Some August Happenings

 

August 13 in Seal Beach, I was happy to be with my daughters and grandson

There have been good things and not so good things so far in August.

The AC in my car is not working. The next day, the AC at home stopped working too. The repairman said the motor needs replacement, but because is 32 years old, we should install a new one, the whole deal.

My daughter S and my grandson and his girlfriend, flew down from Utah for a few days, to see Drake in concert. It was nice meeting his gf, she seems like a nice girl, pretty compatible with T.  It was very nice to see S and spend time with her. On Sunday, the 5 of us went to Seal Beach, it was a lovely day. Walked by the pier, had dinner at Hennesy's and just had a nice day.

                                                               The calm before the storm

A week after they left, we had another visitor, Hilary, it was not a welcome visit. We had 3 days of heavy rain. L and I, and Lulu, just stayed at home. After the tropical storm/hurricane.... we were left with broken branches from our beautiful Crepe Myrtle on the front lawn, and big broken branches from the large tree in the backyard.

I will talk to our gardener tomorrow about them.

Because of the AC, and the tropical storm damage, I have been upset and anxious,

and I feel like crying for every little thing. 

I hope I get back to my usually positive cheerful self soon :)

Maybe Friday evening L and I can go for a nice walk to the Arboretum

July Recap

Photo taken in La Floresta, after a good lunch at Slapfish, July 21

There were a lot of happenings in July, most of them relating to my in-laws, very sad :(

July 6 - We got a call from Dixon. Dewey had fallen and was taken to the hospital emergency,

He died at the hospital on July 13, from Lymphoma

Sandy and Marty went to Dixon, and met with Bettie,  Lee and Mary, and a lawyer. 

They stayed for 3 days getting many things done that needed to be done. 

David and his son were there too.

On July 19, Bettie fell and broke her femur, and was taken to the hospital. 

Rick and his sons drove to Dixon that weekend.

In other news, it was a hot month. 

Lizzie went to Salt Lake City for a week. 

July 10, N came to pick me up, and we drove around Long Beach and to his home. Lizzie is back from SLC. 

July 13, Nuri turned 82, and I talked to Sonia.

July 19, I bought myself an office chair at Staples.

July 25, my car wouldn't start. Called AAA

July 26, Lizzie to SD by train, to see the Padres. Fell asleep on the way back, woke up at Union Station LA.

July 28, to Dr. Chopra, then Amor y Tacos.

BOOKS I READ IN JULY

MOVIES I WATCHED IN JULY  (many)

 

 

My brother in law

 

Today, July 13, 2023, my brother-in-law Dewey, died in a Sacramento Hospital of lymphoma.

He graduated from UC Davis, but he liked being a farmer.

He enjoyed working in his orchard, growing walnuts and pecans. 

He loved his older brother Marvin, his sisters Mary and Bettie, his nephews and nieces

and his dogs.

I will miss his weekly phone calls

Asking me, how's the weather?

Telling me about his tomato crop

Always saying things were fine

(even when they weren't)

We always said I love you at the end of the calls.

Rest in peace, Dewey

I love you2

June Recap

Arboretum 

June has been a cool month with not a lot of sunshine, but very pleasant. I did some gardening, and planted tomatoes and peppers, and flowers. 

My friend N came to visit on June 11 and brought me a very nice pillow, then we had some delicious Pho.

 L and I went shopping for carpet and decided to get a room rug instead, we both like it a lot. And Lulu.

Our financial guy came by the house June 12,  and it was all good news :)

We had an evening stroll at the Fullerton Arboretum. It was very nice and the weather was great.

We went out to eat several times, and I ended the month by having a great lunch at Amor y Tacos. Probably one of the best meals I had lately.

Unfortunately, there's been many health problems in the family. My brother-in-law in Sweden had to go to hospital, and also my brother-in-law is in ICU. My sister-in-law also had to go to hospital but is now at home. My thoughts are with all of them and I hope and pray for a good recovery.

BOOKS I'VE READ IN JUNE

MOVIES I'VE WATCHED IN JUNE

The Month of May

 I didn't post in May because I was too busy preparing for our trip to Europe. Packing, having my hair done, getting euros etc.

