to go to Rebecca's house in Studio City for Thanksgiving. But given the surge in the coronavirus, all recommendations were to avoid travel. We decided we could Facetime and enjoy the holiday without adding to the coronavirus mess. Rebecca is an excellent cook so we knew she would still have a good dinner. She decided to do the chicken recipe and we watched a movie together on Facetime.

Our dinner turned out great. The turkey exceeded our expectations. I will never cook a turkey any other way. Here is the site in case you are interested. Samin Nosrat's Brined Turkey recipe

In addition to the turkey, Wendy made three bean salad, broccoli, cranberries cooked with apples, stuffing, mashed potatoes and Wendy's made from scratch pumpkin pie. It was a great feast!

Stuffing, bean salad, mashed potatoes and cranberry dish

Wendy's made from scratch pumpkin pie

Rebecca was very pleased with her chicken. She also was amazed at how good it was.

I had also been continuing my expansion of places to hike. The Cabrillo National Monument is one of my favorite places to visit in San Diego. The point is a high mountain at the entrance to San Diego Harbor. 

San Diego Bay History

Cabrillo ocean front trail

The west side of the mountain goes almost straight down to the ocean. There is a beautiful walking trail that winds along the shoreline providing some spectacular views of the waves breaking on the rocks.

One of several ravines 

Lighthouse in the distance

Interesting erosion

The view on the left is looking up from the ocean. If you look closely, you'll see a tiny point in the picture. That is a lighthouse at the top of the mountain. The view below is the same lighthouse from the east side top of the mountain.

Because it is getting cooler, (40 degrees this morning) I decided I better order some sweat shirts. I didn't bring any from Florida because I didn't have any! A wind breaker is all I ever needed in the Florida Keys. I ordered a blue zip up sweat shirt and a red pull over. Of course Wendy asked, "What are you going to put on it?" Well red sweat shirt, Christmas coming, can certainly find something fun. 

Matt talked about a gnome that Wendy was considering for herself. I said, "Maybe we should make matching sweat shirts!" Just kidding of course. Linda would change her shirt if we ended up putting on the same color. I'm not sure why that was an issue but the rule was whomever had it on first got to keep it. 

Steve's sweat shirt

Wendy hadn't used the gnome yet and it's easy to have many variations, so I began designing my sweat shirt. The gnomes were good but I felt I needed more. I found some great elves to add to the design. After putting the elves and gnomes on the sweat shirt I though it lacked something. Snowflakes to make it a little more festive! It turned out so well it is now my first Christmas decoration.

Sometimes it seems like time is standing still given the coronavirus impediments to getting out and doing more. But then it's hard to believe it is the end of November. We are all certainly looking forward to the arrival of the vaccine. Stay safe everyone, we're not out if this yet!

November 26th: Thanksgiving? Really?

 

I wasn't going to do a Thanksgiving blog. I thought the same as many I talked to, that this was the worst year ever. Having lost Linda, pushed it over the top for me. This has been the most difficult year of my life. 

"So what is there to celebrate?" I wondered. "What am I supposed to be thankful for? I'm living here without Linda, in the middle of a pandemic." Well that thinking certainly didn't feel right. So I thought I'd start a list of things to be thankful for. I did not organize the list in any way. Over the last couple days I just kept adding to the list. Then I decided, "Looks like a Thanksgiving blog to me!" I shortened the list knowing you'll get the idea. Then I decided I have pictures I can include. Many will be repeats but I believe they are worth seeing again. I know being happy in life is all about how you look at things, but sometimes I need reminders. Pictures help.

Riding in Dominican Republic

I'm thankful for 50 wonderful years with Linda. 

I am thankful that the first four months of 2020 I spent with Linda, were wonderful despite the virus.

We had gone pretty far and Linda was holding up quite well. It was great to see her in the kayak again. We were very fortunate with the weather. It was a beautiful calm day, perfect for kayaking.

Bourbon Street New Orleans

I'm thankful Linda did a fantastic job of recording our lives with many pictures that enable wonderful memories to be relived.

What a really terrific time we had in New Orleans (Linda)

I'm thankful for being able to look forward to spending time with my brothers, sisters and their families. They continue to offer support.

Franko gathering at our home in Sagamore Hills

I'm thankful for Linda's brother Tom. 35 years ago he gave her the kidney that saved her life.