We left on Saturday May 6,  from LAX to CDG. We stayed at the Mayfair Hotel, right in the heart of Paris. Lizzie wrote about the trip in her blog and she and Sandy posted lots of pictures on FB and IG. So I will just post a few. It was rainy in Paris a couple of the days we were there, but we had a fun time anyway (with some unwelcome health problems for me, plus I also had the beginning of a blister from walking more than I am used to, but it was fixed as soon as it started)

We left Paris May 10, from the Gare de Lyon, and took the speed train to Girona. Very nice trip. Sonia was waiting for us. We went to her house to meet Ninu the dog, went to the cemetery to remember my parents. Then to Hotel Planamar. Later we met the family at Llevant Restaurant, and it was loud and fun, meeting my sister Nuri and nieces.

                                                                   anchovies for dinner

With Nuri and tisana de Cava

We met again the next day for lunch, and later Sonia drove us to Barcelona (my birth place!)

We stayed at the Hotel Petit Boqueria Palace, right off the Ramblas and in the Barri Gotic. Great location. We walked all over el Barri Gotic and el Born.  We went to the Palau de la Musica Catalana, , Palace Guell, Tibidabo, Sagrada Familia, Paseo de Gracia, Boqueria, Museo Picasso, and much more, including the touristic bus. We ate and drank and just enjoyed all the time we spend in the city. Also Nuri and Sonia came June 15, and we went out to eat and walk around Plaza Real and had a good time.

                                                                     Los Caracoles

I also had a great lunch for Mother's Day: canalones, calamares a la romana and crema catalana, and a bottle of good Cava. Thanks, Lizzie and Sandy for a lovely day!

                                                                   Can Culleretas

And then, all good things come to an end. Sonia took us to the airport May 20, to go from Barcelona to Paris. I had a terrible time at the CDG airport, I hated the place! Maybe some other day I'll write the story.  We left on AF/Delta Economy Premium, which was Great!!! and we got back to the USA the night of May 20th.

Sandy left to Utah on Sunday and on Monday we went to pick up a very happy Lulu!

On Tuesday I felt ill, probably the flu, and spent the rest of the week in bed, not eating,coughing and with fever. I lost a few pounds and rested. I felt better the next week.

Lizzie went to San Diego on May 31st

It was a great trip!

I'll be back.....

April recap

 

 This month has been all about my upcoming trip back home, and also seeing Paris, with my daughters.

Spring in California is beautiful. The flowers and the trees are putting up a beautiful display of leaves and flowers. I love my garden. I'm asking my gardener to water my plants while I'm gone.

I have gone to my doctor and I seem to be doing fine :).The scars from my skin cancer are healing nicely. My blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good, and I've even lost a couple of pounds. My feet are a bit of a problem, but went I when to my podiatrist on the 28th, and he said they were ready for walking :)

Here's my data for future reference: Wt 174lbs, blood sugar 101, blood pressure 127/64

Lizzie and I have gone out to eat a few times (Slapfish, La Huasteca, Reventaco etc) and I have cooked a bit too, mainly empanadas, croquetas, puff pastry things, spaghetti...

Lizzie spent the weekend of April 14 in San Diego. We didn' do much for Easter, had a Blue Apron meal. Norbert is back to calling daily.

I spent way too much time deciding what clothes, shoes, luggage  and so on to take on my trip, I keep on changing my mind. It seems it will be raining for the 3 days we spend in Paris. Quelle dommage! I'm borrowing a rain jacket from Sandy.

BOOKS I'VE READ IN APRIL

MOVIES I'VE WATCHED IN APRIL

Looking very much forward to my trip to Europe on Saturday :)

Next Recap I will write about our Trip to Paris and Barcelona !!!

March Recap

                                                      It seems to me like March just flew by. 

                                                               Spring flowers in my garden

The weather has been windy, rainy and cold. With lots of snow in the mountains.

1st WEEK : The month started with my kitchen sink not draining, had to have it fixed. 

 I had some lab work at Kaiser. Lizzie went to Santa Ana for a poetry reading. She started tennis and Yoga.

2nd WEEK:  Had 3 skin biopsies in Garden Grove, shoulder, hand and face. Then Greek  restaurant.

Kaiser called, need to have some b&s on my shoulder and hand.

3rd WEEK:  Watching the Oscars. Lots of rain. N came to fix my back gate. Black Bear dinner.

4th WEEK:  Tristan turned 25!!!! San Jose. First day of Spring, my birds  left the Bird Motel :)

I colored my hair.

Lulu had a haircut

5th WEEK: I have been doing puff pastry things :) Went to have my burn and scrape. Sore and headache.

MOVIES I WATCHED IN MARCH

BOOKS I READ IN MARCH

IT'S SPRING