And suddenly it was 10 years! We had a celebration at our home in Cleveland - Tom was able to attend and I was so happy our friends were able to finally meet the person who had changed my life so dramatically. (Linda)

When Tom retired, this tribute was posted by his brother, Pat. I'm thankful to have found it to share with you. 

Dr. Tom Drouhard, Linda's kidney donor brother

After 37 years as a surgeon on the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona, my brother, Tom, has retired.

What began as a two-year stint turned into a life of service to the Navajo and Hopi. A comment by a cohort to a photo post of Tom as a much younger man earlier last year presented a good summation of his work:

"Who would have guessed on that day that Tom would someday be a legendary surgeon, known among other surgeons as "The Master"? That he would work tirelessly for years, taking call every other night or every third night for years, and do so cheerfully and with humor? That he would follow two legendary surgeons, and surpass them? That he would have been a superstar in any venue, but he found his home on the Navajo (reservation)? That he would retire as a CAPT in the US Public Health Service? That he would recognize a hereditary bowel cancer in Navajos and call in the experts from the CDC, a significant scientific contribution? I have a dear friend, a Harvard-trained surgeon, double-boarded in Anesthesia and Surgery, who thinks Tom Drouhard WALKS ON WATER. . . and there are a whole lotta people who feel and think that way about him."

Just count Steve and me as two more who feel and think that way about him..... (Linda)

Garden of the Gods, Colorado

I'm thankful for the best possible daughters and son-in-law. Wendy, Rebecca and Matt, who have brought so much joy into Linda's and my life, and they continue to do so.

  

Steve and Linda on the couch at Central Perk,
 the Friends set. Thanks, to Rebecca

I'm thankful for a wonderful place to stay in California, close to the kids, while we all wait out this virus.

Some of the Drouhard family

I'm thankful for the entire side of Linda's family who have accepted me as their own.

London

Trevi

I'm thankful for Rebecca's dogs, London and Trevi, the most lovable dogs ever. I think they miss me!

I'm thankful for Randy, Cindy, Liam, Mia, Gigit and Cricket, our Canadian Banana Bay cruising best friends. I am thankful I can look forward to seeing them in Canada this summer.

Randy, Cindy, Gigit & Cricket
 heading to our boat during a storm at Banana Bay

I'm thankful for so many "Best friends".

I'm thankful I'm living where the sun shines every day, at least almost!

John and Julia
Franko, Steve's parents holding Wendy

Warren and Leona Drouhard, Linda's
 parents, the best in-laws ever.

I'm thankful to our parents. They raised us to live our lives to the fullest, with strong ethical grounding.

I'm thankful I live in a country where despite all our problems, somehow we continue to move forward.

I'm thankful for the great mountain bike Matt helped me find so I don't go stir crazy during this pandemic. 

I'm thankful that vaccines are in the works.

I'm thankful for technology that enables us to stay connected despite the virus.

Guppy at a dock with Rahn de Vous,
 San Juan Capistrano friends Karen and Craig

I'm thankful I have a boat in Canada which gives me something to look forward to this summer, where I can spend time with our Canadian friends. 

I'm thankful for my good health and physical ability that allow me to hike, ride my bike and snorkel.

After many months thinking about it, I am thankful that I believe there was nothing left unsaid between Linda and me. There is honestly nothing that comes to mind like, "If only I had told her." As I said before, we were true soul mates. Of course I still want more. But how can I not give thanks for what we had and what I still have to look forward to in the months ahead?

Please consciously think about taking care of those you love, and have a very happy Thanksgiving. 

November 21st: Quick trip to Studio City then back to the usual

 I decided it was time to head out for a Torrey Pines hike. It's a beautiful state park but when the tides are high I can't walk along the beach. The water is several feet high along the cliff bottom. Today was a good day as far as the tides went.

I have been here many times but I am always amazed at the height and beauty of the cliffs along the shore. Typically I would hike up to the top and take a loop trail down to the beach. Today was such a perfect day the place was packed. I had to park very, very far away. 

I found a trail that went through a small park. There were some cool ground pines which I really like.

When I went a little further I came across a great carving in an old tree trunk. I believe the bird was a hawk and there was a nice bench seat that has a great view of the ocean. What a great use of an old tree stump!

I noticed there was a rough trail that went down the side of the cliffs, across the open railroad tracks, and down to the beach. That looked a lot better than walking along the road. I was surprised that there weren't any fences, but other people were coming up the trail so clearly they went across the railroad tracks.

Everything was going quite well until I came to a small river flowing into the ocean. It was about 3 feet deep. Hmmmm. I could take off my shoes and hold my wallet and phone up high, but I decided better to go back up to the highway. Fortunately there was a path up to the road not too far back.

Torrey Pines Beach Trail

So I finally made it to the actual park. The trail going up the cliffs, that is a loop trail down to the ocean down to the ocean, was packed. It is quite narrow and many people were not wearing masks. So I decided to just take the beach trail out and back. No problem with social distancing.

It was a very sunny day so the colors on the cliffs were gorgeous. This little canyon gets a lot of shades so there were quite a few green plants growing making the colors stand out even more.

.

Torrey Pines Beach Trail South End

I took a pretty long hike considering how far away the car was. But it was such a pretty day I just kept going.

The yellow arrow points to where the car was!

When I turned around to go back I thought, "Maybe I should have turned around sooner!"

But it was a great day! Click here to see more views of Torrey Pines Preserve

Rebecca called Saturday morning and asked what I was doing. She wanted to mount two televisions, one in her gym and one in her living room. Did I want to come up for an overnight visit? Sounded good. Something to do and spend time with Rebecca and the pups! Plus, at the rate the coronavirus is exploding who knows how long before I'll be allowed to make the trip again. Seems like another lockdown is coming.

The gym wall mount was quite easy and went smoothly. Rebecca now has something to watch while exercising.  Good idea, anything that helps maintain the exercise schedule.

Television right upper corner

The next wall mount was a bigger challenge. It was for a 55 inch television. We unfortunately didn't have a stud finder but as Rebecca said, "Just drill a bunch of small holes till we find them. Easy to repair! Better than going to get a stud finder. Plus, they'll be behind the television." Worked for me. We've been trying hard to not venture out unless it is critical. 

The project went well except for one glitch. I had the wall mount too close to one wall so we had to move it over one stud. We both said, "If Mom were here this never would have happened!" 

But in the end it all turned out well. Now I can watch TV while I am cooking at Rebecca's, which I like to do.

This is a view of the living room and new television taken from the kitchen island.

It is actually getting quite a bit cooler here. Not compared to Ohio, but still, 49 degrees last night. I miss not having a fireplace on a cool night but I found this great radiant heater in my closet. It's really quite wonderful.

Lemon cookies

Matt & Wendy's Lemon tree

Wendy has a lemon tree in her back yard. My niece Nora sent us a recipe for Ricotta Cheese lemon cookies. Because we had fresh lemons we felt compelled to make some. They turned out great. Why wouldn't they? Butter, sugar, flour and fresh lemon. Good thing we only made half a batch! Way too good to resist.

Wendy continues to expand her creative projects. She made a very impressive bag/purse from materials/clothes she bought at a thrift shop excursion.

Inside the bag

The inside was even more impressive than the outside. She also knitted the little rabbit in the purse!.

In addition, I spotted several other items on her table. The bags are felt. First she knits the bag and then hand rubs it to turn the yarn to felt. It takes a lot of rubbing.  Also on the table are a fun little dragon and a coaster that she knitted.  I never know what I'll find next!

Then I remembered I took some turns rubbbing a purse she made a few years ago. Of course not nearly as many turns as she took. She uses it quite a bit and it looks like the day she finished it. 

 

Wendy's hand knitted felt purse

Huevos Rancheros

The best part of the Thrift shop excursion was going to the Fresh Start Cafe for take out Huevos Rancheros. We found the place a few years ago with Linda's brother Tom and we all said they were the best ever. Because it was close to the thrift stores it was an obvious place for take out. The Huevos Rancheros were as good as ever.

Balcony view of morning fog 

We're getting more mornings with ocean fog which rolls in over night. Some mornings it is very thick. These pictures are both from my balcony. The one with fog was taken at 8:30 am. That is the sun in the picture. The other was taken about an hour later after the sun burned off the fog. The nice thing is that the fog almost always burns off by late morning.

Balcony view fog burned off

Now that it is getting dark so early I am spending more time inside. I finished the latest puzzle. It was a lot of fun because there was so much detail. The artist clearly has a good imagination!

Imag in a Dream puzzle - 750 pieces